Mining and Mineral development in the
present age requires a strong base of suitable research and development effort. Realising
this, way back in 1970, a nucleus R&D cell was created in NMDC. The cell has now grown
into a highly sophisticated R&D centre at Hyderabad which is one of the best equipped
laboratories of its kind capable of taking up any assignment in the field of ore
beneficiation and mineral processing. The R&D centre has earned a rare distinction of
competence of undertaking technology development mission related to mineral processing,
flow sheet development, minerological studies and project development. R&D centre of
NMDC has been declared as the "Centre of Excellence" in the field of Mineral
Processing by the Expert Group Meeting of UNIDO consisting of delegates from 15 countries.
The centre is extending technology support to NMDC’s existing mines, other
organisations in India and abroad. The centre has been awarded ISO 9001 certification in
October, 1998.
R&D centre undertook
extensive studies on Kimberlite waste found in Panna Diamond Mining Project and found the
possibilities of utilising this waste for different applications, falling into the
following three categories:
Usage without any beneficiation for the following areas:
As soil conditioner in acidic soils (This has been
confirmed by various Agricultural Research Institutes at New Delhi, Ambikapur, Jagadalpur,
Raipur, Orissa, APAU etc.)
Cement brick making. (approved by the National Council for
Cement and Building Materials, Hyderabad).
Mosaic tiles.
Glazing material for ceramic tiles.
Body material for ceramic tiles.
As a flux material feed in place of dolomite.
After purifying it by chemical process, it can be used for
producing value-added products, such as:
As an adsorbent for removal of fluride from potable water
high in fluride (5 ppm to 1 ppm) by making filter candles with processed kimberlite waste
material. (This has been patented by NMDC).
Recovery of magnesium from kimberlite waste either as Epsom
salt or as causitic magnesia, which can find application in the following fields of
activity:
Pulp and paper industries.
Animal feed
Resin filler
Water treatment.
Flame retardant Mg (OH)2
Electric insulation.
This has been patented by NMDC.
Recovery of silica as fluffy silica or precipitated silica,
which can find application in the following fields of activity:
Rubber industries
Fertilizer
As a filler material in plastics
Cosmetics
Paper
This has been patented by
NMDC.
In order to exploit the vast resources of kimberlite, NMDC
is on the look out for a suitable partners for taking up any of the above projects for
utilisation of the non-renewable natural resources for the benefit of the nation.
