Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences
Title : | Assessing the Potential of Hot springs and Associated Thermal Deposits as a source of Rare Earth Elements of the Ladakh Region |
Area of research : | Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences |
Focus area : | Geothermics |
Principal Investigator : | Dr. syed Hilal Farooq, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar, Odisha |
Timeline Start Year : | 2024 |
Timeline End Year : | 2027 |
Contact info : | hilalfarooq@iitbbs.ac.in |
Details
Executive Summary : | Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are becoming increasingly important in modern technology, and their uses are only increasing. They are found in many different types of rocks, but their concentration in geothermal waters is particularly high. Geothermal water is a natural resource that is often used to generate electricity and heat homes, and can also act as a potential source of rare earth elements. This project aims to explore the potential of rare earth elements in geothermal waters, and how they can be used to benefit society. The objective of the present project is to investigate the potential of hot spring water and associated thermal deposits of the Ladakh region as a source of rare earth elements (REEs). The project aims to evaluate the REE content, distribution, and mineralogy in hot spring water and thermal deposits. The project also seeks to characterize the stable isotope systematics of the hot spring water to understand their origin and decipher the processes responsible for the enrichment of REEs into thermal water. This will help to provide valuable insights into the economic and environmental feasibility of utilizing hot spring water and thermal deposits as a source of REEs. |
Total Budget (INR): | 42,18,120 |
Organizations involved