MARINE MINERAL POTENTIAL IN INDIA EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE - SOME ISSUES BEFORE EXPLOITATION

India has about 2 million km(2) of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) which is nearly two-thirds of her total land area. The mineral potential of the EEZ includes well-known monazite-ilmenite-rutile placers on the e ast and west coasts, calcareous aggregates and sands in the shallow wa ters (especially in the Lakshadweep island group off the southwest coa st), and phosphate mud and sediments (along the west coast, and possib ly in the Andaman Sea). There is also potential for cobalt-rich crusts in several locations, and for hydrothermal sulfide mineralization in the Andaman Sea. In addition, seawater components and hydrocarbon depo sits in the offshore areas are already attracting expanded activity. T o be able to exploit the mineral potential of the EEZ on a long-term s ustainable basis, it is necessary to investigate the nature of each ty pe of deposit and to make an associated oceanographic-environmental ev aluation. A good beginning has been made with respect to exploitation of the beach and offshore placers.