Syllabus:

GS3: Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development, and Employment.

Context: As part of its fifth-tranche auction, the Centre has successfully auctioned 10 out of 15 Potash and halite mining blocks for the first time under Tranche V of the critical and Strategic mineral auction process.

More on the News

• These 10 blocks comprise such as Graphite, Phosphorite, Phosphate, Rare Earth Elements (REE), Vanadium, and for the first time, Potash and Halite Spread across Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. 
• 34 out of 55 critical mineral blocks have been successfully auctioned across five tranches so far. 
• The tranche marks the first-ever successful auction of a potash block in India and the first-ever auction of a critical mineral block in Rajasthan.
• The Ministry of Mines is advancing critical mineral exploration through the National Critical Mineral Mission to build a robust ecosystem. It values industry participation in auctions and other efforts toward self-sufficiency.

About the Potash 

• It refers to a group of minerals and chemicals that contain potassium, a vital nutrient for plants and a key component in fertilizers.
• It is produced primarily as potassium chloride, also known as muriate of potash. 
• Potash is an impure combination of potassium carbonate & potassium (K) salts. 
• Over 90% of potash is used as fertilizer and is one of the three primary agricultural nutrients (N-P-K).
• The principal ore is sylvinite, a mixture of sylvite (KCl) and halite (NaCl).
• Potash Reserves:
  Rajasthan alone contributes 89% to the total resources, followed by Punjab, Madhya Pradesh  and Uttar Pradesh.

About the  Halite 

• Halite is a common evaporite mineral, NaCl, used as table salt worldwide. 
• It is arguably the most well-known mineral in the world. It has a formula unit composition of NaCl and is in the cubic crystal system. In pure form, it is nearly transparent or white.
• Halite Reserves:
  In India, halite, or rock salt, is primarily found in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, with two main deposits: Mandi Salt Drang Section and Drang Salt Mine.