Will help accelerate indigenous research on country's mineral wealth Will avoid re-drilling of already explored areas Fulfil the need to revaluate sub-surface lithological and structural data Jaipur: The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has established a "core library' of minerals at Akwali village in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan to systematically preserve the samples and obviate the need to re-drill the areas which have already been explored. The preserved cores will also be used in many other geological investigations such as earthquake geology, groundwater pollution, geo-environmental studies and geological research work for which the sub-surface data is essential. The library, established by the GSI Western Region, is the first of its kind in the country. Union Mines Minister Shees Ram Ola, inaugurating the library this past weekend, said it should be put to multipurpose use and operated to search the mineral wealth still lying beneath earth. A GSI spokesperson said here that the library would fulfil the need for re-evaluation of sub-surface lithological and structural data supported by qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis of samples by the latest techniques. The rapid pace of advancement in mining technology, refining techniques and ascent in the process of mineral commodity are likely to render more deposits economically viable in future. The library is expected to meet new challenges emerging in this field. The spokesperson pointed out that from 2003 to 2007 about 1.50 lakh metre drill cores were skeletonised and a total of 25,000 metre length of cores was properly recorded for preservation in the Akwali library. The library is a repository of drill cores of 65 mineral exploration projects, including very important mineral prospects such as Khetri, Kolihan, Sindesar, Bhukia and potash, mostly completed by the GSI during the 1950s to 1970s. It will also serve as a storehouse of sub-surface geological information and facilitate logging and sampling to professionals, researchers and other private agencies for evaluation, research and development study and development of prospects in their own way. Mr. Ola said India, being part of the Gondwanaland, should look for mineral wealth found in other parts of the vast prehistoric area such as South Africa, Brazil and Australia. A large number of minerals found in these regions are yet to be discovered in India.