Rare Monazite Treasure Found on Kalingapatnam Coast

A significant deposit of the rare and valuable mineral monazite has been identified in the beach sand reserves along the Kalingapatnam coast in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. The mineral rich belt is estimated to stretch across 27 kilometres in length and around 700 metres in width. Along with monazite, minerals such as garnet, ilmenite, and zircon are also found in the region.

Around five kilograms of pure monazite is estimated to be present in every 1,000 kilograms of sand at the Kalingapatnam coast. Monazite is essential for manufacturing semiconductors, LEDs, microprocessors, solar cells, and laser equipment. As India currently imports a major share of rare earth minerals from China, the government is focusing on developing domestic resources through strategic rare earth projects.