The nuclear power programme of the country is a three stage programme.The first stage of this programme is based on  Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR) which are fuelled by natural uranium. The requirement of natural uranium for these reactors is met from the indigenous resources established by AMD. The second stage envisages utilization of plutonium produced and re-processed from the first stage. The third stage is based on thorium for which R&D efforts are  in progress and  some breakthrough has already been achieved.  The requirements of thorium would be met from vast resources of the mineral - monazite (a thorium, REE phosphate).

The work spectrum of AMD is closely linked to different phases of nuclear fuel cycle, viz.

The front-end activities are of major importance and are carried out in the field with  adequate laboratory support. The principal activity is to identify three major group of resources viz.

(i) uranium,

(ii) rare metal and rare earths (Nb-Ta,  Be, REE, Y), and

(iii) beach sand minerals containing minerals of thorium, titanium and zirconium.       

Uranium Investigations

The field activities commence with remote sensing studies/ airborne surveys (ASRS) followed by ground geological, geochemical, geophysical surveys (EGPG) on different scales. Once ground anomalies have been established by these methods, their subsurface continuity is probed by core/ non-core drilling.  The laboratory studies are carried out simultaneously to understand the genesis of mineralisation and for optimising the recovery parameters. Once a deposit is established, mutually agreed reports on reserve estimates are prepared jointly with the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) for planning commercial exploitation.

Investigations for RMRE Resources

The mineral resources included in this group are columbite-tantalite, beryl, spodumene, lepidolite and xenotime which generally occur in pegmatites and riverine placers. The field investigations commence with survey, followed by pitting/ sampling to estimate the grade of the occurrence. These minerals are then won by excavating gravel detritus of the pegmatites and by setting up on-site small-scale recovery plants. Separation of these minerals is done by physical beneficiation methods and the recovered minerals are stockpiled in the godowns of the Directorate.

Beach Sand Investigations

The beach sand minerals comprise  ilmenite, rutile, zircon, monazite, garnet, and sillimanite which occur in different concentrations along various coastal stretches of the country. These mineral resources are investigated  by auger drilling, conrod bunka drilling, dormer drilling and reserves are estimated by mineralogical analysis of both individual and composite samples generated. These resource estimates are incorporated in the preliminary and detailed reports and are made available on request to the Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) and other state government / private entrepreneurs on commercial terms.

Laboratory support

In order to support the above investigations, the Directorate is equipped with various laboratories both at AMD headquarter and regional centers. They not only provide useful information to the field units but also design, develop, fabricate and maintain many of the instruments required in the exploration programme.

While in each Region there is a Physics, Chemistry and Petrology laboratory, in the Headquarter at Hyderabad, there are other laboratories also, often functioning as a Group, viz.      

Mineralogy-Petrology-Geochronology Group

Petrology Laboratory                           

X-Ray diffraction laboratory

Electron microprobe laboratory          

X-Ray fluorescence laboratory

Spectrograph laboratory                     

Geochronology laboratory

Radiation Standards and Analysis Group

Radiometric assay (Physics) Laboratory

Neutron activation laboratory

Instrumentation Group

Chemistry Group

Ore dressing Group

Mineral Technology laboratory

Environmental studies

Winning of minerals from the earth involves alteration of environmental parameters, which has always been a concern for the mankind. Being radioactive, atomic minerals, particularly uranium, draw more environmental concern. However, since uranium is packed with abundant energy, the importance of winning this metal from the earth assumes all the importance. For comparison, 1 kg of petroleum products produce 4 kwh electricity whereas 1 kg of natural uranium produces 50,000 kwh electricity,

For planning and initiating remedial measures, if any, in a mining activity, pre-project environmental data is therefore essential. In the recent years, AMD has been generating the pre-project environmental baseline data around the potential mining sites.

 Towards the middle of the nuclear fuel cycle, AMD is associated with the site selection for nuclear establishments

Site selection for nuclear power reactors

 Nuclear Power Plant sites are subjected to stringent evaluation at every stage from regional analysis to site specific investigations, for which AMD carries out geotechnical studies during pre-construction stage. It collates the available geological and seismotectonic data for 300 km radius area around the site. Seismotectonic maps on suitable scales are synthesized, ‘Active Faults’ identified and the earthquake potential of the structural elements and seismotectonic provinces is evaluated. Remote sensing studies using satellite imageries and aerial photos, followed by limited field check,  supplement this work. The output of this endeavour has application in deriving the seismic parameters that are used in the design to strengthen the foundation and the structure to withstand the heavy loads and seismic shaking. Similar studies are carried out for the sites for Heavy Water Plants, Tailings Ponds and Irradiation Plants.

 In the selected sites geological mapping of the reactor pits, lithologging, petrographic studies of the borehole cores and base-line radiation data collection are also carried out.

Site Selection for Waste Disposal

 Nuclear industry generates radioactive waste (RAW). Ultimate disposal of this waste is done in suitable geological environment. Consequently comprehensive geological study in relation to all aspects of storage/ disposal of RAW is a must before final selection of sites of radioactive waste repository. AMD extends the cooperation in the site selection of repositories, drilling of the candidate sites and study of the core samples in order to evaluate the subsurface conditions, petromineralogical characteristics etc. AMD also generates samples from proposed site for testing of engineering properties. Expert opinion is offered to the end user on the investigative geological reports submitted by other agencies.      

Miscellaneous

In addition, some of the miscellaneous activities carried out by AMD are as under

1. Site specific background radiation surveys were carried out in Goa and Nepal for M/s. Kodak India Pvt., Ltd., for their photographic film storage plants.

2. Radon Emanometry surveys were carried out in and around Khilari following the 1993 earthquake and the radon anomalous behaviour had shown coherence in time with seismic events.

3. As a member of the Task Force, AMD has contributed to the revision of IS code in bringing about the ‘Criteria for earthquake resistant design of structures, Part.1 General Provisions and Buildings (Fifth Revision), IS 1893 (Part-1): 2002.

4. AMD contributes in the formulation of codes of AERB pertaining to geological and seismological aspects and is a member of Expert Committee for Seismic Qualification of existing DAE installations (ECSQ).