The Union government granted permission for tungsten mining in Arittapatti, Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

About Arittapatti

• Biodiversity Heritage Site: Tamil Nadu’s first & India’s 35th Biodiversity Heritage Site.
• Ecological Significance: 
  • Houses 250 bird species, including Laggar Falcon, Shaheen Falcon, and Bonelli’s Eagle.
  • Home to Indian Pangolin, Slender Loris, and Pythons.
  • Surrounded by seven hillocks (inselbergs) & three check dams.
• Historical Significance:
  • Includes the Anaikondan Lake, constructed during the 16th-century Pandiyan reign.
  • Rich in cultural heritage, featuring megalithic structures, rock-cut temples, Tamil Brahmi inscriptions, and Jain beds.

About Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS)

• BHS are ecosystems of high biodiversity significance, comprising of any one or more of the following components:
  • Richness of wild as well as domesticated species or intra-specific categories.
  • High endemism.
  • Presence of rare and threatened species, keystone species, species of evolutionary significance.
  • Wild ancestors of domestic/cultivated species or their varieties.
  • Past pre-eminence of biological components represented by fossil beds and having significant cultural, ethical or aesthetic values and are important for the maintenance of cultural diversity, with or without a long history of human association with them.
• Legal Framework:

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• • Governed under Section 37(1) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
  • State Governments, in consultation with local bodies, can notify areas of biodiversity importance.
• Community Role:
  • Establishing BHS does not restrict local practices unless voluntarily adopted by the community.
  • The initiative aims to enhance local livelihoods while promoting conservation.

About Tungsten

• Tungsten, also known as Wolfram, is a dense metal that appears greyish-white to steel-grey. It is listed as one of India’s 30 Critical Minerals due to its strategic importance.
• Key Properties: Tungsten has unique physical and chemical attributes:
  • It possesses the highest melting point among metals, at 3,422°C.
  • The metal exhibits high tensile strength, elasticity, and corrosion resistance.
  • Its excellent thermal and electrical conductivity, combined with a low expansion coefficient, makes it versatile for industrial applications.

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• Applications: Tungsten is used in various fields, including:
  • Lighting: Manufacturing filaments for light bulbs and vacuum tubes.
  • Heating Systems: As heating elements in electrical furnaces.
  • Steel Alloys: Enhancing hardness and durability in specialized steel products.
• Reserves and Distribution in India: India’s total tungsten ore reserves are estimated at 89.43 million tonnes, containing approximately 1,44,650 tonnes of WO₃.
  • Karnataka holds the largest share of reserves (41%), followed by Rajasthan (27%), Andhra Pradesh (17%), and Maharashtra (11%).
  • Smaller deposits are also found in Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal.

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