Bhubaneswar: A group of researchers at IIT Bhubaneswar has developed a satellite-based cost-effective technology for Bauxite prospecting and exploration in Odisha.
Bauxite, the primary ore of aluminium, is a critical raw material for industries such as aerospace, construction, and packaging. With the global aluminium market projected by Credit Suisse to face a supply shortfall by 2030, ensuring a stable domestic supply has become a strategic priority for India.
The group led by Assistant Professor Ashim Sattar, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar, was awarded at the 4thOdisha Mining and Infrastructure International Conference 2026 for developing the technology.
This unique technique was published in the Journal of Geochemical Exploration, in the 4thOdisha Mining and Infrastructure International Conference 2026.
Sattar and his research group successfully identified potential bauxite depositional sites at a regional-scale across the Koraput and Rayagada districts of Odisha using advanced hyperspectral satellite remote sensing, the institute said in a statement.
The study integrated hyperspectral satellite data, field surveys, geochemical and petrographic assessments, and laboratory spectral studies. Together, these techniques provide a robust framework for first-order mapping of potential bauxite deposits. This pioneering study marks the first large-scale remote sensing-based assessment of bauxite zones in Odisha, it said.
Odisha reserves an estimated 2.3 billion tonnes of bauxite reserves, accounting for over 50 per cent of India’s total resources. However, much of this mineral lies in challenging terrains of the Eastern Ghats, making traditional exploration time-consuming, expensive, and environmentally intensive, mining experts said.
Using hyperspectral imaging, the IIT Bhubaneswar team leveraged the concept of spectral signature, which is a distinctive pattern of electromagnetic response of earth materials, to detect potential bauxite-bearing zones across two districts of Odisha. This technique can offer a cost-effective, rapid, and eco-friendly approach to support sustainable mineral exploration in Odisha and beyond, they said.
The findings are expected to support the mining industry and policymakers in identifying potential Bauxite exploration zones, optimising resources, and minimising environmental impacts. This initiative lays the foundation for next-generation mineral mapping and sustainable resource management in Odisha, they said.
