New Delhi, Feb. 21 -- The Ministry of Mines has shifted minerals Barytes, Felspar, Mica and Quartz from the list of minor minerals to the category of major minerals.

An official gazette notification was put out dated February 20, 2025, the ministry said in a statement on Friday.

This move follows the recent approval of the National Critical Mineral Mission by the Union Cabinet on January 29, 2025.

The Mission envisages exploration and mining of critical minerals within the country including recovery of these minerals from mines of other minerals, overburden and tailings.

Quartz, Felspar and Mica are found in pegmatite rocks, which are an important source of many critical minerals such as Beryl, Lithium, Niobium, Tantalum, Molybdenum, ...