Jaipur6 minutes agoAuthor: Manish Vyas
You must have seen the sand dunes in Rajasthan, have you ever seen silver mountains?
If not, then today we take you on the special occasion of Dhanteras, in a world where the chest of mountains has become ‘silver-zinc-lead’s Hades’ under the ground. The cost of every single piece of stone coming out from here is in lakhs.
Hundreds of people work day and night to extract these precious pieces through tunnels just below the ground. The precious metal silver is made by carving these stones through many processes.
For the first time, Bhaskar Reporter reached those depths from the tunnels of Rajasthan, which yield 100% zinc and lead along with 87 percent silver of the country. Reaching about 540 meters below the ground through thin tunnels was no less than a thrill.
In Sunday Big Story, know how black stones emerging from the depths of Hades become shiny silver…
This ‘Patal Lok’ of silver is in Rajsamand district of Marwar. There are 5 silver-lead-zinc mines across the country, out of which 4 are in Rajasthan alone. But the Bhaskar team chose Sindesar Khurd Mines, which is the largest underground and world class silver mines in India.
After special permission from Hindustan Zinc Limited, we were allowed to go inside the tunnel. But before this, the Bhaskar reporter was trained for three days on the safety rules of the tunnel.
After the completion of the training, we reached the Hindustan Zinc Headquarters at Rajpura Dariba, 40 kms from Rajsamand at exactly 9 am. After showing the approval of the mines visit to the management, we reached the entry point of Sindesar Khurd mines located a short distance away. Here the safety officer showed us a digital map of the entire route before taking us to the depths of the underground mines.
Here we were told that every person going to the mines has to wear a safety kit. This safety kit includes PPE kit, helmet, torch light and battery, apart from top class glasses and mask. An oxygen support equipment is also to be carried with you to maintain the oxygen level at depth. These safety rules are necessary to follow from mining staff to every visitor.
Two different entry passes, is LIVE trekking
The safety team told us that there are three entry systems to enter Sindesar Khurd mines. Two tunnels have been made in opposite directions by digging in the mines. Here one can go inside by vehicle through winding roads. But after a depth, the tunnel path gets closed.
A special lift is used to go further into the depth, which is also called shaft. It is through these shafts that the stone coming out in the mines is taken out. But before all this one has to go through the double pass entry system at the main entry gate. The operator does LIVE trekking of every pass.
mobile not working in tunnel
After passing through the double pass entry system, we submitted the first pass to the operator at the main gate and took surface entry. From here we got into a car with the team and left for the tunnel from the South Zone entry gate. Mobiles do not work in underground mines, so walkie-talkies are available with every staff here.
Landline phones are installed everywhere in the tunnel through fiber optic cables. Through which the internet also works in depth. Company officials can also make video calls. We slowly reached the bottom through walkie-talkie communication.
Finally reached the ‘Patal Lok’ of silver
The mines have reached a depth of up to 1050 meters. It took us 24 minutes to reach about 540 meters below the earth. Here we saw those shiny stones from which not only silver, zinc and lead also come out. In appearance, it was like a black stone.
But you will be surprised to know that silver is extracted by grinding these stones. The technical team also told us the complete process of extracting silver, about which we will tell you further. Before this, they know the hard work that goes into extracting these stones.
Sikar’s daughter was handling the operation
There was a team of about 8 people working in the block till we reached the depth. Here we found a woman instructing operators and staff in the midst of huge drilling machines.
It is learned that she is a resident of Sikar and is posted here at the post of Underground Mines Safety Officer. He told us here that for mining, first of all, rock drilling, that is, the process of breaking the rocks, is done.
Now let me tell you step-wise how all this work is done.
- First the tunnel is made by jumbo drilling.
- After the tunnel process is completed, production drilling is done by drilling the rock.
- For this, a gap of 40 feet is kept between every drilling.
- Production drilling involves drilling several holes in the rock.
- After this, blasting is done by filling these holes with explosive chemicals.
- After blasting the stone pieces (ore) fall into the pit below.
- It is loaded and brought to the surface, from where it is kept in the yard.
Silver is a byproduct of zinc and lead.
Silver is not a direct product like gold. It is a byproduct derived from lead and zinc. Let us take the example of ghee to understand in easy language.
For example, curd is prepared when milk is set, and then after churning it, butter and ghee are made from it. In the same way, two metals named lead and zinc emerge from the pieces of stone. Silver is extracted after processing these metals.
Now let us tell you the complete process of making silver from stones.
first process
- From here gradually the entire material is sent to the mining mill for processing.
- In the mining mill, the material is crushed and crushed.
- Two things come out of it, lead and zinc ore. Which are separated by chemical method.
- Now lead and zinc ore are taken to smelter complex for making ingots.
- Here zinc and lead are converted into liquid by keeping them in heavy temperature.
- Now fill both in the empty shield and keep it to cool down.
second process
- After the liquid has solidified, the finished shield is passed through an electro sizing process (current).
- In this process the black layer of Kotham gets deposited on some shields.
- This Kotham is scraped off the shield.
- The same powder is later converted into silver product through refining, melting and casting at high temperature in silver smelting in Pantnagar, Uttarakhand.
Let us tell you that Rajasthan alone accounts for 87 percent of the total silver production in India. Four out of the 5 largest zinc-lead-silver mines locations in the country are in Rajasthan alone. Hindustan Zinc Limited, a Vedanta Group company, is the only producer of zinc-lead-silver in the country and the second largest producer in the world.
Vedanta Group currently holds 64.9% stake in Hindustan Zinc Limited, while 29.5% is held by the Government of India. In the state, production is being done by HZsL (Hindustan Zinc Limited) at Rampura Agucha in Bhilwara, Rajpura Dariba and Sindesar Khurd in Rajsamand, Jawar in Udaipur and Kayad in Ajmer.
Silver is being extracted from the land of Mewar for 1000 years
The history of extracting silver from the land of Rajasthan is more than 1000 years old. In the 11th-12th century there were neither drilling machines nor any modern technology. But even then there was a tremendous production of silver, lead (lead) and zinc (zinc) from the world famous Jawar mines, 40 km from Udaipur.
Silver, lead and zinc coming out of here were traded to many countries of the world. Due to this metal, Marwar became so prosperous that it came to be called the Silver Route in the world map. By the reign of Maharana Pratap, the economy of Marwar had become so strong that the Mughal armies attacked here several times to capture it. Presently Hindustan Zinc Limited is mining in this belt.
Read and watch the rest of Sunday Big Story’s episodes here-
1. How to make fake silver coins on Diwali: The cost of making one coin is Rs 18; give fake certificates
Going to buy silver coins for Mahalaxmi Puja on Diwali… so be alert. Are you also buying a fake silver coin of Rs 18 by paying Rs 550? This fear of yours can be 100% correct… because fake coins of silver coins are being made and sold in the market…(Click here to read full story)
2. 10 liters of milk in one rupee, you did not drink it: in 10 minutes we make detergent-refined oil, shampoo; Supply from Rajasthan to Delhi
10 liters of milk for 1 rupee… you must have been shocked to hear such a low price of milk. This milk is ready in just 10 minutes, but you will be shocked to know its reality. Bhaskar reporter reached Govindgarh town, a hot spot of fake milk, and after that what he saw… eyes were left torn. (Click here to read full news)