The mines ministry has announced that it will be handing over 16 geological reports to nine state governments on February 9 for potential non-coal mines — Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Telangana. The potential blocks consist of base metal, bauxite, phosphorite, limestone, graphite, gold, nickel, chromium, iron, manganese, and PGE. The ministry has emphasised the exploration of strategic, critical and fertilizer minerals.