The Ministry of Mines on Thursday launched the ninth tranche of mineral block auctions, featuring 20 critical and strategic mineral blocks, alongside the third tranche of exploration licence auctions covering 11 blocks.

The latest mineral block auction includes deposits of graphite, glauconite, vanadium, gallium, titanium, rare earth elements (REE), tungsten, potash and halite, among other minerals.

The third round of exploration licence auctions, which grants concessions through competitive bidding for reconnaissance and prospecting activities, covers blocks containing copper, potash, halite, vanadium and associated mineralisation.

Across the first eight tranches of mineral block auctions, the government has offered 100 unique critical and strategic mineral blocks, of which 64 have been successfully auctioned.

Under the exploration licence regime, 11 blocks offered in the first two tranches have also been successfully auctioned.