Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage Site

Context:

Recently, Tamil Nadu’s Nayakkarpatti Tungsten Block was auctioned to Hindustan Zinc Ltd. However, the former faced too many controversies over its overlap with the Arittapatti biodiversity heritage site, raising ecological and cultural concerns.

Relevance:
GS-03 (Environment and Conservation)

Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage Site:

  • Biodiversity heritage sites: These are well-defined, unique areas that are ecologically fragile with high diversity of wild and domesticated species, presence of rare and threatened species, and keystone species.
  • Arittapatti village is well known for its rich ecological and historical significance.
  • It is located in the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu.
  • Ecological Importance: Houses 250 bird species, including three important raptors, the, the Laggar Falcon, Shaheen Falcon, and Bonelli’s Eagle.
    • Wildlife includes Indian pangolins, slender loris, and pythons.
  • Cultural Significance: It is famous for its megalithic structures, rock-cut temples, and Tamil Brahmi inscriptions.

About Tungsten:

  • Tungsten is a rare metal found naturally on Earth, almost exclusively as compounds with other elements.
  • Scheelite and wolframite are the major ores of Tungsten. It occurs in rocks and minerals combined with other chemicals, but never as a pure metal.
  • Tungsten is a free element, meaning it is not combined with or chemically bonded to other elements.
    • Other examples of free elements include the oxygen molecule (O2), carbon, and the noble metals gold and platinum.
  • Elemental tungsten is a white to steel grey metal (depending on the purity) that can be used in pure form or mixed with other metals to make alloys.
  • Features:
    • One of the densest metals, with a density of 19.3 g/cc.
    • Highest melting point of all metals at 3410 °C.
    • Lowest vapour pressure of all metals with 4.27 Pa at 3410 °C.
    • Highest tensile strength of all metals over 1650 °C.
  • Uses of Tungsten
    • Material Properties: Strong, flexible, wear-resistant, and good electrical conductor.
    • Industrial Applications: X-ray tubes, light bulbs, high-speed tools, welding electrodes, and turbine blades.
    • Sports Equipment: Golf clubs, darts, and fishing weights.
    • Defence: Bullets and armour penetrators.
    • Catalyst: It acts as a catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions.
    • Major Producers: China, Vietnam, Russia, and North Korea.
    • Strategic Importance: Classified as a Critical Mineral by the Indian government

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