Gold mine discovered in Deogarh’s Adasa-Ramapalli area, inspections ongoing

Bhubaneswar, Aug 22: Steel and Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena announced in the Odisha Assembly on Thursday that a gold mine has been discovered in the Adasa-Ramapalli area of Deogarh. Ongoing inspections are aimed at identifying additional gold deposits. The discovery was made during a Geological Survey of India (GSI) inspection intended for copper ore in the region. Jena mentioned that plans are being developed to auction the gold block.

He explained that the G2 level re-inspection, which began in 2021-22, is being conducted jointly by the GSI and the Directorate of Mines and Geology. This re-inspection builds on earlier surveys conducted between 1981-83 and 1989-96 in the Gopur-Gajipur area of Keonjhar district. The exact quality and quantity of the gold deposit have not yet been determined, so there are no immediate plans for excavation.

Media sources, citing GSI experts, reported an estimated 1,685 kg of gold ore along with copper in the Adasa area. Preliminary estimates suggest that there could be between 2.5 grams to 10 grams of gold per tonne of ore in a quartz vein 60 meters long and one meter wide in the Gopur area.

Additional surveys are being carried out in various locations including Adasa-Ramapalli in Deogarh, Dimirimunda, Kushakala, Gotipur in Keonjhar, and Joshipur, Suriaguda, Ruansila, and Dhushura hill in Mayurbhanj to better assess the gold deposits before proceeding with the auction. Jena also mentioned that there are no current plans to establish a processing unit for gold extraction.

Furthermore, potential gold deposits are suspected in several districts such as Sundargarh, Nabarngpur, Angul, Koraput, Malkangiri, Sambalpur, and Boudh, though no surveys have been conducted in these areas to confirm their presence.