Bhubaneswar: Gold deposits were found in various parts of Deogarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts in Odisha, Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Kumar Mallik told the state Assembly Monday.
Replying to a question from Sudhir Samal (BJD), the Minister said as per a preliminary survey conducted by the State Directorate of Mines and Geology and the Geological Survey of India (GSI) presence of gold deposits are found in the Adas area of Deogarh, Gopur, Gazipur, Kusakala, Adal, Saleikana, Dimirimunda and Karadanga area of Keonjhar district.
Gold deposits are also found in Jashipur, Suriaguda, Ruansi, Ladelkucha, Maredihi, Suleipat and Badampahar areas of Mayurbhanj district, the minister said.
Mallik said as per the survey conducted by GSI 1685 kg of gold is estimated to have been present in copper ore at the G2 level in the Adas area.
In addition to it 6.67 million tonnes of copper, 0.638 million tonnes of silver and 0.10 million tonnes of nickel are estimated to have been present in copper ore in the region.
He said two gold-carrying quartz veins were found in the Gopur area during a survey conducted by the State Mine and Geology Directorate from 1977-83 and 1989-96. The survey found the presence of I KG gold in one-tonne ore.
The presence of gold is also found in Saleikana in Quezon vein on the southern side of Gopur and in Saleikana area. Presence of gold is found 30 to 60 metres below the surface of the earth.
The Minister said a survey conducted in the Jashipur- Suriaguda- Ruansi area of Mayurbhanj district conducted by the State Directorate of Mines and Geology found the presence of 0.1 to 2.6 grams of gold per tonne and 0.1 to 08 grams of gold per tonne in 2.3 km conglomerate horizon spread over Dhusuri hill.
UNI