Lok Sabha Question No. 1007 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Gold Mines
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: S. Muniswamy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1007

ANSWERED ON 26.07.2023

## GOLD MINES

1007. SHRI S. MUNISWAMY:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Ministry has found any locations in the Country for Gold mines;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether there is a possibility of starting Gold mining in a location in Andhra Pradesh adjoining Kolar in Karnataka and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Ministry is planning to meet out the requirements of Gold in the country through mining again including the Kolar Gold Fields; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINES, COAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a) to (e): As per the information available with the Ministry, the details of resource bearing  Geological  Reports  for  gold  handed  over  by  Geological  Survey  of  India and Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL) to various States since FY 2015-16 is given in Annexure. During 2016-18 MECL has undertaken detailed exploration over the tailing dumps of Bharat Gold Mines Ltd. at Kolar Gold Field and estimated 24279  kg Gold from tailing dumps. However Beneficiation studies undertaken by Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), a subordinate office of Ministry of Mines, indicates that only  54%  of  gold  content  is  recoverable.  In  addition  to  these,  42  Geological Memorandums  of  G4  level  of  exploration  for  the  mineral  gold  have  also  been handed over to States for which resources have not been estimated.

As  per  the  information  provided  by  the  Government  of  Andhra  Pradesh,  the State  Government  has  completed  the  auction  process  and  issued  Letter  of  Intent for Chigurugunta-Bisnatham Gold Block in favour of M/s, National Mineral Development Corporation Limited.

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Details of resource bearing Geological Reports handed over by Geological Survey of India/ Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited to the respective State Government since FY 2015-16:

|   Sl. No. | State          | District       | Name of Mineral Block / Area/ Belt                                                                                    | Stage of exploration   | Year of Handing Over   |
|-----------|----------------|----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
|         1 | Jharkhand      | East Singhbhum | Preliminary exploration for gold in Bhitar Dari block, East Singhbhum District, Jharkhand                             | G3                     | 03.06.2020             |
|         2 | Karnataka      | Tumkur         | General exploration for gold in Ajjanahalli Block- E, Tumkur district, Karnataka.                                     | G2                     | 28.06.2018             |
|         3 | Karnataka      | Tumkur         | Investigation for gold in Ajjanahalli block - G, Tumkur district, Karnataka                                           | G2                     | 25.04.2019             |
|         4 | Madhya Pradesh | Sidhi          | General Exploration for Gold Mineralisation in Chakariya block, Sidhi district, Madhya Pradesh.                       | G2                     | 02.01.2018             |
|         5 | Madhya Pradesh | Katni          | General Exploration for Gold, Silver and Basemetal in Imaliya block, Sleemanabad area, Katni District, Madhya Pradesh | G2                     | 02.01.2018             |
|         6 | Karnataka      | Hassan         | Kempinkote Gold Block                                                                                                 | G2                     | August 2017            |