GSI poures cold water on Indian El Dorado

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has poured cold water on the El Dorado-type scenario in Sonbhadra as it estimates that only 160 kg of gold can be extracted from the deposits and the surveys for gold in the region have not been encouraging.

The GSI has clarified on news reports about the availability of 3,350 tonnes of gold in Sonbhadra Pahadi and Hardi field.

Some of the reports have mentioned that the State Directorate of Geology and

Mining, (DGM) Uttar Pradesh has shared this information.

“Geological Survey of India is not a party to the information published in the news. GSI has not estimated such kind of vast resource of gold deposits in Sonbhadra district, UP”, the GSI said categorically in a statement.

The Geological Survey of India, Northern Region, has carried out several exploration works for gold. “However, the results were not encouraging about major resources for gold in Sonbhadra district”, GSI said.

This exploration was carried out almost twenty years back, in the field season 1998-99 and 1999-2000 and the report has been handed over to the DGM UP for information and further necessary action.

In the report, GSI has estimated a probable category resource of 52806.25 tonnes of ore with 3.03 grams per tonne gold (average grade) for a strike length of 170m in Sub-Block-H, Sonapahari area, Sonbhadra district, UP.

The mineralized zone having an average grade of 3.03 grams per tonne of gold is tentative in nature and the total gold which can be extracted from the total resource of 52806.25 tonnes of ore is approximately 160 kg and not 3,350 tonnes as mentioned in the media, GSI said.

A joint press conference as sought by the DMG, UP has also been organized by GSI and DGM Uttar Pradesh in Lucknow to clarify the issue.