The Bihar government has decided to accord permission for exploration of the country’s largest gold reserve in Jamui district.
Gold reserve in Bihar
- As per a Geological Survey of India (GSI) survey, around 222.88 million tonnes of gold reserve, including 37.6 of the mineral-rich ore are present in Jamui.
- The GSI findings have indicated the presence of gold in areas such as Karmatia, Jhajha and Sono in Jamui district.
- The state government is likely to sign an MoU with a central agency or agencies for G3 (preliminary) stage exploration within a month.
- In certain areas, G2 (general) exploration could also be done.
Total resources of primary gold ore in India
- As per National Mineral Inventory, the total resources of primary gold ore in the country as on 1.4.2015 are estimated at 501.83 million tonnes with 654.74 tonnes of gold metal and out of this, Bihar is endowed with 222.885 million tonnes (44%) of ore containing 37.6 tonnes of metal.
- These resources of gold in Bihar are categorized under United Nations Framework Classification[UNFC] code-333 (128.885 million tonnes containing 21.6 tonnes metal) and UNFC code-334 (94 million tonnes containing 16 tonnes metal).
- The entire resource of gold ore in Bihar is located in Sono area of Jamui district.
- During the last five years, Geological Survey of India [GSI], an attached office of Ministry of Mines, has carried G4 stage ‘reconnaissance survey’ for gold in parts of West Champaran district and G3 stage ‘preliminary exploration’ in Gaya district of Bihar following the guidelines of UNFC.
- In West Champaran district, G4 stage exploration was carried out for placer gold in foothills of Siwalik Himalayas, but the average concentration of placer gold in this area is low (0.0061ppm to 1.96 ppm) and no resource has been estimated.
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