Gold Industry in India: Resources, Reserves, Mining, Metallurgy and Environment

ABSTRACT VOLUME
National Seminar
on
“Gold Industry in India:

Resources, Reserves, Mining,
Metallurgy and Environment”
28 – 29 May 2009
Organized by
Geological Society of India, Bangalore

and
The Hutti Gold Mines Company Limited
1
A Call for Action
India has been known as the land of gold since ancient times.
Numerous old workings for gold exist in almost every state. There is no
doubt that it was once a flourishing industry providing employment to a
large number of people. For various reasons this activity suddenly ceased
and most of the mines had to be rediscovered but the industry failed to
recover the earlier status or grandeur. Since making money and not
provision of employment was the sole object mining activity became
concentrated at one or two places like Kolar and Hutti. Even at Hutti
mining was started as a famine relief operation. The history of gold
mining at Hutti indicates how a small prospecting venture can be made
a profitable through careful management. The numerous other known
occurrences of gold can also be brought to the stage of Hutti but lack of
interest on the part of the government and industrial establishment has
allowed an industry with enormous growth potential and employment to
remain stagnant. Exploration seems to go on forever without taking
forward steps for development into productive ventures. Valuable time is
lost in formalities, in framing rules. Numerous restrictions are imposed
and the process of granting mineral concession itself is inordinately
delayed, maps and exploration details are withheld offering no incentive
to entrepreneurs who are prepared to risk their money.
A more liberal policy is called for. Employment generation and
improving the standard of living of the people has been sadly neglected.
The example of China should be an eye opener. China which was
way down in the list of countries producing gold, today tops the list
overtaking giants like USA, Russia and South Africa. It would be
worthwhile to form a special group for studying the ways and means by
which that country has been able to take a giant leap and achieve
spectacular results.
The identification of obstacles which are hampering the growth of
the industry and steps to be taken for revival of the industry should form
the main task of the Group Discussion being held. The goal should be to
utilize resources lying idle, creation of rural employment on a massive
scale and thereby improving the standard of living of the large majority
of the rural population of India
B.P. Radhakrishna
Email: [email protected]
2
L.C. CURTIS 33, Berlie Street, Langford Town
A.C.S.M., C.Eng., F.G.S.I. Bangalore-560025
Tel: 22247090 Telefax : 22247890
MINING CONSULTANT
Mobile: 9845003264
Date: 23.05.2009
National Seminar on Gold Industry in India
It is to be hoped that this Seminar presages a re-vitalisation of

gold mining in India. For far too long has it been forced to playa
very minor and subsidiary role in the country’s economy, its”
potential for the development of, usually, backward districts,
employment and the production of a metal of international value
and demandvirtually ignored. All participants may be assured that,
properly conceived and executed, most of the known prospects can
mature into viable mines. In this connection a start has already been
made on a combined opencast and underground operation in the
Gadag Gold Field. I wish all participants all success in their
endeavours to re-establish an ancient industry in modern form.
L.C. Curtis
3
GOLD INDUSTRY IN INDIA
09.00 – 09.30 AM Registration
09.30 – 11.30 AM Inaugural Session; Invocation;

Welcome
Inauguration and Address
Shri M.P. Renukacharya

Chairman, The Hutti Gold Mines Co., Ltd.
Addresses:
1. S.S. Pattanashetti, IAS
Deputy Secretary to Government,
Commerce & Industries Department,
Government of Karnataka
2. K. Amaranarayana
Managing Director,
The Hutti Gold Mines Co. Ltd
3. Shivalinga Murthy, IAS

Director
Department of Mines & Geology
4. V.D. Rajagopal
Director, DMG, AP
Vice Chairman, APMDC
Hyderabad
5. Narendra A. Baldota
Chairman & Managing Director,
MSPL Limited, Hospet
6. Sandeep Lakhwara
Managing Director,
Deccan Gold Mines Limited, Bangalore
7. Surender Chaku
Metals Minerals Private Limited, Bangalore
4
8. Shambhunath Ghosh
Sr. Dy. Director General,
AMSE Wing, GSI, Bangalore
9. T.M. Mahadevan
Former Director, AMD
Presidential Address
Harsh Gupta
President, Geological Society of India,
Bangalore
Vote of Thanks
11.30 – 12.00 Tea Break
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEMINAR PROGRAMME
DATE: 28.05.2009, TIME: 12.00 – 13.30
TECHNICAL SESSION – 1: KEY NOTE ADDRESSES
Exploration - S.K. Biswas
Mining - M.H.R. Rao
Metallurgy - G.V. Rao, IMMT, Bhubaneswar

T.J. Sriraghava
Finance - R.H.Sawkar
13.30 to 14.30 - LUNCH
15.30 to 16.30 - GSI Council Meeting
17.00 to19.00 - GSI Founders Day Celebration

19.00 to 20.00 - Cultural Programme
20.00 to 22.00 - Dinner
5
2nd DAY
Date: 29.05.2009
Technical Session – 2: 9.30 AM – 11.30 AM

(Total: 4 papers; Duration: 90 Minutes. Each Paper: 20 Minutes)
Chairman:
Co-Chairman:
1. Gold Mining Industry in India – A Review

K.R. Raghu Nandan 9.30am to 9.50am
2. New Discoveries of Gold Mineralized zones and Resources

by Geomysore Services Pvt.Ltd and Deccan Gold Mines Ltd.
Vasudev. V.N, Peshwa, S.C.R, Hanuma Prasad. M, Harish
Kumar, S.B. Saleem Ahmed Khan, Sridhar D.N, & Swapnendu
Goon
Three speakers: 20mts each: 9.50am to 10.30
3. Integrated Exploration and exploratory Mining leading to the

development of Hutti – a world class Gold Deposit, in an
Archaean Hutti –Muski Greenstone belt, Karnataka, India
M.L.Patil 10.30am to 10.50am
4. Hira-Buddinni Gold Deposit: Current Status & Potentialities,

Hutti - Maski Schist Belt, Karnataka, India
Prabhakar Sangurmath 10.50am to 11.10am
_______________________________________________________________
BREAK FOR TEA 11.15am to 11.30am
6
Session – 3: 11.30 AM – 01.30 PM
Chairman:
Co-Chairman:
1. Evolution & Innovation in the Process Plant pay a rich dividend

in Hutti Gold Mines Company Limited.
M. Shankargouda, V.G. Suresh Kumar and A.R. Walmiki
11.30am to 11.50am
2. The Gold Process Mineralogy and its significance in Gold

Metallurgy: Case studies from gold exploratory sites in
Chitradurga Schist Belt.
P.V. Sunder Raju and S. Nirmal Charan 11.50am to 12.10pm
3. An assessment of the gold potential in the South Kolar Schist

Belt
J.V. Subbaraman and K.M. Diwakaran 12.10pm to 12.30pm
4. Nugget Formation and Distribution in the Champion Lode, KGF.

J.V. Subbaraman 12.30pm to 12.50pm
5. Evidence of Gold in Kolar Komatiites

J.V. Subbaraman 12.50pm to 1.20pm
6. Gold Mineralization
N. Devarajan & P. Sahoo 1.10pm to 1.30pm
BREAK FOR LUNCH 1.30 pm to 2.30pm
7
Session – 4: 02.30 PM – 03.30 PM
————————————————————————————————————————————
——————————————————————————————
Chairman:
Co-Chairman:
1. Lateritic gold deposits of Wynad-Nilambur Gold Fields, Kerala

and theirEconomic potential.
Narayanaswamy 2.30pm to 2.50pm
2. Gold Exploration in Gadag Schist Belt.

Yamini Singh, Sujata Pattnaik, Geetanjali Rana, Prathana
Das, N. Sadasiva Rao, B. Murali Krishna, Sharmila Patra and
Arpita Basak 2.50pm to 3.10pm
3. Gold Mineralization in Attappadi Belt, Southern Granulite

Terrain, Kerala
R. Krishnamurthi and T. Pradeepkumar 3.10pm to 3.30pm
BREAK FOR TEA 3.30pm to 4.00pm

_______________________________________________________________
Session – 5: 04.00 PM – 05.00 PM

___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Chairman:
Co-Chairman:
1. Auriferous Lodes in Sakoli Fold Belt – A Review.
K. Sashidharan and A.K. Saha 4.00pm to 4.20pm
2. Integrated Surveys for Gold Exploration in the Northern Part of

Veligallu Greenstone Belt, South India.
Priyadarshi Sahoo, K. Subba Rao and Anusuya Ransingh.
4.20pm to 2.40pm
3. Assessment of Environmental impacts in different land use

patterns of a Mining Area using landsat TM data and GIS
techniques
M. Rajamanickam and S. Rajendran 4.40 to 5.00pm
_______________________________________________________________
8
FIELD TOUR ON 30-05-2009, Saturday
-------------------______________________________________________________________
1. 6.30AM Assemble at Swathi Hotel

Address: No.1, Railway Platform,Seshadripuram, Bangalore– 20
Phone: 23562122, 23561132, 23466124, 23563125
2. 7.00AM Leave Bangalore to Bellara Gold Mines.
Break fast at Kamat Upchar before reaching Tumkur
Visit Bellara and Ajjanhalli Gold Mines & Ingaldhal Mines,

Proceed to Chitradurga & halt at Hotel Ishwarya Fort.
31-05-2009, Sunday
Break fast 6.30am to 7.30am
Leave Chitradurga to G.R.Halli old Gold Mines of M/S HGML,

Proceed to Haveri on NH 4 & visit Ganajur Gold prospect.
Packed Lunch: proceed to Gadag city & halt in Krishi Vigyana
Kendra.
01-06-2009, Monday
Leave Gadag city to Sangli Gold Mine, visit old Mysore Mine &
Kabulyat katti mine & return to Gadag city:
Lunch 2.00PM and Leave Gadag to Hutti Gold mines and Halt
02- 06- 2009, Tuesday

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Visit Hutti Mine Exploration office 8.00am to 9.00am
Visit Hutti underground Mines 9.30am
9
Break for Lunch 12.30pm to 1.30pm
Leave Hutti Mines to Uti Gold Mine: Hira Buddinne Mine and on way
back, if time permits visit Hirenagnur Gold prospect 1.30pm
Assemble at Hutti Gold Mine Club for Dinner. 7.00pm
03-06-2009, Wednesday
Proceed to Jonnagiri Gold Field via Raichur & Adoni. If time

permits visit Jonnagiri Gold field; otherwise halt at Hotel Bheemas
Regency in Adoni
(ph: 08512-252555, 253561, Cell 998087756 & 59
(pp.Mr.Nagaraj)
04-06-2009, Thursday
Proceed to Jonnagiri Gold Field; Dona East & Temple Blocks &
leave at 11.30 am to Anantapur & break for lunch at 1pm
Leave at 2.00pm to Ramagiri Gold Field & return to Bangalore

by 9.00pm
10
Contents
Messages
1. Geological Domain for Gold Exploration in India

S.K. Biswas and K.K. Gangopadhyay 1
2. Profile of Gold Mining Industry in Karnataka
M.H.R. Rao 3
3. Pollution Control Management System Adopted in under Ground
Gold Mines, A Case Study - the Hutti Gold Mines, M/s the Hutti
Gold Mines Co. Ltd.
T.J. Sri Raghava 7
4. Finance
R.H. Sawkar 8
5. Gold Mining Industry in India - A Review
K.R. Raghu Nandan 9
6. New Discoveries of Gold Mineralized Zones and Resources by
Geomysore Services (India) Pvt. Ltd. and Deccan Gold Mines Limited
Vasudev, V.N., Peshwa, S.C.R., Hanuma Prasad, M., Harish Kumar, S.B.,
Saleem Ahmed Khan, Sridhar, D.N. & Swapnendu Goon 10
7. Integrated Exploration and Exploratory Mining Leading to the
Development of Hutti – a World - Class Gold Deposit, in an
Archaean Hutti - Maski Greenstone belt of Karnataka, India
M.L. Patil 12
8. Hira-Buddinni Gold Deposit: Current Status & Potentialities,
Hutti-Maski Schist Belt, Karnataka, India
Prabhakar Sangurmath 13
9. ‘Evolution & Innovation in the process plant’ pay a rich dividend
in Hutti Gold Mines Company Limited
M.Shankargouda, V.G.Suresh Kumar & A.R. Walmiki 13
10. The Gold Process Mineralogy and its Significance in Gold
Metallurgy: Case Studies from gold exploratory sites in
Chitradurga Schist Belt, Western Dharwar Craton, Karnataka
P.V. Sunder Raju and S. Nirmal Charan 14
11. An assessment of the gold potential in the South Kolar Schist Belt
J.V. Subbaraman and K.M. Diwakaran 15
12. Nugget Formation and Distribution in the Champion Lode,
Kolar Gold Mines
J.V. Subbaraman 18
11
13. Evidence of Gold in Kolar Komatites
J.V. Subbaraman 22
14. Gold Mineralisation in Andhra Pradesh and Future Exploration

Prospects
N. Devaraj and Priyadarshi Sahoo 27
15. Lateritic Gold Deposits of Wynad-Nilambur Gold Fields,

Kerala and Their Economic Potential
Narayanaswamy 28
16. Gold Exploration in Gadag Schist Belt

Yamini Singh, Sujata Pattnaik, Geetanjali Rana, Prathana Das, N.
Sadasiva Rao, B. Murali Krishna, Sharmila Patra and Arpita Basak 30
17. Gold Mineralization in Attappadi Belt, Southern Granulite

Terrain, Kerala
R. Krishnamurthi and T. Pradeepkumar 31
18. Auriferous Lodes in Sakoli Fold Belt - A Review

K. Sashidharan and A.K. Saha 32
19. Integrated Surveys for Gold Exploration in the Northern part of

Veligallu Greenstone Belt, South India
Priyadarshi Sahoo, K. Subba Rao and Anusuya Ransingh 34
20. Palaeoproterozoic Orogenic Gold Metallogeny in Rajasthan linked

with Crust-Mantle Interaction and Lithosphere-Scale Tectonics:
A Clue to Deposit Discovery
S. Sinha-Roy 35
21. Exploration for Gold in South Indian Shield - A modern Potential

Modelling and Quantitative Resource Assessment
M.M. Mukherjee 38
22. Spatial and Geological Contiguity between Wayanad and Attapadi Supracrustals
and its Relevance to Future Gold Prospecting Strategies
R.V.G.Nair, N.Krishna Kumar and M.M.Nair 39
23. Status of Gold Exploration in Mahakoshal Group, Sidhi District,

M.P. and Sonbhadra District, U.P.
M.A. Khan and V.P. Sinha 40
24. Gold Mineralisation in Singhbhum Mobile Belt, Jharkhand,

Eastern India - An Overview for Future Search
B.K. Chaudhuri 41
12
GEOLOGICAL DOMAIN FOR GOLD
EXPLORATION IN INDIA
S.K. BISWAS AND K.K. GANGOPADHYAY

Geological Survey of India, 27, J.L. Nehru Road, Kolkata-16
Email: shyamal [email protected]
Evidence of ancient gold mining activity is spread over length and breadth of the
country. Record of past gold production by the ancients is obscured due to lack of
preservation of data. The foundation of the present gold mining activity was,however, laid
by the European entrepreneurs during the end of the Nineteenth century and a gold boom’,
was experienced with commencement of gold mining in Wynad Gold Field. During this
period, many gold mines were opened up in South India namely Kolar, Hutti, Gadag,
Ramagiri and Honalli etc. and a few in Jharkhand, viz Lawa, Mysara, Pahardia,
Kundrekocha etc. Most of the mines were closed down subsequently and the country’s
annual gold production, which remained at 10 to 18 tonnes for a period of forty years from
1897 to 1937 has dwindled down to nearly three tonnes at present.
The current gold boom the world over did not have any perceptible effect on Indian
gold production. Currently gold is produced mainly from three mines in Karnataka (Hutti,
Uti and Hirabuddini) and one in Jharkhand (Kundrekocha). Production of gold bullion in
India is reported both from primary and secondary sources, the latter includes recovery
from imported copper concentrates. In 2006-07, total gold production was 12.82 tonnes,
which included 2.36 tonnes from primary source, 127 kg from indigenous by-product
source and 10.34 tonnes of by-product type from imported copper concentrate. .
Gold is a scarce commodity in India but the country has a traditional market and
stable pattern of gold consumption. Historical production and presence of worldclass gold
deposits in the country suggests that India has potential geological domain for search of
gold.
Spatial and temporal distribution of gold:
Although primary and secondary gold are known from the vast tract of Peninsular and
Extra Peninsular India, the major primary occurrences are restricted to Peninsular shield.
All the three deposit types namely, primary, placer and lateritic types are recognized but
the placer and lateritic types have not yet proved to be economic. The important primary
gold provinces where geological environment is suitable for gold mineralization are:-
i) Archaean granite greenstone terrain of Dharwar, Bastar and Singhbhum craton.
ii) Proterozoic volcano-sedimentary Fold Belts/Supracrustal belts of Eastern, Western
and Central India.
iii) Proterozoic volcanogenic polymetallic sulphide deposits of Western India.
iv) Granulite terrain lying in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
v) Archaean/Proterozoic quartz-pebble conglomerate (palaeo placer type).
13
Lateritic gold occurs as capping in the southern granulite terrain and also in the
Archaean/Proterozoic volcano-sedimentary belts of South, East and Central India.
Secondary placer (alluvial) gold in small quantity occurs widely in different parts of the
country along the river courses draining the rocks of Peninsular India and the Himalayan
belt, particularly the Siwaliks.In the Himalayas, minor association of gold is known along
with basemetal sulphides.
Global gold metallogeny has recognized that the Archaean period between 2800 and
2600 Ma was the most favourable for concentration of gold as vast gold deposits were
formed during this period in the greenstone belts within cratonic areas. Gold mineralization
again reached a high during the last 100 million years of the earth’s history. Limited
geochronological data reveal that gold mineralization in India was episodic, with major
period of enrichment in the Late-Archaean (2800-2500Ma) and a few in the Mid-Archaean
(> 3000 Ma). Another period is the palaeo- Proterozoic where the gold prospects within
the Fold Belts/Supracrustal Belts of Central, Western and Eastern India are mostly with or
without basemetals. Presence of gold is known with Malanjkhand Copper deposit. Except
for sporadic occurrences, gold deposits are absent in Post Proterozoic younger rocks
developed in Indian subcontinent.
The Dharwar craton records maximum number of gold occurrences in the Archaean
granite greenstone terrain, hosting all the major Indian gold deposits in the greenstone
belts.Gold has been recorded from adjoining granitoid also. A major north-south trending
shear zone divides the craton into eastern and western blocks. The eastern block is more
potential, hosting all the major deposits. Gold deposits, though less in numbers, are found
in western block also. Except world class deposits, namely Champion Reef (Kolar Gold
Field) and Hutti Gold Mine the other deposits (where resources established) discovered so
far are comparatively smaller. Apart from Dharwar craton, the other Archaean gold deposits
are Kundrekocha in Jharkhand and Dhani Basri in Rajasthan. Proterozoic gold deposits are
recorded in Aravalli Fold Belt (Bhukia area), Singhbhum Fold Belt (Lawa, Parasi,
Pahardia), Mahakoshal Belt (Gurharpahar, Imaliya), Sakoli Fold Belt (Parsori west),
Sonakhan Belt and Kotri rift zone. Small resources have been recorded from the southern
granulite terrain (Maruda, Kappil, Kottathara).
In India, exploration to a limited depth have indicated that majority of the deposits
have total metal content below one tonne, a few with total gold content between one and
ten tonnes and a limited number with metal content more than 10 tonnes. As exploration
was to a limited depth, the grade-tonnage distribution estimated during exploration does
not give total picture of the deposits.
The potential blocks which deserve attention are listed below:
Belt name Block/Area name
Kolar Schist Belt Chigargunta, Tailing dump, Bisanatham.
Hutti Maski Schist Belt Adjacent to Hutti mine area, Wandalli, Buddini,
Chinchergi, Tuppadhur.
Jonnagiri Schist Belt Dona East, Dona Temple, Dona North and Dona South.
Ramagiri Schist Belt Ompratima-Gantalappa Sector.
Gadag Schist Belt Hosur-Champion, Mysore Mine and Sangli Mine.
Nugihalli Schist Belt Kempinkote
Dharwar Shimoga Schist Belt Chinmulgund
14
Chitradurga Schist Belt G.R.Halli, C.K.Halli and Gonur-Kotemaradi
Aravalli Fold Belt Jagpura, Bhukia East and West, Bhukia East Central
and Timranmata East.
Mangalwar Complex Dhani-Basri.
Shingbhum Fold Belt Parasi
Southern Granulite Terrain Maruda.
In addition to detailed probing of the deposits identified so far, there remains a

pressing need for locating buried/concealed deposits in known mineralized belts and in
identifying new geological environment for localization through conceptual studies.
Emphasis for deeper exploration is also necessary along with wider application of remotely
sensed data, satellite imagery and high resolution airborne multi-sensor geophysical
surveys. If gold production is to be increased in the country, more exploration fund is
needed from the private sector and small scale mining of low tonnage deposit has to be
developed through improved technology in mining and metallurgy.
PROFILE OF GOLD MINING INDUSTRY IN

KARNATAKA
M.H.R. RAO
Technical Director (Rtd), Bharat Gold Mines Co., Ltd. K.G.F.
Gold has been known in India since ages. It finds mention by different names in our
scriptures dated as far back as mythological times. This testifies to the flourishing trade in
gold in those ancient times. As a proof that gold was produced in the country in those times
there are evidences of numerous ancient workings for gold through out the length and breadth
of the country. Most important of all these gold occurrences are in the state of Karnataka.
Improved methods of mine development started in the year 1870 in the Kolar schist
belt and on the Hutti Muski schist belt from 1887 onwards .For almost ten years from 1870
there were many companies prospecting in the Kolar Schist belt when in1880 M/s John
Tylor & Sons, London struck a very good patch of lode in the Champion lode system which
changed the face or Kolar Gold Fields becoming one of the world famous gold fields. The
Hutti Muski belt was also prospected about the same time and considerable mining activity
was carried out and along this belt there were ten mining blocks worked between 1887 and
1908. Many mines came up in the area at Buddini,Wandalli and Hutti .While the mines at
Buddini and Wondalli folded up due to various reasons mostly perhaps economical in those
days Hutti survived and continues to be the only producing gold mine in the country.
Accounting for about two tones of gold per year though it was projected to produce more
than 3000 kgs of gold by 1998-99 according to the joint report of the management and
consultants in March 1905..
The closure of operations in Kolar gold fields is another dark chapter in the annals
of mining history in India. Though now it is only of academic interest this is intended to
be a lesson for the future generations. K.G.F was an engineering marvel .By the sweat and
15
toil of generations of workmen it reached a depth of 3200 meters below surface. Many of
the systems introduced as early as 1940’s were first in the mining industry .They were. the
air conditioning plants including one at 8000 ft. underground. Reichter scale detection of
ground movement and. miner’s health investigation. At the time the decision to close the
mines were taken it had proved reserve of 6 million tones at a grade of 5.22 grammes per
tonne with a gold content of 31.32 tonnes or 1 million ounces.
The mines were nationalized in 1956 by the Govt. of Karnataka and later handed over
to the Central Govt in 1962. In spite of the change in work culture after nationalization and
introduction of many unpopular changes affecting the staff and workmen the mines
continued to work satisfactorily. In 1972 the K.G.F. became a public sector undertaking
under the Central government In spite of many constraints and lack of interest to develop
the mines in depth the mines performed fairly well for the next ten years.
Till the year 1981-82 the mines produced 17.9 tonnes of gold at an average of 1790
Kgs of gold per year. in spite of an administered price linked to LME for gold produced
in the K.G.F. mines the total cash loss was only Rs.90 lakhs. In the years 1980 and 1981this
mines made a profit of Rs.980 Lakhs. in the year 1981 the cost of production for 10
grammes of gold was Rs.1608 while the Indian market price for gold was Rs.1718.95 and
within the next 10 years due to deliberate cutting down of production to as low as 600 Kgs
a year the cost of production naturally went up to more than Rs.8000 for 10 grammes. This
was sighted as the reason for closure of the mines. These was the case of give the dog a
bad name and hang it.
At the south end of the Kolar schist belt near Bisanatham in AP there are many ancient
mine workings dating back to 1883.. This was opened up by Bharat Gold Mines but closed
along will other workings though the prospect has potential to become a large scale
producing mine .At the time of abandoning these workings the mine was shallow and had
a developed reserve of 71000 MT at 6.15 g/t.
Did such a mine had to be closed causing so much misery to so many of those who
for generations struggled in these mines? The staff and workmen of K.G.F. were an unique
breed which was acknowledged by all who visited the mines including those from South
African mines. Under these circumstances what was the compelling reason to close the
mines?
What was the role of the state government in this situation? The minerals are the
property of the state and the lesse is expected to work the deposit in a workmanlike manner
to the benefit of the state.
There are many other ancient workings wherein considerable amount of work has
been carried out. Important areas are Gadag gold fields with 5 mines, Chitradurga belt with
3 important mines. Kudrekonda and Palavanahalli in Shimoga dist. Siddarahalli in
Chikmagalur dist and. Kempinkote in Nuggihalli belt near Hassan. Extensive work was
carried out in Bellara mines in Tumkur dist. and near Honnali in Shimoga Dist. Bellara
mines were worked by the then Govt. of Mysore under the direct supervision of the
Director of mines and geology in the year 1944.
Sri.a.Rama Rao Director Dept. of Mines and Geology (1944) after extensive
exploration work concludes. (Quote) From this brief review of gold investigation of
different periods in Mysore it can be seen that the activities of the ancient miners had
proved the wide spread occurrence of gold in the state but it should not be forgotten in this
16
connection that gold mining is generally a highly speculative venture but venture of a kind
which will repay a hundred fold if it succeeds. (unquote) .
Gold has it’s own fascination. It is said that no other metal has been the cause of so
much happiness for so few and misery for so many. Nowhere else in the world this
fascination is strikingly illustrated than in India. Gold has been revered in India. There is
no function religious or social without gold being the center of discussion. To meet these
requirements India needs nearly 500 tonnes of gold. Per year. It is proved that gold is a
hedge against inflation and the preferred form of investment for the majority of the people
in India and because of the sanctity attached to gold it is not traded in the normal course
for profit and so India becomes a country with the largest private holding of gold in the
world.
It is therefore established that the state of Karnataka is endowed with vast mineral
resources and gold occurrence is predominant.
In spite of these evidences of potential gold deposits it should surprise anyone as to
why these are not exploited are allowed to be exploited to increase the wealth of the state,
prosperity to the surrounding areas and gainful employment for many. It is possible to find
another Hutti or K.G.F. along the 400 Km long schist belt.
The objective of the state is to help find, develop and exploit all resources to the
benefit of man kind. Nature has been selective in distribution of these resources and if
those who have been lucky with the nature’s bounty become blind and negligent you
choose to remain poor and backward. Similarly placed countries have taken such giant
steps to exploit their mineral resources that their contribution to their GDP is 30 to 35%
while in India it is a mere 3.5%..
In the year 1876 in the then state of Mysore a proactive regulatory body called the
Dept. of Mines and Geology was established with Bruce Foot as it’s first Director. Since
then many eminent geologists and earth science experts of national and international repute
who came to occupy the chair distinguished themselves by their contribution in discovering
many important economic mineral deposits.
Since the change in the policy of the government to appoint generalists and revenue/
administrative officers to this highly technical and field work oriented post as Director of
Mines and Geology the objective of this most prestigious and age old institution has been
changed.
Granting that under these circumstances no new discovery is anticipated at least the
available resources in the 40000 Sq. Kms of green stone belt containing vast mineral
deposits such as gold, silver, platinum, copper, and diamond could have been exploited by
sound administrative action.
Gold Control order introduced in 1963 brought under the exclusive government and
their public sector enterprises’ control the exploitation of 13 major minerals called as
scheduled minerals. In the past efforts that were undertaken by the government under state
controlled economy did not succeed in mobilizing capital investment needed in
development of large-scale mines. Instead state owned mining projects relied on the
government budget, which was inadequate and unsustainable. This policy was oriented
towards communality and state ownership of industries. This policy was carried out
ambitiously but resulted in the disappearance of foreign capital and the flight of local
capital. During this period it is seen there was no substantial growth in the mineral sector
17
in spite of vast resources except perhaps iron ore, which is mostly under the control of
private sector. Only iron ore has become synonymous with mining in Karnataka.
The realization that there was negative growth in the mineral sector dawned on the
Govt. of India when in 1993 it proclaimed the Govt. of India’s National Mineral Policy and
brought a glossy brochure titled “Investment in India- The mining sector.” Since then many
publications have come out highlighting the mineral wealth of India, many seminars have
been held in all the important cities of the country. Govt. of India deputed some of their
senior officers to visit important mining centers of the world to showcase the mineral
sector of the country and the great opportunity available for investment.
In 1994 Additional Secretary Govt of India presented a paper at the International
Round Table Conference on foreign investment in exploration and mining in India.
In the year 2000 the then Hon. minister for mines Govt. of India gave his presidential
address at the Karnataka Mineral Conference-2000 at the banquet hall of Vidhana Soudha.
This coincides with the launch of Karnataka Mineral Policy 2000.
The Hon. Minister reminded the audience of the great mineral potential of the state
and wished all necessary initiative will be taken by the state government in speeding up
and materializing the new mineral policy. Entrepreneurs were requested to come forward
to implement their long awaited planned programme in exploring the mineral deposit of the
state It is a sad commentary that in spite of all this fanfare and the urgency shown at many
of the meetings not much progress has been made for the last more than 15 years in spite
of many” enthusiastic companies backed with their professionals in the field coming
forward to invest and venture in. this field of uncertainty.
Contrast this situation with the liberalization policy of the state of Tanzania an East
African country. The United Republic of Tanzania was formed in 1964 and has not taken
a long time to settle down as a well-administered democratic country in Africa. Similar to
India after many experiments introducing state sector economic policy it liberalized it’s
investment policy and invited global participation by an act called “Tanzanian Investment
Act 1997.Under this act a new mineral policy was also enacted in 1997.The objectives of
this policy is the formalization of the fiscal regime aiming at balancing the country’s
interest with those of investors by ensuring mining taxation regime is equitable and
predictable, and internationally competitive. The government as a regulator is to pursue
sound economic and fiscal policies that are conducive to private sector investment in
mining. The policy ‘gives various concessions to the mining sector and becomes a great
Incentive to private investment in mining sector.
With the faithful application of these rules and regulations Tanzania with in a period
of 15 years has risen from insignificant gold producer to become Africa’s third largest gold
producing country. More than 52 tonnes of gold was produced in 2005. The value of
mineral export rose from used. 312 million in 2001 to more than usd.728 million in 2005.
China our neighbor though under state controlled economy has demonstrated that
exploitation of resources of the country especially mineral sector is of primary concern.
China has relied upon small-scale mines with a total production of more than 200 tones
of gold per year. This production comes from nearly 460 gold mines in China. majority of
them with a milling capacity 0:C 50 to 100 tonnes per day. There are only about 10 mines
with a milling capacity of over 1000 tonnes per day. It is called as gold industry of China.
There is a large organization which controls this industry.
18
In India especially in Karnataka after the liberalization policy of 1993 and new
mineral policy of 2000 there has been hardly any progress in spite many pending
applications since 1993 for the grant of PL and ML licenses
Dept of mines and Geology made a presentation at the Karnataka mineral conference
2000 with the stated objectives for the development of vast mineral resources of the state
The state has the distinction of having good infrastructure in roads railways and air travel.
Highly qualified personnel are available in the country to man the mining industry. A well-
equipped mining machinery manufacturing unit was also established in the state.
Yet not a single objective of the 9 listed in mineral policy or of the strategic action
frame work adopted by the state was implemented. But there are instances where private
investment in gold prospecting was even stalled by the government. The reaction of one
of the groups from Australia after many visits to the country that they contributed more to
the tourism of the country than to the mineral sector sums up the reaction of prospective
investors.
At least now can the Govt. of Karnataka wake up to the realities and act in a manner
most beneficial to the state and it’s people. and create an atmosphere for economic revival
by:
1. Changed role of the government to become facilitator, regulator, promoter, and
service provider.
2. Globally competitive tax and regulatory regime for investors in mining
3. Accelerated and simplified handling of investment proposals,
4. A peaceful working environment free from ideological confrontations and labor
disputes.
5. Well established support services to the mining industry.
POLLUTION CONTROL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

ADOPTED IN UNDERGROUND GOLD MINES,
A CASE STUDY - THE HUTTI GOLD MINES,
M/s THE HUTTI GOLD MINES CO LTD.
T.J. SRI RAGHAVA

Environmental Engineer, The Hutti Gold Mines Co Ltd., Hutti- 584 115,
Lingasgur tq, Raichur Dist, Karnataka, INDIA.
Mining and associated activities inevitably give rise to substantial environmental and
social impacts. Management of these impacts in a responsible manner is a big challenge
to the mining industry. Mining industry on the other hand, has been trying to contribute in
a responsible way while adopting environmental friendly practices besides meeting the
challenge of societal development. Adoption of Pollution Control Management System is
always a win-win situation as these are not only regulate the pollution but also results in
considerable profitability coupled with established social credibility. The Pollution Control
19
Management System ( PCMS) includes a set of standardized practices and/or technologies
typically applied to control an actual or potential adverse impact when and where it initially
occurs .PCMS are utilized in the prevention, reduction, or control of an adverse impact(s)
before it becomes necessary to address the impact through disposal, treatment, or
remediation options. Pollution Control Management System- includes Domestic Effluent
Treatment Plant, Workshop Effluent Treatment Plant, Mine Water Discharge Sedimentation
Plant, Dust Suppression Majors, afforestation, and Pollution Monitoring.
The Hutti Gold Mines (HGML), presently is only one mining company (after the
closure of BGML, Kolar) in the country which is producing primary gold. Environment
management is accorded highest priority in The Hutti Gold Mines Co Ltd. Environment
education is considered as an important means in pursuit of for better healthy life.
In addition to this, key officers are sent outside for training every year by reputed
institutes. General environment of the Hutti Gold Mines is good & clear with full of trees
in the colony as well as in the mining area, along with these HGML has Adopted other
environment friendly technologies and environment system:
• Tailing thickener was installed to reclaim the water from final discharge and same
water is being reused for the process.
• Bag filter was installed at Assay office furnaces & Refinery section furnaces.
• New cyanide detoxification system adopted.
• VFD‘s are adopted for reducing power consumption.
• Increased the efficiency of final tailings classification system by adopting new
cyclone classification.
The negative impact of mining on health, land, water, air, plants and animals, and
other aspects of society can be reduced by careful planning and implementation of best
pollution management practices in mining. Adoption of Pollution Control management
System in mining ,established lots of profitability besides bringing in social and
environmental credibility.
FINANCE
R.H. SAWKAR
Geological Society of India, Bangalore
Based on open cast resources of Sangli mining lease and the experimental
metallurgical test results at MINTEK laboratory of South Africa, RMMPL a subsidiary of
MSPL Ltd will setup a 1000TPD gold beneficiation plant to produce initially 0.6 tones of
gold per annum in the limits of Attikatti village. During operation of opencast mining lease
sanctioned over 39.70Ha in Jalligeri village, Mundargi Taluk, RMMPL will under take
mine development programme in sanctioned prospecting lease of 6.11sq.km in Sangli-
Mysore mine block: 11.70sq.km in Kabuliyatkatti block and 5.062 sq.km in Hosur block,
20
to convert under ground resources into reserves and there after the capacity of the plant will
be scaled up to produce two tons of gold per annum with an ultimate aim to produce seven
tons of gold per annum depending on the conversion of resources to reserves by extended
exploration activity in areas partially explored b Geological Survey of India and in areas
where gold is associated with banded ferruginous Quartzites.
Resources, reserves, mining, metallurgies tests and production costs for open pit &
underground mining & milling are discussed.
GOLD MINING INDUSTRY IN INDIA – A REVIEW
K.R. RAGHU NANDAN

Deputy Director General, (Retd.,), Geological Survey of India
Gold mining industry in India dates back to ancient times – might have begun around
400 years ago. The country ranked 6th amongst the gold producing countries of the world
with a production of 19.5 tonnes in 1905. India currently produces 2-3 tonnes, hardly 0.4%
of its annual gold consumption (700-800 tonnes) when it is having 9% of the global gold
reserves. It is indeed a paradox that the country is the world’s largest consumer ( up to
30%), when it can certainly produce more yellow metal by mining its available reserves
(estimated to be 14,000 tonnes).
KGF mines, Karnataka - one of the oldest (120 years) in the world with very deep
levels (2-3 km below sea level) is closed and Hutti gold mines (revived in 1948) is now
the only prime producer in the country. It is imperative that gold mining in this country is
to be stepped up, especially considering the current soaring prices of the metal.
In the early years of mining, only high grade ores ( concentrated in the multiple
system of ore shoots common in the lode-type deposits) were mined to meet mining costs
and due to the then prevailing low price of gold. Low grade ores at higher reaches and
close to surface were left untouched. They are the favourable sites for open cost mining
requiring application of appropriate technology for maximum metal recovery.
The global scenario for gold mining and metallurgy witnessed a remarkable upward
change. But, it made no impact on the government controlled gold mining industry.
Advances made elsewhere (e.g. Australia) in technology of extracting gold from near
surface, clay-rich and oxidized ores by carbon-in-pulp, carbon-in-leach and heap-leaching
processes, which permit economic mining recovery of low grade supergene ores, should
have been applied in this country.
Our methodology of regional and detailed exploration leaves much to be desired. The
approach made in China based on the conceptual recognition of broad distribution patterns
of ultra fine gold is laudable. Lowering the analytical limit and anomaly threshold has
resulted in the discovery of many gold deposits. China’s gold output has climbed nearly
50% over the past 5 years (produced 276 tons in 2007) and is now the largest producer of
the precious metal overtaking South Africa.
High Resolution Aeromagnetic surveys over the potential belts; electronic prospecting
– use of detectors as prospecting tools; and application of latest techniques of drilling (for
21
obtaining large cores), application of various probes including immediate in situ analysis
of zones - should be carried out as part of the exploration programme for a meaningful and
a quick evaluation of the prospect.
Banded Iron Formation /Banded Ferruginous (sulphidic) Cherts (BIF/BFC) are the
other important gold bearing horizon besides the volcanic suite of rocks. Important gold
mines are located in the BIFs in Canada, Zimbabwe, Brazil and Australia. The BIF
horizons in the Chitradurga and Sandur greenstone belts, Karnataka merit detailed
exploration to determine the possibility of developing large scale low grade deposits.
A Super Pit (3.8 km long, 1.4km wide and 0.5km deep) is under development in the
Kalgoorlie goldfield, one of Australia’s historic mining districts to produce gold in this
latest phase of mining operation. It would be certainly worthwhile to consider the
development of a Super Pit at KGF and augment the gold production. Besides, another
asset – the already accumulated waste dumps (tailings) of about 30 million tonnes
containing recoverable gold (of 10-15 tonnes) needs exploitation.
NEW DISCOVERIES OF GOLD MINERALIZED ZONES

AND RESOURCES BY GEOMYSORE SERVICES (INDIA)
PVT. LTD. AND DECCAN GOLD MINES LIMITED
Vasudev, V.N., Peshwa, S.C.R., Hanuma Prasad, M., Harish Kumar, S.B.,
Saleem Ahmed Khan, Sridhar, D.N. & Swapnendu Goon
ABSTRACT
The first comprehensive documentation of the gold resources of India was

attempted 35 years ago in 1974 by Ziauddin and Narayanaswamy of the Geological
Survey of India. An updated resource documentation and an analysis of gold in India
was authored by Radhakrishna and Curtis 10 years ago in 1999, when the price of gold
was $ 265 per ounce. That was the time the State Governments were processing
applications mostly from private investors for grant of exploration licenses for gold,
base metals and diamond. Today the price of gold has trebled from its 1999 position and
is acting as a great incentive for intensive exploration and starting new gold mines, yet
neither the State Governments nor the Central Govt. has realized the importance of
granting PLs and MLs faster despite the fact that the Private players have demonstrated
their ability to find new gold fields and extensions of the known prospects. This paper
deals with successful efforts of two private companies at discovering new zones of gold
mineralization in 5 States of the country.
KARNATAKA STATE
1. BIF hosted Ganajur Main gold prospect and 8 satellite auriferous BIF bodies in
D-S Basin, Haveri district.
2. BIF hosted Mangalgatti and Bhavihal prospects in D-S Basin, Dharwad district.
3. 20 other BIF hosted gold prospects spread between Haveri and Dharwad in
Dharwar-Shimoga Basin.
22
4. Polymict conglomerate hosted gold in 3 prospects north of Hanni in Shimoga belt,
Chikmagalur district.
5. Sheared magnetite gabbro hosted Manigatta-Syagattur 5km long mineralized
zone, North Kolar belt, Kolar district.
6. BIF hosted Hirenagnur prospect in Hutti belt, Raichur district.
7. Granite hosted ENE-trending Yatkal Prospect in Hutti belt, Raichur district.
8. Granite hosted Ashoka prospect in South Hutti belt, Raichur district.
9. Palkanmardi-Chinchergi tract in Hutti belt, Raichur district.
10. Vadigehalli-Jaderi-Venkatapura prospect in North Kolar belt, Kolar district.
ANDHRA PRADESH STATE

Chigarigunta – Peddapartikunta New Tract in South Kolar belt, Chittoor district.
MADHYA PRADESH STATE

Kusera gold Field in Mahakoshal belt, Jabbalpur district.
MAHARASHTRA STATE
Mokabardi gold tract in Sakoli Fold belt, Nagpur district.
CHATTISGARH STATE
Granite hosted gold-bearing massive sulphide bodies and gold-quartz veins in
Semarkachar-Bhagora Gold Field, Jashpur district.
Authors will present details of the above prospects at the Seminar.
In the current high price of gold many of these recent discoveries including those
discovered by the GSI in the last four decades could be developed into new gold mining
centres, small and big, by the private sector in the country, provided grants of Prospecting
Licences and Mining Leases happen in a time-bound manner under a new set of investor-
friendly Rules and procedures. Government of India should take immediate steps to
constitute an independent body – “Gold Authority of India” as advised by Padmashree
Dr.B.P.Radhakrishna and Mr. L.C.Curtis, former Chairman of M/s HGML, to benefit from
the prevailing high price of gold and to fully support private initiative, exploration efforts
and establishment of hundreds of new gold mining centres in the country.
23
INTEGRATED EXPLORATION AND EXPLORATORY
MINING LEADING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF
HUTTI – A WORLD - CLASS GOLD DEPOSIT, IN AN
ARCHAEAN HUTTI - MASKI GREENSTONE BELT OF
KARNATAKA, INDIA
M.L. PATIL
General Manager (co-ordination), The Hutti Gold Mines Co. Ltd., Hutti - 584115, India
Historically, and in recent years, most of India’s gold production has been derived
from archaean lode deposits. The Hutti gold mine, situated in the Hutti-Maski schist belt,
along the eastern Dharwar Craton, has witnessed different evolutionary phases of
exploration dating from the Pre-Ashokan period, over 2,000 years ago. The gold fields
were re-discovered in the 1880’s and a mine of considerable size was established at Hutti
in 1887. After a checkered history the mine was restarted in 1948, geological mapping,
geochemical, geophysical surveys, mega-trenching, exploration drilling on surface and
underground, was continued besides exploratory-mine development and mining by
deepening of existing shafts. Currently, Hutti Gold Mines Company Limited (HGML), a
Government of Karnataka Undertaking, operates India’s largest and World Class Gold
Mine. The Hutti underground gold mine is the deepest working gold mine, the deepest
development point of which has reached a depth of about 870 m.
Exploration carried out in the leasehold areas of the Hutti mine has yielded the rich
gold ores in the past. The Hutti deposit is the richest of all the deposits occurring in the
Hutti gold district comprising of about 15 gold prospects/deposits. There are nine
significant, well-defined auriferous zones have been established and at which these are
almost confined to the central part of the Hutti shear zone.. The general direction of strike
of these reefs is N20oW to S20oE with an average dip of 70o due west. The Hutti deposit
is a typical shear-zone hosted gold deposit. The localization of gold at all scales, from
individual veins up to camp scale, is attributed to dilation zones produced by shear zones.
The gold mineralisation is mainly confined to sheared/fissile chlorite schist and contacts
of schistose amphibolite with felsic units and occurs with vein and veinlets of quartz/quartz
carbonate (ankerite) containing sulphides. In volume percentage, the sulphides make up
less than 2-5% of the rock at any location. Besides sulphides, scheelite is also present in
the ore lodes.
Gold production at Hutti was less than a tonne per year during the early
commissioning of stages. The mine reached its highest production of 3.5 tonnes. From
1948 (start-up of the Hutti Mine) through to the end of March 2009, the total ore mined
and gold produced is approximately 11.31 million tonnes @ 5.90 g/t, yielding 66.78
tonnes.
Hutti is a world-class deposit. Based on experience of similar deposits, geophysical
survey and geological projections gold resources are expected to persist up to 3000 m with
a total of about 262 tonnes of gold within its production, proved, probable and inferred
24
resources. An increase in known reserves has resulted in a decision to for expansion &
modernization of Hutti mine to sink a new shaft of 6 m diameter to a depth of 1,000 m
and also metallurgical plant adopting new technology, SAG & BALL mill technology. The
mega deep diamond drilling exploration from surface as well as from underground
including exploratory mine at deeper level is underway. This exploration programme
further gives an insight about the potentiality of this world class deposit to increase the
production to many folds in the coming years.
HIRA-BUDDINNI GOLD DEPOSIT: CURRENT STATUS &

POTENTIALITIES, HUTTI-MASKI SCHIST BELT,
KARNATAKA, INDIA
PRABHAKAR SANGURMATH
The Hutti Gold Mines Co.Ltd, Hutti-584115, India.
The Hutti Gold Mines Co. Ltd., (HGML), being the only major present primary
producers of Gold through exploration, mining & smelting activities in India, hold’s a
Mining Lease in Hira-Buddinni area, in Manvi Taluk of Raichur District in Karnataka state.
M/s. HGML embarked for the detailed exploration to generate the stable data-base on all
related aspects of the deposit to enable feasibility studies for taking investment decision to
establish a new mining center. Hire-Buddinni has good geological setup and its gold
potential is attractive. Erstwhile and recent explorations covered only a fraction of Hira-
Buddinni. The theme of this paper is to trace the Current Status & Potentialities of the
Hira–Buddinni Gold Deposit.
‘EVOLUTION & INNOVATION IN THE PROCESS PLANT’

PAY A RICH DIVIDEND IN HUTTI GOLD MINES
COMPANY LIMITED
M.SHANKARGOUDA*, V.G.SURESH KUMAR** & A.R. WALMIKI***

*Sr. Manager (R&D & Assay), ** Sr. Metallurgist, *** Dy. General Manager & HOD
Department of Metallurgy, Hutti Gold Mines Co Ltd., Hutti, Karnataka - 584115.
The Mineral industry throughout the world is wadding through a quagmire of

technological changes and topsy turvy economics. Technology inflow for modernization,
technological up gradation and improvement of productivity are the need of the hour. The
challenges faced by the mineral industries have provided an impetus for the development
of novel techniques of separation, improved equipment and machinery.
The Hutti gold Mines Company Limited (HGML), is the only premier gold producer
in India producing gold from gold ore in structured manner. HGML started gold production
25
in the year 1947; from the inception the process plant has undergone many changes for the
improvement with respect to not only increasing the capacity but also updated processes.
The sequence of technological changes was in the following chronological manner; in the
beginning only gravity recovery, later amalgamation, cyanidation and zinc precipitation and
finally carbon-in-pulp gold recovery system. As and when with the change in technology
in gold processing, HGML is adopting the same immediately to be competitive with the
rest of the gold industries across the globe.
To this end, efforts have been undertaken to elucidate the technological amendments,
role of significant variables in gold extraction process and to develop an effective
machinery utilization & reagents utilization strategy for gold processing plants.
This paper aims at summarizing the developments in the extraction of gold by
conventional cyanide leaching with great ease of plant practice. Some developments in the
area of plant modifications, lixiviant additions, effective utilization of machinery,
chemicals, design modifications and secondary gold recovery process from ‘g-ore wastes’
have also been briefly discussed.
THE GOLD PROCESS MINERALOGY AND ITS

SIGNIFICANCE IN GOLD METALLURGY: CASE
STUDIES FROM GOLD EXPLORATORY SITES IN
CHITRADURGA SCHIST BELT, WESTERN
DHARWAR CRATON, KARNATAKA
P.V. SUNDER RAJU AND S. NIRMAL CHARAN

National Geophysical Research Institute, Uppal Road, Hyderabad- 606
email: [email protected]
Gold continues to enjoy the reputation of being one of the most sought-after metals.
As the demand for gold has increased many folds, its search, using modern exploration,
mining techniques, understanding the gold mineralogy and significance in gold metallurgy
has also intensified.
The 450 km long Chitradurga Schist belt extends from Gadag in the north to
Srirangapatnam in the south with a NNW–SSE trend and undergone greenschist to
amphibolite facies metamorphism. The Chitradurga Super group is made up of the
Vanivilas, Ingaldhal and Hiriyur formations, in ascending stratigraphic order. The Ingaldhal
Formation is made up of basic, intermediate acid lavas, pyroclastics, associated MSOBIF
and Fe rich shales.
The ~1.2 km long and ~ 250 m wide C. S. Halli hill range constitutes the lithology
of MSOBIF and Fe rich shales, overlies carbonated schistose and massive metabasic
volcanics. In stratigraphic succession, they represent the Ingaldhal Formation that is an
integral part of the Chitradurga Schist belt. The general strike trend of the above
lithological sequence in the C. S. Halli area varies from N–S to N 340° with vertical to
steep easterly dips (in the northern parts) to 70–75° westerly dips (central portions). In
26
relatively less deformed portions, the average width of the banded iron formations (BIFs)
and the Fe-shales is 5 and 12 m.
In Ajjanahalli gold mineralization is localized to sheared sulphidic facies BIF of 10–
30 m width and extends up to nearly 35 km in length. The BIF strikes NNW–SSE and dips
50–70°E. The quartz veinlets traverse the BIF measuring 2 cm to 1 m in width and varying
up to 10–70 m length. The BIF shows profuse emplacement of quartz carbonate veins, with
wall-rock alteration (sercitization, chloritization, pyritization) and gold mineralization.
Petrography studies show that BIFs are medium grained comprising alternate bands of
recrystallized chert, iron oxides and sulphide- bearing bands with refractory gold (gold
locked in sulphides).
Based on the mode of occurrence of gold at C.S.Halli and Ajjanahalli, gold is
classified into three categories: microscopic, submicroscopic and surface-bound gold.
Microscopic or visible gold, refers to gold minerals in which gold occurs in a substantial
amount, such as native gold and electrum. Submicroscopic gold, i.e. invisible gold, or
Refractory gold refers to gold contained in the structure of other minerals (mainly sulfides)
in minor to trace amounts. Surface gold is the gold that was adsorbed onto the surface of
other minerals during mineralisation and subsequent oxidation or metallurgical processing.
Understanding the Gold mineralogy has a significant impact on its extractive metallurgy.
Gold process mineralogy helps to address problems related to gold ore processing. It is
widely used as a predictive and troubleshooting tool in gold ore processing, and provides
useful information on process selection, flow sheet development, recovery improvement
and reagent consumption optimisation.
This paper will present results on gold mineralogy and how it impacts extractive
metallurgy from studies carried out in Chitradurga Schist Belt, Western Dharwar Craton.
AN ASSESSMENT OF THE GOLD POTENTIAL IN THE

SOUTH KOLAR SCHIST BELT
J.V. SUBBARAMAN AND K.M. DIWAKARAN
In the 80km long Kolar Schist belt, the northen 40km long belt is practically devoid
of any gold deposit. The southern 40km long belt is really a treasure house of gold.
The southern Kolar schist belt can be divided into the following four major blocks :
1) The Kolar Gold Field block, district Kolar, Karnataka.
2) The Bisanatham Block
3) MalIappa konda Block (2,3,4 District Chittore, Andarapradesh
4) Chlgarlgunta block
The block wise gold potential in various lodes and blocks is summaries below :
The Kolar Gold field block:

This is 10km long, (N-S), 3km wide (E-W) block in which. 16 gold quartz lodes have
been. Identified, out of which the following 8 lodes are economically significant.:
27
(1) The Champion lode.
(2) Mundy’s lode
(3) Mctaggart’s East lode
(4) Mctaggart’s West lode
(5) Oriental lode
(6) New quartz lode E
(7) New quartz lode F
(8) West prospect shaft lode
(9) Mill tailllings
In Chittore district Andarapradesh

1. Bisnatham deposit
(a) Bisnatham East lode
(b) Bisnatham West lode
2. Mallapakonda deposit
3 Chigarigunta deposit
Summary of the Metal Gold Potential in the south Kolar schist belt in various lode
Lode Length Width - Depth Grade Reserves Gold Remark
(m) (m) (m) g/t Millon. t (tonnes)
In Kolar gold field
Champion lode 10.000 1.0 3200 16.0 50 800.0
Mundy’s lode 500 25.0 500 1.0 15.6 15.6
Mct.E lode 3.000 1.5 1000 2.0 11.2 22.4
Mct. W lode 3.000 2.0 2000 3.0 30.0 90.0
Oriental lode 3.000 2.0 2000 4.0 15.0 60.0
New quartz lode E 2.000 2.0 300 1.0 3.0 3.0
New quartz lode F 2.000 2.0 300 1.0 3.0 3.0
West prospect lode 1.000 6.0 300 1.0 4.5 4.5
Mi IItallings — —— —— 0.7 37.0 25.9
Bisanatham east 300 2.0 300 4.0 0.45 1.8
Bisanatham west 300 2.0 300 2.0 0.45 0.9
Mallapakonda 500 15.0 300 2.5 5.6 14.0
Chigarigunta 3.000 15.0 300 3.5 53.7 117.9
Total gold = 359.0 tonnes
Remarks
1. Champion lode:- This lode has been exploited from 1884 to 2001 over 10kms
long upto a maximum depth of 3.2km . Another 5 millions tonnes of ore (10%)
may be still available but this is mostly located in inaccessible areas which. are
mostly submerged in water upto 3km depth.
2. Mundy’s lode:- This is not actually a quartz lode but is a Komatiite rock in Which
fine partica1s of gold are disseminated eratically over the ,entire rock width of
28
more than 25m. Gold values range from 0.2 to 4.0glt this lode has been tested
in Oorgaum and Champion reef mines.
3. Oriental lode:- This lode is about 600mts west of Champion lode. It is a sulphidic
ore body which as been selectively mined from 1948 - 2001. Nearly 50% of ore
reserves are still available for further exploitation
4. Mill taillings:- During 1884 and 2001 the Gold mining companies in Kolar Gold
mining exploited the Champion lode and oriental lode over a length of
10.000mts and to a maximum depth of 3kms. During this period about 50 million
tonnes of ore has been mined to recover 800 tonnes of gold. As a result about
37 million tonees of milltaillings have been produced which are scattered over
ten locations in KGF. These’ tailings contain about 0.7gram of gold per tonnen.
By carbon in pulp (CIP) technology. We can recover 0 .6grams of gold
economically.
5. Bisnatham East lodes:- This lode has been developed upto 300m depth. This is
ideal deposit for under ground mining.
6. Mallapakonda lode:- This is a banded iron formation which has been folded and
constitute a small hillock. This deposit can be worked open pit mining.
7. Chigarigunta lodes; this deposit consist of 6 sub parallel quartz lodes which have
been explored and exploited by GSl, MECL and BGML. This deposit is 3000m
long and 1000m wide and 300m deep this deposit can be developed into a “super
pit” which can become the biggest open pit gold mine in India.
Special Remarks
This paper briefly dwells on the feasibility of exploiting the gold potential in the lease
hold area of BGML by a joint venture in collaborations with BGML employees.
29
NUGGET FORMATION AND DISTRIBUTION IN THE
CHAMPION LODE, KOLAR GOLD MINES
J.V. SUBBARAMAN
Chief Mining Geologist (Retd.,), Bharat Gold Mines Ltd., KGF
Consultant (Gold Geology), 1126, Kalyan Bhavan, Geetha Road, Robertsonpet, KGF – 563 122
ABSTRACT
Nuggets are lumps of gold found in alluvial streams having been released from a
primary source of gold quartz or gold bearing rocks. Primitive men collected them more
as objects of curiosity than for its nobility. The distribution of gold in the earth’s crust
is 4bbm. With the realization of gold as a material status, people all over the world
moved out in quest of gold.
These are popularly known as ‘gold rushes.’ The famous example is Californian
gold rush in 1770 which prompted people from all over Europe to migrate into USA.
Other notes worthy gold rushes are Australia (1853), South Africa (1834), Canada
(1835), New Zealand (1852) and India (1880) in Kolar gold field.)
In the Kolar Gold field, out of 40 companies that started prospecting on the quartz
out crops, 35 companies incurred loss and the other five companies were taken over by
M/s. John Taylor and son’s in 1884 who developed successfully 5 gold mines i.e.
Balaghat, Nundydroog , Oorgaum, Champion reef and Mysore mines over a strike length
of 5 miles to a historical depth of 10560ft (3.2 km). The sample data present in survey
departments is a treasure trove of geological information. The author during his Ph.d
programme (1996 – 2002) inspected more than a million sample data of all the five
mines up to a depth of 3.2 km.
Nugget values (50 & more grams of gold /tone of ore) are found scattered allover
the mine. Out of the total 4625 nuggets spots, 3255 spots are localized in the area from
100ft to 5000ft depth, suggesting the reduced temperature and pressure conditions were
conducive for gold concentration and formation of nuggets.
Another important factor is the plumbing of gold into fractures and micro fractures
in the quartz lode by repeated episodes leading to crowding and over lapping of gold
and finally in to gold nugget formation
INTRODUCTION
Picking up of gold nuggets from alluvial streams was perhaps the first encounter by
primitive man more as an object of curiosity than for its nobility.
The distribution of gold in the earth’s crust is 4 parts for billion (PPb) (Robert Davis
1996). When gold gets concentrated to more than 3 g/t (3PPm), the rock formation may
be considered, as auriferous for commercial exploitation.
With the realization of gold as a mark of material status, people all over the world
moved out in quest of gold. These are popularly known as ‘gold rushes’. The most famous
one is Californian gold rush in 1770. This is a major factor for the migration of people
from European countries to USA. Similar gold rushes took place in Australia 1823, South
Africa 1834, Canada 1835, Newzeland 1852 and in India 1880.
In India gold was fist discovered in 1880 in the Kolar gold field. Over 40 British
mining companies prospected an area of 10km by 3km, concentrating on the outcrops of
30
quartz. By 1884, 35 companies went into liquidation and the remaining 5 companies
namely Balghat mine, Nundy droog mine, oorgaum mine, Champion reef mine and Mysore
mine were taken over by M/s John Taylor and sons who developed these mines
successfully over a strike length 10km to a maximum depth of 3.2km involving 1000km
tunnels, shafts and winzes.During the first two decades (1884 – 1904 the average grade of
the ore produced was 45g/t. During the subsequent 10 decades (1904 to 2001) the grade
of the ore mined decreased to 2.5g/t for g/t. As a result the mining operations of BGML
become uneconomical leading to the abandononment of mining operations with effect from
January 2002.
During the 120 years of mining operations, fortunately the mine data of all the five
mines has been faithfully recorded and preserved the Bhart Gold Mines, mostly in surveyor
officers. This includes the assay of all samples collected at 2ft intervals from 100ft level
to 10,560ft levels. The sample data show the width of the ore body in inches and the assay
values in penny weight (1dwt) is equal to1.51gms.After 1956 the gold values were reported
in g/t. Thus the large volume of data covering more than 1 million samples has been
collected and preserved in the BGML records, mine plans and sections, for at every 100ft
depth.
The author during the course of his Ph.D research work on factors of gold
concentration in champion lode, Kolar gold mines had a rare opportunity to examine and
make an in-depth study of the gold distribution throughout the length and depth of the
mines. This gave him an opportunity to identify about ten factors for gold concentration
in the famous champion lode. The present paper describes the formation, occurance and
distribution of nugget values in the entire champion lode workings from surface to 10,560ft
depth. (Subbaraman 1999)
NUGGET FORMATION AND DISTRIBUTION

In the published literature on gold nuggets there are several references for the origin
and occurancence of nuggets in the placer deposits. A good review of this subject has been
made by Boyle (1979). The gold in placers are of secondary origin are after being realised
from primary sources such as auriferous quartz lode and some other auriferous rocks. Gold
being very heavy is carried down the streams by gravity rather slowly compared to other
minerals. The tendency for gold to get accumulated along bends and kinks of the Streams
will give rise to what is popularly known as Pay streaks. The primitive man collected small
nuggets from stream beds as object of curiosity than for its nobility. Even today placer gold
deposits continue to attract local people on a small scale particularly in Kerala
According to Callendar (1990) it is not easy to describe a nugget. One dictionary
states that a nugget is a lump of gold and suggest that the world nugget may have been
derived from Swedish word ‘Nug” meaning lump or block. In Australia lumps of gold
weighing up to 200 pounds has been found. The Californinian gold rush USA was based
on the search for gold nuggets.The gold information centre at Madison square, Newyork,
USA defines a gold nugget as a water woren mass of placer gold, a form of natural gold
washed from rocks that contained and deposited in river beds usually ranging in weight
from approximately 30 to 50grms. The heaviest ever recorded is named ‘the welcome
stranger’ found in Australia 1869 and weighed 90.9kg.
31
However there appears to be no published data on the nuggets related to primary
auriferous lodes. The Champion lode in Kolar gold mines has been worked from 1884 to
2001 and has been very systematically and scientifically exploited by developing the 10km
long Ore body, level after level at 100ft interval up to a maximum depth of a 10,560ft. The
individual levels have been connected by shafts, winze, rises. The quartz lode has been
sampled after every blast of 2-3ft progress. The total linear mine development on the lode
is more than 640km. As a result a vast volume sample data, has been collected, compiled
and preserved. In the respective survey departments of Nundydroog mine, Oorgaum mine,
Champion reef mine and Mysore mines, During the course of the review of the sample data
the author noted that the gold values were highly erratic and is not amenable for
geostatistical prediction. The highest gold value ever recorded was 2000g/t in the Mysore
mine area in one of the stopes. This freak high gold value did not persist both along the
strike and depth.
The careful analysis of mines sample data of all the five gold mines has revealed
several nugget values where gold is present in more than 50g/t .The table below provide
a summary of the distributions of nugget value spots along the entire 26000ft length of
Champion lode to 10,560ft depth. The histogram below display and highlight the
distribution of nugget values in all the five mines, which highlights the following factors.
a) In the Nundydroog mine more than 82% of nugget values are concentrated in the
upper levels (above 5000ft) and the balance 18% is found in the lower levels.
b) In the Oorgaum mine 65% in the upper levels and 40% in lower levels.
Since the subject of nugget values spots have not been studied earlier, the author
proposes the following tentative model for the formation and occurrence in champion lode
which is of epigenetic origin associated with the Kolar schis belt. The following sequence
of geological events are visualized
a) The KGF amphibolites are thought to be of submarine volcanic origin based on
the presence of pillow lava structure, basal conglomerate and banded iron
formation (BIF).
b) Initiation of tectonic activity leading to the fracturing (first generation) of the host
of (komatiite) and introduction of quartz vein.
c) Second generation of fracturing in the brittle quartz will give rise to narrow and
elongated veins.
d) Introduction of first generation of gold and minor quantities of silver, copper and
tungsten etc. giving rise to parallel or sub parallel over bodies.
e) However in rare cases the residual gold that will be locked up in the auriferous
chamber may fine an escape due to the building up of fresh pressure. Under a
circumstance the residual gold will be pushed upwards by latent fluid pressure.
As auriferous solutions or ematitions. Rise upwards due to plumbing action which
may act in several pulses. The already fractured quartz lode and host rock offer
only partial resistance. As a result fresh micro fractures are developed in the quartz
where resistance is least. Twiddle Haile (1989) who studied the fluid inclusion
petrology of kolar gold field concluded that gold lodes in Kolar gold fields were
repeatedly fractured on microscopic scale under hydrothermal conditions.
32
Further Micro fracturing takes place in the already fractured, mineralized and healed
quartz veins. Into such micro factures the residual gold from the fluid chamber will get
injected as secondary deposition on the already existing gold of the first generation. Due
to repeated pressure pluses new micro factures will be generated into which remaining gold
will get Progressively concentred by crowding and over lapping which inturn give rise to
nugget formation. Thus secondary and tertiary enrichment taskes place in quartz vein
where the first and secondary fractures are not fully healed. Apart from these simple
factors, there may be several other and more complicated factors which must have
synchronised to give rise to nugget value.
Pryor (1923) who examined the underground geology of the Kolar gold mines made
the following special mention about the rich gold occurance in the 35 th level of the
Nunnydroog mines ‘The gold is found sporadically in breccia associated in rough open
spaces in Champion lode. In other mines the voughs are rare. The breccia has been
recemented by calcite after which the gold has been deposited with tetrahedrite and
chalcopyrite.In this breccia gold is massive, plates of gold as large as a man’s hand and
over 1/16th of an inch thickness have been reported. These breccias have been irregularly
followed down to 36th level.
The very fact that nearly 72% of nugget values are concentrated in the upper part of
champion lode (from surface to 5000ft) depth suggests that the upper part must have
provided more desirable and conducive conditions like reduced temperature and pressure
leading to repeated micro fracturing of the qurtz and gold and over lapping and crowding
gold deposition with in a limited space.
In the Kolar gold mines several gold lumps have been recovered in the past which
may also be rightly called nuggets at different places and depths. Unfortunately there are
no records regarding these occurrence and distribution either in the survey departments are
in metallurgical departments. These nuggets were being shown to visitors. In 1973 one
nugget weighing approximately one kilogram kept in the Champion reef mines was
smeltated ignoring its geological value (rare natural spicemen) because of security risk.
During 1996 and 99 when the author was collecting data from the BGML mines he
was able to inspect five nugget specimens kept in the metal logical department of Nundy
droog mines whose approximated gold content is mention below:
1. 75grm of gold on calcite.
2. Pure gold nugget weighing 250grm
3. Gold nugget 150grm on calcite.
4. Gold nugget 100gm in fault breccia
5. 300gms of gold with intricate veinlets in quartz
CONCLUSION
The vast sample data preserved in the survey departments of BGML is in the treasure
trove of mine geological data. It is unfortunate that the lithological, minrological and
structural details hve not been incorporated as the the important of geoplogy was not well
reconknised by the mining engineers, yet the available mine sample data can stimulate new
concepts on Nugget formation. The Hutti gold mines limited Raichur district, Karnataka
33
has been mining gold since 1948. Their sampling and recored keeping methods are similar
KGF mines, as it was also earlier operated by m/s. John Taylor and sons. It is suggested
that HGML can initate similar exercise to identify nugget value distribution in their mine
and cogitate over the origin of nuggets. Since HGML mines are shallow and whose
underground geology is well exposed and documentated, they can come out with new
concept
Reference
BGML assay plans and sections and other related sample data (1884-1999)
Boyle. RW (1979) - The geo chemistry of gold and its deposits, Geological Survey of Canda Bulletin
280
Callember (1990) - Gold in Britain Gold spar, UK limited , Beaconsfield,UK
Twedle Haile (1989) – Geology of Kolar Gold Field with special emphasis on the fluid inclusion studies
in gold sulphide lode, M.Sc., Thesis. I.I.T., Kharagpur
Prayor. T (1923) – The underground Geology of the Kolar Gold filed Transactions, Inst. Min.Met.33.
Robert E, Sheahon P.A and Green S.B (1990) – Greenstone Gold and crustal evolution, Geologists
Association of Canada, Proceedings of the workshop held at Voldor, Qubeck,pp 1-50.
Subbraman J.V (1999); Factors of Gold concentration inn Champion Lode, Kolar Gold mines, Karnataka,
India. Ph.D Thesis Submitted to Sri.Venkateswara University Tirupati-India.
EVIDENCE OF GOLD IN KOLAR KOMATIITES
J.V. SUBBARAMAN
Chief Mining Geologist (Retd.), Bharat Cold Mines Ltd., K.G.F.
ABSTRACT
The Kolar Komatiite rock formations, earlier known as matapyroxinites found in

Kolar Gold Fields (K.G.F.) form a part of auriferous greenstone belt of eastern
Karnataka. Komatiites (Komati) are high Mg mafic rocks believed to have been derived
from upper mantle and characterized by spinfex texture. There are two Komati
formations in K.G.F. area. The eastern Komati is 30,000 feet long and 400 feet wide and
is the host for two gold quartz lodes; the first one is the famous Champion lode which
has assayed more than 10 gm of gold/tone of ore. The Champion lode has been mined
over 10 K.M. long with an average width of 3 feet and has persisted upto 10,560 feet
depth with diminishing length. The second lode is Mundy’s lode, which is situated about
300 feet to the west of champion lode. It is not a well recognizable lode. It appears as
greenish grey colored monomeralic pyroxenite rock with occasional quartz stringers.
The gold values in mundy’s lode are highly erratic. During 194050 exploratory
mine development on this Komati rock over a width of 300 feet have assayed gold
values ranging from 0.2 to 5.0 g/p in the Tennant’s shaft of Champion reef mine. During
1980 to 84 resampling by B.G.M.L. on this Komati assayed 0.2 to 0.8 g/t from 300 feet
to 800 feet 1evels in the Tennant shaft. In 1995 one Australian company resampled the
Komati rock associated with eastern lodes and the assay value ranged from 0.2 to 0.5
g/t. In 1997 the resamp1ing of Komati rock associated with eastern lodes also assayed
34
gold values ranging from 0.2 to 5.0 g/t. A study of the polished section of Komati by
G. S. 1. has revealed the presence of minute particles of gold in Komati rock which was
devoid of quartz.
The second Komati formation occurs to the west of eastern Komati, close to B.LF.
Along the western contact of the Kolar schist belt. This Komati is also 10,000 feet long
and 300 to 400 feet wide. Generally it is free from quartz veins and hence no exploration
has been carried out. During 1970 a 100 feet deep winze was sunk on a weathered out
crop of Komati. The samples yielded very low gold values in the range of trace to 0.5
g/t and it also assayed about 200 grams of silver.
As on today the Komati rocks are known to be auriferous in ppb levels. The
present paper records gold values in Kolar Komati in more than ppb and closer to ppm
levels
This concept of the presence of gold in Komati need to be further investigated by
Geological Survey of lndia by undertaking a detailed exploration of the two Kolar
Komati formations which extend for more than 10,000 feet long from K.G.F. to
Bisanatham Gold Mine in Chittoor District Andhra Pradesh.
Keywords : K.G.F., BGML, Auriferous, Komatiites, ppb, ppm,
INTRODUCTION
The Precambrian rocks of K. G. F. form a part of the auriferous greenstone belt of
eastern Karnataka. The gold minera1ization in quartz veins in KGF is found at the contacts
of four mafic rocks, which were earlier, described as schistose, massive, granular, and tufted
amphibolites. (Narayanaswamy et al 1960). The economically significant gold minera1ization
in KG F are (1) Native gold found in quartz hosted in metapyroxinite (Komati), (2) Gold
associated with sulphides in Quartz veins hosted in metabasalt. As on today the ultramafic
rocks including Komati are found to be auriferous in ppb levels. However the Kolar Komati
are found to be auriferous in more than ppb and closer to ppm levels.
The object of this paper is to highlight the fact that not only the quartz veins hosted
in Komati of KGF are auriferous but also the Komatitic rock is itself auriferous although
of less economic significance.
KOLAR KOMATIITES
The Komati rocks found in KGF are high Mg- ultramafic rocks which exhibit
Spinifex texture and is made up of tufts of amphibo1e and is monomiera1ic in hand
specimen. Under the microscope, the rock is characterized by a preponderance of rod like
actionolite with subordinate interstitial plagioclase and occasional accessory hornblende,
chlorite, paragasite and quartz (Subramanayam et al 1991). Vishwanath (1974) was the first
to redesignate the meta pyroxinities of KGF as Komatiites. In the 10 Km long KGF area
there are two prominent Komati formations, one on the eastern side and other on the
western end. Each is about 400 ft. wide. The eastern Komati is more than 30,000 ft. long,
starting from Balaghat North fault in north upto Bisanatham mine in the south. The
Western Komati is 25,000 ft. long, which has not been explored for gold Fig.l, Subbaraman
(1980). carried out work of u/g geo1ogical mapping from 260' L 4200' L. In Crocker shaft
Mysoremine. For the first time he reported that the champion lode are hosted in Komati
rock. The gold values in champion lode were very high in the range of 8-10 g/t, The gold
35
values in Mundy’s lode and eastern lode were in the range of 0.2 to 2-3 g/t which is
generally distributed both in the quartz stringers and Komatitic rock.
The Champion lode accounts for nearly 80% of the 800 tones of gold that has been
produced in Kolar Gold Mines during the last 120 years(1880-2000).The Mundy’s lode
consists of thin stringers of quartz within the Komati. This lode has been explored in the
central part of KGF area for short distance upto a maximum depth of 2000 ft. Since the
average gold value in this lode ranges from 0.2-3.0 g/t this lode was never seriously
explored. The western Komati formation is about 10,000 ft. west of the eastern Komati and
is close to the western-banded iron formation (BIF) and it has not been explored, as it does
not host significant gold quartz veins.
Gold in Komatiites
By the year 1940 as the high trade ore of Champion lode was getting fast depleted,
the British mining companies undertook a systematic exploration of the Mundys lode
(situated about 300 ft west of Champion lode) by deve1oping severa1 long crosscuts upto
2000 depth which exposed the full width of Komati rock formation. The mining companies
also developed crosscuts towards east of Champion lode. These crosscuts exposed the
Komati rock for about 600'-700' width covering Eastern lodes, the Champion lode and
Mundy’s lode. The gold values were highly erratic ranging from trace to 2 - 5 gm/t,
averaging to 0.5 g/t
Exploration of Mundy,s Lode in Tennant’s Shaft in Champion Reef Mines Develop-

ment: From 300 ft. 1eve1 to 1800 ft. 1eve1 a total of 12,000 ft. long tunnels have been
developed on Mundy’s lode and about 1100 samples were analyzed. Out of this 840
samples (during 1940’s) assayed gold values ranging from 2.8 g/t to 3.8 g/t. The other 263
samples (during 1980’s) assayed gold ranging from 0.2 to 6.5 g/t (fig. 2.)
Stoping : During 1940-60, exploratory mine development 1n Tenant’s Shaft by stoping

was carried out for short lengths from 200' L to 1400' L in the Champion reef mine and
Oorgaum mines. (Fig.3.) Unfortunately the sample records of the above development have
not been preserved in the BGML surveyDepartments to understand the grade of the ore that
was stoped. However on the basis of the extent of the stoping operations that has been
carried out between 200 ft 1eve1 and 1000 ft. levels in the Champion mine, it is estimated
that about 3,70,000 tonnes of are must have been extracted with an average grade of 2 g/
t. The actual width of Mundys lode was only 1" - 2" but the width of the stope in the
Komati rock is 72". Thus the ratio of quartz to Komati in these stapes is 1: 36. This should
give an idea of the auriferous nature of the Komati.
Komatiites Hosted Eastern Lodes (parallel. lodes to the east of Champion lode):
During the 1920’s and 1930’s the British mining engineers developed long crosscuts to the
east of Champion lode in the 240 ft level of Charmichael’s shaft in Champion reef mine
in a bid to explore the presence of parallel lodes. This lead to the discovery of severa1 thin
quartz veins of 2" -6" but within the Komati over a distance of 250-300 ft. The samples
from this area also assayed gold values ranging from 0.2-5.0 g/t. In the next 1ower 1eve1,
36
a 60 ft ·long crosscut, samples assayed gold values ranging from 1.2-3.5 g/t. Similarly “in
the Hancock shaft the Mysore mine areas several crosscuts in the Komati rock assayed gold
value ranging 0.2 to 1.5 g/t.
Other Evidence of gold in Komati in K.G.F: Subrahmanyam et al (1991) reported that

polished section of Komati revealed presence of minute gold partc1es devoid of any
accompanying quartz
Resampling of Mungy’s Lode During 1980-1984: To reassess the potential of Mundy’s

lode and Komati, the BGML exploration department carried out surface and underground
exploration in champion reef mine and the results are of the following:
• Trenching: individual samples assayed gold ranging from 0.2-4 g/t.
• Surface drill core samples collected from 12 BH (drilled North of Tennants’s shaft
have assayed gold values ranging from 0.1-2.0 g/t.
• Underground BH samples in Champion reef mines have assayed gold values
ranging from 0.7-2.0 g/t.
Discriprency in samples analyzed by the Survey and Exploration Departments: The

following table shows the discrepancy in gold values of samples collected from 400', 500’,
800’, 1100’, levels in the Charmichal’s in Champion reef mine at different periods by the
mine survey department and exploration department (BGML exploration department note
no. 11, 1984)
Table 1
Level Survey dept (1950-60) Exploration dept (1982-84)

Width (cm) Grade (g/t) Width (cm) Grade (g/t)
400’ North drive 204 4.53 214 0.24

South drive 216 3.42 195 0.35
500’ North drive 179 2.69 188 0.35
South drive 215 3.42 195 0.35
800’ South drive 213 1.08 290 0.38
1100’ North drive 184 2.78 228 0.88
Remarks: Although the gold values reported from survey dept and exp1oration dept do
not match, it does prove that Komati is auriferous.
Sampling of Eastern Lodes in Champion Reefs Mine : In order to explore the feasibility
of shallow mining, the BGML carried out resampling eastern lodes in the 240 ft level of
Glens shaft (CR Mines) and in the 360 ft level of Hancock shaft (Mysore Mine) the
average gold values of over 100 samples ranged from 0.2-5.0 glt (Peshwa 1997) Fig 4.
Resampling by Australian Company (1994-95): In order to revive the Kolar gold mining
operations by shallow mining Mis. Normandy Anglo Asian (P) Ltd of Australia carried out
resampling in Glen shaft and Handcock shaft at selected areas and analyzed samples in
Australia, and reported the gold values were in the range of 0.2-0.5 g/t.
37
Low Gold Values the Westren Komati Formation in K.G.F: During 1971-73 the
BGML opened a 100 ft deep winze on the western Komati formation to explore for its gold
potential. More than200 samples were analysed which assayed gold ranging from 0.1-0.2
g/t. traces of copper and lead and 200 grms. of silver,. Unfortunately no further exploration
was carried out by BGML.
Gold in Komatiites: The following table-2 reports the average gold content in Komati and
other ultramafic rocks (Subramanayam et al 1991)
Table 2
Area/Rock type Range Au(ppb) Arithmetic Mean Reference

Au(ppb)
South Africa Green 0.1-375 (98) 10.8 Saager et al. 1982

Stone belt
European Ultramafics 1.0-25 (56) 2.1 Saager et al., 1982
Komatiite and related 1.0–1.6 (16) - Anhaeusser. Et al.,
rock in Barberton
area South Africa
Komatiite sequence, 0.2–1809 42.6 Bavinton and Key (1958)
Kambalda W.Aus
Dunities, Peridotities, 0.2-780 (1185) 11.4 Byole 1979
Pyroxinite, Anorthosites,
Against this background, Subbaraman (1999) has reported that the gold values in the Komati of
Kolar Gold Mines are far more than PPb levels based on the study of 120 years gold mine sample
data of BGML.
CONCLUSION
On the basis of the study of the exploration and mining data available IN BGML
records, it is concluded that the eastern Komati rock formation which is the host rock for
the rich champion lode and Mundy’s lode which is also auriferous in more than ppb level
and closer to ppm levels. The presently known gold values in the ultra basics and
Komatiites allover the world is in ppb 1eve1s only. Against this background the 120 yrs
old mine sample data in BGML clearly indicates that the gold values in the Kolar Komati
are closer to ppm levels. This calls for a fresh study of the known Komatiites by the
exploration geologists allover the world as a new source of low-grade gold ore.
In opinion of the author the Geo1ogical Survey of India is the appropriate organization
to undertake a systematic investigation of the Komatiite rock formations found in KGF
area and also the Komatiites formation found in Kempinkote, Byrapur etc 1n Karnataka.
Similarly the chromite associated ultramafics 1n Orissa sate shou1d also be thoroughly
reevaluated for its gold content if any.
In view of the high ruling price of gold both in the national and international market
and also the high demand (800 tonnes of gold/year) by Indian population, it should be
possible to mine these very low grade 0res by open pit mining and extraction of gold by
carbon in pulp technology.
38
References
Bharat Gold Mines Limited. Exploration department Note No.11 1984.
Narayanaswamy, S., Ziauddin. M., and Ramachandra A. V (1960) Structural Control and 1ocalizati on
of gold bearing 1ods, Kolar Gold Field, India:Eco,Gleol. ,55,P1429-1459.
Peshwa S.C.R (1997) Underground Mapping in Hancock’s shaft (Mysore Mine) and in Glens shaft
(Champion mines), BGML.
Subbaraman J.V (1980) stoping gaps and their geological significance in and around Crocker’s Shaft, Mysore
Mine BGML - Centenary Seminar on Recent trends in gold mining practices, PP 138-145.
Subbaraman J.V (1999) Factors of gold concentration 1n Champion Lode, Kolar gold mines, Karnataka,
India, Ph.D thesis is submitted to Sri .Venkateshwara University, Tirupati, Andra Pradesh, India
(unpublished).
Subbrahmanyam V. Sharma B.S and Rao M.S (1991): Geochemistry ore petrology and genesis of gold
mineralization in Kolar Greenstone Belt, Karnataka, Geol. Survey of India, Bul .Ser.A,No, .52,pp-
1-113.
Viswanathan.S (1974) - Basaltic Komatiite occurrence in KGF of India, Geol. Mag.111, pp 353-354.
GOLD MINERALISATION IN ANDHRA PRADESH AND

FUTURE EXPLORATION PROSPECTS
1 2
N. DEVARAJ AND PRIYADARSHI SAHOO
Operations: Andhra Pradesh, Geological Survey of India, SR, Hyderabad - 500 068
1
[email protected]; 2 [email protected]
Gold is the oldest precious metal known to man. It is also the most cherished treasure
and wealth of individuals as also of the nation. The demand for the gold in the country is
more than 800 tonnes annually, of which India is producing around 3 tonnes. Andhra
Pradesh with an area of 2,75,000 sq. km. has the favourable lithologic, structural and
stratigraphic milieu for gold mineralisation.
In Andhra Pradesh primary gold deposits are the major source for gold and are
recorded from Archaean greenstone-granite terrain of eastern Dharwar craton. The southern
part of Kolar, Ramgiri, Jonnagiri, Kadiri, Gadwal, Veligallu and Nellore belts in the state
show striking similarities in terms of their litho tectonic milieu, to the prolific gold
producing greenstone belts of world. The vein type occurrences are seen in all rock types
of Archaean greenstone-granite terrain. The syngenitic types are confined to banded iron
formation and metacherts with sulphides.
Folds cross folds, drag folds, shears, fractures and faults played a prominent role in
localizing the vein type mineralisation and formation of ore shoots. Sericitisation,
chloritisation, biotisation, silicification and carbonatisation are common wall rock
alterations accompanying the mineralisation. Gold occurs mostly in native form in all the
vein type deposits. Tellurides are rare. Sulphides are universally associated but are
generally not more than two percent in the vein type while the strata bound types have upto
20%. The most important sulphides are pyrite, arsenopyrite, pyrhotite, chalcopyrite,
sphalerite and galena. Other important associated minerals are scheelite and molybdenite.
39
Placer types of gold occurrences are known from Proterozoic rocks of Gulcheru and
Vempalli Formations of Cuddapah Supergroup. Interesting gold values are also reported
from the fault zones within Gulcheru quartzite (remobilized epithermal type). However no
deposit as such has been established in the Proterozoic and thus forms the potential target
for gold exploration.
Exploration of greenstone belts and adjoining granitoids in recent years led to the
identification of medium and low-grade gold resources and auriferous BIF type deposits.
The discovery of important gold-quartz lodes within intrusive, sheared and altered tonalite-
granodiorite-granite plutons along the sheared margins of Jonmnagiri schist belt in Dona
sector, and Bokkasampalli area in Ramgiri schist belt, has opened up new vistas for
exploration of gold in similar setup elsewhere.
A recent study indicated that the gold content established in the eastern greenstone
belt excluding Kolar and Ramgiri comes to 2 kg/sq.km whereas in the gold producing areas
of Australia and Canada it is 25 kg./sq.km, thus indicating vast potential for exploration
in these belts. There is tremendous scope for targeting concealed primary gold lode type
deposits in the Archaean granite-greenstone terrain, which occupy large parts of Andhra
Pradesh. The greenstone belts together with sheared margins in intrusive granite phases
surrounding these belts constitute the most important geological milieu for targeting
primary epigenetic gold deposits. In addition, the Proterozoic basins need to be thoroughly
explored for palaeo placer and remobilized epithermal unconformity type gold +uranium
deposits. Besides, the areas already explored for copper, lead and zinc in Nallamalai Group
and Mailaram (Khammam district) need to be relooked for gold mineralisation in view of
gold-base metal association and the recent findings of gold occurrences by GSI in similar
settings elsewhere.
LATERITIC GOLD DEPOSITS OF WYNAD-NILAMBUR

GOLD FIELDS, KERALA AND THEIR
ECONOMIC POTENTIAL
NARAYANASWAMY
Centre for Earth Science Studies, Trivandrum – 695 031
Laterite is a product of intense sub aerial weathering, it hosts numerous valuable

economic deposits like nickel, manganese, iron, alumina, gold etc. Gold occurrence, in
laterite due to economic importance is gaining significant attention in recent year specially
after the discovery of workable deposits in Boddington, Yilgarn, Australia. In India,
Wynad-Nilambur gold fields of Tamil Nadu and Kerala were the earliest to be explored.
Results carried out in the last few years on lateritic gold deposits of Kerala with their
economic potential are presented here.
Wynad – Nilambur forms the SE extension of Dharwar schist belt of Karnataka. The
major rock types of this region namely hornblende gneiss, amphibolites, charnockite,
40
pyroxene granulites and are extensively lateritised. There are numerous abandoned gold
workings in laterites which were explored earlier. Thickness of the laterite varies between
2 to 12mts. Petrographic studies of the laterites indicate that all the silicate minerals were
transformed to a mixture of Fe, Al oxides / hydroxides. Goethite, hematite, kaolinite,
gibbsite, vermiculite, silver and gold constitute the mineral assemblages in the laterites.
Field observations show that gold occurrence in laterites and in the weathered zones
as thin films confined to cracks of the iron stained quartz and occasionally in clay and
limonite zones as visible specks. Quartz veins are the host units for gold mineralization
which can be classified as (i) Massive milky white veins and (ii) small veins with
ferruginous material or cavities typical of sulphide leaching.
The gold particles from weathered zones show various morphological features as
depicted by SEM photographs. These can be grouped into 3 types viz (1) primary gold
associated with quartz veins in bed rock association with sulphide/quartz mineralisation,
(2) gold in the weathering zones, depicting the progressive changes such as corrosion,
rounding of faces, disappearance of primary shapes and neoformed crystals and (3)
completely recrystallized grains in the laterite zones. Compositional analysis of the gold
grains from different zones of insitu profiles have been carried out to trace the path from
lode to successive residual deposits.
Gold shows significant fineness variation associated in different zones of insitu
laterite profile. Finess varies from 664-685 in quartz veins associated with bed rock, in
weathered zone it is 890-940 and in laterite zone the variation is 970-1000. Variation in
the composition/ fineness reflects the dissolution of primary gold and precipitation as
supergene gold. Morphological evolution of gold grains supports this observation. The
dissolution and reprecipitation of gold during lateritisation further reflects the loss of silver
with increase in fineness of gold associated with bed rock to laterite zones.
Geochemical data from different units of the insitu laterite profiles suggest a two-
stage process in the formation of the laterite. The first stage is marked by rapid depletion
of silica, lime, magnesia and alkalies with enrichment of Fe2O3, Al2O3, and TiO2. In the
second stage there is gradual depletion of SiO2, CaO, MgO, Na2O, and K2O with
corresponding enrichment of Fe2O3, Al2O3 and TiO2. Trace elements Cr, Cu, Ni, Co, V, Pb
and Ga also show enrichment from bed rock to laterite. Gold also show a consistent
upward enrichment with highest concentration in ferricreet zone.
Concentration of gold show great variations. In bed rock it varies between 0.01 ppm
to 0.05 ppm, in the weathered zone it ranges from 0.05ppm, to 0.51 ppm. In the laterite
zone the variation is 0.05 ppm to 2.29ppm. Substantial enrichment below ferricrete zone
is a significant feature.
A preliminary attempt has been made to assess the reserve potential of the lateritic
gold deposits in the Wynad - Nilambur region with limited data. A “geological resource”
of 99.82 million tonns of auriferous laterite with average 0.1 g/cu m gold is estimated from
Wynad and 65.57 million tonns of auriferous laterite with average 0.3 g/cu m gold is
estimated from Nilambur. Though the grade is marginal, in view of the recent
developments in technology of gold refining such as carbon-in-pulp technology and heap
leaching processing and increasing commercial viability of low grade gold deposits, the
lateritic gold reserves of Wynad-Nilambur deserve immediate attention.
41
GOLD EXPLORATION IN GADAG SCHIST BELT
YAMINI SINGH, SUJATA PATTNAIK, GEETANJALI RANA, PRATHANA DAS, N.

SADASIVA RAO, B. MURALI KRISHNA, SHARMILA PATRA AND ARPITA BASAK
RMMPL, Vivekananda Layout, Behind P & T Qts, Gadag
Gadag Schist Belt (GSB) forms part of the Western Dharwar Craton, in the northern
continuation of Chitradurga Schist Belt. GSB is one of the important auriferous
supracrustal belts of Archaean greenstone terrain. The characteristic volcanic assemblage
includes basalts, rhyolites and andesites interleaved by greywacke, banded ferruginous
chert, chlorite phyllite and quartz-sericite schist. The rocks are intruded by granitoids, basic
dykes, quartz porphyry and quartz reefs.
The volcanosedimentary lithopackage has been subjected to green schist facies of
metamorphism exhibiting similarities with many gold producing belts of the world. The
rocks have been subjected to three phases of deformation giving rise to tight isoclinal folds
(F1), upright overturned folds (F2) and broad gentle warps (F3) which resulted thrusting
and shearing of the rocks at later stages.
The epigenetic gold mineralization in GSB is confined to the northern part covering
an area of 1200 sq.kms in three distinct tabular auriferous zones, known as the
1. Western lode System (Hosur,Yelisirur & Venkatapur)
2. Central Lode System (Nagavi, Nabhapur, Kabuliyatkatti, Mysore and Sangli)
3. Eastern Lode System (Sankatodaka and Doni).
All the mineralized zones are characterized by NW-SE trending sheared quartz veins
showing chloritisation, sericitisation, and brecciation. Pyrite, arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite and
chalcopyrite are the common associated sulfides.
The exploration activities in the area commenced with the reconnaissance survey
which included identification of old workings, shafts, adits and dumps followed by the
interpretation of remote sensing and aero geophysical data to delineate different shear
controlled gold anomalous linear zones. The regional exploration work started with stream
sediment sampling, which helped in identification of 30 target blocks and demarcation of
the mineralized zones. It was followed by large scale mapping in these blocks and
collection of the soil samples to locate the local and secondary anomalies. Further the
exploration work was narrowed down to bed rock sampling in pits and trenches on the
identified shear zones to know the grade and width. The close spaced drilling was carried
out to estimate the depth persistence of different lodes exposed in the trenches. Currently
exploration work is being carried out in the Central Lode System which is the main
auriferous zone extending from Nabhapura in north to Sangli in south for estimating the
open cast resources. In Sangli block close spaced trenching followed by shallow drilling
demarcated three parallel lodes viz.TEL, NEL and ML which continues for a strike length
of 2100m, 820m and 680m respectively. The maximum value for TEL in the trenches
assayed about 9.97 ppm over 0.5m width whereas in the boreholes it analyzed 204 ppm
over 0.5m width. The total gold ore resources in Sangli Block based on the assay values
42
of the trenches and borehole intersections for the three lodes has been estimated as 1.9
million tonnes with an average grade of 2.07 ppm at 0.5 ppm cut-off grade.
GOLD MINERALIZATION IN ATTAPPADI BELT,

SOUTHERN GRANULITE TERRAIN, KERALA
R. KRISHNAMURTHI AND T. PRADEEPKUMAR

Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee-247667.
E-mail: [email protected]
In India, more than 99 percentage of the total primary gold produced is from
greenstone belts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Traditionally, high grade metamorphic
settings have been regarded as unfavorable for hosting gold deposits. As a result,
exploration as well as research has been biased towards amphibolite and greenschist facies
metamorphic settings in Precambrian terrains. However, now it is becoming increasingly
clear that gold deposits do occur in granulite facies terrains and these areas are unexplored.
Our work is an attempt to look at the evolutionary history of gold deposits in Southern
Granulite Terrain using geochemical-fluid inclusion studies and taking into consideration
of the existing knowledge from published structural and geochronological studies.
The assemblage of rock types such as metapyroxinite, talc-tremolite-actinolite schist,
amphibolites, BIF, sillimamite/kyanite bearing quartzite and fuchsite quartzite in Attappadi
represents a greenstone belt setup. The mineralized zones typically occur within or in the
vicinity of regional, crustal-scale deformation zones with a brittle to ductile type of
deformation. Gold is intimately associated with sulfide minerals, including pyrite,
pyrrhotite chalcopyrite and galena in quartz veins. One or possibly two mineralizing events
appear to have deposited gold in Attappadi greenstone belt. The first stage gave rise to a
mineral assemblage consisting of simultaneous pyrite and gold deposition followed by a
late stage deposition of chalcopyrite and galena filling microfractures in quartz.
The metavolcanics (host rocks) are low K and Fe-rich tholeiite .The overall enrichment
of LREE in Fe-rich tholeiite reflects the composition of an enriched source E-MORB or
related to metasomatic enrichment in a hydrothermal system. A major part of the volcanism
of the Attappadi supracrustal sequence must have evolved in a spreading center tectonic
setting. The BIF’s show LREE enrichment with a striking positive Eu and negative Ce
anomalies. These patterns have been attributed to chemical precipitation from solutions that
were mixtures of seawater and hydrothermal input from the spreading centers (volcanogenic
in marine environment). The protoliths of gneisses are of mozodiorite in composition, have
intruded into the Attappadi supracrustals during the melting of lower crust in a convergent
tectonic setting and crustal thickening possibly associated with a subduction related
processes. Fe-rich tholeiite possibly under different physical conditions must have provided
required sulfur and gold to hydrothermal fluid in Attappadi greenstone belt
Fluid inclusion study of gold-quartz veins in Attappadi area provide good evidence of
fluid chemistry, depositional environment, and origin of mineralizing fluids in this
deformed terrain. The mineralizing fluids have relatively low salinity (3-6wt%NaCl eq.),
43
consistent density of CO2 (0.6-0.7 g/cm3) and H2-O-CO2 rich. The combination of the fluid
inclusion and other data suggest a pressure-temperature range of ore formation of the order
of 250-300°C and 2.5 kb.
The close association of gold with sulfide minerals within quartz veins indicates that
gold was transported as bi-sulfide complexes. The phase separation due to the lowering of
lithostatic pressure during regional uplift caused fluid immiscibility which has been
proposed as the principle mechanism for gold deposition in Attappadi greenstone belt. The
lode-type gold mineralization in Attappadi area of BSZ developed in two phases namely
gold-pyrite-quartz precipitation from hydrothermal fluid during late Achaean as a part of
orogenic processes, followed by, re-equilibration of the early formed auriferous quartz
veins due to reactivation of BSZ during Neo-proterozoic time.
AURIFEROUS LODES IN SAKOLI FOLD BELT -

A REVIEW
K. SASHIDHARAN1 AND A.K. SAHA2

1
Geological Survey of India, Central region, Seminary Hills, Nagpur.
E mail: [email protected]
2
Geological Survey of India, Eastern Region, Kolkata
The volcano-sedimentary belt of SFB occupies the northern tip of the western Bastar
craton. The detailed account of geology and geochemical characteristics of the triangular
shaped supracrustals have been dealt by Yedekar, (1996) and Roy et al (1997). The
supracrustals have been considered to be initially formed in an intra-continental N-S rift
controlled basin within the Amgaon gneissic complex (AGC), which gradually migrated
towards west (Bandyopadhyay et al 1995). This gneissic terrain surrounds the SFB
suggesting the ensialic nature of the supracrustals belt. This setting coupled with the
dominant clastic components, BIF and bimodal volcanics corroborate with the early
Proterozoic type fold belt (Condie, 1982). A recent study by GSI has shown evidence for
intra plate rift nature.
During the last two decade a large number of gold incidences / prospects were
identified in the Sakoli Fold Belt. Though epigenetic gold mineralisation in these prospects
is associated with quartz veins containing copper sulphide and / or pyrite, arsenopyrite,
there are numerous quartz veins which are very poor in sulphide minerals but containing
gold values. Primarily, gold bearing quartz veins are localised within felsic volcanic tuffs
and to some extent in the associated metapelites as observed in the central and south-
western parts of the Sakoli Fold Belt. Though cumulative strike length of the zones of gold
mineralisation in this suite of host rocks would be about 50 km, gold mineralisation of
economic significance has been established in Parsori west and Kitari-Marupar blocks of
Nagpur district only. The mafic volcanic and volcanogenic sedimentary terrain of Kolari -
Bhaonri hosts syngenetic / stratiform (within banded Fe-Mn, garnet bearing cherts beds),
gold-scheelite mineralisation, besides epigenetic mineralisation in quartz vein swarms
localised in the interlayered metabasalts. Similar mafic volcanic suites with chert, BIF,
44
quartz veins etc are present in Nagjhira-Kharrapahar areas in the northern and Dhabetekri
- Indora area in the south-eastern part of Sakoli Fold Belt. These areas have been regionally
surveyed for gold and incidences were confirmed.
By and large a majority of these lodes are not of any economic significance. The high
gold values shown by many of the gossanised zones are invariably due to gold enrichment,
resultant to oxidation of the associated sulphides. Similarly, a large number of shallow old
workings in the Au-Cu lodes in the Pular-Parsori also indicate mining and recovery of
mainly oxidisd ore, where liberation of gold was easier. This also supports the above
observation of higher gold values on the surface.
The gold + copper mineralisation in the central and southwestern parts of Sakoli Fold
Belt is mostly confined to quartz + carbonate veins within meta acid volcanics and meta
pelites (quartz – chlorite – sericite schist). The gold sulphide-quartz ± carbonate veins are
sub-parallel to the transposed schistosity i.e., the S2 planar feature developed in the area.
The mineralised veins are emplaced in an en-echelon pattern and are of narrow widths and
have fair amount of persistence along strike and dip. Texturally, these veins can be
classified into two types viz. a) breccia type and b) Impregnated type. It has been observed
that the gold – quartz – carbonate veinlets even pervade the major sulphide phases,
probably post dating them. Gold occurs in native form as visible grains of approximately
1 mm size in quartz veins to sub microscopic grains with traces of silver.
Elemental scanning of samples from gold – sulphide veins indicate association of W
(up to 0.19%), Mo (up to 0.1%), Hg (up to 600 ppb), Ce (up to 1500 ppm), Y (up to 1250
ppm), La (up to 250 ppm), Bi (0.12%) with a significantly low Cr, Ni and V contents.
Based on the presence of typomorphic ore minerals of granitic affinity (wolframite,
cassitterite, molybdenite, thorite, thorianite and fluorite etc), high contents of Ce, La, Y
besides, Ba etc, Chattopadhyay and Saha, (1998), attributed Parsori Cu-Au-W mineralisation
to a granitic source. They also interpreted the Pb - Pb age of galena sample from Au-Cu
mineralised veins of Pular- Parsori area yielding a date of 1800+12 Ma as the timing of
mineralisation in this region, equivalent to D2 deformation. The Pular- Parsori Cu-Au-W-
PGE, Ranmangli – Tas – Pahungaon Cu-Au-W, Kitari –Adyal Cu-Au-W-PGE and Kuhi –
Khobna –Agargaon W+ Mo deposits have overall similar ore chemistry, mineralogy and
fluid characters, sulphur isotopic signature and thus belong to a single granitoid parentage,
locally equated with the Ranmangli, Mandhal and Kuhi granitoids(Sashidharan et al,
2003).
Acknowledgements: The authors are thankful to Director General, Geological survey of

India for permission to publish this paper.
45
INTEGRATED SURVEYS FOR GOLD EXPLORATION IN
THE NORTHERN PART OF VELIGALLU GREENSTONE
BELT, SOUTH INDIA
PRIYADARSHI SAHOO 1*, K. SUBBA RAO 1

AND ANUSUYA RANSINGH 2
1
Operations: Andhra Pradesh, Geological Survey of India, SR, Hyderabad - 500 068
2
ASP Aurangabad Sadar, ASP Office, Aurangabad Dist., Bihar – 824101
* Corresponding author: [email protected]
Search for gold in India has continued since ancient times. The increased price and
continued demand for the yellow metal necessitated the need to find new gold bearing
areas to augment our existing resources, by adopting an integrated approach using the state-
of-the-art geological, geophysical and geochemical technologies. The present study focuses
the results of integrated surveys for gold exploration in Veligallu greenstone belt.
The Veligallu greenstone belt, located 35 km east of Kadiri town, extends N-S for a
length of 60 km with width varying from 6 to 13 km, occupying ~600 sq. km area between
the southern boundary of Cuddapah basin near Kommamarri in the north and Kotakonda
in the south. It constitutes metamorphosed basic and acid volcanics, and metasedimentary
units comprising BIF and quartz-muscovite-sericite±sillimanite schists. These are intruded
by hornblende-biotite granodiorite/granite-migmatite/gneiss to the south, west and east of
the belt as well as within it. Enclaves of granite gneiss/migmatite occur at places within
these granitoids in close proximity to the schist belt. Basic dykes, pegmatites and quartz
veins/reefs traverse the rocks of both the greenstone and granite suites. In the north,
Gulcheru quartzite of Cuddapah Supergroup uncomformably overlies the granite-green-
stone successions.
The schist belt rocks have undergone three phases of folding accompanied by green
schist to lower amphibolite facies of metamorphism. The first phase of folding gave rise
to regional N-S schistosity. The preserved folds of F1 folding are mesoscopic in nature and
are recline to vertical due to their change in disposition during F2 folding. The F2 phase of
folding resulted in NNW-SSE trending coaxial folds. The granitoids were synkinematically
emplaced during the second phase of folding having compositional variation from tonalite-
granodiorite-adamellite-granite. F3 folding gave rise to broad warps with E-W axial trace.
Hydrothermal alterations in the area include silicification, epidotisation, biotitisation
and chloritisation. Disseminations and stringers of sulphides (pyrite, pyrrhotite and
chalcopyrite) are observed at places within altered meta-acid volcanics and BIF. Pounding
marks were seen over granite-gneiss outcrop, near Marrikommadinne and Veligallu
villages indicating ancient mining activity for gold mineralisation. An old working with
profuse malachite mineralisation and sulphides is noticed in meta-pyroxenite rock
emplaced within quartz-muscovite-sericite±sillimanite schist in Gandimadugu konda,
where the wall rock has given 2.35 % Cu and 32 ppm Ag.
Regional geophysical gravity surveys in the belt indicated intersection of first and
second order structures near Marrikommadinne and presence of a major NE-SW trending
fault near Tellakonda. Geophysical surveys in Tumukunta block brought to light prominent
anomalies (IP-Chargeability, Mag, SP, EM) over BIF and some feeble anomalies at the
46
contact of BIF and meta-acid volcanics and also over metabasalt/amphibolite. It may be
mentioned here that the regional gravity survey indicates the virtual continuity of the Kolar
greenstone belt into the Veligallu belt. This gives additional importance to the search for
gold in the Veligallu greenstone belt.
Systematic geochemical soil sampling on grid pattern with selective bedrock sampling
was carried out in the northern part of the belt. In addition, pitting and trenching were
carried out to test the geophysical anomalies and the sulphide bearing zones occurring
within BIF and altered meta-acid volcanics in Tumukunta and Gandimadugu areas. The
integrated surveys brought to light two auriferous zones;- one in Tumukunta block along
the contact of banded iron formation and meta-acid violcanics where the mineralised zone
continues for a strike length of 200m. with gold values upto 2.8 g/t, and the other one in
Tellakonda block where an auriferous quartz vein emplaced along a major NE-SW trending
fault, extending for a strike length of 600m., assayed gold values upto 1.3 g/t.
The case history of gold exploration in Veligallu greenstone belt, South India testifies
that the integrated uses of geophysical and geochemical techniques in conjunction with
geological information are important tools in exploration for gold. The work so far carried
out in the Veligallu schist belt, has only indicated the possibility of finding richer ore zones
(prospects) with sustained work.
PALAEOPROTEROZOIC OROGENIC GOLD

METALLOGENY IN RAJASTHAN LINKED WITH CRUST-
MANTLE INTERACTION AND LITHOSPHERE-SCALE
TECTONICS: A CLUE TO DEPOSIT DISCOVERY
S. SINHA-ROY
Birla Institute of Scientific Research, Jaipur 302001
Giant orogenic gold systems have age clusters in Late Archaean (2.70-2.55 Ga),
Palaeoproterozoic (2.1-1.8 Ga), Late Neoproterozoic (0.8-0.6 Ga), Middle Palaeozoic
(0.45-0.34 Ga) and Permian-Cenozoic (285-70 Ma) (Goldfarb et al, 2001). Despite broad
unifying characteristics these systems in detail have different types of hosting structures,
depth of formation and ore-fluid oxidation states (Groves et al, 1998). Terrane-to
lithosphere-scale processes play a critical role in determining the location of giant gold
deposits. In the Archaean and Palaeoproterozoic the giant orogenic gold deposits are
located in accretionary terranes where mantle plume activity and lithospheric growth were
prominent (Condie, 2000). A critical factor for giant orogenic gold province appears to be
asthenospheric upwelling at the time of gold mineralization to most effectively transfer the
thermal energy required to initiate and sustain high hydrothermal fluid flux (Goldfarb et al,
2001). The localization of deposits within favourable province involves the conjunction of
a number of critical factors which include fluid and metal sources, pathways, traps and
seals (Wyborn et al, 1994), a network of long-lived translithospheric transpressional faults,
47
and rheological contrasts promoting strain partitioning (Groves et al, 1998; Cox et al,
2001). The geologic and tectonic setting of Rajasthan craton contains many elements of
these critical factors favouring formation of orogenic gold deposits in the Palaeoproterozoic
terranes.
The Rajasthan craton consisting of amalgamated and accreted terranes contains gold
mineralisation in contrasting tectonic domains. Apart from Mesoproterozoic Cu-Au
prospects (e.g. Basantgarh, Ajari etc.) in the South Delhi foldbelt the principal Au-Cu
prospects are hosted in two distinct terranes, namely the reworked Archaean basement
rocks of the Mewar terrane (Banded Gneissic Complex (BGC)) (e.g. Wari-Lunera, Anjani,
Devtalai, Ladera-Sakun, Dhani Basri etc.), and the Palaeoproterozoic (2.0-1.9 Ga)
volcanosedimentary sequence of the Aravalli and equivalent foldbelt (Delwara = Raialo
sequences) (e.g. Bhukia, Khetri etc.) (Sinha-Roy, 2004).
The Bhukia gold prospect in the Aravalli foldbelt is illustrative of Palaeoproterozoic
gold metallogeny in Rajasthan craton. Gold mineralization in Bhukia has two major host
settings, namely, type-1: bedding-parallel sulphide-rich layers (pyrite, pyrrhotite, arsenopy-
rite, chalcopyrite) associated with mafic volcanics and tuff, and type-2: quartz-calcite veins
and silicified zones (jasperoid) within dolomitic marble (Sinha-Roy, 1996). Type -1,
considered syngenetic mineralization (Guha, 2004), is linked with distensional basin
tectonics and mantle-reaching fault system providing pathways for metal-rich fluid flux.
Albite-rich quartzofeldspathic rock associated with the mineralized zone (Golani et al,
2002) and Mg-rich mafic volcanics of the sequence would indicate that the rift-related
faults are of lithospheric-scale. Subsequent metamorphism, granite emplacement and
transpressional ductile deformation at ca. 1.8 Ga mobilized the syngenetic sulphidic type-
1 ores and also introduced metal-rich fluids that focused in rheologically contrast interfaces
and in Reidal shears within the dolomite under CO2 induced reducing environment
producing type-2 vein-hosted mineralization (Sinha-Roy, 1996).
Palaeoproterozoic gold metallogeny in basal Aravalli (Bhukia) and in Raialo (Khetri?)
appears to be linked with crust-mantle interaction and lithosphere-scale dislocation
tectonics. Archaean TTG-greenstone crust was substantially cratonised at ca. 2.5 Ga with
the emplacement of alkali granitoids (Berach, Jagat, Ahar etc.). The lithosphere was
assembled between 2.5 and 2.0 Ga. Partial melting of the lower crust and SCLM producing
these granitoids was caused by convecting asthenospheric upwelling that weakened the
Aravalli lithosphere and caused lithospheric erosion and extension. The stretched
lithosphere supported Aravalli-Raialo sag basins at ca. 2.0-1.9 Ga that were traversed by
extensional growth faults tapping SCLM for Mg-rich mafic volcanics (Delwara, Raialo)
and mafic-ultramafic plutons (Rakhavdev) (Sinha-Roy, 2008). During the first phase of
Aravalli orogeny and crustal accretion Archaean BGC crust was reworked with the
emplacement of ca. 1.8 Ga granitoids transferring lithospheric heat to the upper crust,
establishing a fluid plumbing system, mobilizing the greenstone-hosted Au-Cu and
concentrating the metals in shear-related structural traps. Palaeoproterozoic orogenic gold
system in Rajasthan is polycyclic related to episodes of lithosphere assembly, asthenos-
phere upwelling and crustal accretion.
The Bhukia gold prospect of the Aravalli foldbelt is a prototype of Palaeoproterozoic
gold metallogeny in Rajasthan. Tectonostratigraphic and metallogenic considerations
strongly suggest a correlation between the basal Aravalli sequence (Delwara Group) and
48
the Raialo Group of North Delhi belt (Sinha-Roy, 2000). The thermo-mechanical model of
the Rajasthan craton (Sinha-Roy, 2008) effectively links asthenosphere-driven contempo-
raneous formation of Palaeoproterozoic hot sag basins of Delwara and Raialo that triggered
and sustained crustal devolatilisation and melting, the major driving force for initiation of
orogenic gold deposits, and also ties Cu-Au metallogeny of Bhukia and Khetri belts into
a coeval event. This model provides a frame for predictive orogenic gold metallogeny in
Rajasthan and opens up possibilities of introducing 4-D elements (3-D geological data +
thermal, chemical, fluid data) in the search for large orogenic gold deposits in the
Palaeoproterozoic accretionary belts in Rajasthan.
References
CONDIE, K.C. (2000). Episodic continental growth models: afterthoughts and extensions. Tectonophysics,
v. 322, pp. 153-162.
COX, S.P., KNACKSTEDT, M.A., and BRAUN, J. (2001). Principles of structural control on permeability
and fluid flow in hydrothermal systems. Society of Economic Geologists Review, v. 14, pp. 1-24.
GOLANI, P. R., PANDIT, M.K., SIAL, A.N., FALLICK, A.E., FERREIRA, V.P., and ROY, A.B. (2002).
B-Na rich Palaeoproterozoic Aravalli metasediments of evaporate association, NW India : a new
repository of gold mineralization. Precambrian Research, v. 116, pp. 181-198.
GOLDFARB, R.J., GROVES, D.I., and GARDOLL, S. (2001). Orogenic gold and geologic time: a global
synthesis. Ore Geology Review, v. 18, pp. 1-75.
GROVES, D.I., GOLDFARB, R.J., GEBRE-MARIAM, M., HAGEMANN, S.G. and ROBERT, M. (1998).
Orogenic gold deposits : A proposed classification in the context of their crustal distribution and
relationship to other gold deposit types. Ore Geology Review, v. 13, pp. 7-27.
GUHA, D.B. (2004). Ore petrography, mineralogy and localization of sulphide-gold mineralization of east-
central block, Bhukia, Banswara district, Rajasthan. Geol. Surv. India, Special Publ., v. 72, pp. 175-
188.
SINHA-ROY, S. (1996). Stratigraphic and tectonic controls of gold mineralization in the Aravalli fold belt,
Banswara district, Rajasthan. In : Gold Resources of India, Geol. Soc. India and National Geophysical
Research Institute, Hyderabad, Pre-workshop volume, pp.158-159.
SINHA-ROY, S. (2000). Precambrian terrane evolution in Rajasthan. Geol. Surv. India, Special Publ., v.
55, pp. 275-286.
SINHA-ROY, S. (2004). Precambrian terranes of Rajasthan, India and their linkages with plate tectonics-
controlled mineralization types and metallogeny. In : Sediment-hosted Lead-Zinc Sulphide Deposits,
(Eds. M.Deb and W.D.Goodfellow), Narosa Publishing House, New Delhi, pp. 222-245.
SINHA-ROY, S. (2008). Plate tectonics- and asthenosphere-driven hybrid model and thermomechanical
switch for crustal dynamics in Rajasthan craton. In : Geodynamics and Evolution of Indian Shield
– Through Time and Space, (Eds. : T. Radhakrishna, M. Ramakrishna, and Narayanaswamy), Geol.
Soc. India, Memoir No. 74, pp. 33-61.
WYBORN, L.A.I., HEINRICH, C.A., and JAQUES, A.L. (1994). Australian Proterozoic mineral systems
: essential ingredients and mappable criteria. AusIMM Annual Conference, Australian Instt. Mining
and Metallurgy, Proceedings, pp. 109-115.
49
EXPLORATION FOR GOLD IN SOUTH INDIAN
SHIELD - A MODERN POTENTIAL MODELLING AND
QUANTITATIVE RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
M.M. MUKHERJEE
Dy.Director General (Retd.,), Geological Survey of India
Archaean Granite-Greenstone and adjoining high-grade granulite terrains constitute

the major gold Metallogenic Province in India with metal endowment >1000mt.Other near
coeval cratons in east ,central west India together log leas than 100mt, of gold. In spite of
ever increasing domestic demand, spurt in gold prices and uninterrupted gold exploration
in the country during the last three decades or so, gold mine production ranged from 2 to
3.5mt per annum. Prospecting, exploration and evaluation of the economic potentiality of
gold are slow, costly with a very low probability (0.01 to0 .002) of making a commercial
discovery. Quite a number of new resources of low grade – low tonnages have been
identified but these are not attracting new investments for development. The three part
assessment system of USGS is proposed for gold: (1) areas are delineated according to the
types of deposits permitted by the geology, (2) the amount of metal and some ore
characteristics are estimated by means of grade and tonnage models, and (3) the number
of undiscovered deposits of each type is estimated. The first part covers correlation of
lithostructural belts on ground geology, geochemistry and geophysical data. Extension of
Kolar belt further north up to Kadiri for a length of 100km. has been indicated by gravity
survey and this is vindicated by the trace of a rift lineament in space imagery. Permissive
ground on geological basis is observed in Chitradurga belt, Kushtagi-Hungund and Gadwal
belt. The second part i.e. quantitative grade-tonnage modeling of 33 numbers of deposits
(premining basis) and prospects awaiting further developments indicate that in case of
tonnage the upper 10th, 50th and 90th percentiles at 9mt, 0.7mt and 0.07mt. respectively. In
case of grade the upper 10th, 50th and 90th percentiles lie at 7g/t, 4g/t and 2.6g/t. The data
when compared with the global model of Cox and Singer (1987) of similar deposits show
matching lognormal distribution but with lower model tonnages and grades. These tonnage
and grade models are significant, for more than half of the deposits estimated have greater
values than the corresponding median values of the model. The largest 10% of the deposits
accounts for 92% of the total metal (Au) content in the population. The tonnage curve is
highly skewed and there appears to be notable gaps especially in medium tonnage range
in the model. This is a pointer to biasness in exploration and a significant number of
prospects may be awaiting attention from the point of view of assessment. Lastly the
estimates of the number of undiscovered deposits can be guided by several basic practices;
the number of gold deposits/prospects per unit area of greenstone belts show , Jonagiri
(0.04), Kolar (0.023), Hutti (0.02), Nuggihalli (0.02). Ramagiri (0.01) and Chitradurga
(0.0017). Such estimates can be modeled for exploration planning. A graphical plot of the
probability against the number of targets in permissive tracts to be estimated must match
the percentile values of the grade and tonnage models of similar deposits.
50
SPATIAL AND GEOLOGICAL CONTIGUITY BETWEEN
WAYANAD AND ATTAPADI SUPRACRUSTALS AND ITS
RELEVANCE TO FUTURE GOLD PROSPECTING
STRATEGIES
R.V.G.NAIR 1, N.KRISHNA KUMAR 2

AND M.M.NAIR 3
1
Chithira, 36/1778(2), Plot No.294, PTP. Nagar, Thiruvananthapuram – 695038
2
50/1054-1, Sreekrishna Nagar, Thaliyal, Karamana P.O., Thiruvananthapuram -
695002 Email: [email protected]
3
Sitara, 5/915, Peroorkada P.O., Thiruvananthapuram – 695005
The Wayanad gold fields and the recently known gold prospects of Attapadi valley of
Kerala, Gopanari-Velliyankadu sector of Tamilnadu and the Bensibetta-Kowdali gold fields
of southern Karnataka are located well within the charnockitic region outside the limits of
the Dharwar craton. Their spatial proximity very close to and along the axis of the early
fold of the charnockitic region indicates that the distribution of gold fields is not random
but is structurally controlled and hence systematic. However, there is a view which
postulate that a major shear zone comprising the Moyar, Bhavani, Palghat, Cauvery and
Attur shear zones bounding the Archaean Dharwar craton and separating the Proterozoic
Madurai block represents a major E-W trending geotectonic boundary and the shear zone
rocks represent reworked material from the adjacent Nilgiri hills and Madurai block.
Implicit in this argument is the observation that in the southern Precambrian shield, the
change of Dharwar trend from NNW-SSE to ENE-WSW through E-W is due to rotation
near the Moyar shear zone. The present paper critically synthesises these views in the light
of the recently acquired data from these spatially separated schistose segments and a viable
possibility is put forth for consideration.
The Peninsular gneissic complex of Attapadi valley encloses slivers, remnants and
enclaves of a group of rocks designated as the Attapadi supracrustals whose internal
classification consists of an older unit of metaultramafic-metamafic rocks overlain by
banded iron formation to be followed by tholeiitic amphibolite and metasedimentaries like
sillimanite-kyanite quartzite and fuchsite quartzite. Gold mineralization is associated with
quartz veins/veinlets occurring within chlorite schists or biotite quartz schists developed
proximal to the contact zone of metaultramafic/metamafic rocks with hornblende gneiss.
Mineralisation was primarily lithologically controlled. The timing of gold-quartz vein
emplacement is considered as pre-F2 though remobilisation of gold occurred during the
post-F2 shearing of Pan-African age.
The Waynad group of schistose rocks occurring as several linear bands of
metasedimentary rocks consisting of magnetite-quartz granulites, kyanite/sillimanite schist/
gneiss, kyanite/fuchsite-mica quartzites, quartzites and metaultramafites within the pre-
dominantly basic granulites, charnockite and biotite hornblende gneiss are designated as
the Wayanad schists, equated with Sargurs of Karnataka. Thus it is seen that the Sargurs,
considered to be the oldest part of the Dharwar sequence extends into the charnockitic
51
region outside the limits of the Dharwar craton. The mineralisation is of the nature of
shear-fracture fillings accompanied by marginal alteration and replacement of the wall
rock. It is noteworthy that in most cases, the contact of hornblende granulite is the main
locale for the quartz injection and ore mineralization.
These schistose group of rocks occurring as several linear bands and broadly parallel
linear belts of high grade schists and ultramafic enclaves of the Wayanad and Attapadi
supracrustals of Kerala is considered here as a deep seated facies variant of the Dharwarian
sedimentary suite or a repetition of the sedimentary sequence itself separated from it in
time and space. These rocks of sedimentogenic origin covering a long span of the Archaean
Era were deposited over a basement complex now represented by basic granulite,
metapyroxenite and metanorite. All these rocks occur as members of a co-folded Super
series involving three tectonic episodes of deformation – the first two being co-linear and
the third transverse to them.
The gold deposits/prospects of Wayanad and Attapadi fields bear a broad similarity
over their internal stratigraphy, nature of mineralisation, sulphide mineral assemblages and
wall rock alteration. The northeastern continuity of the Attapadi field extends into the
Gopanari-Velliyankadu sector of Coimbatore and further can be traced along the
Bensibetta-Kowdali gold fields upto the Sakalagunta-Bangaragunta old workings and the
Narapalli-Maharajagadai prospects of the Dharmapuri district. The Narapalli-Maharajagadai
prospects are considered to represent the high-grade metamorphosed equivalents of the
southward continuity of the Kolar gold fields. In the light of this, it can be considered that
the Kolar gold field has a genetic continuity with the Wayanad-Nilambur and Attapadi
gold fields and the latter with a higher metamorphic grade represents the deeper structural
levels exposed by erosion. By extension, the present geographic distribution of the
charnockitic region towards the southern Indian Preambrian shield is a result of the older
rocks eroded to more deeper level on a co-folded structural base. The future strategy of
gold exploration should be directed towards locating the supracrutal rocks with their
consanguineous associations in the gap areas of the axis of the early fold of the
charnockitic region.
STATUS OF GOLD EXPLORATION IN MAHAKOSHAL

GROUP, SIDHI DISTRICT, M.P. AND SONBHADRA
DISTRICT, U.P.
M.A. KHAN AND V.P. SINHA

Geological Survey of India, Lucknow
The Proterozoic Mahakoshal Group of rocks provide an important and favourable

lithogic, structural and stratigraphic milieu for gold mineralisation. There are more than
thirty two occurrences/prospects/deposits known so far in parts of Sidhi district, M.P. and
Sonbhadra district, U.P. The prominent are Gurhar Pahar established as a low grade gold
52
deposit, Sonkorwa and Sonapahari in Parsoi Formation, Gulaldih-Bihawa and Chakaria in
Dudhmaniya Formation.
Stratigraphically gold is found in Agori, Parsoi as well as Dudhmaniya Formation of
Mahakoshal Group and is hosted in meta sediments like argillite - greywacke and Banded
Iron Formation (BIF). The predominant controlling factor for gold mineralisation is brittle
-ductile shears and fractures trending WNW-ESE and E-W. Where in the auriferous quartz/
quartz-carbonate veins are emplaced.
Geological Survey of India, Northern Region has carried out detailed investigation for
gold in Mahakoshal Group since 1985. Detailed exploration, ore petrography, fluid
inclusion and sulphur isotope studies have been carried out for Gurhar Pahar and Gulaldih
prospect.
The paper presents the current status of gold exploration in parts of Mahakoshal
Group, Sidhi district, M.P. and Sonbhadra district, U.P.
GOLD MINERALIZATION IN SINGHBHUM MOBILE

BELT, JHARKHAND, EASTERN INDIA – AN OVERVIEW
FOR FUTURE SEARCH
B.K. CHAUDHURI
Geological Survey of India, BB-217, Salt Lake, Kolkata-64
In the entire Geologic period from Archaean to Recent, Gold, the yellow noble metal
occurs in the diverse geological settings, metamorphic grades and structural styles and is
there where one actually finds it. Integrated geoscientific study is necessary for
prognostication of target areas for gold exploration.
The Eastern Indian shield (EIS) comprises of Archaean Singhbhum Cratonic nucleus
made up of different phases of Singhbhum Granite(SG), Singhbhum Proterozoic mobile
belt (SPMB) made up of volcano – sedimentary sequence with Dalma Volcanic Belt (DVB)
emplaced along its spine and the Northern high grade mobile belt of Chhotanagpur Granite
Gneissic Complex (CGGC) of granitoid, gneiss, migmatitie, anorthosite massifs, along
with minor alkaline rocks. The SPMB encompassing the Dhanjori, Chaibasa and DVBs
rest on Singhbum Granite basement. The SPMB near its southern periphery is marked by
the famous Singhbhum Shear Zone (SSZ) characterized by intense ductile shearing/thrust
with rich Copper- Uranium and by product Gold. This SPMB green schist facies package
comprising meta-sedimentaries, felsic volcanics, mafic/ulatramafic, granitoids and alka-
line/carbonatite suit of rocks is bounded by the CGGC attaining amphibolite to granulite
facies in the north.
Work carried out by Geological Survey of India (GSI) during last three decades
established belt-wise gold mineralization in the EIS in the Archaean Kunderkocha –
Gorumahisani greenstone belt, Jharkhand, Archaean to early Proterozoic volcano –
sedimentary Iron Ore Group (IOG) around Telkoi in Keonjhar district Orissa to the SW of
53
Singhbhum Craton and in several sectors of SPMB, Jharkhand. Palaeo-Proterozoic Quartz-
Pebble Conglomerate (QPC) hosted gold close to the contact of Singhbhum Granite
basement and by product gold associated with copper sulphide ores in SSZ are also
noteworthy finds by GSI in recent times.
The present paper outlines the litho-structural domains of gold mineraliztion in the
SPMB settings of Singhbhum, Jharkhand. Synthesis of available geological, geochemical
and limited geophysical studies have brought to light four litho-structural domains/
auriferous axis patterns from south to north along which gold mineralizations are localized:
I. Domain of sheared meta sedimentaries along axial planes of the F2 fold (Siadih-
Chatuhasa auriferous axis) where sporadic epigenetic mineralization noted in
greyish white quartz veins traversing the sheared litho- contact of quartzite and
phyllites.
II. Domain of sheared volcaniclastic, chemogenic and euxinic sediments along the
northern and southern contacts of DVB. (Hesakocha – Rudiya – Mahadevbera
axis) shear plane controlled epigenetic mineralization along the northern contact
of DVB. (Taramba – Hurungda axis) shear plane controlled epigenetic mineral-
ization along the southern contact of DVB where sheared quartz vein traverses
buff grey quartzite and tuffaceous phyllite.
III. Domain of acid volcanic/tuffaceous phyllite and intercalated silicified buff grey
quartzite. (Lungtu – Parasi axis) is localized along the sheared contact of acid
volcanics/tuffs with tuffaceous phyllite/mica schist lying to the north of northern
margin of DVB. Significant epigenetic gold mineralization has been intersected
in GSI boreholes.The work is still in progress.
IV. Domain of Singhbhum Group of metasedimentaries with occasional volcaniclastic
intercalation. (Babaikundi – Birgaon axis) is located just to the south of Tamar
– Porapahar Shear Zone (TPSZ) where epigenetic gold mineralization is confined
to the lensoidal sheared vein quartz traversing the litho - contact of quartz- mica
schist and amphibolite of Singhbhum Group. Wall rock alteration namely
biotitisation, carbonatisation etc.are conspicuous. Ore microscopic studies
revealed presence of native gold associated with pyrrhotite/sphalerite association.
By product gold associated with Cu-U mineralization along SSZ and Palaeo-
Proterozoic gold in QPC’s in the gap areas of Dhanjori Basin overlying the Singhbhum
Granite should also be searched for Gold.
54

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ABSTRACT VOLUME

“Gold Industry in India:

Geological Society of India, Bangalore

National Seminar on Gold Industry in India

It is to be hoped that this Seminar presages a re-vitalisation of

09.00 – 09.30 AM Registration

09.30 – 11.30 AM Inaugural Session; Invocation;

Inauguration and Address

Shri M.P. Renukacharya

3. Shivalinga Murthy, IAS

11.30 – 12.00 Tea Break

DATE: 28.05.2009, TIME: 12.00 – 13.30

TECHNICAL SESSION – 1: KEY NOTE ADDRESSES

Exploration - S.K. Biswas

Mining - M.H.R. Rao

Metallurgy - G.V. Rao, IMMT, Bhubaneswar

13.30 to 14.30 - LUNCH

15.30 to 16.30 - GSI Council Meeting

17.00 to19.00 - GSI Founders Day Celebration

Technical Session – 2: 9.30 AM – 11.30 AM

1. Gold Mining Industry in India – A Review

2. New Discoveries of Gold Mineralized zones and Resources

3. Integrated Exploration and exploratory Mining leading to the

4. Hira-Buddinni Gold Deposit: Current Status & Potentialities,

1. Evolution & Innovation in the Process Plant pay a rich dividend

2. The Gold Process Mineralogy and its significance in Gold

3. An assessment of the gold potential in the South Kolar Schist

4. Nugget Formation and Distribution in the Champion Lode, KGF.

5. Evidence of Gold in Kolar Komatiites

BREAK FOR LUNCH 1.30 pm to 2.30pm

1. Lateritic gold deposits of Wynad-Nilambur Gold Fields, Kerala

2. Gold Exploration in Gadag Schist Belt.

3. Gold Mineralization in Attappadi Belt, Southern Granulite

BREAK FOR TEA 3.30pm to 4.00pm

Session – 5: 04.00 PM – 05.00 PM

2. Integrated Surveys for Gold Exploration in the Northern Part of

3. Assessment of Environmental impacts in different land use

1. 6.30AM Assemble at Swathi Hotel

2. 7.00AM Leave Bangalore to Bellara Gold Mines.

Break fast at Kamat Upchar before reaching Tumkur

Visit Bellara and Ajjanhalli Gold Mines & Ingaldhal Mines,

Break fast 6.30am to 7.30am

Leave Chitradurga to G.R.Halli old Gold Mines of M/S HGML,

Break fast 6.30am to 7.30am

02- 06- 2009, Tuesday

Break fast 6.30am to 7.30am

Visit Hutti Mine Exploration office 8.00am to 9.00am

Visit Hutti underground Mines 9.30am

Assemble at Hutti Gold Mine Club for Dinner. 7.00pm

Break fast 6.30am to 7.30am

Proceed to Jonnagiri Gold Field via Raichur & Adoni. If time

Break fast 6.30am to 7.30am

Leave at 2.00pm to Ramagiri Gold Field & return to Bangalore

1. Geological Domain for Gold Exploration in India

14. Gold Mineralisation in Andhra Pradesh and Future Exploration

15. Lateritic Gold Deposits of Wynad-Nilambur Gold Fields,

16. Gold Exploration in Gadag Schist Belt

17. Gold Mineralization in Attappadi Belt, Southern Granulite

18. Auriferous Lodes in Sakoli Fold Belt - A Review

19. Integrated Surveys for Gold Exploration in the Northern part of

20. Palaeoproterozoic Orogenic Gold Metallogeny in Rajasthan linked

21. Exploration for Gold in South Indian Shield - A modern Potential

23. Status of Gold Exploration in Mahakoshal Group, Sidhi District,

M.SHANKARGOUDA, V.G.SURESH KUMAR & A.R. WALMIKI