No three thousand tonnes of gold in Sonbhadra: Geological Survey of India
By Newsmeter Network Published on 22 Feb 2020 3:41 PM GMT
Highlights
- Not 3000 tonne, but only 160kg of gold can be extracted, says GSI
Hyderabad: In a new development, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has denied reports of gold reserves being found in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. The GSI stated that it "has not estimated such vast kind of resources of gold deposit in Sonbhadra district, UP on Saturday.
Earlier on February 21, several media had reported that more than 3,000 tones of gold reserves were discovered in the second largest district of Uttar Pradesh. However, the GSI had clarified its stand saying that no such presence of gold reserves has been confirmed by the governmental body.
The claim that 3,350 tonnes gold can be extracted is false
In a statement released by the GSI, the governmental body further stated that more than 52,000 tones of ore had been estimated from the region. However, the amount of gold that can be extracted from the ore is approximately 160 kg and not 3,000 tonnes. The GSI said, "GSI has estimated a probable category resource of 52,806.25 tonnes of ore with 3.03 grams per tonne gold (average grade) for a strike length of 170 m in Sub-Block-H, Sonapahari area, Sonbhadra district, UP. The mineralized zone having an average grade of 3.03 grams per tonne of gold is tentative in nature, and the total gold which can be extracted from the total resource of 52,806.25 tonnes of ore is approximately 160 kg and not 3,350 tonnes as mentioned in the media."
Over the past two decades, the GSI had carried out the study during the field season between the years 1998-2000. The body had first announced the presence of gold deposits in the region back in 2005. At present, the Sonapahari and Hardi regions in the district are being studied for the presence of the metal ore. The current gold reserve of India has been estimated to be around 626 tonnes.
Earlier after the news on the 3,000 tonnes of gold reserves in Sonbhadra broke, the Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri had tweeted, "India will now have the world's 2nd largest gold reserves. The massive Gold discovery in Sonebhadra will further catalyze the growth of this beautiful, aspirational district, bring positive change in the lives of the people & usher an era of transformation."
