THE CONTEXT: India has 501.83 million tonnes of gold ore reserves as of April 1, 2015, according to National Mineral Inventory data
Analysis:
- Out of these, 17.22 million tonnes were placed under reserves category and the rest under remaining resources category.
- The largest reserves of gold ores are located in Bihar (44 per cent), followed by Rajasthan (25 per cent), Karnataka (21 per cent), West Bengal (3 per cent), Andhra Pradesh (3 per cent), Jharkhand (2 per cent).
- The remaining 2 per cent reserves are in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
- Kolar Gold Field, Hutti Gold Field (Karnataka)and Ramgiri Gold Field are the most important gold fields in India.
- Karnataka is the largest producer followed by Andhra Pradesh.
- Ramagiri in Anantapur district is the most important gold field in AP.
- In Jharkhand, Sands of the Subarnarekha (gold streak) river have some alluvial gold
- In Kerala, the river terraces along the Punna Puzha and the Chabiyar Puzha have some alluvial gold.
- UP government’s Department of Geology and Mining claims of discovering about 3,000 tonnes of gold deposits in Uttar Pradesh’s Sonbhadra district, has been rejected by centre recently saying the actual estimated reserve stands at 160 kg.
