Odisha Identifies Three Gold Mines With Likely Reserves Of 1,586 Kg

Bhubaneswar: Minister of State for Steel and Mines Bibhuti Bhushan Jena on Thursday said Odisha has identified three gold-bearing blocks in Deogarh, Keonjhar and Gajipur districts and preliminary estimates suggest the total reserve is around 1,586 kilograms.

The minister said the state government will soon plan the next action plan for further exploration and commercial exploitation of the identified deposits. A high-level meeting has been scheduled for January 3 to discuss procedures for auctioning gold blocks in accordance with mining regulations.

“Gold deposits have been identified in Deogarh, Keonjhar and Gajipur. Preliminary assessment indicates reserves of around 1,586 kilograms. Further exploration will be done followed by discussions regarding the auction process for these blocks,” Jena said.

Identification of gold reserves strengthens Odisha’s position as one of the most mineral-rich states in India. The state currently accounts for a significant share of the country’s iron ore, chromite and bauxite production and is home to large deposits of manganese, limestone and dolomite that support steel, aluminium, cement and related industries.

Odisha also has significant reserves of graphite, copper, nickel, silver, titanium, vanadium, tin and rare earth elements (REEs), minerals that are increasingly critical for clean energy, electronics and advanced manufacturing. Graphite blocks have been detected in Kalahandi, Rayagada, Bolangir, Nayagarh and Deogarh regions, and there are important formations in Lamer-Panga, Naringpanga, Rengali and Tamiya blocks. Many of these are in G2 and G3 exploration stages, indicating intermediate to preliminary geological confidence with the potential for further increase.

Continuous exploration and systematic auctioning of mineral blocks is expected to strengthen Odisha’s mining-based industrial growth while increasing state revenues, officials said. The government has emphasized the need to balance mine development with environmental measures and local job creation.

The discovery of gold deposits, though small-scale, is seen as a strategic addition to Odisha’s diversified mineral portfolio and could create new opportunities in the state’s mining sector.