Jaipur: With the auctioning of Dugocha gold block located in Salumbar, the Rajasthan govt achieved the distinction of auctioning three gold mines within a year.
The yellow metal block, spanning an area of 472 hectare, was put under the hammer, and Hindustan Zinc Ltd secured a composite licence for it on Friday.
A mining department official said, "Three companies participated in the auction, including Adani Enterprises Ltd, Ahmedabad, M/s Owais Metal and Mineral Processing Ltd, Ratlam and Hindustan Zinc Ltd. Hindustan Zinc emerged as the successful bidder after quoting the highest final price."
The department of mines and geology issued a notification on November 15 declaring Hindustan Zinc as the "preferred bidder." The evaluation of the gold deposit is approximately Rs 1410 crore. The official further informed that the block is at the G3 level of exploration and holds an estimated 1.74 million tonne of resources, with a gold grade of 1.63 gram per tonne. "Auction of this mine will enhance the gold, gems business, and employment potential would also be generated from exploration and mining. The level of exploration undertaken so far falls under the G3 category as defined in the Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Rules, 2015, and therefore it was qualified to be auctioned as a composite licence."
An official said, "Geological reports of 18 blocks have been submitted by GSI for mineral gold."
Earlier in June this year, the Bhukia-Jagpura gold mine, spread over 940 hectare in Banswara, and the Kankaria-Gara Gold block, spread over 205 hectares, were auctioned.
While gold deposits are found in Banswara (Jagpura, Bhukia, Delwara, and Panch-Mahuri), Udaipur (Dagocha), and Dausa (Dhani Baseri), the occurrence of gold in Rajasthan includes areas such as Ajmer district: Ladera, Sawar-Bajta-Tikhi; Alwar district: Kheda-Mundiawas; Bhilwara district: Devtalai, Amargarh, Barila-Hanotiya; Dungarpur district: Hinglaz-Mata, Mauhri-Khera, Devlapal; Jhunjhunu district: Khetri Copper Belt; Sirohi district: Danva-Ajari-Basantgarh-Rohera-Watera Belt; and Udaipur district: Isarwas-Jaisamand Belt and Bedawal-Chari.