Hyderabad: In another significant step towards exploration of gold and copper deposits in Karnataka, the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) has signed an agreement with Karnataka mines and geology department to formally commence exploration activities.The SCCL secured the exploration licence for the block through the Govt of India’s mineral auction at Devadurga block, spread across Raichur and Yadgir districts of Karnataka state last year.The agreement was signed by Karnataka mines & geology department director Rangappa and SCCL director K Venkateshwarlu in Bengaluru on Thursday. As per the agreement, SCCL will complete the exploration of the 199 sq km Devadurga block, for which it has been granted the exploration licence, in five years.As part of the exploration programme, remote sensing, geological mapping, and geophysical surveys will be carried out, followed by scout drilling at selected locations. The collected samples will undergo petrographic and mineralogical studies, followed by comprehensive elemental analysis at SCCL’s newly established Geo Science laboratory at Kothagudem. Based on these studies, a detailed exploration report would be submitted to the Karnataka department of Mines & Geology. The findings would form the basis for undertaking advanced stages of mineral exploration in the block.SCCL director K Venkateshwarlu said that while Singareni had earlier secured the exploration licence for the gold and copper deposits in the Devadurga block, the present agreement marks the formal commencement of exploration operations.He said stated that key officials have already been appointed for the project, and the remaining officers and staff will be deployed shortly. SCCL aims to successfully complete the G4 stage exploration within the next two years, he said.
