By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, March 20, 2025: Mineral rich Odisha also is home to rich gold reserves, with multiple districts showing promising gold deposits going by the statement of Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena in the Odisha Legislative Assembly on Thursday.

The government agencies have identified significant gold deposits in Sundargarh, Nabarangpur, Angul, and Koraput, the Minister told the Assembly. Besides, initial surveys indicate the presence of gold mines also in Malkangiri, Sambalpur, and Boudh districts. Earlier, gold deposits were also discovered in Adasa-Rampalli of Deogarh district when the Geological Survey of India (GSI) was conducting a G-2 level exploration for copper.

In Mayurbhanj, extensive exploration is underway in Jashipur, Suriaguda, Ruaansi, Idelkucha, Maredihi, Suleipat, and Badampahad regions. Meanwhile, gold exploration activities are ongoing in the Gopur-Gazipur, Mankadchuan, Saleikana, and Dimirimunda areas of the Keonjhar district. The state government is closely monitoring these findings, which could boost Odisha’s mining potential and economy.

Meanwhile, Odisha is preparing to auction its first gold mining block in Deogarh, marking a historic shift for the state’s mineral sector. The GSI and Odisha Mining Corporation are concurrently investigating Mankadachua, Saleikana, and Dimirimunda in Keonjhar for gold potential. Technical committees will evaluate final exploration reports before recommending the next steps for commercialization.

Preliminary surveys are underway in Mayurbhanj’s Jashipur, Suriaguda, and Badampahad regions. GSI has initiated copper-gold exploration in Deogarh’s Jaladihi area, with results expected by 2025.