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Key Highlights Geological Survey of India has rejected claims about discovery of 3,000 tonnes of gold in UP GSI issued clarification on the discovery of 3,000 tonnes of gold in Sonbhadra Gold estimates in UP's Sonbhadra revised from 3,000 tonnes to just 160 kg

New Delhi: The Geological Survey of India (GSI) on Saturday rejected the claims about the discovery of gold deposits estimated to be around 3,000 tonnes in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. The GSI said no such data was given from their side.

Rejecting the claim, GSI Director General (DG) M Sridhar said, "The GSI has estimated a probable category resource of 52,806.25 tonnes of ore with 3.03 grams per tonne gold (average grade) for a strike length of 170m in Sub-Block-H, Son Pahadi of Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh".

Sridhar further stated that GSI has not estimated such kind of vast resources of gold deposits in Sonbhadra.

"Such data was not given by anybody from GSI... GSI has not estimated such kind of vast resource of gold deposits in Sonbhadra district," news agency PTI quoted Sridhar as saying.

3,350 tonnes of gold in Sonbhadra

It was earlier claimed that 2,943.26 tonnes of the gold reserve was located at Sonpahadi, while 646.15 tonnes of gold was found in the Hardi field. As per estimates, the new reserves could have been worth Rs 12 lakh crore.

However, the GSI has categorically refuted any such claims.

GSI issues clarification

Meanwhile, the Geological Survey of India has also issued a clarification on the reports about the availability of 3,350 tonnes of gold in Sonbhadra Pahadi and Hardi field.

The mineralised zone having an average grade of 3.03 grams per tonne of gold is tentative in nature and the total gold which can be extracted from the total resource of 52,806.25 tonnes of ore is approximately 160 kg and not 3,350 tonnes as mentioned in the media, GSI said.

GSI Director General Sridhar also claimed that the department had carried out work in that region in 1998-99 and 1999-2000 and the findings were not satisfactory.

"We share our findings regarding any resources of ore after conducting a survey with the state units... We (GSI, Northern Region) had carried out work in that region in 1998-99 and 1999-2000. The report was shared with UP DGM for information and further necessary action," he said.

'The exploration work of the GSI for gold was not satisfactory and the results were not encouraging to come up with major resources for gold in Sonbhadra district, he added.