GOLD

Kerala's Gold

2006-03-11

Recent exploration result for Kerala are very encouraging, Gold worth of about Rs 600 croe at current price is present in the Attapadi, Nilambur and Mankada areas in Malappuram district. These areas are found to be highly potential for Gold. Among them the Atapadi gold belt is found to be most potential. It is made up of gneissic rocks. The gold is found in three subparallel load zones. Similarly six lensoid gold bearing load zones in Nilambur and two gold load zones of sulphide rich high grade rocks at Mankada are alos recorded. Kottathara area of Nilambur region hold maximum, 80000 tonnes of gold in its reserve. Gold at the rate of 13.8 grams can be obtained from here.

Kerala government is planning to go for mining. Four gram of gold per tonne from any ore lead zone is viable, if continued for twenty years. However government should take precaution while going for exploration, because of the low percentage of gold and erratic distribution of gold in ore. Each area should have distinct strategy for exploration depending upon the nature of ore. Locations are so far found viable for mining. It is wandered why kerala has not gone for mining up to now. In karnataka’s kolar mining has produced so far 800 tonnes of gold upto an average depth of 2750 metre in area of 8 kilometres. 99% percent of gold in India come from 40000 sq km area covering Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

It is very likely that kerala is heading for gold mining. And once the mining is started in Malappuram and Attapadi valley, issues of environment will come in focus. The valleys may be turned in to grey. The ecological and natural balance may get disturbed. For the country to sustain growth in economy, proper utilization of mineral wealth is necessary. However all this thing should we done by using the modern mining technologies by causes less harm to the environment? First a study of impact of mining on environment should we done. Proper benefit of Country, people and environment should be taken care of.

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