Bhalukona Exploration Indicates Over 4 Million Tonnes of Mineralisation: DGML

Deccan Gold Mines Ltd (DGML) on Monday said preliminary exploration at its Bhalukona critical mineral project in Chhattisgarh's Mahasamund district has indicated the potential for more than 4 million tonnes of mineralisation, marking an encouraging development in the exploration of domestic critical mineral resources.

The preliminary geological modelling of exploration drilling data has indicated mineralisation with an estimated grade of approximately 0.24 per cent nickel equivalent, the company said in a statement.

DGML, a gold and critical minerals resource company, secured a 30-square-kilometre Composite Licence (CL) for the Bhalukona-Jamnidih block in Basana tehsil of Mahasamund district on April 1, 2025. The licence covers the exploration and potential mining of nickel, copper and platinum group elements (PGE).

The company said the preliminary estimates cover only near-surface mineralisation across approximately 300-350 metres of the 1.3-km mineralised corridor identified at the project site.

Commenting on the findings, DGML Managing Director Hanuma Prasad Modali described the preliminary estimates as an encouraging milestone in efforts to explore India's domestic potential for critical minerals.

DGML, however, clarified that the figures represent preliminary exploration-stage estimates and should not be treated as a confirmed mineral resource or reserve.