*A New Door to Prosperity Opens with the Discovery of Important Minerals in Chhattisgarh*
*Chhattisgarh’s Historic Leap in the Search for Strategic Minerals: Confirmation of Nickel-Chromium-PGE in Chhattisgarh*
Raipur, August 5, 2025/
Chhattisgarh has recorded a significant achievement in the field of mineral development. Messrs. Deccan Gold Mining Limited (DGML) has discovered Nickel, Chromium, and Platinum Group Elements (PGEs) in the recently obtained joint concession area in the state. This remarkable achievement marks the beginning of a new era of exploration and sustainable development of strategic and important minerals in Chhattisgarh.
This discovery has been made in the Bhalukona-Jamnidih Nickel, Chromium, and PGE block of Mahasamund district, which is spread over approximately 3000 hectares. Preliminary exploration of this area was carried out by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) at the G4 level, which revealed the possibility of the presence of these minerals. On this basis, the Directorate of Geology and Mining (DGM) under the Mineral Resources Department of the Chhattisgarh government, compiled detailed geological data and completed the e-auction process of the block.
The block was successfully auctioned on March 6, 2023, in which DGML acquired it by placing the highest bid of 21%. Subsequently, DGM Chhattisgarh provided technical guidance and continuous support to expedite the exploration works. After obtaining the necessary forest and environmental clearances, DGML started exploration activities, including detailed geological mapping, rock chip sampling, drone-based magnetic surveys, and Induced Polarization (IP) surveys. The initial results have been encouraging. So far, a mineralized belt of approximately 700 meters in length has been identified, which is located in potential mafic-ultramafic rock formations. According to the signals received from geophysical surveys, the presence of sulfide minerals has been recorded up to a depth of 300 meters, which underlines the rich mineral potential of this block.
The Kelvardabri Nickel, Chromium and PGE block, located near the Bhalukona block, was previously awarded to Messrs. Vedanta Limited through auction. The joint development of these two blocks has strengthened the possibilities of developing the Mahasamund area as a major center for strategic minerals in the country.
Expressing happiness over this achievement, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said that this historic discovery is a decisive step towards securing essential mineral resources for the state and the country. It strengthens the spirit of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ mission and encourages sustainable and self-reliant development in strategic areas. The Chhattisgarh government is committed to providing full support for scientific and detailed mineral exploration and development.
The state government is giving top priority to the exploration of strategic and important minerals, as evidenced by the exploration proposals of 2024-25, where more than 50% of the proposals are focused on these minerals. So far, 51 mineral blocks have been successfully auctioned by the state, which include highly important minerals like graphite, nickel, chromium, PGEs, lithium, glauconite, phosphorite, and graphite-vanadium. In addition, 6 tin blocks have been handed over to the Ministry of Mines, Government of India, for the upcoming auction.
To accelerate planned and institutional efforts in this direction, DGM, Chhattisgarh has constituted a Critical Mineral Cell, which is promoting mineral exploration and refinement by increasing collaboration with research, academic, and professional institutions.
In this context, Secretary of the Department of Mineral Resources, Shri P. Dayanand, said that this discovery is not just a scientific success, but a strategic leap. In view of the increasing global demand, the minerals required for green energy and high-tech technologies—such as nickel and platinum group elements—are the backbone of future technologies. Chhattisgarh is committed to playing a central role in India’s strategic mineral map and we are ensuring the necessary institutional and operational support for this.
Experts believe that this achievement not only strengthens Chhattisgarh’s mineral prosperity but also lays the foundation for amazing possibilities in the direction of discovering useful minerals in modern technology, national security, and clean energy sectors.
