That’s an important piece of news for India’s strategic mineral sector. The reports refer to a recent discovery of a deposit containing Nickel, Copper, and other critical minerals in Chhattisgarh.
Here are the full details of the discovery and its significance:
💎 Critical Mineral Discovery in Chhattisgarh
The discovery was not just of Nickel and Copper, but also included Platinum Group Elements (PGEs), which are vital for modern technology.2
| Detail | Description |
| Minerals Found | Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu), and Platinum Group Elements (PGEs) (such as Platinum and Palladium). |
| Location | Bhalukona-Jamnidih block in the Mahasamund District of Chhattisgarh, about 70 km from the state capital, Raipur. |
| Exploring Company | Deccan Gold Mines Limited (DGML), which secured the Composite Licence for the block through an e-auction. |
| Exploration Basis | The discovery built upon initial exploration (G4-level) conducted earlier by the Geological Survey of India (GSI), which had identified promising traces of these minerals. |
| Resource Potential | While the figure “10,000 tonnes” is mentioned, it refers to the expected annual production of each metal (10,000 tonnes of copper and 10,000 tonnes of nickel) once the mine is operational, not the total estimated reserve. |
| Project Status | DGML has completed initial geophysical surveys and identified a 700-meter-long mineralized zone. Detailed drilling is set to begin soon (reported to be in December 2025) to confirm the full size of the reserves. |
✨ Significance of the Discovery
This find is highly strategic for India, particularly given the nation’s push for self-reliance and the global shift toward green energy.
- Critical Minerals for High-Tech
- Nickel and Copper are essential for the production of stainless steel, electrical wiring, and key components in renewable energy systems.
- Platinum Group Elements (PGEs) are indispensable for catalytic converters, high-tech electronics, and specialized alloys.
- These minerals are classified as Critical Minerals because they are fundamental to modern industrial, defense, and clean-energy technologies, but India is currently heavily reliant on imports for most of them.
- Boosting Green Energy (EVs)
- Nickel is a crucial component in the cathodes of Electric Vehicle (EV) batteries. Securing a domestic source is vital for India’s ambitious EV adoption targets and the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM).
- Strategic Hub
- The Bhalukona-Jamnidih block lies adjacent to the Kelwardabri block, which also contains Ni-Cu-PGE deposits and was earlier auctioned to Vedanta Limited. Together, these two areas are expected to emerge as a high-potential critical mineral hub in the Mahasamund region.
This discovery is being hailed by the Chhattisgarh state government and the Ministry of Mines as a major step toward fulfilling the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) mission in the strategic resources sector.
