DBT Bureau
Pune, 20 May 2026
Deccan Gold Mines Limited announced encouraging drilling results from its Bhalukona Nickel-Copper-PGE (Platinum Group Elements) Composite Licence in Chhattisgarh, marking a potentially significant development in India’s critical minerals landscape.
The Company said its maiden drilling campaign at Bhalukona has confirmed the presence of a layered mafic intrusive complex hosting wide zones of disseminated sulphides along with occasional heavy and massive sulphide lenses containing nickel, copper, and palladium mineralisation.
In a strong initial result, the very first drill hole intersected three mineralised gabbroic layers with a combined width exceeding 60 metres. The hole intersected nearly 30 metres of potentially economic sulphide mineralisation above 0.2% nickel equivalent (Ni_Eq), averaging approximately 0.4% Ni_Eq. The highest-grade intersection recorded was 2.6 metres grading 1.01% nickel, 0.29% copper, and 0.2 g/t palladium from 103.4 metres depth.
To date, Deccan Gold has completed approximately 1,200 metres of core drilling across seven drill holes over a prospective mineralised strike zone extending nearly 1.3 kilometres. All drill holes have intersected varying widths of disseminated and heavy-massive sulphide mineralisation.
Microscopic analysis has confirmed the presence of pentlandite (nickel sulphide), chalcopyrite (copper sulphide), and pyrrhotite sulphides, providing further geological validation of the discovery. The Company said assay results from additional drill holes are currently awaited and the drilling programme will now be accelerated to establish a mineable resource with a view to progressing toward mining lease applications at the earliest.
The Bhalukona-Jamnidih Composite Licence, spanning approximately 30 sq. km in Mahasamund district of Chhattisgarh, was among the first Ni-Cu-PGE licences granted in India following the Government’s push toward critical minerals exploration. Geophysical surveys conducted by the Company also indicate the possibility of repetition of mineralised zones across the licence area.
Commenting on the development, Dr. Hanuma Prasad Modali, Managing Director, Deccan Gold Mines Limited, said: “The discovery of significant nickel-copper-PGE mineralisation at Bhalukona is an important milestone for Deccan Gold and a strong validation of the project’s geological potential. Intersecting encouraging sulphide mineralisation in the very first phase of drilling reinforces our confidence in the asset and its strategic relevance for India’s growing critical minerals ecosystem.”
“We deeply appreciate the support of the Central and State Governments, local authorities, and communities as we advance exploration activities. Based on the encouraging results so far, we are accelerating the drilling programme to define a mineable resource and fast-track mining lease applications. Subject to continued drilling success, we are hopeful Bhalukona can evolve into India’s first nickel-copper-PGE mine”, adds Dr. Hanuma
The Company added that low-impact exploration activities, including additional geophysical and soil sampling programmes, will continue during the monsoon period to identify further mineralised targets across the licence area.
