Gold, lithium found in Karnataka forests; mining awaits clearance
Bengaluru: Large quantities of gold and lithium have been discovered in forest areas of Koppal and Raichur districts, but mining activities have not begun as the locations fall under protected forest zones and require clearance. The state Mines and Geology Department has prepared a list of 65 locations where the study and exploration for gold and other rare earth minerals is happening.
“For the first time and in a rare case, we found 12-14 gm of gold per tonne in Amrapur block of Koppal district. Usually during studies and mining, it is around 2-3 gm of gold per tonne. At Hutti Gold Mines, it is around 2-2.5 gm. But the location in Koppal is in the virgin forest patch and we have applied for forest clearance,” department sources told The New Indian Express on Tuesday.
The study and exploration of rare and precious metals is allegedly done in four stages. The first two stages combine reconnaissance, pitting and fencing. The final two stages involve drilling up to 500 metres and preliminary mining. The first two stages have been completed in Koppal and Raichur.
According to the report, Lithium has also been traced in Amareshwara in Raichur making Karnataka only the second place in India where the metal has been found, after Jammu and Kashmir. “Here, too, the forest clearance has not been obtained. If allowed, Karnataka will be the first state to extract lithium,”
These findings and pending approvals were discussed at a joint meeting of state and central agencies in November 2025.
The lithium deposit was discovered in 2023 after detailed work. Large gold deposits were found in Amrapur in 2020, but work proceeded from 2024-25. No drilling work has been done so far in both locations. we are also worried about the safety of our ground staff. They are constantly threatened by those who want to illegally exploit the resource and those who want to stop the study, as reported by TNIE.
Forest department officials reportyedly confirmed, increasing pressure to approve mining inside protected land. Proposals have been coming for years and pressure is rising. Lithium is located in the Lingsugur reserve forest and gold in Amrapur forest in Kushtagi. These are virgin forest areas, and we cannot simply open them for mining. Forests are ecological wealth.
As per the report, the Mines and Geology Department is working with the Geological Survey of India in 57 sites and with private agencies in eight others. Minerals being studied include include platinum group of metals, bauxite, copper, cobalt, nickel, sillimanite, tungsten, vanadium, uranium, diamond, columbite-tantalite, manganese, chromite and rare earth elements including Kyanite and Xenotime in 6,73,660.39 hectares of land.
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Young man from Bantwal dies in road accident in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: A 34-year-old man from Dakshina Kannada’s Bantwal taluk died in a road accident near Kudlu gate in the city on Tuesday.
The deceased has been identified as Muhammad Haris (34), a resident of Allipade near Ajilamogaru in Bantwal taluk.
Harris worked as a mechanic at a private AC company in Bengaluru and got married six months ago.
The incident reportedly occurred when Haris was riding a bike to work along with a colleague, when a goods vehicle allegedly rammed the bike from behind.
Haris reportedly succumbed to his injuries at the stop. His colleague, an Odisha native who was riding pillion, sustained serious injuries and has been admitted to the hospital.
Haris’ body is at the mortuary of St. John’s Hospital, Koramangala, and will be sent to his hometown after the postmortem.
HSR layout traffic police have registered a case.
