Deccan Gold Mines (Deccan Gold), a listed gold and critical minerals exploration and mining company, reported encouraging drilling results from its Bhalukona Nickel?Copper?PGE Composite Licence in Mahasamund district, Chhattisgarh. The company said the maiden campaign has confirmed a layered mafic intrusive complex hosting widespread disseminated sulphides and occasional heavy and massive sulphide lenses carrying nickel, copper and palladium mineralisation. The outcome was presented as a potentially significant development for India’s critical minerals landscape.

The first drill hole intersected three mineralised gabbroic layers with a combined width exceeding 60 metres and recorded nearly 30 metres of potentially economic sulphide mineralisation above zero point two per cent nickel equivalent (Ni_Eq), averaging about zero point four per cent Ni_Eq. The highest?grade intersection comprised two point six metres grading one point zero one per cent nickel, zero point two nine per cent copper and zero point two grams per tonne palladium from a depth of 103.4 metres. To date, 1,200 metres of core drilling has been completed across seven drill holes over a prospective mineralised strike zone extending nearly one point three kilometres.

All holes have intersected varying widths of disseminated and heavy?massive sulphide mineralisation and microscopic analysis confirmed pentlandite, chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite sulphides, providing geological validation of the discovery. Assay results from additional drill holes are awaited and the drilling programme will be accelerated with the objective of defining a mineable resource. The company also plans to progress mining lease applications at the earliest contingent on continued drilling success.

The Bhalukona?Jamnidih Composite Licence spans approximately 30 sq. km and was among the first Ni?Cu?PGE licences granted in India following government initiatives on critical minerals exploration. Geophysical surveys indicate the possibility of repetition of mineralised zones across the licence area and low?impact exploration, including further geophysical and soil sampling, will continue through the monsoon. Company leadership expressed appreciation for support from central and state authorities and local communities as exploration advances. Deccan Gold reiterated its focus on responsible, technology?led development and fast?tracking work to assess whether Bhalukona can become India’s first nickel?copper?PGE mine.