Deccan Gold Expands Bhalukona Nickel-Copper-PGE Discovery

Deccan Gold Mines Limited has reported expanded drilling results from its Bhalukona Nickel-Copper-PGE Project in Chhattisgarh, signalling a significantly larger mineralised system than that announced in May. The company said assays from additional diamond drilling confirmed a broad corridor of nickel, copper and palladium mineralisation and localised platinum occurrences. The findings were described as reinforcing the project's potential to become one of India's most significant critical minerals discoveries in recent years. The company noted that exploration will continue.

Latest results identified mineralisation over a strike length of approximately 430 metres and to depths of over 200 metres, with the corridor remaining open along strike. Ongoing drilling indicated the potential for continuation across a target zone extending up to one point three kilometres. Key intersections included 15 metres grading 0.31 per cent nickel equivalent in hole BJD-02, 36 metres grading 0.23 per cent nickel equivalent in hole BJD-03, and 6 metres grading 0.39 per cent nickel equivalent in hole BJD-04, with localised high-grade zones up to 1.29 per cent.

To date, the company has completed approximately 1,500 metres of diamond drilling across nine drill holes along the approximate one point three kilometre strike, with assays from further holes pending. Microscopic studies were reported to have confirmed the presence of pentlandite, chalcocite, chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite sulphides, which were cited as key indicators of a nickel-copper sulphide system. The Bhalukona-Jamnidih Composite Licence was noted as one of the first critical minerals licences issued following government initiatives to accelerate domestic exploration.

Senior management indicated they were encouraged by the scale and continuity of mineralisation and said they were accelerating exploration to define a mineable resource and to progress mining lease applications as appropriate. The company stated that low-impact work including geophysical surveys and soil sampling would continue during the monsoon and that drilling would resume post-monsoon. It added that government and community support had been important and that, subject to continued success, the project could advance India's critical minerals ambitions.

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