Evolutionary phases of exploration leading to the development of Hutti and Chitradurga group of mines, in the Archean greenstone belts of Karnataka, India
Patil, M.L.
Special Publication Series - Geological Survey of India 58: 293-314
2001
Accession: 018883277
The Hutti group of mines, situated in the Hutti-Maski schist belt, in the eastern Dharwar Craton, have witnessed different evolutionary phases of exploration (and mining) dating from the Pre-Ashokan period, over 2,000 years ago. Although Hutti is the richest of all the deposits and also a world class gold deposit in the schist belt, detailed exploration has revealed that the satellite mines such as Uti and Hira-Buddini should also be mined to increase the production. The Chitradurga group of mines situated in the western Dharwar Craton are mineralogically and genetically distinct from the Hutti group of mines which are lode type deposits. The Ajjanahalli deposit occurs in the BIFs and HGML has successfully mined the Central Ajjanahalli block. Additionally, the copper smelting plant at Ingaldhal has successfully turned to cater to the need of oxidised gold ores of Ajjanahalli, by employing the CIP technology. This paper addresses an up to date review of the subject, the exploration (and exploitation) input in the gold investigations carried out in the leasehold areas of HGML, the need for working of small prospects in the vicinity of large mines such as Hutti, in-depth exploration of the Main Reef that yielded the richest gold ores in the past, persistence of ore shoots at Hutti mine in depth and lateral extension of Ajjanahalli Block.