EMN
Dimapur, June 13
The department of Geology & Mining has issued corroborative statements to a recent news reports that there was “presence of gold” in Nagaland, although not ‘native.’ The department has stated that it “envisage” detailed investigation and has invited universities or researchers to work in this terrains “for bringing out the light of such deposits of gold or any other economic minerals.”
“Significant presence of gold and other noble metals has been identified and recorded by this department since 1980s and still continuing for detail and in depth search till today,” Director Geology and Mining SK Kenye stated in a release today. “Earlier analytics report shows presence of gold in association with other base metals (not native gold as reported)…”There are problems though, according to the press release. “However, the department proposed programmes for detailed exploration are being hampered due to the difficult ad inaccessible mountain terrain along with steep slopes ad deep gorgeous (sic) and thick vegetation covers.”
That aside, the department said, there are “security related restrictiveness near the indo-Myanmar international border, lack of airborne / heliborne (sic) as well as ground geophysical survey data, lack of modern technology and machineries for exploration and drilling and scanty investments and investors…” Those are some of the problems that are delaying “immediate results”, the department explained. Laboratory testing and analysis of ore or mineral samples are slow and costly requiring huge capital investment, the press release stated.
Nonetheless, the department of Geology & Mining has invited universities, and research scholars to work “in (these) terrains for bringing out the light of such deposits of gold or any other economic minerals.” The department has assured full cooperation and assistance “wherever and whenever required.”
