No gold or copper deposits in Udayagiri - GSI

Nellore: Sources in the Geological Survey of India (GSI) struck down the reports in a section of media over gold and copper deposits found in the lands near Udayagiri during drilling operations of GSI which is going on for more than two years.

The GSI collected as many as 46 samples from the area and found traces of pyrites (a shiny yellow mineral consisting of iron disulfide and typically occurring as intersecting cubic crystals) in some habitations.

Sources said that people without knowledge on chemicals assume the mineral as gold going by its glitter.

According to sources, the pyrite is usually found along with other sulfides or oxides in quartz veins, sedimentary rock, and metamorphic rock, as well as in coal beds and as a replacement mineral in fossils.

Pyrite is used to manufacture ferrous sulfate. They remain in commercial use to produce sulfur dioxide, for use in such applications as the paper industry, and in the manufacture of sulfuric acid.

Sources reiterated that they have not found either copper or gold except pyrites and that the samples are being sent to the GSI office in Hyderabad for lab tests.