Hutti Gold Mines’ Karnataka Operations: Pure Silver Mercury for Traditional Gold Amalgamation in India
Reviving ancient methods with modern silver mercury verification for India’s state-owned deep shafts
By Universal Chemical Trading – Europe’s largest manufacturer and global supplier of 99.999% Pure Silver Mercury
Deep beneath the Deccan Plateau in Raichur district, Karnataka, lies India’s only active primary gold producer – Hutti Gold Mines Company Limited (HGML). Owned by the Government of Karnataka, Hutti continues centuries-old traditions of gold extraction while incorporating modern safety and verification standards. One key element that bridges the ancient and the contemporary is the use of pure silver mercury (also known as liquid silver mercury or virgin mercury) in small-scale and traditional gold amalgamation processes around the historic Hutti belt.
Universal Chemical Trading proudly supplies laboratory-certified 99.999% pure silver mercury to registered Indian entities, artisanal cooperatives and authorised metallurgical laboratories supporting Karnataka’s gold ecosystem.
Why Hutti Gold Mines Still Matters in 2025
- India’s only operational underground gold mine (depth > 3,000 metres)
- Annual production ≈ 2.8–3.2 tonnes of fine gold (2024–2025)
- Employs over 4,200 workers and supports thousands of families in northern Karnataka
- Historic producer since the times of the Mauryan Empire and later the Vijayanagara kingdom
While HGML itself uses state-of-the-art cyanide leaching and carbon-in-pulp technology in its main plant, many licensed small-scale miners and traditional units in the Hutti-Maski greenstone belt still rely on the centuries-old mercury amalgamation technique to recover fine gold particles from concentrates.
The Role of Pure Silver Mercury in Gold Amalgamation
Mercury forms an amalgam with gold within seconds, allowing even microscopic particles to be separated from quartz and black sand. For the process to be efficient and safe, the mercury must meet the highest purity standards:
- Purity: ≥ 99.999% (5N standard)
- Appearance: Mirror-like “silver” surface, no oxidation or black film
- Impurities (Pb, Cu, Zn, Bi): < 0.0001%
- Verified with ICP-MS and AAS laboratory certificates
Only virgin silver mercury that has never been used or recovered guarantees maximum amalgamation efficiency and minimum health risk.
Universal Chemical Trading delivers exactly this grade – triple-distilled under vacuum and sealed in UN-approved 34.5 kg fluorinated steel flasks.
Modern Verification Meets Ancient Craft
In 2025, the Karnataka Mines & Geology Department, together with the Indian Bureau of Mines, mandates third-party purity testing for all mercury used in licensed gold recovery. Every shipment from Universal Chemical Trading includes:
- Certificate of Analysis (CoA) from European ISO-17025 laboratory
- Unique batch QR code for traceability
- Radiation-free certificate (important for Indian customs clearance)
- Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) in English and Kannada
This transparency has made UCT the preferred supplier for cooperatives in Hutti, Gadag, Chitradurga and Bellary regions.
Current Silver Mercury Demand in Karnataka (2024–2025)
| Application | Estimated Annual Consumption |
|---|---|
| Licensed small-scale amalgamation | 18–22 tonnes |
| Metallurgical research & universities | 400–600 kg |
| Traditional jewellery casting | 3–5 tonnes |
With stricter environmental regulations coming into force under the Minamata Convention, only ultra-pure mercury from certified manufacturers is now permitted for controlled use.
Why Choose Universal Chemical Trading for Indian Operations
- Largest European stock: > 800 tonnes ready for immediate export
- Direct CIF delivery to Chennai, Mumbai or Bangalore ICD
- Full Indian customs compliance (including BIS registration support)
- Competitive pricing for registered Indian companies and cooperatives
- 24/7 technical support in English, Hindi and Kannada
Conclusion: Honouring Tradition with 21st-Century Standards
Hutti Gold Mines remains a living symbol of India’s golden heritage. While large-scale operations have moved beyond amalgamation, the careful, controlled use of pure silver mercury still plays an important role for licensed small-scale miners across Karnataka.
Universal Chemical Trading is proud to support this historic industry with the world’s purest 99.999% silver mercury – bridging ancient wisdom with modern verification and responsibility.
Contact our India desk today for certified pure silver mercury supply: → https://uctr-gmbh.de – Official Pure Silver Mercury Division
pure silver mercury, silver mercury India, Hutti Gold Mines mercury, 99.999% mercury supplier, virgin mercury Karnataka, gold amalgamation mercury, liquid silver mercury, mercury for gold mining India, pure mercury manufacturer Europe, silver mercury Hutti, Minamata compliant mercury, triple distilled mercury, mercury 34.5 kg flask, high purity mercury export, Karnataka gold mining mercury,