KOLAR GOLD FIELDS

city, southeastern Karnataka (formerly Mysore) state, southern India. It lies on a Southern Railway spur that loops from Bangarapet to Bangalore. Economic activities centre on the goldfields, which are the southern portion of a gold-bearing region that extends for 40 miles (65 km). The productive beds, 4 miles (6 km) long and with an average width of 4 miles, were first mined in 1881. Within two years, four main veins (Champion, Oorgaum, Nundydorog, and Mysore) were opened. Oorgaum, the deepest, reached 9,664 feet (2,946 m) below sea level. Although the annual production in some years was more than 95 percent of India's gold output, the mines declined and were nationalized in the 1950s to prevent closure. Near the city are the industrial area of Marikuppam (tile and brick manufacture) and the residential area of Robertsonpet. Pop. (1991 prelim.) city, 72,481; metropolitan area, 156,398.