The largest chrome ore deposit of the country is situated in the Sukinda valley of Jajpur district surrounded by the Daitari hill range on one side and the Mahagiri hill range on the other side. The deposit contains 97% of the Chrome ore reserve in India. Chrome ore varying upto very high grade (58% Cr₂O₃) of lump and friable variety is produced from different mines of this valley. The thickness of the main band varies between 25-50 meters in width extending beyond 200 meters in depth stretched on few Kms. in length is one of the rare deposits of the world.

The mining is done by open cast method through intensive mechanised and manual operation. The chrome ore of this valley also contains cobalt and platinum, apart from the host rock contains Nickel. The mineral is marketed in the domestic market for production of ferrochrome metal, sodium dichromate, basic chromium sulphate, chrome based refractories etc. Due to high melting point of 1700-1800 Degree Celsius, good quality lump chromite ore is used for manufacture of chrome magnesium bricks to be used as insulation lining in the blast furnaces. The different products are utilised for making stainless steel, chrome steel, special steel and used in chrome plating, tannery pigments etc.

A part of the product is exported over the years mostly to Japan, and China for production of ferrochrome metal. OMC shares a major chunk of the market in the international scenario. 

As a value addition, OMC installed a chrome ore Beneficiation plant (COBP) within the mining area of OMC for production of 84,000 tonnes of high grade friable chrome ore per annum through indigenous technology. The plant erected by M/s. Hindustan Dor Oliver (HOD), Bombay on the flow sheet developed by Bhaba Atomic Research Centre, Trombay is today operating at the rated capacity and earns good amount of revenue for the treasury of OMC.

Daitari Iron Ore