Bicholim-Sirigao deposit is the best deposit of Goa state. It is situated between Bicholim in the south-east and Sirigao in the north-west. The deposit occurs oa a N 50-60o W trending anticlinal fold, overturned to the south-west and its nose portion refolded in shape of 'S' with a plunge of about 22-27o towards N 60o W. The southern limb of the fold extends for a length of about 4km from Bicholim-Piligao road in the south-east to about 500m north-east of Sirigao hill while the northern limb extends for a length of about 2km from Bordem in the south-east to about 500m north-east of Sirigao hill. Between the two limbs of the anticlinal fold, which are ore-bearing, there is a barren phyllitic tract which represents the axial portion of the fold.

The deposit consists of two orebodies, a larger south-western one and a smaller north-eastern. The total length of the south-western body between Bicholim-Piligao to Sirigao hill is about 6.25km and the windth varies from 70m to 550m. The north-eastern orebody is about 1.25km in length and the windth varies from 115m to 140m. Both these orebodies are thoroughly explored by drilling and proved up hte bottom.

As regards the quality of ore, the best grade of ore in south-eastern orebody is present in the section between Lamgao and Sirigao hill. Here, the Fe content lumpy ore ranges from 60 to 63 percent and in powdery ore from 64 to 66 percent. In Seltom Mosque hill area, the lumpy ore contains 57 to 59 percent Fe and the powdery ore from 61 to 63 percent Fe. In sectin between Bicholim-Maem road and Lamgaon the lumpy ore contains 57 to 61 percent and the powdery ore from 63 to 65 percent Fe. Along the northern and north-western slope of Sirigao, the lumpy ore contains 57 to 59 percent and the powdery ore from 61 to 62 percent Fe.

In the north-western orebody, the lumpy ore is platy to massive and contains 59 to 61 percent Fe and the powdery ore which is deep blue in colour, contains 62 to 65 percent Fe.

The open-pit mining operations at the Bicholim mine are fully mechanised.

Backhoe excavators of 1.1m3 bucket capacity are used for excavation of ROM material. Development in waste is also without drilling & blasting with the use of dozers. There are six dozers of 520, 570, 855hp, 10 backhoe of 428hp, 13 wheel loaders of 330 hp, 30 dumpers of 400hp and 6 dumpers of 350hp. All these machineries are common for Bicholim mine.

Maximum bench height is upto 6-7m. There are 10 benches in waste/OB and 7 benches in ore of which few are common due to trend of mineralisation. Working Pit top RL is 138m and bottom RL is 72m.

Processed ore from the Bicholim mine is transported by SRL to loading jetties at Sarmanas and Surla/Sinori in north of Goa, and then loaded into barges and sent to Mormugao port in Goa, India, where it is then shipped to customers.

Electric operated mechanical screen plants are in use for grade wise production of iron ore in lumps and fines in adjoining Lamgao lease. Mechanical processing i.e. dry screening was proposed for grade-wise production.