Hyderabad Oct. 16: The Union government granted reconnaissance permit to two companies for the mining of gold, diamond, iron, copper, lead, zinc and silver and other precious minerals. The Union ministry of mines informed the state government that it had permitted the Bengaluru-based Geo Mysore Service (India) Private Limited and the New Delhi-based M/s Premier Nickel Mines Pvt. Ltd to conduct reconnaissance for a period of three years. Geo Mysore was granted reconnaissance permit for mining of gold, copper, lead, zinc and silver over an area of 274.55 sqkm in Jonnagiri and Pagadrai blocks in Kurnool. Premier Nickel was given permission for nickel, gold, copper, lead, zinc, silver, diamond, iron and associated minerals mining over an area of 488 sq.km in the Yenkur-Chimalpad block, Khammam. Geo Mysore was floated by Mr Charles E.E. Devenish, an Australian mining expert settled in India, along with a team of professionals in the early 90s. Premier Nickel is the subsidiary of Geo Mysore. Mr Devenish pioneered diamond exploration in Australia. For 38 years he was the principal of Charles Edward Jewellers, one of Australia