DUSHANBE, January 11, 2012, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan is currently seeking investors for development of five gold-and-silver deposits, namely Mosrif, Chore, Ikar and recently explored Chulbue and Mirkhand deposits, Azim Ibrohim, the head of the Main Geology Directorate under the Government of Tajikistan, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.
“Besides, the survey to discover a genetically new type of gold in Tajikistan is going on,” said Ibrohim. “We have received evidence that there are reserves of this type of gold in the country, but we have not been satisfied with the methods that had previously been used and we have decided to abandon them.”
According to him, a new project has been developed and it will be submitted for consideration to the Scientific and Technical Council.
“That is nothing new. South Africa, for example, has the Witwatersrand gold deposit that contains several thousand tons of this type of gold,” said Ibrohim, “We do not mean the reserve volumes we are talking about similarity of types of gold.”
“We suppose that deposits of this type of gold are located in Panjakent, Hisor, Qaratogh, Luchob, Varzob, and Darvoz,” Ibrohim said, noting that the data had already been put on the country’s geological map.
“Geologists have to prove that these deposits contain industrial-scale reserves; this requires time and funds,” Tajik chief geologist said.
As far as the Witwatersrand, which is sometimes is know as “Rand” or reef, is concerned, it is famous for being the source of 40 percent of the gold ever mined from the earth.
Three large gold mining companies now operate in Tajikistan: Tilloi Tojik; Tajik-Chinese JV Zeravshan Gold Company (ZGC); and Tajik-Canadian JV Aprelevka. Besides, the private gold mining artel, Odina, operates in Khatlon province.
Tajikistan has 28 known gold deposits containing an estimated 429.3 tons of gold. The largest amount of gold was produced in Tajikistan in 1998 – 3,000 kilograms, while in recent years the country has produced not more than 1,800 kilograms. Most of gold comes from the Jilau deposit operated by ZGC.
