Significant deposits of rare-earth metals – niobium and tantalum – have been discovered in the Rasht Valley (eastern Tajikistan). This was announced to the news conference in Dushanbe by Ilhom Oymuhammadzoda, head of the Main Geology Directorate, on July 22.
According to Oymuhammadzoda, Tajikistan is actively working on the development of rare-earth metal deposits. Preliminary exploration has been conducted in the central and southeastern regions of the country, where substantial resources of these metals have been identified.
Geologists in the Rasht Valley analyzed 125 samples from the Nazarailoq and Yosuman deposits and discovered rare-earth metals, including niobium and tantalum.
Last year, the Main Geology Directorate reported that 15 areas with rare metal occurrences, such as lithium, tantalum, niobium, and other strategically important elements, had been identified. These deposits are located in remote areas of eastern Tajikistan, including Qarasou, Aghbasoy, Payron, and Rokhshif. Ongoing research is expected to increase the reserves of rare metals, opening up new opportunities for the country’s mining industry.
Oymuhammadzoda also shared that a mineral body with a gold content of 0.96 g/ton was discovered at the Novy Sarimardi deposit, highlighting the high potential of the site. Additionally, three positive anomalies were found at the Laylakul and Sangibek ore fields, further confirming the potential for continued research and development in these areas. These findings could serve as the basis for the establishment of new mining operations and an increase in precious metal extraction in Tajikistan.
Key regions for rare earth metals
Tajikistan holds substantial resources of rare-earth metals that are actively being explored by geologists. Oymuhammadzoda emphasized that two key regions – central Tajikistan and the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) – are primary locations for searching and developing these metals.
The central region, located in the heart of the country, includes the Zarafashon and Qarategin mountain ranges. Exploration is ongoing in pegmatite fields such as Qarasou, Aghbasoy, Payron, and others, where rare metals like tantalum, niobium, lithium, and tin have been found.
The southeastern region covers the Rushan, Shugnan, Ishkashim, and Wakhan mountain ranges. In this area, pegmatite fields such as Kolkhozobod, Taglikhas, and Vezdara are being studied, with the presence of tantalum, niobium, lithium, rubidium, and other rare metals critical for high-tech industries.
Projected resources
As part of the state program for the study and assessment of rare metal reserves from 2016 to 2026, exploratory and evaluation works will be conducted using state funding.
According to the program, the projected resources of tantalum and niobium in Tajikistan are distributed across several sites. One of the largest sites is Nazarailoq, where the projected resources of tantalum and niobium are estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of tons.
In addition to tantalum and niobium, Tajikistan also has other strategically important resources, including beryllium, cesium, lithium, tin, and cerium group metals (light lanthanides).
