According to acting manager of Zarshouran Gold Mine and Mining Industries Development Company, Mohsen Naderi, 430,000 tons of gold ore were extracted from the mine in the five months under review, Iran’s Mineral Production and Supply Company, affiliated to Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization, reported.
“Optimizing the input in gold bar production process, upgrading and boosting the capacity of filtration process and establishing quality control units for each production stage are among recent measures taken to boost the mine’s output,” Naderi said.
The mine plans to boost its gold ingot production to around 1,500 kilograms by the current Iranian yearend (March 2021).
Located 35 kilometers from Takab in the northwestern province of West Azarbaijan, Zarshouran is the richest gold deposit in Iran and the Middle East.
According to the official, the mine holds 108 tons of proven reserves, in addition to 50 tons of silver, and accounts for 30% of Iran’s gold reserves.
Currently, around 700 people are working at the mine.
3 Tons Added to Annual Gold Ingot Output Capacity
Zar-Kouh Mining Company in the western Kurdestan Province recently launched a new gold mine, which is expected to add 3,000 kilograms to the country's total annual gold ingot output.
The Sari-Guni mine was inaugurated by President Hassan Rouhani last month via a videoconference, SHATA reported.
The new mine has come on stream with 3 trillion rials ($12 million) of investment and employs 350 people.
Speaking at the inaugural event, President Rouhani said Iran’s gold ingot output has registered a 14-fold jump in the past seven years.
“The government is willing to put extra investment and effort into boosting gold mining,” he added.
Deputy Minister of Industries, Mining and Trade Dariush Esmaeili, who was also present at the inaugural site, said Iran is ahead of schedule in gold production.
“Based on the Sixth Five-Year Development Plan [2017-22], domestic gold ingot production in the country was expected to reach 10 tons per year. However, since 2012, the rate has risen from 850 kg to 12 tons annually,” IRNA reported.
Esmaeili noted that the world’s total gold mine reserves amount 50,000 tons, of which 320 tons of proven reserves belong to Iran.
“Based on the explorations and estimations, Iran’s share can be increased to 400 tons,” he said.
A total of 8.5 tons of gold were extracted from Iranian mines last year.