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Mining industry of Uzbekistan

During the years of Independence, the Republic of Uzbekistan firmly consolidated its positions on the world market of mineral- raw materials resources on many directions. The current status of the mineral raw materials basis on strategically important types of metal minerals, oil and gas, mineral fertilizers, underground water, construction materials in general is estimated as satisfactory.

Uzbekistan is among the ten leading countries of the world for the reserves of gold, uranium, copper, stone and potassium salts (minerals).

Over 1,000 mines, pits, open-cast mines, oil and gas fields, water supply points, hospitals, workshops and factories on bottling of medical and table waters are being operated in Uzbekistan. Precious, nonferrous metals, uranium are recovered in Navoi and Olmalyq mining factories that are provided with the prepared mineral raw materials resources for long term perspectives.

Uzbekistan is among the five countries of the world for proved reserves of gold, and among the ten leading countries for production level. The basis for gold mines are the fields of Qyzilqum (Muruntau, Muytenbay, Triada, Ajibugut, Amantaytau, Kokpatas, Daugyztau and others), Samarqand (Charmitan, Gujumsay, Sarmich, Biran, Marjanbulak and others) and Tashkent outskirts (Kochbulak, Kayragach, Kyzylalmasay, Kauldy, Pirmirab, Guzaksay and others) geological economic zones.

There are 26 fields registered for the reserves of silver. Its major quantity (80.4%) is concentrated in the complex fields of Kalmakyr, Barakaly, Uchkulach, Khandiza and in gold mines of Kochbulak, Kyzylalmasay, Muruntau and other fields as well as purely silver fields (19.6%) of Nukrakon, Kosmanacha, Okjetpes.

For reserves and production of uraniumUzbekistan is among the first ten countries of the world. Processing of the uranium reserves is carried out on efficient and environmentally friendly manner by underground leaching. The extraction of rhenium, scandium, selenium, rare earth elements is also possible as by-product to the uranium. The reserves of uranium prepared to treatment and the available growth prospects as well as applied advanced technologies ensure sustainable work of the uranium production for longer perspectives.

Uzbekistan possesses large raw materials basis of nonferrous, rare and diffused metals represented by the pure and complex fields. The main reserves of copper are concentrated in the complex copper-porphyry fields of Olmalyq mining area. Over the whole period of production works around 20% of reserves has been extracted. The possibilities of the existing mining factories and infrastructures allow to significantly increase the copper production. Besides copper, ores of the Olmalyq deposits contain the significant reserves of gold, silver, sulfur, tellurium, selenium, rhenium, with the values covering the half of the aggregate cost of the output.

Tungsten raw materials basis are provided by the famous tungsten ore mines (Lyangar, Ingichke, Koytash, Yakhton, Sargardon and others) and recently discovered fields Sautbay and ore showing fields of Sarytau.

Lead and zinc fields are represented by the fields of strataform type in the carbonate rocks (Uchkulach, Kulchulak), scarn (Kurgashinkan, Kumishkan) and pyrites in volcanogenic rocks (Khandiza and others). Explored reserves of the lead and zinc are concentrated in the deposits of Uchkulach and Khandiza. The copper, silver, cadmium, selenium, gold, indium are also detected in the Khandiza deposits.

Approved reserves of lithium in the volcanogenic deposit of coal tufo siltstone of Shavazsay in Tashkent province are estimated at over 120 thousand tons of lithium dioxide, accompanying components – 3.2 thousand tons of cesium oxide and 8.9 thousand tons of rubidium oxide. 

There are some tens of ore shows and deposits of iron. The largest Tebinbulak titan-magnetite deposits with resources worth 3.5 billion tons of ore (Republic of Qoraqalpoghiston), Temikan deposit of hematite-magnetite and magnetite ores with the reserves worth 105 million tons (Jizzakh rpovince) and Syurenata scarn-magnetetic deposit with the reserves worth 25.3 million tons (Tashkent province). 

Manganese ore shows are discovered in the territory of Uzbekistan. The mostly studied ones among which are the formation deposits Dautash, Kyzylbayrak, Takhtakaracha and others. It is required to additionally study the manganese bearing strips of Zarafshon and Gissar mountains. In Qyzilqum new type of manganese deposits in the cores ventilation have been discovered (Alisoy, Oqsoy and others).

Shale oil is the additional source for getting the oil products as well as a number of nonferrous and rare metals. Estimate researches within the basins of shale deposits in Syrdaryo and Amudaryo basins, traced in the neighboring states – Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan witness the significant resources, preliminarily estimated at 93 billion tons, including 47 billion tons in Uzbekistan. In the southern and western Uzbekistan the reserves of Baysun, Djam, Urtabulak, Sangruntau, Aktau, Uchkyr, Kulbeshkak have been estimated.

Uzbekistan also possesses significant potential of nonmetal minerals. These are the broad and various group of minerals used in the industries of Uzbekistan.

70 types of minerals are included to the above group – ore mining and chemical mining raw materials, construction materials. Workable stones shows are also broadly represented. Hydro-mineral raw materials (iodine, brome and others) are being consequently studied which are extracted from mineralized underground waters, including incidental water of oil and gas wells.  

The deposits of grain phosphorites similar to Marrakesh type are discovered in Central Qyzylqum. 53 million tons of phosphorus anhydrite of Jeroy-Sardara deposit with the estimate resources worth 100 million tons have been put to development. 

The North Jetymtau deposit with the reserves of phosphorus anhydrite worth 10.1 tons and Karakatin deposits (Aznek, Ayakuduk areas) with total reserves of phosphor five oxides worth 8.2 million tons have been developed.  

In Uzbekistan there are more than 30 deposits and shows of graphite. The largest deposit of commercial interest is Taskazkan deposit in Bukhara province with the reserves worth 2.3 million tons of ores.

Raw materials sources for production of potash containing manure in Uzbekistan are represented by the Tyubegatan deposit of potassium chloride with the reserves worth 247.6 million tons where the potassium chloride content is 36.8 %. It is possible to extract the concentrate of 96-97% of potassium chloride with the table salt produced as by-product. On the basis of this deposit Dekhqonobod Factory of Potash Manure is being constructed these days.

The stone salt resources are estimated as much as 90 billion tons and represented by Khodjaikan, Tybegatan, Baybichekan deposits in southern Uzbekistan and Barsakelmes, Akkalin deposits in the Republic of Qoraqalpoghiston. Kungrad soda ash factory operates on the basis of Barsakelmes salt deposits and Jamansay limestone deposits, with the capacity of 270 thousand tons of soda ash and 100 thousand tons of caustic soda a year. 

The potential of the Karmanin deposit of silica-fieldspar sands (reserves – 45 million tons, resources -35 million tons) may meet the demand in high-grade stock for porcelain, glass and ceramic production of the whole Central Asian region. 

In Uzbekistan the bentonites, bentonite containing clays and glauconits are also being researched which are used to increase the productivity of irrigated lands. These materials’ resources contained in the deposits of Arabdasht, Khadag, Azkamar and others are quite significant.

Construction materials. Over 600 deposits of brick, cement, haydite raw materials, cutting stone, gypsum, limestone, construction and facing stones and others have been explored which serve basis for production of cement of various grades, light and heavy filling agents of the concrete, heat insulation, astringent, roofing materials as well as ceramics, glass, asbestos cement tubes/pipes, and others. Uzbek decorative facing stones – marbles, granites, gabbros and others are very popularly used in the country and abroad.

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It should be noted, that over 19 years of independence the Uzbekistan geologists have discovered without taking into account the hydrocarbon resources deposits, 649 new deposits of solid minerals and underground waters where: 30 – precious metals, 8 – radioactive metals, 4 – nonferrous and ferrous metals, 198 – construction materials, 21- mining raw materials, 14 – stone semiprecious raw materials, 12 – mountain chemical raw materials, 362 – sweet and mineral underground waters (figure No. 2)

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