Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 21
By Khalid Kazimov - Trend:
The Deputy Director of the Iranian Geological Survey and Mine Exploration Organization Behrooz Borna said that according to plans made by the organization, the country's aerial geophysical explorations will be over in three years, the ISNA news agency reported Feb. 21.
Borna said the organization uses two helicopters as well as advanced methods for its geological explorations.
He added that the country's mountainous areas will be surveyed using helicopters, while other parts of the country will be explored using planes.
Borna further noted that 10 trillion rials (over $360 million) were allocated to the exploration project, adding that carrying out exploration on each square kilometer costs $100.
He added that so far 10 percent of the country's area has undergone exploration operations.
Iran's proven mineral reserves stand at 37 billion metric tons.
The country is ranked among the 15 major mineral-rich countries of the world and exports its industrial and mineral products to 159 countries, including Iraq, China, the United Arab Emirates, India and Afghanistan.
The important mines of Iran include coal, metallic minerals, sand and gravel, chemical minerals and salt. Iran has the world's largest zinc and second largest copper deposits, and ranks ninth for its iron reserves.
The official website of Iran's Industry, Mine and Trade Ministry names exploratory operations in aluminum and iron ore mines as the top priorities of the ministry for investment.
Aluminum and iron mines are also among the four top discovery priorities.