ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, Dec. 5
By Huseyn Hasanov– Trend:
The expedition of Turkmenistan’s Turkmengeologiya State Corporation has completed a preliminary exploration of the Gyzylgaya iron ore deposit in western Turkmenistan, Trend reports referring to the Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper.
On the Chagyl square, the Tuarkyr geological exploration group identified reserves of the C-1 and C-2 categories. To determine the prospects for their use in the metallurgical industry, technological tests will be conducted. Presently, iron ore is used as a component in the production of cement.
The report said that later, geologists will begin detailed exploration of the deposit, to obtain maximum information about its structure and patterns of mineral deposits.
Laboratory tests conducted at the State Corporation confirmed the unique properties of the ore - high concentration of iron and the ability to easily be enriched. Based on the data obtained, it is safe to speak about the industrial importance of big deposits of raw materials.
The reserves of natural iron, located on an area of more than 250 hectares, allow opencast mining of fossil raw materials - they are located under Jurassic deposits - at a depth of no more than 40 meters, and in some places they come to the surface.
An important condition for industrial development is the proximity of the iron ore deposit to the North-South railway, which will optimize the supply of raw materials to the Turkmen industrial centers, the newspaper said.
Earlier, a geological exploration expedition discovered deposits of bentonite, kaolin, brown and oxidized coal in the Tuarkyr region, which can be widely used in industrial production.
In July 2018, it was reported that the possibilities of using natural resources of the Tuarkyr mining area in the west of the country were studied.
The use of local raw materials - iron ore - in production of high-strength brands of cement will allow saving about $10 million annually.
It was also noted that if a metallurgical plant with a capacity of one million tons of iron per year is built on the Gyzylgaya area, the reserves of easily enriched ore of the deposit will last for a century.
The Italian Danieli company is discussing with the Turkmen Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs the possibility of implementing an investment project for the construction of a steel-smelting plant, taking into account the volumes of iron ore raw materials and analysis of its structural components.
The priority direction of the construction materials industry is the production of cement in Turkmenistan. The country’s factories produce Portland cement, which is used in the construction of multi-storey buildings and other facilities in the seismic zone.
In addition, the production of oil-well packing cement for the oil and gas industry, as well as sulphate resistant cement used in the laying of foundations, construction of bridge piers and other hydro-technical structures has been arranged.