Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 26
By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:
Studies conducted in Iran's Western Azerbaijan province has revealed that 0.5 percent of world gold reserves and 31 percent of the country's gold account for this province, said the director of North-West wing of Public Relations Department of the National Geology and Mineral Exploration Organization of Iran, Abdulhamid Sartipi, Trend reports.
He noted that the organization estimated 1.1 billion tons of mineral resources in the province, about 1 billion tons of which is construction materials (limestone and gravel).
Sartipi added that metal makes up 6-7 percent of the remaining mining resources. Approximately 90 percent of the metal reserves have been identified and announced by the organization.
"Minerals are considered as assets of the Western Azerbaijan province. All branches of geology are operating in engineering, medical, sedimentology, agriculture, geochemical, ecology areas. In addition, the study is conducted on medical geology in the province. Certain natural resources may cause diseases. For example, in some areas of the province, selenium reserves may cause bone diseases, fluoride reserves the teeth decay, or excessive arsenic reserves may increase cancer risk," added Sartipi.
He also noted that a cooperation agreement has been signed with the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education. The work is underway to identify similar cases and eliminate problems. More productive and sustainable development can be achieved, in case, if material is provided.
"At present, investigations are carried out in the deserts of the Urmia region. The physical and chemical parameters of the land have been identified, the landing type and product can be determined according to these circumstances. Mining is one of the pillars in the development of the province. Mines can play an important role in the manufacturing sector of West Azerbaijan province," he said.
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