New gold deposit put into operation in Azerbaijan

Baku/14.02.23/Turan: "AzerGold" CJSC announced on February 14 the start of gold production at the Tulallar deposit in the Goygol region of the western part of Azerbaijan.

As follows from the message on the CJSC's website, the process of rock explosion at this gold deposit has begun, and it has become the fourth in a row commissioned by "AzerGold".

"For the centralized use of AzerGold's material and technical base in Dashkesan district, ensuring the economic efficiency of deposits (including Tulallar) along with the previously commissioned gold deposits, it will also be carried out through the Chovdar Integrated Regional processing site (CHIRUP)," the CJSC notes.

According to "AzerGold", the vat leaching method will be used on Tulallar.

"For this purpose, the capacities of the CIL (Carbon in Leach) plant will be used, the construction of which will be completed this year," the press release says.

The term of operation of the Tulallar deposit is 3 years.

Note that the Tulallar gold deposit was discovered during Soviet times, but has not been extensively explored.

Since 2017, "AzerGold" geologists have conducted an extensive study, and in 2022, "Micon International Co Limited", an international consultant, initially approved the reserves of the Tulallar deposit in the bowels of the earth in the amount of 298.000 ounces of gold, and 85.000 ounces as recoverable volume.

In parallel with the mining operations at the gold deposit, intensive geological prospecting and evaluation, primary geological exploration work is currently underway on the near and far flanks of the mine, in areas adjacent to the territory of the Geygel-Dashkesan administrative region. Besides, a number of mineralization sites have already been identified.

"The study of promising areas of mineralization by means of magnetic and electrical geophysical research will be carried out during 2023. At the same time, among the main expectations there is an increase in recoverable reserves and the life of the Tulallar deposit from at least 3 to 4 years and 2 months," the gold miner reports.

According to the forecasts of the government of Azerbaijan, the text of which is available to Turan, gold production in the country will grow during 2023-26.

Thus, in 2023 it is planned to extract 3.1 tons of gold ore and concentrate in total, in 2024 — 3,124 tons, in 2025 — 3,142 tons, in 2026 — 3,155 tons.

The growth will occur due to the commissioning of new areas, in particular, Tulallar, since the total gold reserves in the country are estimated at several hundred tons of ore.

Remind that only one Chovdar deposit of "AzerGold" CJSC has total proven gold reserves of 1.66 million ounces (51.5 tons of ore), of which almost 732.000 ounces are recoverable reserves.

Also, nearly 195.000 ounces of gold were extracted at Chovdar in 2017-20 (due to the oxide or open phase of development), in 2021 — 61.500 ounces. Since 2022, the sulfide (underground) phase of development has also been underway.

In addition to Chovdar, "AzerGold" is engaged in the study, research, exploration, development and management of the Garadag, Heydag, Dagkesemen sites, the Kohnemeden site and the Kyuryakchai basin.

In addition to Chovdar, ore production by this CJSC is made from the Agyokhush deposit as part of the first stage of its development (from November 2020) and Merekh – (from July 23, 2021).

There is also another gold miner operating in Azerbaijan — the "British Anglo Asian Mining" (since 1997).

It should be remembered that "AzerGold" CJSC was established by the decree of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev dated February 11, 2015.

Besides, by the order of President Ilham Aliyev dated August 2020, "AzerGold" was entrusted with the study, research, exploration, development and management of iron ore deposits in Azerbaijan, the application of new technologies in this area, the renewal and effective use of the material and technical base, as well as with other activities related to the development of this area.—0—