South Central Kazakhstan will Be Breakthroughs of Lead, Zinc and Tungsten Ore Prospecting

Lead and zinc ore prospecting breakthroughs are mainly concentrated in Central South Kazakhstan and Altai regions. In these areas, there are also prospecting potentials for tungsten, molybdenum, aluminum, tin, and other metal minerals, introduced by the Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Magzum Mirzagaliyev recently.

According to Minister Magzum, the country currently holds more than 8,000 mineral deposits of various types, including 317 oil and gas fields, 910 solid minerals, more than 3,000 ordinary minerals, and about 4,000 groundwater.

At present, there are three main problems of the geological industry in the country, respectively are: Firstly, the shortage of raw materials for urban construction enterprises. Secondly, the continuity issues of mineral resources. Thirdly, the trouble to reduce the intensity of mature mines.

The top-up coefficient of Kazakhstan's solid minerals is 0.13, and the top-up coefficient of oil and gas resources is 0.9 presently. If the period from the discovery of a new mine to its development is 10-15 years, then the geological exploration industry must be stimulated from now on.

Kazakhstan remains one of the world’s most promising emerging markets for natural resources and is one of the 10 leading countries in the world for mineral reserves, the tungsten, and molybdenum as well as lead, zinc ore are looking for breakthroughs in the country. The country's mining industry is a dominant part of the national economy which in 2017 contributed approximately 30 percent of export earnings, 9 percent of national GDP and 19 percent of industrial employment.

The country benefits from its geographical location being a supplier of commodities to Asia and Europe. The country holds vast mineral reserves which are largely undeveloped. The country possesses 30 percent of the world's chrome ore reserves, 25 percent of manganese ore, 10 percent of iron ore, 5.5 percent of copper, 10 percent of lead and 13 percent of zinc, according to official estimates. The Central Asian republic is also richly endowed with uranium, gold, coal, bauxite, phosphate, titanium and tungsten. Kazakhstan is currently the world's leading producer of uranium, the third-largest producer of chrome and the seventh-largest producer of zinc.

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