Kumtor Deposit is a unique site developed by the Canadian company "Centerra Gold Inc.", which is among the largest gold mining deposits in the world.
According to detailed exploration results, the reserves and forecast resources of the Central section of the deposit amounted to 716 tons of gold, including 316.6 tons for open-pit mining with an average grade of 4.3 g/t. Geological reserves and forecast resources of gold in other sections of the ore field were estimated at 230-300 tons.
Makmalzoloto Plant. The Makmal deposit has been developed since 1986. The open-pit reserves have been exhausted, and since 2003, ore extraction has begun from the underground mine. The explored reserves for underground mining are 9.2 tons of gold with an average grade of 5.2 g/t. The forecast resources of category P1 in the deep horizons and near flanks of the deposit are estimated at 22 tons of gold with an average grade of 6.5 g/t. Throughout the entire period of operation, approximately 40 tons of gold have been extracted from the deposit.
Solton-Sary Mine. It was commissioned in 1994. The ore is processed at a concentration plant with a capacity of 75,000 tons of ore per year using a gravity scheme. Mining is conducted at the Altyntor site using open-pit methods. Over the years, 1.2 tons of gold in concentrate have been produced. The remaining reserves within the pit contour amount to 2.7 tons of gold with an average grade of 3.5 g/t.
Terexai Mine. Gold ore extraction has been carried out since 2001 at the Terek deposit (the interlayer ore body). The upper part of one ore body has also been mined by a local pit at the nearby Terekkan deposit, and in 2007, underground ore extraction began.
In the near future, under favorable circumstances, the following important projects for the economy of the Republic are expected to commence:
The Nasunovskoye deposit in the Panfilov district. Explored reserves amount to 5.6 tons of gold and 4.6 thousand tons of copper - the start of construction of the mine is planned for 2013. The estimated capacity of the mine is 100 thousand tons of ore, with gold production of 400-500 kg per year.
Taldybulak Left Bank Deposit in the Kemin District. Project documentation for the development of the deposit has been completed. Construction has begun. The mine's capacity is 450 thousand tons of ore per year. The construction period is 2 years. Reserves - 64.4 tons of gold. Work has begun on the reassessment of the reserves of rare earth metal deposits Kutessai II, with rare earth metal reserves of 51.5 thousand tons, and beryllium Kalessai - reserves of 11.7 thousand tons in the Kemin district. The development projects are planned to be completed by the end of 2013. The development of these deposits will allow the revival of the processing complexes of the Aktyuz mine and the Orlov chemical and metallurgical plant.
Tin and Tungsten Deposit Trudovoye in the Ak-Suu District. Explored reserves are: ore - 25.4 million tons, tin - 148.8 thousand tons, tungsten trioxide - 95.6 thousand tons, fluorite - 548 thousand tons. Average content in ore: tin 0.59%, tungsten trioxide – 0.38%, fluorite – 13.2%. Development projects for the deposit are underway.
Tin Deposit Uchkochkon in the Jeti-Oguz District. Explored reserves are: ore - 11.5 million tons; 60.6 thousand tons of tin. The average tin content in the ore is 0.54%.
Tungsten Deposit Kensu in the Ak-Suu District. Explored reserves are 5.8 million tons of ore and 29.5 thousand tons of tungsten trioxide with an average content of 0.41% in the ore.
Gold Deposit Togolok in the Jeti-Oguz District. Explored reserves are 17.4 tons of gold with an average grade of 2.58 g/t. The reserves and forecast resources of the Togolok deposit and the adjacent area are estimated at 83 tons of gold. The deposit is not licensed.
The following deposits are prepared for development: Juru, with gold reserves of 80.9 tons; Andash, with gold reserves of 19.5 tons; copper – 70 thousand tons. The Taldybulak deposit is a promising site. The forecast resources exceed 100 thousand tons with low gold content.
Construction is expected to begin at the Kumbel mine with a capacity of 100 thousand tons, with gold production of 200-300 kg per year.
Promising deposits include "Karator" in the At-Bashinsky district - gold reserves of 5.5 tons; copper 20.0 thousand tons; "Buchuk" resource reserves of gold 15-20 tons.
Ishtamberdy Deposit in the Ala-Buka District of Jalal-Abad Region, the main phase of the mine construction has been completed. The mine's capacity is 500 thousand tons of ore, with gold production of about 2.0 tons per year. The start of industrial production is scheduled for the second quarter of 2013. About 600 permanent jobs will be created at the enterprise.
Bozymchak Deposit in the Ala-Buka District of Jalal-Abad Region. The construction of the mine is planned to be completed in 2013. The capacity of the enterprise is 1.0 million tons of ore per year. Gold production will be 0.8-0.9 tons, copper – 8-9 thousand tons per year. About 600-700 permanent jobs will be created at the enterprise.
Since December 2010, ore extraction has begun at the Jamgyr deposit in the Chatkal district - reserves of 1.1 tons of gold. In 2013, gold production will amount to 300-400 kg, and 180-200 permanent jobs will be created.
A project for the development of the Kuru-Tegerik deposit (gold reserves 7.5 tons, copper – 28.4 tons) is being prepared.
Intensive work is being carried out at the Chaarat deposit in the Chatkal district. Project preparation is underway.
Detailed exploration is being conducted at the Unkurtash deposit in the Ala-Buka district. These deposits may become real development sites in 2-3 years.
Karakazyk Deposit in the Chon-Alai District of Osh Region. Major construction has been completed, and the enterprise is expected to operate in a working mode starting in 2013. The mine's capacity is 75.0 thousand tons of ore, with gold production of 200-300 kg per year. About 100-120 jobs will be created for the local population.
Positive exploration results have been obtained at the Savoyardy deposit in the Kara-Kulzhinsky district of Osh Region - possible reserves of 5-7 tons of gold, and at the Tolubai and Isfayram areas in the Batken region. Preliminary economic calculations for the feasibility of their development are being conducted for these sites. However, they may become real development sites in 2 years.
