Metallic Minerals

Ferrous metals: iron, manganese, vanadium. Non-ferrous metals: aluminum, tungsten, tin, mercury, antimony. Rare and rare earth metals: beryllium, bismuth, tantalum, niobium, gold, silver.

Ferrous metals

Iron deposits have long been known in Kyrgyzstan. To date, several dozen have been identified. They are found in almost all regions of the republic.

The geological and mining conditions vary. Some deposits are located in favorable economic conditions, near developed infrastructure. Other deposits have been discovered at high altitudes, far from roads and populated areas — they are still poorly studied. Only at the Nadir deposit (Kadamjai district) drilling work has been carried out; at the others, only surface geological studies have been conducted.

There are two major iron ore deposits in Kyrgyzstan — Bala-Chychkan and Zhetim. They can serve as a mineral resource base for ferrous metallurgy in the republic. Small deposits may allow for the construction of small metallurgical plants, as they are located in economically developed areas.

Several small manganese ore occurrences have been discovered in the republic. Their number exceeds 20, but only four are promising. These occurrences have not been sufficiently studied. The manganese content in the ores is insignificant. Dozens of vanadium deposits and occurrences have been registered in the republic. Of these, two deposits and one occurrence are economically viable.

Non-ferrous metals

Aluminum. The raw material base for establishing aluminum production in the republic can be the preliminarily assessed deposits of bauxite and nepheline syenites. Overall, there are few bauxites, while nepheline syenites are widely distributed and are of primary industrial importance. The bauxite deposits and occurrences are located in southern Kyrgyzstan. Among them, only the Ak-Shatyl and Katranbashin deposits have industrial significance.

Copper. The territory of the republic has preliminarily explored copper deposits: Kuru-Terek (320 thousand tons) and Bozymchak.

Tungsten and tin. The tin-tungsten deposit "Trudovoe" is known.

Mercury. The majority of mercury reserves are concentrated in the Chonkoy, Haidarkan, and Chuvai deposits. Dozens of compactly located small-sized deposits (about 100 tons) have been assessed, but with a high mercury content (over 1%).

Antimony. The balance includes the own antimony deposits of Kadamjai, Tereksai, the complex gold-antimony deposit of Sdvoyardy, and the antimony-arsenic deposit of Kassan.

Rare and rare earth metals

Beryllium. The beryllium deposits and occurrences in the republic can be distinguished in four areas: Kumushtak, Ak-Tyuz-Kastek, Aytor-Kerege-Tash, and Alai. The first two are the most promising.

Bismuth. In the republic, bismuth is often found in ores together with polymetals, gold, silver, arsenic, tungsten, tin, cobalt, molybdenum, and antimony. Only two deposits — Mironovskoye and Uch-Koshkon — have been specifically studied (explored) and economically assessed for bismuth.

Tantalum and niobium. The mineralization of these elements has been discovered in the Turkestano-Alai ridge, in the Kakshaaltau ridge, in the western end of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too, in the Talas Ala-Too, in the basin of the Kichi-Kemin river, and in the lower reaches of the Naryn river.

Gold. More than 100 gold deposits have been identified and studied to varying degrees in Kyrgyzstan. The main ones include: Makmal, Solton-Sary, Kumtor, Jeryui, Taldy-Bulak Left Bank, and others. The share of balance reserves in categories A+B+C of primary, complex, and alluvial deposits from all accounted balance reserves in the republic is 94.5% and 1%.

Silver. The silver deposits in the territory of the republic are considered promising. Balance reserves have been accounted for at 12 deposits: 149.6 tons in category C1; 64.6 tons in category C2; 141.2 tons — off-balance. Silver is extracted at Kumtor and Makmal. The Jeryui, Terek-Terekkan, Mironovskoye, and Taldy-Bulak Left Bank deposits are prepared for development.