Khovar — What role do mineral resources play for the socio-economic development of the country in the modern world?
Boboev — In the modern world, the well-being of each state and people, its position in the world is determined by various factors. One of them is natural resources, including minerals.
The instability of economic relations and the lack of energy resources indicate that mineral resources play a key role in the economic and social development of the country and largely determine the status of the state in world economic relations.
Countries that have rich natural resources and have managed to organize the rational use of their reserves have been able to become developed.
Fortunately, today Tajikistan is a producer of gold, silver, lead, zinc, antimony, mercury, coal, oil and gas, salt, building materials, some types of precious stones and many other types of minerals, which is the result of painstaking work of geologists. Currently, more than 600 mines and 800 deposits have been discovered and explored in Tajikistan, where there are more than 60 types of mineral and non-mineral raw materials.
— In 2021, it was adopted the Geology Development State Program of Tajikistan for 2021-2030. Can you tell a little about the results of the work done over the past period?
— As a result of prospecting and appraisal work in the Argli vanadium ore occurrence, 7 ore zones with a thickness of 4 to 36 m were identified with a vanadium content from 0.12% through 0.19%. Two ore-bearing zones with a total length of up to 1500 m were identified at non-ferrous metal objects in the Guto site of the antimony ore occurrence Upper Rivut, and scattered antimonite minerals were identified in the Oftobi antimony ore occurrence.
Two outcrops of ore zones were studied in the Sarimard ore field. In this direction, 10 promising gold-bearing areas have been identified — the interfluve of the Karatag-Luchob rivers, as well as a site with prospects for gold-bearing has been identified in the Garvonsky section of the Oshoba area.
— What can you say about the study of rare metals and rare earth elements?
— According to the project “Prospecting works on a scale of 1:5000 at the Shazud-Duzakhdara pegmatite field,” the results of the analyzed ores showed that the content of lanthanum and cerium in most samples ranges from 50 through 100 grams per ton, and in some samples the cerium content reaches up to 270 g/t. These results are satisfactory.
— What is the level of work in the direction of the study of semi-precious and ornamental stones?
— Over the past few years, in the southwestern Pamirs, in the southern ranges of Shugnon, and Roshtkala, geologists have discovered 7 new manifestations. These are good achievements of specialists and employees of the Main Geology Department. It is worth noting that the appearance of cacholong was first discovered in Tajikistan in this territory. This is of great scientific and practical importance. The region needs further study of this type of semi-precious raw material, the prospects can currently be assessed as positive.
During this period, mineral points of semi-precious stones such as sapphire, spinel and tourmaline were discovered in the Shahdara and Ishkoshim ridges, the prospects for the manifestation of Ishkoshim sapphire and Garmchashma color tourmaline were assessed.
— Highly qualified specialists are needed to carry out geological work. How is this issue resolved?
— For two years of implementation of the Geology Development State Program of Tajikistan for 2021-2030, 61 specialists were hired. All of them are actively involved in the search, exploration and counting of minerals. Our specialists constantly improve their skills, both in the country and abroad.
— President in his annual Address to the Supreme Assembly gave instructions on the transition to international standards for calculating mineral reserves. What has been done in this direction?
— Necessary steps are being taken to move to international standards. In particular, this year, from August 4 through August 5, the Main Geology Department held the Fifth International Conference of Micromine Users in Dushanbe, which was attended by representatives of Australia, Canada, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, as well as representatives of relevant ministries, departments and enterprises related to the study and use of the subsoil.
Micromine’s mineral reserve calculation program is widely used by subsoil users around the world. Several trainings were held with the participation of representatives of Micromine Central Asia, work in this direction continues.
— Can you say a few words about international cooperation?
— Today, the Main Geology Department signed cooperation agreements with a number of countrie. In particular, an agreement was signed with the State Committee for Geology and Mineral Resources of Uzbekistan on joint research work in the border areas, which is currently being successfully implemented.
In addition, this year a program of cooperation in the field of geological study of subsoil for 2023-2025 was signed with the Russian Federal Agency for the Use of Subsoil. We hope that this program will be successfully implemented.