About $180 million worth of various unprocessed and processed stones are exported every year, said deputy minister of industries, mining and trade for mining affairs, Jafar Sargheyni, during the inauguration of the Eighth International Mahallat Stone and Related Industries Expo in Markazi Province on Sunday. According to the official, about 17 million tons of various types of stones are extracted annually from 1,900 mines, half of which comprises granite stones. He also noted that currently 5,500 stone processing units are active across the country.
