Angouran Mining to Start in May

Underground mining for zinc sulfide is scheduled to begin at Angouran Lead and Zinc Mine in the Iranian month of Khordad (starting May 22), the mine’s managing director Mansour Shabani announced. “The mine’s extraction capacity stands at 120,000 tons of zinc sulfide per year,” he was quoted as saying by Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization’s website, adding that the project will run for 10 years. Angouran’s ore is processed by a host of zinc and lead plants located in its vicinity in the northwestern Zanjan Province, most of which are relatively small. The three largest processors are Calcimin Company, Zangan Zinc Industry LLP and Zanjan Zinc Khales Sazan Industries Company. Shabani added that the mine’s underground reserves are estimated at about 1.9 million tons with 35-40% content. Angouran is one of the oldest mines in Iran. Extraction from this mine dates back to the 1960s. Over 50 years of exploitation have nearly depleted the mine’s reserves.