A total of 192 types of decorative stones, including marble, travertine, conglomerate, granite and basalt are extracted from mines in the northwestern Iranian province, the head of West Azarbaijan Industries and Mining Organization said.
“Mining industries have created close to 22,000 jobs in West Azarbaijan,” added Jafar Sadeq Eskandari.
The official noted that the province is home to 805 mining units, mostly engaged in the extraction of gold, silver, mercury and sodium cyanide, as well as the production of cement, brick, clay, gravel, sand, asphalt and concrete.
“The province’s proven mineral reserves being exploited stand at 8.5 billion tons,” he said.
Eskandari said 43 mining exploitation permits were issued in the province during the last Iranian year (March 2017-18), as well as 59 exploration, 19 discovery and 148 temporary extraction permits.
