The 8th Minerals Experts Meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization’s member states is scheduled for Nov. 14-17 in Iran’s Isfahan Province.
The event is co-organized by the Geological Survey and Mineral Exploration of Iran (GSI) and Isfahan Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture.
According to the head of GSI International Relations Department, Hanieh Bakhsaei, Iran will be hosting experts from Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, IRNA reported.
“Among the main goals of the event are promoting the exchange of viewpoints of experts in the field and finding solutions for the geological and mineral issues currently facing the ECO member countries,” she said.
Bakhsaei noted that the visitors are scheduled to visit Bama Mineral Complex in Isfahan, which produces lead and zinc ingots.
“The ECO mineral experts meeting is held every two years and this is the fifth time Iran is hosting the event. ECO member states’ mineral capacities and their strategic global location demand planning, investments and close cooperation between the members to make the most out of their resources. These biennial meetings can provide the space to find pathways to this goal,” she said.
ECO's Secretariat and Cultural Department are located in Iran, its economic bureau is in Turkey and its scientific bureau is in Pakistan. Consisting of predominantly Muslim-majority states, it is a trade bloc of mainly Central Asian states connected to the Mediterranean region through Turkey, to the Persian Gulf via Iran and to the Arabian Sea via Pakistan.
Iran is home to 81 types of minerals with reserves totaling 37-40 billion tons, according to Alireza Shahidi, the head of Geological Survey and Mineral Exploration of Iran.
“Construction materials, including gravel, rubble stones, sand and different types of stones, account for 62% of Iran’s mineral reserves, metal minerals constitute 10-15% of total reserves and the rest are non-metallic minerals,” he added.
According to the United States Geological Survey, Iran holds the world's largest zinc, ninth largest copper, 10th largest iron ore, fifth largest gypsum and barite, and 10th largest uranium reserves.
Overall, Iran is home to more than 7% of global mineral reserves.
Notably, Iran’s standing rose to fifth place in terms of global ranking of copper reserves, the vice president of development and exploration of the National Iranian Copper Industries Company said recently, adding that until recently, the country held the seventh largest copper reserves in the world.
“With recent discoveries in Sungun and the addition of 1 billion tons of new reserves to the mine in East Azarbaijan Province, as well as the discovery of new reserves in other mines of the company, including Sarcheshmeh, Miduk and a new mine near Sarcheshmeh in Kerman Province, the volume of the company's copper reserves has increased from 18 billion tons to 19 billion tons,” Behrouz Rahmati was also quoted as saying by Fars News Agency.
Sungun Complex, located in East Azarbaijan Province, is Iran’s largest copper mine.
Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex is the world’s second largest open-cast copper mine located in Kerman Province. It also contains substantial amounts of molybdenum, gold and other rare metals.
“According to the United States Geological Survey’s latest report, following these explorations, the ranking of our country has risen to the fifth, placing us after Chile, Australia, Peru and Russia,” Rahmati said.
