The Ministry of Finance has worked out the law allowing diggers and local residents to extract alluvial gold and precious stones and the law is currently being considered by relevant ministries and agencies, Murod Jumazoda, Chairman of the Main Geology Directorate under the Government of Tajikistan, sadi.
According to him, the law also provides for establishing points for receiving gold and precious stones.
“Areas, which are not under jurisdiction of any gold mining company, will be declared free for gold diggers and they will be able to extract alluvial gold there”, Tajik chief geologist noted, adding that the draft law may be endorsed before the end of this year.
According to experts, Tajikistan has possible placer gold reserves of some 100 tons. The alluvial placer gold deposits are located in the north and southeast of the country and Tajik geologists say that development of those deposits will creat more than 1,500 new jobs.
Typical locations for alluvial gold placer deposits are on the inside bends of rivers and creeks, in natural hollows; at the break of slope on a stream; the base of an escarpment, waterfall or other barrier; and within sand dunes, beach profiles or gravel beds.
Tajikistan reportedly has 28 known gold deposits. Three large gold mining companies now operate in Tajikistan: Tilloi Tojik (Tajik Gold – state-owned gold mining company); Tajik-Chinese JV Zeravshan Gold Company; and Tajik-Canadian JV Aprelevka. Most gold comes from the Jilau deposit operated by Zeravshan Gold Company. (Asia-Plus/Business World Magazine)