Manya Meliqjanyan - Coordinator of Stepanavan Aarhus Centre, www.aarhus.am
The exploitation right of Armanis gold-polymetallic deposit with 1.8 sq km area belongs to “Sagamar” CJSC. The deposit is to be exploited by integrated method: open pit and underground mine. By mineral composition and formation conditions the deposit belongs to the polymetallic formation, with relatively high content of gold and silver. As a result of exploration, 3 natural types are represented at the deposit: copper-gold, copper-polymetallic and gold-polymetallic that constitute 16%, 34% and 50% of deposit total reserves respectively.
In July 2010 “Sagamar" CJSC obtained a license to conduct exploration works in the basin of Black and Yellow rivers. Exploration license covers an area of 69.6 square kilometers, with the band width of 3-4 km and length of 18 km east-west strike.
On the area of license exploration and mining, operations were carried out for a long time. Small deposits of copper and massive pyrite in this area were found and exploited for sulfur production. On the territory there are several old mining tunnels and platforms for boreholes. No occurrence of gold was previously known in the license area. Rudokop ore occurrence was discovered by our company as a result of drilling in 2008.
It’s expected that the plant will operate 500-600 thousand tons p.a. in the first three years. When the underground mine is put into operation, ore processing capacity will increase to 800 thousand tons p.a.
Investment projects are implemented by the Neva-Rus company. Total investment of the project is around 68 million US dollars. Drilling operations will be conducted with the beginning of the field season of 2011. Work will be mainly performed by the staff of Sagamar MEC and on its base under the methodological guidance of GLOBAL METALS / ARM / LIMITED Company’s specialists. Approximate number of employees employed at the plant is expected around 350-500 people.
However, this does not inspire locals, but rather raises alarm among them. The latter are afraid of dangerous consequences of the plant operation. Ecologists, in their turn, see the inevitable contamination of the Chqnax River, which is a tributary of Dzoraget. Danger poses to the health of people who live 1.5 km far from the mine of Armanis and residents of Stepanavan who live 7.5 km far from the mine. As a result of the bombings many houses in Armanis have been subjected to demolition.
September 29, 2011 at 12:20