AzerGold completes first phase of exploration in liberated Kalbajar

The Geological Exploration Group of Azerbaijani mining company AzerGold has completed the first phase of the exploration on an 85.56 square km area of the Tutkhun precious metals deposit, located in the liberated Kalbajar region, which is part of the administrative territory of East Zangazur economic region.

In June-December 2022, AzerGold conducted active ground prospecting and exploration work in an area of 8.29 square kilometres, cleared by the Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) of mines and unexploded ordnance, including in the Bashlibel-Khanlanli, Orujlu-Aghyatag-Chorman areas, APA reports, citing the company.

The resulting test samples were sent to an international laboratory for analysis to determine their elemental composition.

Geological prospecting in the Tutkhun field cannot continue apace due to the fact that during 30 years of occupation, Armenia has contaminated the said territories with mines. Negotiations to obtain maps of the minefields have been delayed due to Armenia's destructive position on this issue. For this reason, prospecting and exploration work is being carried out only in areas cleared of mines. In order to continue the work during 2023, another 45.5 sq km area will be cleared of mines by ANAMA and handed over to the use of the geological staff of AzerGold to continue field surveys.

AzerGold is using innovative survey methods to partially compensate for the loss of time required to clear land. In this regard, in 2022 non-invasive hyperspectral satellite imagery was acquired for the first time in the Caucasus region, covering an area of 1,624 square kilometres covering not only the Kalbajar district but also part of the Lachin district, and this process continues during the current year.

The Tutkhun deposit is located in the territory of Kalbajar district, in the basin of the Tutkhun River, the right tributary of the Tartarchay River. By results of investigations and digitization of geological materials dated 1958-1990, it is predicted that metallization of gold, silver and partially copper of industrial importance is available at the deposit.