Minerals

The Kyrgyz Republic is rich in mineral resources and mining is an important part of the economy. All of the elements in the elementary table are to be found in the country – but access to them is not always easy.

There is a lot of archaeological evidence of early man’s activities in mining and working metals such as gold, silver, copper, bronze, tin, lead and iron, dating back over 2000 years. Mining prospered between the 9th and 11th centuries, and many of the excavations were large even by today’s standards. With the Mongol invasion of Central Asia mining took a back seat in the economy – a situation which lasted well into the Soviet period.

Lead, zinc and “rare earth metals” are mined, but deposits of sulphur, arsenic, iron, aluminium and other metals have yet to be exploited.

There are large deposits of ornamental stone which can be used for construction – marble, granite etc.  Ceramics, silicon, for the semi-conductor industry are also mined.

Uranium was mined in soviet times – but the legacy of slag heaps and contaminated water has caused considerable concerns.

The Chon Tus salt mine near Kochkor was used for many years to produce salt – mainly for agricultural purposes, and still does, although it is mainly used now as a sanatoria for treating allergies and other ailments.

Perhaps the greatest of Kyrgyzstan’s mineral resources is water – locked up in the glaciers and rivers. Many sources of mineral water and thermal springs can also be found throughout the country.