Iran produced more than 258mn tonnes of mineral products during the 10 months to January 19, the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization?s latest report revealed
According to Iran?s Financial Tribune, the output for the period stood at 26.81mn tonnes, up 5.5 per cent compared to the previous month.
According to the United States Geological Survey, Iran holds the world?s ninth largest copper, 12th largest iron ore and 10th largest uranium reserves. Overall, Iran accounts for more than seven per cent of global mineral reserves.
Iron ore concentrate had the biggest share of Iran?s mineral production during the 10-month period with 25.49mn tonnes, registering a 17.27 per cent rise year-on-year.
All iron ore mines, except Chadormalu, posted a double-digit growth in production.
Sangan Iron Ore Mine?s output was up 80 per cent compared with last year?s corresponding period. It holds Iran?s largest and the world?s ninth largest iron ore reserves, estimated at about 1.2bn tonnes. As Iran?s largest iron ore open-pit mine, it has the capacity to produce 15mn tonnes of iron ore pellets and 17.5mn tonnes of concentrate annually.
Pellet was next on the list with an output of 20.96mn tonnes, recording a 17.27 per cent growth year-on-year. Direct-reduced iron came third, as production was up 9.28 per cent to 13.68mn tonnes.
Copper mines operated by National Copper Industries Company extracted 130.2mn tonne of copper oxide ore during the 10-month period, indicating a 2.89 per cent drop year-on-year. Sarcheshmeh Copper Mine, located in Kerman Province, is the world?s second largest and the Middle East?s largest open-pit copper mine.
Iran?s three major aluminum producers produced 244,577 tonnes of aluminum ingots during the 10 months to register a one per cent decline year-on-year.
Iran is home to 68 types of minerals with more than 37bn tonnes of proven and 57bn tonnes of potential reserves, including large deposits of coal, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromium, uranium and gold.
