The Iran Mineral Production and Supply Co. has entered into a project with KCE for the exploration and exploitation of bauxite, phosphate, and limestone in ten designated areas located in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad Province. The project encompasses a total area of 103.75 square kilometers, spread across the regions of Gachsaran, Choram, Basht, and Boyer Ahmad.
The project focuses on the exploration of mineral resources within the stratigraphic Zagros structural zone, which primarily consists of sedimentary rock formations. The main targets for exploration include the Asmari and Sarvak Formations for hydrated limestone and the Pabde Formation for phosphate deposits. Exploration activities have been carried out in areas such as Emamzadeh Ali, Marin, and Masjed for limestone, and Basht, Darreh Eshgaft, Sadde Kosar, and Tangeh Siah for phosphate. The exploitation phase is imminent in these areas. Unfortunately, the Dil area has been excluded from the project due to insufficient mineral potential.
Iran boasts a rich reserve of high-purity limestone, making it an attractive sector for investment. Limestone is a key material in the construction, chemical, and steel industries, playing a significant and strategic role in civil projects within the country. Approximately 70 percent of limestone mines in Iran are considered high in purification, making them in demand within the region. In addition to meeting domestic industry needs, Iran exports thousands of tons of limestone to countries such as Iraq, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Qatar, and Afghanistan due to the urgent demand for construction materials in those regions.
Phosphate, an organic substance found in biochemical sedimentary deposits, contains valuable resources such as uranium, fluorine, and vanadium. Phosphate is utilized in various industries such as agriculture, chemicals, metal processing, glass manufacturing, dental laboratories, and sanitary production. With the global price of phosphate on the rise, extraction from Zagros stratigraphic deposits in Iran has become more economically viable.
