DUSHANBE, December 21, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- The limited liability company, The Tajik-Chinese Mining Company, has reportedly invested more than 5 million somoni (equivalent to more than one million U.S. dollars) in development of the Zarnisori Shimoli (formerly Northern Altyntopkan) lead and zinc deposit through this year.

An official source at the company says they hope to get a license for extraction of polymetallic ores of the partial reserve at the Zarnisori Shimoli deposit and drill 5,300-meter wildcat wells next year.

“Jointly with the Qairoqqum Complex Geological Expedition, we have developed the project, The Detailed Exploration of the Southwest Flank of the Zarnisori Shimoli Deposit,” said the source.  “We have also prepared geological materials for conducting feasibility study for estimating reserves of the Zarnisori Shimoli deposits on the horizons above 770 meters.  We will continue our wok next year.”

Zarnisori Shimoli is considered a large deposit.  Specialists are currently conducting exploration to estimate possible industrial reserves of lead, zinc and silver.

In addition to the mentioned elements, the deposit reportedly also contains bismuth, gold, selenium, tellurium, thallium, indium, gallium, and germanium.  Therefore, there is a necessity to estimate possible reserves of all components.

A total cost of works carried out at the deposit last year is estimated at 100 million somoni (equivalent to some 21 million U.S. dollars).