MAHABAD, West Azarbaijan Prov. - Director general of provincial mines and metals department Kamaleddin Barmak said on Tuesday the exploration operation to extract gold from Akh-Dareh gold mine has reached its final stage. He said the gold mine located at Akh-Dareh on the outskirts of the provincial city of Takab. It has a reserve of 5.2 million tons of gold composite containing 4.68 grams per ton.

Barmak said extracting gold from mines with composite higher than four grams per ton is economically justifiable and certificate has been issued for putting the gold mine into operation. (IRNA)