TEHRAN – Geochemical map of the mineral resources of Hamedan Province at the 1:100000 scale is indicative of the abundance of the metal and nonmetal resources in some 32 mines located in the region.

The map has led to the identification of 100 million tons of andalusite schist deposits in Hamedan Province, a provincial official said adding, almost all Iran’s andalusite and red garnet products are mined in the region.

The six active mines located in the nation’s western province yield some 140,000 tons of andalusite per annum, the Persian service of IRNA quoted Mohammad-Baqer Mirabolfat’hi as saying on Sunday.

Currently, an andalusite processing mill capable of annually producing 5,000 tons of the product is working in Malayer, a city located near the historic city of Hamedan.

Nahavand, another city in the province has Proven to hold significant amounts of Various minerals in particular, dolomite – calcium magnesium carbonate. Low levels of the impurities in the dolomite mines of the region justify its exploitation for magnesium production.

The andalusite and garnet by-product have the potential to add another significant revenue stream to potential future cash flows from gold, tungsten, lead, silver, molybdenum and antimony abundant in the region thereby, maximizing the use of the resource and making Hamden Province potentially one of the five largest andalusite producers in the world.

Red garnet and andalusite are widely used in the production of firebricks in the blast furnaces. The minerals are also used in producing abrasives. RA/MA END MNA