YEREVAN, AUGUST 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The Vallex Mining company is conducting a geological survey in the Margahovit ore field near the city of Vanadzor, where, according to preliminary information, there are gold and silver reserves. NT correspondent was informed about it from Artyom Sargsian, deputy head of the geological survey service of Institute of Mining CJSC. In his words, the survey is being done in four villages. Particularly, the reserves in the Tandzut flux mine (NT: flux is a raw material used in metallurgy) anount to 335 thousand tons, with a ton containg 1.25 grams of gold and 9.4 grams of silver. This information will be submitted soon to the State Commission on Reserve Approval. A. Sargsian said that in addition to Vallex Mining, other companies of the Vallex Group such as Armenian Copper Program CJSC, Base Metals Ltd and Mining Metallurgy are also involved in the geological survey and prospecting work in various Armenian marzes and the NKR. It was noted that Lori marz is the richest one in metal reserves, with the Teghut copper and molybdenum mine being a big survey object. It is the second largest one in Armenia after the Kajaran mone by its reserves. As of 1991, the Teghut mine's confirmed reserves made about 450 mln tons of ore (the average contents of copper and molybdenum in a ton make 0.34% and 0.02% respectively). A prospecting work is now being done once again at the mine. According to A. Sargsian, surveys are also being conducted in the Hankadzor copper ore field, in some groups of the Martsiget gold-copper polymetal mines and the Dzaghodzor gold-polymetal mine of Lori marz. Some preliminary operation is envisaged here in the near future.

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