AzerGold may create processing complex for ore from Zod deposit on border with Armenia
BAKU. Sept 7 (Interfax) - AzerGold is studying the possibility of creating a modern flotation processing complex for processing ore from the Soyudlu (Zod) gold deposit in the Kalbajar district of Azerbaijan, the company said.
The district is on the border with Armenia. Part of the deposit is located in that country and is called the Sotk deposit.
AzerGold has moved to the next stage of developing the deposit, considered the largest gold deposit in the Caucasus, the company said. As part of preparing the mine for operation, the first drilling and blasting operations have been successfully carried out. Conducting the first blasting operations is an important step towards involving the deposit's resources in economic circulation and transitioning the mine to the active stage of operation, it said.
Since August 2025, geological surveys and topographic mapping and drilling operations with a total depth of 18,000 meters have been carried out at the deposit. According to the results of exploration work, the recoverable remaining gold reserves at the deposit are estimated at 1.03 million ounces in accordance with the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) standard.
AzerGold has also begun to introduce modern geotechnical monitoring technologies at the Soyudlu mine, the company said. Taking into account the geotechnical instability of the mine and the activity of various exogenous geological processes, a GroundProbe SSR-OMNI slope stability radar monitoring system has been put into operation for continuous monitoring of their development, it said.
The system is equipped with an early warning function that allows for the timely identification of potential risks and measures to prevent landslides.
In parallel, the development of technological solutions for ore processing continues.
Based on the mineralogical and metallurgical characteristics of the Soyudlu ore, as well as the results of the tests carried out, it has been established that flotation technology needs to be used at the initial stage of processing, the company said. In this regard, technical and economic assessments of the possibilities for creating a modern flotation processing complex are being carried out, it said.
A total of 236 people are currently employed as part of the project, including employees of contracting organizations. It is planned that around 700 direct and indirect jobs will be created in 2026-2029. After the mine reaches full-scale operation, their number is expected to exceed 1,300.
CJSC AzerGold was established by a decree of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on February 11, 2015. It is engaged in the study, research, exploration, development and management of gold-bearing and iron ore deposits.
