Sotk gold mine, Sotk, Gegharkunik Province, Armeniai
Regional Level Types | |
---|---|
Sotk gold mine | Mine |
Sotk | Village |
Gegharkunik Province | Province |
Armenia | Country |
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Type:
Mindat Locality ID:
10205
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:10205:5
GUID (UUID V4):
69bc42c5-ee0b-4325-8459-5cd834a230a6
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Sotk deposit; Zod mine
Other Languages:
Armenian:
Սոթքի ոսկու հանքավայր, Սոթք, Գեղարքունիքի մարզ, Հայաստան
German:
Goldmine von Sotk, Gegharkunik, Armenien
Russian:
Зодское золоторудное месторождение, Сотк, Гехаркуникская область, Армения
Arabic:
منجم زود للذهب, محافظة غغاركونيك, أرمينيا
Azeri:
Zod qızıl mədəni, Zod, Geğarkunik, Ermənistan
Bashkir:
Зод алтын ятҡылығы, Әрмәнстан
Farsi/Persian:
معدن طلای زد, ستک, استان گغارکونیک, ارمنستان
Greek:
Χρυσωρυχείο Ζοντ, Γκεγκαρκουνίκ, Αρμενία
Latvian:
Zodas zelta raktuves, Gegarkunikas reģions, Armēnija
Slovenian:
Rudnik zlata Zod, Armenija
Turkish:
Zod altın madeni, Geğarkunik, Ermenistan
Gold mine located 11 km from the town of Zod, 14 km E of Vardenis.
Alluvial gold was mined here already in prehistoric times.
The Sotk gold mine (Armenian: Սոթքի ոսկու հանքավայր, Romanized: Sot’k’i vosku hank’avayr), known in Azerbaijan as the Zod gold mine (Azerbaijani: Zod qızıl yatağı), is the largest mine in Armenia and Azerbaijan in terms of pure gold reserves. It is located in the vicinity of the Sotk village in the Vardenis region of Armenia's Gegharkunik Province, and the adjacent part of the Kalbajar District of Azerbaijan. According to Armenian officials, the gold mine is split roughly in half between the two countries, while according to Azerbaijani officials, 74 percent of the mine lies on Azerbaijani territory.
The mine was discovered in 1951 and has been in operation since 1976.
In 1993, during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, the Kalbajar District of Azerbaijan (including the Azerbaijani part of the mine) passed under full control of Armenia and remained so until November 2020 (de jure continuing to be part of Azerbaijan).
In 2007, Armenia unilaterally granted the Russian company GeoProMining the right to exploit the mine.
320,500 tons of gold ore were mined in 2009, 490,000 tons in 2010, 880,000 tons in 2011. Between 350 and 400 workers were employed at the mine.
The ore has been processed at the Ararat Gold Extraction Plant, where it is transported by rail. Pure gold reserves at the mine are estimated at more than 120 tons. The minimum profitable content of precious metal in the ore is equal to 0.8 g per ton.
When the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war began on 27 September, GeoProMining temporarily suspended the operation of the mine.
On 25 November 2020, the Armenian troops evacuated by Kalbajar District in accordance with 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement, and armed forces of Azerbaijan entered the district. Engineering works and demining were carried out as the Azerbaijani units advanced.
The next day, the head of the Armenian community of Geghamasar (adjacent to Azerbaijan) reported that the Azerbaijani military had entered the mine. The Azerbaijanis had arrived without shooting and demanded that the territory be vacated, followed by negotiations and the mine workers began leaving the territory, though no threats had been made, said Avetyan. On the evening of that day, it was announced that representatives of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan had begun carrying out delimitation works using GPS technology to determine where the state border lay. The Azerbaijani troops set three military posts on the Azerbaijani side of the mine.
On 27 November, after lengthy negotiations between the Azerbaijani military and representatives of GeoProMining, the company employees left the Azerbaijani section of the mine.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
ⓘ Altaite Formula: PbTe References: |
ⓘ Arsenopyrite Formula: FeAsS References: |
ⓘ Bilibinskite Formula: PbCu2Au3Te2 |
ⓘ Boulangerite Formula: Pb5Sb4S11 References: |
ⓘ Chekhovichite (TL) Formula: Bi2Te4+4O11 Type Locality: |
ⓘ Dolomite Formula: CaMg(CO3)2 References: |
ⓘ Freieslebenite Formula: AgPbSbS3 |
ⓘ Galena Formula: PbS References: |
ⓘ Gersdorffite Formula: NiAsS |
ⓘ Gold Formula: Au References: |
ⓘ Hessite Formula: Ag2Te |
ⓘ Keystoneite Formula: Mg0.5Ni2+Fe3+(Te4+O3)3 · 4.5H2O References: |
ⓘ Magnesite Formula: MgCO3 References: |
ⓘ Melonite Formula: NiTe2 |
ⓘ Muscovite Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 References: |
ⓘ Muscovite var. Fuchsite Formula: K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2 References: |
ⓘ Nagyágite Formula: [Pb3(Pb,Sb)3S6](Au,Te)3 References: |
ⓘ Pilsenite Formula: Bi4Te3 References: |
ⓘ Pyrite Formula: FeS2 |
ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 References: |
ⓘ Rucklidgeite (TL) Formula: PbBi2Te4 Type Locality: |
ⓘ 'Serpentine Subgroup' Formula: D3[Si2O5](OH)4 References: |
ⓘ Smirnite (TL) Formula: Bi2Te4+O5 Type Locality: References: |
ⓘ Stibnite Formula: Sb2S3 References: |
ⓘ Tellurantimony Formula: Sb2Te3 References: |
ⓘ Tellurobismuthite Formula: Bi2Te3 References: |
ⓘ Tetradymite Formula: Bi2Te2S References: |
ⓘ Volynskite (TL) Formula: AgBiTe2 Type Locality: |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
Group 1 - Elements | |||
---|---|---|---|
ⓘ | Gold | 1.AA.05 | Au |
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
ⓘ | Hessite | 2.BA.60 | Ag2Te |
ⓘ | Bilibinskite | 2.BA.80 | PbCu2Au3Te2 |
ⓘ | Altaite | 2.CD.10 | PbTe |
ⓘ | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
ⓘ | Stibnite | 2.DB.05 | Sb2S3 |
ⓘ | Tetradymite | 2.DC.05 | Bi2Te2S |
ⓘ | Tellurobismuthite | 2.DC.05 | Bi2Te3 |
ⓘ | Tellurantimony | 2.DC.05 | Sb2Te3 |
ⓘ | Pilsenite | 2.DC.05 | Bi4Te3 |
ⓘ | Melonite | 2.EA.20 | NiTe2 |
ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
ⓘ | Arsenopyrite | 2.EB.20 | FeAsS |
ⓘ | Gersdorffite | 2.EB.25 | NiAsS |
ⓘ | Rucklidgeite (TL) | 2.GC.40c | PbBi2Te4 |
ⓘ | Nagyágite | 2.HB.20a | [Pb3(Pb,Sb)3S6](Au,Te)3 |
ⓘ | Boulangerite | 2.HC.15 | Pb5Sb4S11 |
ⓘ | Volynskite (TL) | 2.JA.20 | AgBiTe2 |
ⓘ | Freieslebenite | 2.JB.15 | AgPbSbS3 |
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
ⓘ | Chekhovichite (TL) | 4.JK.35 | Bi2Te4+4O11 |
ⓘ | Smirnite (TL) | 4.JK.40 | Bi2Te4+O5 |
ⓘ | Keystoneite | 4.JM.05 | Mg0.5Ni2+Fe3+(Te4+O3)3 · 4.5H2O |
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
ⓘ | Magnesite | 5.AB.05 | MgCO3 |
ⓘ | Dolomite | 5.AB.10 | CaMg(CO3)2 |
Group 9 - Silicates | |||
ⓘ | Muscovite var. Fuchsite | 9.EC.15 | K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2 |
ⓘ | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 | |
Unclassified | |||
ⓘ | 'Serpentine Subgroup' | - | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
H | Hydrogen | |
---|---|---|
H | ⓘ Muscovite var. Fuchsite | K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2 |
H | ⓘ Keystoneite | Mg0.5Ni2+Fe3+(Te4+O3)3 · 4.5H2O |
H | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
H | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
C | Carbon | |
C | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
C | ⓘ Magnesite | MgCO3 |
O | Oxygen | |
O | ⓘ Chekhovichite | Bi2Te44+O11 |
O | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
O | ⓘ Muscovite var. Fuchsite | K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2 |
O | ⓘ Keystoneite | Mg0.5Ni2+Fe3+(Te4+O3)3 · 4.5H2O |
O | ⓘ Magnesite | MgCO3 |
O | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
O | ⓘ Smirnite | Bi2Te4+O5 |
O | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
Mg | Magnesium | |
Mg | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
Mg | ⓘ Keystoneite | Mg0.5Ni2+Fe3+(Te4+O3)3 · 4.5H2O |
Mg | ⓘ Magnesite | MgCO3 |
Al | Aluminium | |
Al | ⓘ Muscovite var. Fuchsite | K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2 |
Al | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Si | Silicon | |
Si | ⓘ Muscovite var. Fuchsite | K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2 |
Si | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
Si | ⓘ Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
S | Sulfur | |
S | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
S | ⓘ Boulangerite | Pb5Sb4S11 |
S | ⓘ Freieslebenite | AgPbSbS3 |
S | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
S | ⓘ Gersdorffite | NiAsS |
S | ⓘ Nagyágite | [Pb3(Pb,Sb)3S6](Au,Te)3 |
S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
S | ⓘ Stibnite | Sb2S3 |
S | ⓘ Tetradymite | Bi2Te2S |
K | Potassium | |
K | ⓘ Muscovite var. Fuchsite | K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2 |
K | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Ca | Calcium | |
Ca | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
Cr | Chromium | |
Cr | ⓘ Muscovite var. Fuchsite | K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2 |
Fe | Iron | |
Fe | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
Fe | ⓘ Keystoneite | Mg0.5Ni2+Fe3+(Te4+O3)3 · 4.5H2O |
Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
Ni | Nickel | |
Ni | ⓘ Gersdorffite | NiAsS |
Ni | ⓘ Keystoneite | Mg0.5Ni2+Fe3+(Te4+O3)3 · 4.5H2O |
Ni | ⓘ Melonite | NiTe2 |
Cu | Copper | |
Cu | ⓘ Bilibinskite | PbCu2Au3Te2 |
As | Arsenic | |
As | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
As | ⓘ Gersdorffite | NiAsS |
Ag | Silver | |
Ag | ⓘ Freieslebenite | AgPbSbS3 |
Ag | ⓘ Hessite | Ag2Te |
Ag | ⓘ Volynskite | AgBiTe2 |
Sb | Antimony | |
Sb | ⓘ Boulangerite | Pb5Sb4S11 |
Sb | ⓘ Freieslebenite | AgPbSbS3 |
Sb | ⓘ Nagyágite | [Pb3(Pb,Sb)3S6](Au,Te)3 |
Sb | ⓘ Stibnite | Sb2S3 |
Sb | ⓘ Tellurantimony | Sb2Te3 |
Te | Tellurium | |
Te | ⓘ Altaite | PbTe |
Te | ⓘ Bilibinskite | PbCu2Au3Te2 |
Te | ⓘ Chekhovichite | Bi2Te44+O11 |
Te | ⓘ Hessite | Ag2Te |
Te | ⓘ Keystoneite | Mg0.5Ni2+Fe3+(Te4+O3)3 · 4.5H2O |
Te | ⓘ Melonite | NiTe2 |
Te | ⓘ Nagyágite | [Pb3(Pb,Sb)3S6](Au,Te)3 |
Te | ⓘ Pilsenite | Bi4Te3 |
Te | ⓘ Rucklidgeite | PbBi2Te4 |
Te | ⓘ Smirnite | Bi2Te4+O5 |
Te | ⓘ Tellurantimony | Sb2Te3 |
Te | ⓘ Tellurobismuthite | Bi2Te3 |
Te | ⓘ Tetradymite | Bi2Te2S |
Te | ⓘ Volynskite | AgBiTe2 |
Au | Gold | |
Au | ⓘ Bilibinskite | PbCu2Au3Te2 |
Au | ⓘ Gold | Au |
Au | ⓘ Nagyágite | [Pb3(Pb,Sb)3S6](Au,Te)3 |
Pb | Lead | |
Pb | ⓘ Altaite | PbTe |
Pb | ⓘ Bilibinskite | PbCu2Au3Te2 |
Pb | ⓘ Boulangerite | Pb5Sb4S11 |
Pb | ⓘ Freieslebenite | AgPbSbS3 |
Pb | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
Pb | ⓘ Nagyágite | [Pb3(Pb,Sb)3S6](Au,Te)3 |
Pb | ⓘ Rucklidgeite | PbBi2Te4 |
Bi | Bismuth | |
Bi | ⓘ Chekhovichite | Bi2Te44+O11 |
Bi | ⓘ Pilsenite | Bi4Te3 |
Bi | ⓘ Rucklidgeite | PbBi2Te4 |
Bi | ⓘ Smirnite | Bi2Te4+O5 |
Bi | ⓘ Tellurobismuthite | Bi2Te3 |
Bi | ⓘ Tetradymite | Bi2Te2S |
Bi | ⓘ Volynskite | AgBiTe2 |
Fossils
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Wikipedia: | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sotk_gold_mine |
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Wikidata ID: | Q1133665 |
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Sotk gold mine, Sotk, Gegharkunik Province, Armenia