With more than 100 tonnes of gold contained in low-grade ores, the Sawaya’erdun Gold Mine is a rare ultra-large, undeveloped gold project in China. It is situated in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, an area with excellent gold metallogenic conditions. To date, twenty-one mineralized belts have been discovered in the mine, with the potential for additional discoveries at depth and along its periphery.
The mine is designed to begin with open-pit operations, followed by underground mining. Construction is progressing rapidly. Once the open-pit project reaches full capacity, annual gold production is expected to average at approximately 3 tonnes.
In July 2022, Zijin Mining acquired a 70% interest in the Sawaya’erdun Gold Mine in Wuqia County, Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang.
The project implements a local employment policy and launched community development initiatives from the beginning of its construction phase. It has provided support for canteens at surrounding townships, herders’ accommodations, and school assistance projects.