Regional Ethnography Museum, Plast, Russia:

R. K. Khairyatdinov, Director

UGC Gold Mining Company, Plast, Russia:
V. V. Fedoseev, Chief Geologist, ugold@ugold.ru

The article describes stages of gold mining in the South Ural. The ancestry of gold production initiated by the Russian Emperor, Piotr I, is reviewed. The discovery of the primary gold deposits (ore lodes) in the 19th century ensured expansion of gold mining. High-rate development of gold deposits, reconstruction of mines, building of gold extraction factories fell on the post-war period (1956–1965). It is shown that integration of all gold mines in the Chelyabinsk Region into a united company (Yuzhuralzoloto association) in 1977 was aimed at the intensification of gold production in the South Ural. Introduction of Svetlinskoe primary gold deposit in operation during the Perestroika period offered a new track in the gold production development. Gold reserves in the Chelyabinsk Region were considerably replenished in the 1990s owing to exploration of Tambov and Bereznyaki deposits. Currently prospecting is started and in process in a few promising areas in the Chelyabinsk Region. In the 21^st century the regional gold mining geology has been substantially expanded. UGC Gold Mining Company administers gold mining in Kommunar Mine, initiates heap leaching in Svetlinsky Mine, starts operations at South Kurasan and West Kurasan deposits. UGC company has expanded activities beyond the limits of the Chelyabinsk Region by purchasing gold field assets in the Krasnoyarsk Territory and in Transbaikalia.

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