The key facts
- A deposit with ~11 tonnes of gold has been found near Zlaté Hory (DIAMO data).
- The ore also contains copper and zinc; the presence of gallium is being checked.
- No decision on launching mining has been made — research and an environmental impact assessment are needed.
Discovery of the deposit
A large deposit has been discovered near the town of Zlaté Hory in the north-east of the Czech Republic. According to preliminary data from the state company DIAMO, its reserves amount to about 11 tonnes of gold. Besides gold, the ore contains copper and zinc: according to experts' calculations, processing 200,000 tonnes of ore per year would yield 265 tonnes of copper and 1,556 tonnes of zinc. It is also being checked whether the deposit contains gallium.
Timeline plans
According to the project, mining is to last 10 years, and the total project duration will be 15 years: three years for preparatory work, 10 years for mining, and another two years for closing the deposit and land restoration. If additional geological exploration reveals new reserves, the operating period may be extended. The project also envisages attracting additional investments for the development of the territory, but their volume and directions have not yet been determined.
No launch decision yet
There is still no final decision on putting the deposit into operation. This will require detailed studies, additional geological exploration, and an assessment of the impact of mining operations on the environment. In particular, specialists must study the possible impact on water sources, noise and dust levels, the load on roads, and the safety of blasting operations.
