Kazakhstan identifies 20 promising sites for rare earth metal exploration

Kazakhstan has identified about 20 promising areas for the search for rare and rare earth metals, Industry and Construction Minister Yersain Nagaspayev said. Speaking at a plenary session of the Kurultai on Wednesday, he said the country has begun detailed study of its subsoil at a scale of 1:50,000 for the first time in 30 years, describing the work as near-prospecting. Twenty projects have been developed across 100,000 square kilometres.

The search uses satellite remote sensing, aerogeophysical surveys and drones, with data analysed by artificial intelligence programs. The minister also cited a geochemical method used in Australia and Canada. He said seven promising sites were identified in the last two to three months and that they will be confirmed by drilling before the end of the year.

Specialists are also digitising archival geological materials. The minister said 4.8 million units of information, including old reports, maps, drawings and sketches totalling 500 terabytes, have been digitised.