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Muruntau
Muruntau in the Kyzylkum desert is one of the biggest open-pit gold mines on earth. It was found in 1958 and mined from 1969, and the state combine made about 80% of Uzbek gold.
Source: Virtual Explorer, USGS
Mining by country
Mining in Uzbekistan
What Uzbekistan mines: gold (3.9% of world output, #9), molybdenum (0.8% of world output, #11), phosphate rock (0.4% of world output, #22), indium (0.1% of world output, #8). Mineral rents are 8.5% of GDP.
Mineral rents8.5%of GDP, 2021. Higher than 92% of countries.
Ores and metals8.1%of merchandise exports, 2024.
Biggest world roleGold3.9% of world mine output, #9, 2025.
World top-3 producer of0minerals we track.
Governance, World Bank WGI 2025
- Rule of law-0.64above 31% of countries
- Political stability+0.10above 47% of countries
- Regulatory quality-0.52above 33% of countries
- Control of corruption-0.69above 30% of countries
Mining in Uzbekistan at a glance
Mining in GDP14.8%2022. National measure reported in the USGS chapter, not the World Bank mineral rents series.Source: USGS
Mining jobs187,3182020. Persons employed in ISIC Rev.4 section B (mining and quarrying) per ILO, source series: LFS - Labour Force Survey.Source: International Labour Organization
- First recorded mining
- Muruntau open pit 1967. NMMC's own chronicle gives 1967 as the first blasting at Muruntau, which began open-pit mining there. Source: Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Company
- Mining law
- Law on Subsoil (1994). Went into effect in 1994 and was revised in 2002. All subsoil is the property of the state. Source: USGS
- State mining company
- Almalyk MMC; Navoi MMC. The two leading mining and metallurgical complexes were open-stock companies in which the Government was primary shareholder. Source: USGS
- Main mines
- Muruntau, Kalmakyr, Sary-Cheku Source: Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Company
Mining employment from the ILO usually counts all of mining and quarrying, often with oil and gas; national shares of GDP and exports are as each source defines them.
Share of world mine production
| Mineral | World share | World rank | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 3.9% | 9 | 2025 |
| Molybdenum | 0.8% | 11 | 2025 |
| Phosphate rock | 0.4% | 22 | 2025 |
| Indium | 0.1% | 8 | 2025 |
Gold mining in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan mined 3.9% of the world's gold in 2025, ranking #9 (USGS). Every gold mine and project in Uzbekistan.
Molybdenum mining in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan mined 0.8% of the world's molybdenum in 2025, ranking #11 (USGS). Every molybdenum mine and project in Uzbekistan.
Phosphate rock mining in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan mined 0.4% of the world's phosphate rock in 2025, ranking #22 (USGS). Every phosphate rock mine and project in Uzbekistan.
Indium mining in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan mined 0.1% of the world's indium in 2025, ranking #8 (USGS).
History of mining in Uzbekistan
What the ground holds. kaolin, rhenium, uranium, gold, molybdenum, tellurium, indium, copper, silver, zinc, phosphate, gypsum and cadmium. Source: USGS
Famous mines in Uzbekistan
opened 1969 · still producing
Muruntau
Muruntau in the Kyzylkum desert is one of the biggest open-pit gold mines on earth.
Source: Virtual Explorer, USGS
By mineral
Gold minesMolybdenum minesPhosphate rock mines
Mining elsewhere in Asia
ChinaIndonesiaJapanKazakhstanSouth KoreaIndiaTurkeyMongoliaPhilippinesVietnam
World shares: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, latest year per mineral. Mineral rents, exports and governance: World Bank WDI and WGI. Trade: CEPII BACI. Projects: listed companies' announcements.
Keep exploring
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Cover photos from Wikimedia Commons: The Big Hole by Rudolph Botha, CC BY-SA 3.0. Pictures: Escondida Mine, Chile, NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team (Public domain (NASA media, no copyright)).