On Sunday, the Shadan gold mine in South Khorasan was added to Iran’s list of major gold deposits after the final certification of discovery confirmed reserves of 61 million tonnes in a single vein.
The listing places Shadan among the country’s largest mineral assets and signals a significant reassessment of its underlying geology.
Gold deposits are spread across East and West Azarbaijan, Razavi Khorasan, Zanjan, Fars and Isfahan, forming a chain of mineral resources that extends along the country’s geological belt.
Surveys estimate Iran’s total gold reserves at around 300 tonnes. Of 32 identified mines, 21 are active, nine remain inactive and two are being prepared for operation.
The most productive currently include Agh Darreh in Takab, Zarshuran, Muteh, Qolqoleh, Anjirek Taftan, Khomein, Sarigunay and Zarmehr, with further deposits documented in Sungun, Nishapur, Qazvin, Semnan and Yazd.
Alongside gold, these mines produce copper, lead, silver and zinc, creating a cluster of extractive industries that feed into both local economies and nationwide supply chains.
The expansion of gold mining has reshaped economic conditions in several regions. Employment generated by extraction and processing has lowered joblessness in mining districts and sustained the growth of secondary industries built around logistics, transportation and local services.
In South Khorasan, Shadan is expected to anchor similar patterns as operations scale up. In other provinces, municipalities have channlled mining-linked revenues into infrastructure, using them to pave local roads, improve utilities and upgrade public spaces.
State-backed programs tied to mining activity have financed projects in rail, port access and urban facilities, drawing a direct connection between mineral production and the development of local networks.
Mining income also supports public services. In areas where extraction is a major employer, portions of revenue are allocated to schools, clinics and municipal projects.
Growing populations in mining zones have intensified demand for these services, making them a recurring component of local planning. This integration of mining revenues into public expenditure has shaped the expansion of healthcare, education and transport capacity in several mineral-rich provinces.
Gold’s economic footprint extends into other sectors. In Iran’s jewelry industry, it remains a primary input for rings, necklaces, earrings and other accessories. Its durability and market value support a large consumer base, including a segment that invests in gold as a means of storing wealth.
Decorative and artistic uses persist in gilded surfaces and ornamental work, while industrial applications range from electronics to pharmaceuticals.
In medical equipment, gold is used for its hypoallergenic properties. In electronics manufacturing, it appears in printed circuit boards and connectors because of its conductivity and resistance to corrosion.
Gold’s stability under extreme conditions makes it a component in satellite and aerospace technologies, linking mineral extraction with high-value manufacturing.
Domestic gold trade has expanded alongside production. Online platforms have increased access for buyers seeking to acquire gold as a financial asset, reflecting a shift toward digital transactions in the retail metals market.
These platforms operate alongside traditional retail channels and have incorporated verification systems and pricing tools to support consumer transactions.
Technological change is becoming more prominent in the mining sector. A new Iranian analytical method known as +AuME has been introduced to test gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc and other trace elements at concentrations as low as parts per billion.
The technique enables simultaneous multi-element analysis, reducing dependence on conventional laboratory procedures and accelerating the pace of exploration.
Its design targets geological environments where mineralization is dispersed or hidden, providing data that can clarify subsurface patterns and guide drilling decisions.
Mining institutions have endorsed the method as part of a broader shift toward exploration based on higher-resolution datasets and more accurate mineral diagnostics.
The efficiency gains from +AuME have lowered the time and cost associated with testing ore samples. Geological teams can process larger volumes of data in shorter periods, improving assessments of ore quality and deposit distribution.
This has implications for identifying new reserves and expanding exploration zones around existing mines. Adoption of the method indicates an effort to increase productivity by improving evaluation techniques rather than expanding extraction alone.
Exports remain a central channel through which gold contributes to the national economy. With oil revenues constrained by sanctions, the sale of gold and processed materials provides a source of foreign currency.
According to mining and geological reports, more than 10 tonnes of gold have been extracted nationwide, feeding into export flows and reinforcing Iran’s presence in regional markets. Revenues generated from these exports help finance imports and support domestic financial stability.
As mining activity increases, related sectors develop in parallel. Construction companies secure contracts for access roads and operational facilities. Transport networks expand as haulage routes are upgraded to accommodate heavy machinery and ore shipments.
Utilities such as water and electricity infrastructure are extended to service mining zones, later becoming part of broader regional grids.
These developments tie mining more closely to provincial economic planning, creating a chain of dependencies that influence investment and labor mobility.
In districts where extraction has continued for several years, towns have adapted to the demands of a mining-driven economy.
Workshops, repair facilities and small manufacturers supplying mining equipment have emerged around larger sites. The pattern is replicated across provinces with active gold deposits, linking mineral resources to regional industrial clusters.
Through these channels, gold mining intersects with trade, manufacturing and local development, embedding mineral extraction within the wider economic structure.