Iran to Launch National Comprehensive Geoscience Database Soon

“With the aim of integrating information and data related to the country's geosciences, the launch of the comprehensive database of the country's geosciences is on agenda,” Omid Ardebili said.

“The first step to develop a comprehensive strategy in the field of exploration and mining is to have a comprehensive database of the current state of the country's mineral reserves, which is not possible without the cooperation and interaction of competent organizations; therefore, the Geological Organization, as the custodian and the main authority for data storage and dissemination, decided to collect and consolidate the information of other mining authorities,” he added.

“The priority of this database is the targeted collection and publication of the country's geological and exploratory data with the standards of the Iran Geology Organization,” Ardebili said.

Head of the Geological Survey and Mineral Exploration of Iran (GSI) Alireza Shahidi said last September that the country’s geologists have analyzed 57 types of minerals so far.

“It was thought that there are 68 minerals in Iran up to now but our data indicates the existence of 81 minerals in the country,” Shahidi said.

“We had analyzed 40 minerals in the past but in the transformation plan, this number has increased to 57 minerals, and these analyzes are based on advanced methods,” he added.

Shahidi also noted that geoscience database is a web-based system where geological information is uploaded, adding that 1,500 layers of information have been uploaded so far.

“Mineral exploration has a share of 7% to 8% in the country's GDP, and if natural hazards are controlled, this amount will be maintained,” he underlined.

Iranian geologists also cooperate with their counterparts from other world states in achieving state-of-the-art science and technology.

In a relevant development in May 2023, Iranian officials and their Austrian counterparts signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand mine exploration and geology cooperation.

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