KHOROG, May 13, Asia-Plus  -- A workshop for processing trim stones has opened in the village of Anjin, GBAO’s Roshtqala district. 

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, the workshop head Qimmatsho Shamsov said that the workshop, launched by the State Unitary Enterprise Jamast (formerly Pamirkvartzsamotsvety),  is the first phase of work on setting up a larger workshop for processing not only marble but also other, more fine stones.  “Marble is delivered to the workshop from the deposit located near the village of Dasht,” Shamsov said.    

According to him, the workshop’s products will be much in demand as intensive construction activities are under way in Khorog.    

“The other factor contributing to successful activity of our enterprise is the fact that we mine marble in open-cut method, which does not require large expenses,” the workshop head said.

Geologist Bekdavlat Davlatmirov noted that marble reserves of the Dasht deposit are very large.  “We are currently developing soft marble, fit for finishing works, while deposits of high-quality granite marble occur at depths of six meters,” Davlatmirov said.

Geologist Alinazar Rustambekov told Asia-Plus that the Shokhdara Valley (Roshtqala district) is also rich in lapis lazuli.  “Here there is one of world’s largest deposits of lapis lazuli,” said Rustambekov.  “Unfortunately, nobody has developed this deposit seriously so far.”