THE MURUNTAU GOLD DEPOSIT in the Kyzylkum Desert in western Uzbekistan was—and still is—one of the largest individual gold deposits worldwide, with resources in excess of 5000 metric tons of gold. Discovered in 1958, it has been in operation since 1967 using an open-pit method. It is owned by Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combinat (NMMC). Gold from the open-pit mine and underground mining was conducted via trucks and conveyors to the Besapan processing plant. In my time, the pure bricks of gold were sent by special airplane every day—directly to Moscow. First, a small village Muruntau was established near the field of the gold mining complex. Soon it expanded and transformed into a larger settlement.
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