The game of darts may not yet have taken root in Kazakhstan in the way some of its enthusiasts had hoped, but the news of the day that the country is gearing up to start mining tungsten in 2028 means that a valued contribution to the world’s fastest-growing sport may yet be made.
By way of explanation, the very best darts are made of tungsten, and the word itself has come to be widely used in the darting community. This is perhaps a completely separate matter from the mining of this crucial metal, but one which will bring a smile to the faces of those here who play, however few there are right now.
To get to the heart of the matter, this is not a light-hearted spoof, but a serious news story. Tungsten is not only used to make darts.
It is a rare, very dense metal, which is of great use in many industries; a raw material in industrial cutting and drilling tools, high-temperature rocket and aerospace parts, electrical and X-ray filaments, radiation shielding, and military kinetic energy armour-piercing ammunition.
According to Qazinform, Tungsten mining at the Aksoran deposit, located across the North Kazakhstan and Akmola regions, is planned to begin in 2028, at the 4,499-square-kilometre site. An environmental impact report states that a million tons per year can be extracted at the outset, with a gradual year-on-year reduction from then until the anticipated end of the mine’s 16-year lifespan.
2027 will be devoted to preparatory work, with extraction due to start in 2028. A processing plant will also be constructed.
Chances are, only a tiny fraction of the tungsten mined at Aksoran will make its way into darts clubs all over the world, but the addition of this vital resource to the list of critical minerals found under the Kazakh soil is more good news for the country.
