Stones Of Azerbaijan: A Native's Perspective

Azerbaijan is a country with a rich history and diverse natural resources. The country's landscape includes mountains, foothill fertile soils, wide plains, andsection of the Caspian Sea. The country's complex landscape has resulted in a variety of natural resources, including native stones. The native stones found in Azerbaijan include semi-precious and colourful stones such as granite, amethyst, tourmaline, chalcedony, agate, heliotrope, and limestone. These stones have been used throughout the country's history for construction, tools,section jewellery. Additionally, archaeological sites in Azerbaijan, such as Gobustan, have revealed ancient stone carvings and rock paintings, providing valuable insights into the country's cultural and artistic heritage.

Native stones in Azerbaijan are used for construction and jewellery

Azerbaijan has a long history of using stone for construction, with the first human settlements made of stone. The country's favourable natural conditions have resulted in a wide range of mining resources, including non-metallic deposits such as rock salt, gypsum, anhydrite, and semi-precious and colourful stones. These stones are used for construction and decorative purposes, with the most original patterns of design engraved on gravestones found in the territories of Asheron, Shamakhi, Barda, Lachin, and Nakhchivan.

In addition to construction, stones native to Azerbaijan are also used for jewellery. Archaeological digs have revealed that during the beginning of the Middle Ages, stone was used for creating jewellery, in addition to its traditional use for construction and domestic implements. While the technical execution of designs improved during this period, they often lacked topical descriptions, focusing instead on plants, geometrical figures, birds, and animals.

The use of native stones for construction and jewellery in Azerbaijan has a long history, dating back to the Stone Age. Today, the country continues to utilise its rich natural resources for a variety of purposes, including construction, decorative art, and jewellery-making.

The country is rich in semi-precious and colourful stones

Azerbaijan is a country with a rich endowment of natural resources. The country's landscape is characterised by snowy peaks, high mountains, fertile soils, and wide plains. The country's complex landscape has resulted in a variety of natural conditions, including diverse climates, soil-vegetation, and water resources.

Azerbaijan is particularly well-known for its oil and gas fields. The republic's territory is rich in hydrocarbons, with approximately two-thirds of its land containing these resources. The Absheron Peninsula, the shelf zone of the Caspian Sea, and the archipelago of Baku and Absheron are home to the largest number of oil and gas fields. Naftalan oil, extracted from the Maykop and Agjagil sediments, is the only oil in the world renowned for its therapeutic properties.

In addition to its fossil fuel resources, Azerbaijan boasts a wealth of metallic and non-metallic mineral deposits. The Lesser Caucasus region is abundant in ore deposits, including iron, titanium, gold, silver, copper, cobalt, chromite, polymetals, and molybdenum. Semi-precious and colourful stones, such as granite, amethyst, tourmaline, chalcedony, agate, and heliotrope, are also found in the Dashkesan and Ordubad regions of the Lesser Caucasus. These stones are highly valued for their aesthetic qualities and are often used in jewellery and decorative arts.

The country's non-metallic mineral resources include rock salt, gypsum, anhydrite, bentonite clays, building materials, pyrite, barite, dolomite, and Icelandic spar. Rock salt deposits are located in the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, while gypsum and anhydrite deposits are found in the villages of Upper Agjakend and Manash in the Gadabay region. The largest deposit of aluminium ore (alunite) is situated in the Dashkesan region, and alunite-bearing deposits are also present in Shamkir and Ordubad.

Azerbaijan's diverse landscapes, ranging from mountains and highlands to plains and lowlands, provide a plethora of opportunities for outdoor activities and exploration. The country is dotted with mud volcanoes, and its rivers, lakes, and waterfalls contribute to its natural beauty. The Gobustan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, showcases prehistoric petroglyphs and ancient rock carvings.

The country's natural wealth extends beyond its mines and quarries, encompassing its vibrant flora and fauna. With over 4,500 plant species, including rare and endangered varieties, Azerbaijan boasts a rich botanical diversity. The country's animal kingdom is equally impressive, with a wide range of species inhabiting its forests, rivers, and mountains.

In summary, Azerbaijan is a country endowed with an abundance of natural resources, including semi-precious and colourful stones. Its complex landscape, diverse climates, and mineral wealth make it a captivating destination for those seeking to explore its natural wonders.

The Lesser Caucasus is rich in ore deposits

Azerbaijan is a country with favourable natural conditions and rich natural resources. The landscape is varied, with snowy peaks, high mountains, fertile soils, and wide plains. The country is rich in mining resources, including oil, gas, shale, and peat. The republic is also home to almost all types of the Earth's climate, from mountainous to dry and humid subtropical.

The Lesser Caucasus is a mountain range in the southwestern and western parts of Azerbaijan. It has relatively low elevations and is a mountainous area with a complex structure. The main mountain ranges are Murovdag, Shahdag, and Zangezur. The Karabakh Plateau is located on the arc-shaped cones of extinct volcanoes and lava from the fourth period. The Lesser Caucasus is rich in ore deposits, including iron, titanium, gold, silver, copper, cobalt, chromite, poly-metals, and molybdenum.

The gold deposits and manifestations are mainly found in the territory of the Lesser Caucasus, with some deposits spread in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The largest deposits of aluminium ore (alunite) are located in the Dashkesan region, with additional deposits found in Shamkir and Ordubad. Alunite-bearing formations are also found in Shamkir and Ordubad.

Semi-precious and precious minerals (gems) are associated with the Dashcasan and Ordubad skarn ore deposits of the Lesser Caucasus, as well as volcanic rocks in Gadabay and Khanlar regions. These include granite, garnet, amethyst, tourmaline, chalcedony, agate, and heliotrope.

The largest number of oil and gas fields is located on the Absheron Peninsula

Azerbaijan is a country with a diverse landscape, from snowy peaks to wide plains, and is rich in natural resources. The country's complex landscape structure has resulted in a varied distribution of natural resources, including oil and gas fields.

The Absheron Peninsula, located near the capital city of Baku, is one of the world's oldest oil-producing regions. The extraction of petroleum in this region began in the early 20th century, specifically in 1907, with other sites in the area developing since 1912. The territory of the Republic, especially the Absheron Peninsula, has been a centre of oil production for centuries, with the extraction and distribution of oil from the Absheron Peninsula to other countries starting as early as the 7th to 6th centuries BC.

The Absheron Oil and Gas Field is an operating oil and gas field located in the Caspian Sea, approximately 100 kilometres southeast of Baku. The field covers around 270 square kilometres, and its main partners are Total S.A. (40%), SOCAR (40%), and GDF Suez (20%), with Total acting as the operator. The Absheron block was initially discovered by Azerbaijani scientists in 1960 through seismic exploration, and it has been a significant contributor to the country's gas reserves.

The Absheron field is expected to contain approximately 350 billion cubic metres of natural gas and 45 million tons of gas condensate. This discovery has had a positive impact on the Azerbaijani economy and job market. The production of gas from this field is projected to begin in the 2020s, and the operators are considering additional exploration to accelerate the process.

In addition to its oil and gas resources, Azerbaijan also has a variety of mining resources, including semi-precious and colourful stones. The country's complex geological structure contributes to the richness of its mining resources.

Gobustan is famous for its rock art

Azerbaijan is a country with favourable natural conditions and rich natural resources. The landscape is varied, with snowy peaks, high mountains, fertile soils, and wide plains. The country is also rich in mining resources, including oil, gas, shale, and peat. The country also has a wealth of semi-precious and precious stones.

The rock art in Gobustan includes carvings and paintings on the rocks that illustrate men, ritual dances, animals, bull fights, camel caravans, and pictures of the sun and stars. These carvings and paintings date back 5,000 to 20,000 years. The petroglyphs on the walls of the living sites reflect the activities of ancient humans, such as hunting and fishing, and provide valuable insights into their way of life.

The images of animals on the rocks vary depending on the period, as the hunting targets changed over time due to climate change. For example, during the Pleistocene period, the images depict large animals such as aurochs and wild horses, while during the Holocene period, the images show smaller animals such as deer, wild boar, and birds.

In addition to the animal images, human figures are also depicted in the rock art, including dancers, hunters, and men wearing tropical helmets. The rock art also includes Latin and Roman inscriptions, as well as Arabic and Persian inscriptions from the Middle Ages.

The Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape covers an area of 537 hectares and is located approximately 60 kilometres southwest of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. The site was first discovered by a local miner in 1939-40 and has since been studied and preserved by archaeologists and historians.

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