Russia’s Easy-to-Reach Mineral Deposits Nearly Depleted, Minister Says

Large and easily accessible mineral deposits in Russia are nearly depleted, the head of Russia’s Natural Resources Ministry said Wednesday. “Geologists are forced to move further and further into the Arctic and difficult-to-reach regions of the Far East and Siberia,” Natural Resources Minister Alexander Kozlov said during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. “Only 35% of the Far East and 45% of Siberian territories have been explored by geologists,” Kozlov was quoted as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency.