IMAGERY ANALYSIS REPORT DREDGING SITES IN THE LENA GOLD TRUST AREA, USSR

Document Type:

CREST [1]

Collection:

NGA Records (Formerly NIMA) [2]

Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):

CIA-RDP79T00919A000100230001-6

Release Decision:

RIPPUB

Original Classification:

Document Page Count:

Document Creation Date:

December 28, 2016

Document Release Date:

May 15, 2002

Sequence Number:

Case Number:

Publication Date:

August 1, 1967

Content Type:

REPORT

File:

Attachment	Size
CIA-RDP79T00919A000100230001-6.pdf [3]	4.83 MB

Body:

Approved For Release 2002/06/05 : CIA-RDP79T00919A0001002T8Q-Secret v DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE Imagery Analysis Report Declass Review by NIMA / DoD Dredging Sites in the Lena Gold Trust Area, USSR 25X1 Top Secret 25X1 DDI/IAR 85010 1 1. DATE $UUST 19 7 Approved For Release 2002/06/05 : CIA-RDP79T00919A00010023 6f PAGES 18 Approved For Release 2002=05 : CIA-RDP79T00919A000100230001-6 Approved For Release 2002/06/05 : CIA-RDP79T00919A000100230001-6 Approved For Release 20&1H /6CcbTd DREDGING SITES IN THE LENA GOLD TRUST AREA, USSR This study of the Lena Gold Trust area revealed six active areas and one inactive area of placer mining within a 200-nautical-mile radius of the Trust headquarters, at Bodaybo, USSR. A total of 17 dredging sites were identified within the active mining areas. 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 20JJO3/S?CR 2DP79T00919A000100230001-6 Approve 1 For ReleascT0P2, , REli (Il4MAR Y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T:TITRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o . . . 3 GOLD TRUST MINING AREAS (TEXT) MINING AREA 1, 2, 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 [NETING AREA 4, 5, 6. . . . . . . I[.IjiE LOCATION MAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 t~J1 E . LENA GOLD TRUST AREA (MAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 "l.S-LTRE MINING AREA 1 (PHOTOGRAPH) . 7 'SURE !; . MINING AREA 2 (PHOTOGRAPH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 h' LIURE . PINING AREA 3 (PHOTOGRAPH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Y;_;LJRE (n . MINING AREA 4 (PHOTOGRAPH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 : 'a.: 0RE .' PINING AREA 5 (PHOTOGRAPH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 ,JtURE MINING AREA 6 (PHOTOGRAPHS) . . . . . . . . . . . . .14,15 l:(1JRE 10, II. MINING AREA 7 (PHOTOGRAPHS) . . . . . . . . . . . . .16,17 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release -inn 2II~IIwE 1 Approved F br Release 20T**6/5i(RF This report is based on KEYHOLE photographic coverage of the Lena Gold Trust Area, USSR. A search was conducted to locate placer mining areas with- in a 200-nautical-mile radius of the Lena Gold Trust headquarters located at Bodaybo (57-45N 114-b0E). The imagery covered approximately 90 percent of the search area; however, an assessment of all valleys and stream beds could not be accomplished due to image obliquity. 25X1 25X1 The purpose of this project was to determine the number of gold dredg- ing sites and the size of each dredge operating at each site. A recent report stated that 22 dredges had been prepared for work within the Lena Gold 25X1 Trust Area. 1/ Good quality KEYHOLE pho ograp y as 25X1 enabled observation of considerable activity and identification of dredges within the six areas of active mining. The dredges ranged in length from 60 to 190 feet and in width from 40 to c90 feet. All measurements have been made by NPIC Technical Intelligence Division with the exception of those indicated by an asterisk (*), which were made by the IAS analyst and should be considered. approximate. The NPIC/TID measure- ments are considered to be accurate within + 10 feet for linear dimensions. The dimensions given in this report do not include the hoisting units or the tailing flumes. The heights of the dredges could not be measured accurately because of overlapping shadows, but an app-rt.ximate measurement of 20-40 feet in height above water level wa.s given. Approved For Release O/?R 1 25X1 Approv4 d For Release R/0S R VT4 s,en,Y ..tlrgal en not necezeorely area is located on the Vacha River apprc imately 6u nCri ri, )r th.-northeast of Bodaybo, USSR, at 58-33N 115-2 _E. The Vacha ,_v:_~r flews in a southerly direction into the Zhuy ,, River. Only two .gin : sites could be identified. Site 1 is lotted near the village Kropotkin and the dredge measures 180 by 90 by -0 feet* high. Site 2 1_s Located near the village of Petrovskiy, and t1 dredge measures 1,H O by 7)G by 40 feet* high. Both sites appear qui,ee active from the ,enoutnL of light-toned tailings in their immediate ricinity. Limited ieench.ing for geological exploration is located it the northern portion tt,e mining area. MINING AREA 6, (FIGURES 8. USSR, 'T'h._; area is located approximately 10 nm nor-o offBothe daybo, seven located 114-24E. This mining area is the larg, St rend covers approximately 25 nm of river bed. The area appears very octLee i_'rom the amount of light-toned tailings ob.erved along the river. ;.,even separate dredging sites (Figure 9), all wit. dredges measuring .70 by )0 by 40 feet high, were clearly identifie . Some shaft mining i.tc trying carried out in the northeastern portion f the mining area. Wrenching for geological exploration was identifi i within the surrounding 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2f OfpletRtI1tX RDP79T00919A000100230001-6 Approve For Release TOR/ :Eefl IMAGERY ANALYSIS SERVICE 0919A MINING AREA 7, (FIGURES 10,11) This area is located approximately 180 nm south of Bodaybo, USSR, at 54-23N 113-35E. Five dredging sites (Figure 11) could be clearly identified within the placer mining area. The dredge located at Site 1 measures 130 by 60 by 35 feet* high, and the remaining four dredges measure 60 by 40 by 20 feet* high. Some shaft mining is being carried on just south of the river. The large amount of light-toned tailings located in the immediate vicinity indicates that the area is active. 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2"p6ffCRT- Approved or Release 201 1SECR DP79T00 DREDGE FIGURE 6. LENA GOLD TRUST, USSR, MINING AREA 4, 58-37N 117-18E 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release p2jpeftf Approved For Release 2002/06/05 : CIA-RDP79T00919A000100230001-6 TOP SECRET 25X1 LENA GOLD TRUST, USSR, MINING AREA 5, 58-33N 115-21E 25X1 -13- TnP Approved For Release 2Q0211D3:ZIl~ 25X1 9A000100230001-6 25X1 Approved For Release 2002/06/05 : Cl TOP SECRET IMAGERY ANALYSIS SERVICE M00010023000125X1 FIGURE 8. LENA GOLD TRUST, USSR, MINING AREA 6, 58-08N 114-24E 25X1 25X1 TOP SECRET 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2002/06/05 : CIA-RDP79T00919A000100230001-6 Approved For Release 2002/06/05 : CIA-RDP79T00919A000100230001-6 TOP SECRET IMAGERY ANALYSIS SERVICE FIGURE 9. MINING AREA 6 -15- TOP SECRET 25X1 Approved For Release 2002/06/I Approved For Release 2002/06/05 : Cl4 -Rn1279TOO91an000100230001-6__, . Ma" SITE 20, 3.31E 25X1 25X1 FIGURE 10. LENA GOLD TRUST, USSR, MINING AREA 7, 54-23N TOP SECRET Approved For Rele ase 2002/06/05 : Cl 25X1 Appro~ ed For Release 20T66U1 Approved For Release 210 U- 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For F4elease 200OP6/5ECR tap s I AC;IC. USAF Global Navigation and Planning (cart, Sheet GNC-5N, ,scale 1:5,000,000, 4th ed., 21 Novemi-r 1966 (UNCLASSIFIED). Documents !(equirement c-r6-83,548 iAS Pro,iect 31.110-6 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release "YOWRE-RDP79T00919A000100230001-6 Top'Seffel For Release 2002/06/05 : CIA-RDP79T00919A000100230001-6 Top Secret Approved For Release 2002/06/05 : CIA-RDP79T00919A000100230001-6