Development of Gold Mining Industry in Yakutia in 1920s

Abstract

This study explores the history of the emergence of the gold mining sector in the mining industry of Yakutia during the early stages of the Soviet-style economy. Despite the longstanding presence of artisanal gold mining in Yakutia, the industrial development of gold in the republic was not considered until the mid1922. The establishment of the Yakut ASSR played a crucial role in shaping the real prospects for gold mining development. The management structure, including the People’s Commissariat of Trade and Industry under the republican government with industrial and mining departments, successfully coordinated activities such as organizing expeditions to survey deposits, developing work plans, recruiting personnel, and addressing supply issues in mining areas. It is concluded that through the coordinated efforts of the Yakut ASSR government, the state trust “Aldanzoloto” of local significance was established within a short period, showcasing the competence of the autonomous republic in organizing the creation of the foundations of mining production. Valuable experience accumulated over three years laid the groundwork for the seamless integration of Yakutia’s gold mining industry into the unified economic system of the USSR.