Mining explorations in Iran yielded discoveries of some 60 tonnes of gold reserves pegged at around $3.6 billion value, Iran's Geological Survey announced.

With the breakthrough, Iran's total proven and probable gold reserves now stand at 320 metric tons, the Tehran Times quoted Behrouz Borna, deputy director of the Geological Survey of Iran, as saying to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.

Iran holds three percent of the world's mineral reserves, putting it first in the Middle East and third in Asia, Borna added.

An official with Iran's ministry of industry, mine and trade said explorations during the first half of the current Iranian calendar year showed the country's proven and probable mineral reserves have grown by 1.65 billion metric tons and 1.4 billion metric tons, respectively, the Tehran Times reported. The explorations were reportedly supervised over 100,000 square kilometres area across Iran.

Iran, included among the world's 15 major mineral-rich countries, exports its industrial and mineral products to 159 countries, including China, India, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Iran has about 68 kinds of minerals, and that 20 other types of minerals have been identified through recent explorations, Borna said.

Iran's mineral produce include coal, metallic minerals, sand and gravel, chemical minerals and salt. It has the world's largest zinc, holds the second largest copper deposits and ranks ninth for its iron reserves.