For the past 30 years after the collapse of the USSR, Russia has been developing its gold mining industry. During this time, the country produced more than 6 thousand tons (194 million ounces) of gold or about 10% of the annual world production (about 3400 tons in 2020).

During this period, the Russian gold mining industry experienced its ups and downs, and by 2020 total production doubled compared to 1991. At the same time, by 2020 the world production increased by 1.5 times.

Over the years, the gold mining industry in Russia has completely changed both its image and its internal structure. If we exclude the secondary extraction of gold, then according to the Union of Prospectors, alluvial gold mining in 1991 contributed 79.2% – of 143.1 tons of Russian production, and in 2020 its share decreed to 24% (from 331 , 1 ton).

Interestingly, in absolute terms, the decline in alluvial production over this period occurred in waves, and in 2020 it was 30% (from 113.4 to 79.5 tons). But there is no need to talk about the cessation of mining from placers as a whole. However, over 30 years, gold production from primary deposits in Russia (including associated production) has grown 8.5 times from 29.7 tons to 251.6 tons.