KARATAU

Kazak Qaratau mountain range, a northwestern spur of the Tien Shan, in southern Kazakstan. The name is Turkic, meaning black mountain. The range extends for 260 miles (420 km) along the Syr Darya (river) and rises to 7,139 feet (2,176 m), with an average elevation of 3,3005,000 feet (1,0001,525 m). The summits are smooth, and small snow-fed streams flow down the steep slopes in spring. On the eastern slopes rich deposits of phosphorites are mined in the Karatau at Zhangatas and, since 1979, at Kokdzhon; the ores are processed at Shymkent, Zhambyl, and (since 1979) at Novo-Zhambyl. Lead and zinc are mined and processed at Achisay and Kentau.