Pickaxe Mountain, Location, Geology, Construction, Importance

Pickaxe Mountain, an underground facility linked to Iran’s nuclear programme, has gained global attention after US President Donald Trump threatened possible military strikes on the site, alleging that it could play a role in Iran’s future nuclear activities.

About Pickaxe Mountain

Pickaxe Mountain, also known as Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, is an underground facility located near Iran’s Natanz nuclear complex.

• It is located around 220 km south of Tehran and around 1.5-2 km from the Natanz nuclear facility.
• The mountain rises to around 1,600 metres above sea level.
• The facility is believed to be constructed at least 100 metres below the mountain surface.
• It is linked to Iran’s nuclear programme, particularly its efforts related to advanced centrifuge infrastructure.
• It is not confirmed to be operational, and there is no publicly verified evidence of active nuclear activity at the site. However, its location, design and purpose have raised international concerns regarding its possible future use.

Pickaxe Mountain Geographical and Geological Features

The geographical setting of Pickaxe Mountain provides it with significant natural protection.

• The mountain lies within the Karkas Mountain Range of central Iran, a volcanic mountain system.
• The range extends for over 100 km between Kashan and Ardestan across an arid plateau.
• It was formed through ancient tectonic and volcanic processes, resulting in a rugged mountainous landscape.
• The mountain is composed largely of hard volcanic rocks, making underground construction and military penetration more difficult.

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Why is it called “Pickaxe Mountain” and Iran’s “Natural Fortress”?

Pickaxe Mountain is the English name used for Iran’s underground facility known locally as Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La (Kolang Kouh). The name refers to the mountain where the underground complex is being constructed.

It is described as Iran’s “natural fortress” because its geological features and underground design provide exceptional protection.

• Thick layers of hard volcanic rock make the facility highly resistant to conventional military strikes.
• Faults, fractures and variations in rock density can disperse shock waves, making underground targeting and blast assessment difficult.
• The deep underground location provides natural protection against aerial attacks.
• The combination of natural geological barriers and engineered underground tunnels provides Iran with a significant strategic advantage.

Pickaxe Mountain Background and Current Status 

Construction of Pickaxe Mountain began in 2020 after an explosion damaged Iran’s above-ground advanced centrifuge assembly facility at Natanz. Iran stated that the new underground complex was intended to replace the damaged centrifuge assembly facility and provide a more secure location for nuclear-related activities.

The development reflects Iran’s broader approach of shifting sensitive nuclear infrastructure to protected underground locations to reduce vulnerability to possible external attacks.

• Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is peaceful and intended for civilian purposes.
• Tehran has stated that its nuclear activities are declared to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) under safeguards obligations.
• However, the IAEA has not been granted access to Pickaxe Mountain, limiting independent verification of activities at the site.
• The agency has also faced challenges in independently assessing Iran’s centrifuge production capabilities in recent years.