About the book: 1937 / The author talks about his expeditions to Soviet Central Asia, mainly to Tajikistan. A fascinating story unfolds before the reader about the search for rare and precious ores for socialist industry, about the development of rare deposits of radium ore, Glauber's salt, sulfur, lead, antimony and a number of other elements. Along the way, vivid images of people are given who, in search of the most valuable minerals, heroically pave the way into the bowels of the earth in distant deserts. The book awakens the interest of young readers in the exploration of rare metals and, based on the latest scientific data, illuminates the origin, location and development of underground wealth owned by the Soviet Union.