Relevance. Since the 19th century, the Norilsk Ore district has been one of the world leaders in the production of platinum metals. Long-term research focused on the detection of sulfide platinum-copper-nickel ores contributed to the accumulation of a large volume of scientific material on the geology and ore content of the Norilsk region. Due to the emergence of new methods for ores studying, it seems necessary to analyze previously published data and assess the prospects for the joint application of traditional and modern methods in solving the problem of understanding the ore formation process. The purpose of the work – to summarize information about the geology of the Norilsk ore region and the platinum-metal mineralization associated with it, to note the main scientific achievements and identify promising areas for further research. Results. Thanks to comprehensive production and research geological works, differentiated basite-ultrabasite intrusions and ore-containing Paleozoic-Mesozoic sedimentary volcanic rocks of the Norilsk region have been studied at the highest level. The geological structures of the region and its metallogeny are also studied in detail. However, there is still no unambiguous understanding of the geodynamics of the magmatic process and, accordingly, the mechanism of formation of ore-bearing intrusions. Conclusions. In the conditions of depletion of known deposits, the decoding of the genesis of ores of the Norilsk region becomes particularly relevant. The use of modern computer X-ray microtomography in addition to geochemical and petrological studies makes it possible to analyze the three-dimensional distribution of platinum and sulfide minerals, to identify textural and structural evidence of processes that were previously questioned. The results of these studies may lead to a reassessment of established models of ore genesis, as well as an increase in the efficiency of ore processing.

The Norilsk ore district is one of the world leaders in the production of platinum metals. Long-term research focused on the detection of sulfide platinum-copper-nickel ores contributed to the accumulation of a large volume of scientific material on the geology and mineralization of the Norilsk area. Despite this, the issue of the composition of the initial melt for ore-bearing intrusive complexes and its degree of enrichment with noble metals remains open. Intrusive rocks of the Norilsk region are rarely analyzed for their ratio of noble metals. However, the analysis and comparison of geochemical parameters of different types of intrusions allows us to draw important conclusions not only about the composition of the initial magmas of ore-bearing complexes, but also about the formation conditions of the intrusions. This study demonstrates the distribution of platinum metals, gold and silver in the main petrographic differentiates of the Kharaelakh, Talnakh, Vologochan intrusions and Kruglogorsk-type intrusion. The regularities and variations of the distribution of metals depend on the host rocks. There are two series of rocks in the inner structure of the ore-bearing intrusions: 1. Picritic and taxitic gabbro-dolerites enriched in PGE-Au-Ag mineralization which forms disseminated ores at intrusion bottoms (ore-bearing rocks). 2. Olivine-, olivine-bearing, olivine-free gabbro-dolerites and leucogabbro with poor sulfide mineralization at the upper part of the intrusions (ore-free rocks). There is a distinct correlation between PGE, Cu, S and to a lesser extent correlation with Ni in the first rock group, which is a characteristic of sulfide PGE-Cu-Ni deposits. In the second group, correlations are also revealed, but the correlation coefficients are lower. The main element controlling the distribution of platinum metals is copper. The taxitic gabbro-dolerites of the Talnakh intrusion are the most enriched by noble metals. According to noble metal patterns the rocks of the Kharaelakh intrusion show the highest degree of melting of the initial mantle material during the formation of parental magmas chambers. Despite some differences, the geochemical features of the studied rocks indicate the similar characteristics of the accumulation of gold, silver and platinum metals in the intrusions of the Talnakh, Kruglogorsk and Zubovsk types, which allow suggesting the close conditions for the formation of ore mineralization of these intrusions.