Mineral resources and development in the Russian Arctic

Abstract

The paper concerns issues of geology and metallogeny of the Russian Arctic, namely, (i) limits of the Russian oceanic Arctic in the context of the continental origin of territories under jurisdictional dispute; (ii) geology and tectonic history of the region; (iii) distribution of mineral deposits; (iv) outlook for diamond, PGE, Ni, rare metals, gold, and bauxite resources development. Advanced diamond exploration and development can be expected proceeding from geology of new potentially diamondiferous areas, the Phanerozoic history and composition of lithospheric mantle beneath the Siberian craton which were controlled by the Siberian superplume at the Permian–Triassic boundary, and from new exploration approaches adapted to the prospecting conditions of Arctic Siberia. According to the available knowledge of Ni and PGE mineralization in the Noril’sk region, it is reasonable to develop depleted ores and tailings (mining dumps at the Noril’sk and Talnakh deposits). However, the key solution consists in new large discoveries within the Dzheltula and Kharaelakh volcanic and plutonic complexes. Gold production enhancement may be associated with black shale-hosted Au-As mineralization in the northeastern Russian Arctic, but the problem is in the lack of efficient and environmentally safe dressing technologies for these ores. Most of rare metals in the area (Nb, Sc, Y, and other elements) are stored in the giant Tomtor field, which has a complex structure and history. A special technology designed for the Tomtor ores ensures more than 60% extraction of ore components. Good prospects for the bauxite potential are expected from the Timan district where bauxite may occur in Vendian and Early Carboniferous formations. It is suggested to include the development of the Russian Arctic as a priority target in the national economic strategy.

Main minerals of abnormally high-grade ores of the Tomtor deposit (Arctic Siberia)

“…The ores have high Y 2 O 3 (on average, 0.75%) and Sc 2 O 3 (on average, 0.06; maximum value, 0.1-0.3%) contents (Lapin, 2011;Tolstov, 2006). The highest-grade ores of the Tomtor deposit (Burannyi site) are acknowledged as a natural Nb and Russian Geology and Geophysics 56 (2015) 844-873 REE concentrate (Dobretsov and Pokhilenko, 2010;Epshtein et al, 1994;Tolstov et al, 2011). The genesis of such high-grade ores was discussed before, but it remains a disputable issue of great interest because of the high economic significance of these ores in the contemporary world.…”

“…The Tomtor deposit is related to the Tomtor massif, which is located east of the Anabar Shield, in the northern Siberian Platform. It is a concentric ring intrusion and one of the world's largest carbonatite massif both in total area (~250 km 2 ) and in the size of the core (40 km 2 ) (Bagdasarov, 1997(Bagdasarov, , 2009Dobretsov and Pokhilenko, 2010;Egorov et al, 1985;Epshtein et al, 1994;Erlikh, 2004;Kravchenko and Pokrovsky, 1995;Kravchenko et al, 1992;Parfenov and Kuz'min, 2001;Stepanov, 1980, 1981;Tolstov, 2006;Tolstov and Tyan, 1999;Vladykin, 2009;Vladykin and Torbeeva, 2005;Vladykin et al, 2014). The Tomtor massif lies in the axis of the Udzha uplift, which is 30 km wide and stretches for 200 km from north to south (Parfenov and Kuz'min, 2001).…”

Drilling for the future: Gendered justifications of the Arctic fossil fuel industry

“…Other large oil and gas projects have likewise shifted towards the Russian Arctic. The region holds the most known reservoirs of oil and gas in Russia (Dobretsov & Pokhilenko, 2010). While Norway operates only offshore, Russian projects are based largely onshore.…”

Microbial Processes in Ore-Bearing Laterite at the Tomtor Nb-REE Deposit: Evidence from Carbon Isotope Composition in Carbonates

“…They often occur in carbonatite deposits among which laterite profiles of weathered carbonatites are most attractive commercial targets. A unique Nb-REE deposit is located within the Tomtor complex of ultramafic alkaline and carbonatite rocks in the northern Sakha Republic (Yakutia) (Kravchenko and Pokrovsky 1995;Dobretsov and Pokhilenko 2010;Lazareva et al 2015). Ores reside in three layers (Severny, Yuzhny, and Buranny sites) which fill depressions in subsided profiles of weathered carbonatites.…”