PROSPECTS FOR IDENTIFYING STRATEGIC METALS DEPOSITS IN THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC

Mineral deposits are important in the economy of the Russian Arctic. In addition to the petroleum and gas, the resources of PGE minerals and gold, nickel and titanium are more than 10% of global significance. Meanwhile, the most arctic territory is out of availability of detailed geological and geophysical data due to severe climatic situation. The spatial relations of ore deposits and ore-bearing sequences of different geodynamic settings at Russia territory show that the geological sequences of three basic types of geodynamic environment contain an overwhelming number (over 70%) deposits: archaean-proterozoic basement, passive continental margin, volcanic arcs of active margins. There are two groups of ore types. The first are the types (i.e. BIF) are specific to definite sedimentary or igneous rocks, the second (i.e. gold veins etc.) are due to superimposed geotectonic processes. The complex metallogeny may be found in the subductional and accretional terrains, where the blocks of different geodynamic formation are combined. In these areas ores, previously deposited, might been transformed under the later processes until the regeneration and development of new type ores. The convergence of passive margins also might had caused the changes of geodynamic environments and led to form the vertical and lateral facies with metallogenic features combined. In Arctic regions, despite the similar ratio formation areas, the relative number of discovered and evaluated ore deposits is low in areas of active margin, including volcanic arcs and collision. This is especially true for deposits of lead and zinc, ferrous and rare metals. The significant lack of gold deposits is evident. In the areas of passive margin facies the most hidden deposits are of rare and ferrous metals, as well as lead, zinc and gold.

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