GEOCHEMICAL EXPLORATION POSSIBILITY FOR MINERAL DEPOSITS HIDDEN UNDER GLACIERS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS

Makarov, V. N.

Institute of Permafrost Studies of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Yakutsk, Russian Federation)

The article was received on December 14, 2025

Bibliographic description: Makarov V. N. Geochemical exploration possibility for mineral deposits hidden under glaciers in the Arctic regions. Arctic: Ecology and Economy, 2026, vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 398—408. DOI: 10.25283/2223-4594-2026-3-398-408.

Abstract:  Based on the results of geochemical studies conducted in the area of the high-mountain gold ore deposit Kumtor (Middle Tien Shan), the author concludes that it is possible to explore for ore deposits hidden under glaciers in the Arctic. The study covers both cold and warm glaciers: Petrov, Sary-Tor, Davydov, Lysy, No. 354 and Boordu, overlapping gold-tungsten-sulfide ore bodies of the Kumtor deposit. It has been established that cryogenic geochemical fields (CGF) are formed in the ice on the surface of glaciers in the epicenter of ore bodies. The structure of the CGF on glaciers of the Kumtor deposit is characterized by qualitative (chemical elements and compounds) and quantitative (concentration of elements, extent of halos) indicators, regularly distributed in the ice on the surface of glaciers. The chemical composition of the glacier CGF reflects the composition of ore bodies and endogenous halos of the Kumtor deposit. The paper characterizes the features of the CGP formed on the surface of glaciers at the epicenters of ore bodies with an established ice thickness of up to 175 m. The extent of geochemical anomalies of the CGP on the surface of glaciers from the epicenter of the ore body in the direction of ice movement varies from 50-100 to 600 m. Recommendations are given for the use of the CGP in forecasting and exploration work in the glacial regions of the Arctic.

Keywords: Arctic regions of Russia, glaciers, geochemical anomalies, material and mineral composition, ore deposits, gold, tungsten

Funding:  The research was supported by the comprehensive program of fundamental scientific research of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Project SB RAS AAAA-A20-120111690008-9).

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