CLUSTERS OF MINERAL DEPOSITS OF THE SOUTHERN EAST SIBERIA AND PROSPECTS FOR THEIR DEVELOPMENT: AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROBLEM

This study aims to identify the groups of closely spaced mineral deposits located in the Southern East Siberia and to describe these clusters. The mineral resource base of this region includes the deposits of lead, zinc, tungsten, tin, molybdenum, uranium, copper, gold, lithium, tantalum, niobium, silver, fluorite, zirconium, rare-earth metals, iron, mica, precious and semi-precious stones, oil, gas, and coal. Many of these deposits contain a significant part of the explored mineral reserves of Russia. The deposits are located in the tectonic structures of the Siberian platform (Tunguska syncline, Nepa arch, Cheremkhovo and Priangarie depressions), as well as in the fold belts framing the platform from the south and southeast (Baikal-Patom, Dzhida-Vitim, etc.). These structures and belts formed under the influence of plate tectonic and plume tectonic processes. This article describes the clusters of mineral deposits of the Angara, Sayan, Baikal and Transbaikalia regions. Currently, the most developed are the clusters located in the southern part of the study area (Shilka, Argun, Yeravnino, etc.). In the northern part (Mama-Bodaibo, etc.), the clusters have been either partially developed within the existing mining areas or are at the initial stage of development. In these territories, the road infrastructure, power supply and other facilities required for mining industry are either underdeveloped or lacking. Prospects for the regional development are related to the economic development of the territories adjacent to the Baikal-Amur railroad (BAM) and hydrocarbons production in the zone near the East Siberia – Far East oil pipeline. On the Siberian platform, mineral deposits formed during the stages of formation of its basement (Aldan, Anabar, and Sharyzhalgai shields) and platform cover (Tunguska syncline, and Nepa-Botuoba anticline). Within the fold frame, ore formation was associated with subduction, spreading, collision, and plume tectonic intraplate settings. To start the development of small-size deposits and mining of technogenic raw materials, it is advisable to establish exploration and production enterprises that can operate and manage expeditions and use compact ore-dressing plants.

1. Belichenko V.G., Sklyarov E.V., Dobretsov N.L., Tomurtogo O., 1994. Geodynamic Map of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. Eastern segment. Russian Geology and Geophysics 35 (7–8), 29–41 (in Russian)

2. Chechetkin V.S., Kharitonov Yu.F., Chaban Yu.F., 2011. Mineral Resources of the Transbaikalia Territory. Prospects for Exploration and Development. Mining Journal 3, 18–23 (in Russian)

3. Chechetkin V.S., Trubachev A.I., 2013. Mineral Resources of the Transbaikalia Territory. Transbaikalia State University, Chita, 231 p. (in Russian)

4. Dobretsov N.L., Kirdyashkin A.G., Kirdyashkin A.A., 2001. Deep Geodynamics. GEO, Novosibirsk, 409 p. (in Russian)

5. General Information on the Mineral Resources of the Republic of Buryatia, 2015 (in Russian) Available from: https://gordburyatia.ru/priroda/24-obschaya-informaciya-o-mineralno-syrevyh-resursahrespubliki-buryatiya.html (Last Accessed 01.03.21).

6. Gordienko I.V., 2014. Metallogeny of Various Geodynamic Settings of the Mongolia-Transbaikalia Region. Geology of Mineral Resources of Siberia S3-1, 7–13 (in Russian)

7. Gordienko I.V., Gorokhovsky D.V., Lantseva V.S., Badmatsirenova R.A., 2017. Dzhida Ore Region: Structure, Metallogeny, Geodynamics, and Development Prospects. Bulletin of the Siberian Branch of the Earth Sciences Section of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences. Geology, Exploration and Development of Mineral Deposits 40 (1), 9–31 (in Russian)

8. Gordienko I.V., Nefediev M.A., Platov V.S., 2013. Structure, Mineral Types of Ore Deposits and Development Prospects of the Eravna Ore Region of Transbaikalia. Bulletin of the Siberian Branch of the Earth Sciences Section of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences 1 (42), 7–21 (in Russian)

9. Konstantinov M.M. (Ed.), 2010. Gold Deposits of Russia. Akvarel, Moscow, 365 p. (in Russian)

10. Korol’kov A.T., 2007. Geodynamics of Gold Ore Regions of the Southern East Siberia. ISU Publishing House, Irkutsk, 251 p. (in Russian)

11. Laverov N.P. (Ed.), 1995. Deposits of Transbaikalia. Geoinformmark, 244 p. (in Russian)

12. Mineral Resource Base of the Irkutsk Region, 2010 (in Russian) Available from: https://www.vnedra.ru/o-regionah/mineralno-syrevaya-baza-irkutskoj-o-75/ (Last Accessed 05.03.21).

13. Mineral Resource Complex of Transbaikalia: Today and, Probably, Tomorrow, 2008 (in Russian) Available from: https://studwood.ru/1282634/geografiya/mineralno_syrevoy_kompleks_zabaykalya_vozmozhno_zavtra (Last Accessed 09.03.21).

14. Nokleberg W.J. (Ed.), 2010. Metallogenesis and Tectonics of Northeast Asia. USGS Professional Paper 1765. U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, 624 p.

15. Obolensky A.A., Kuzmin M.I., Rodionov S.M., Nokleberg U.J., Berzin N.A., Distanov E.G., Sotnikov V.I., Seminsky Zh.V. et al., 2006. Terrain Metallogeny of Central and North-East Asia (International Project Results). In: Top Problems of Ore Formation and Metallogeny. Abstracts of Reports of the International Meeting Dedicated to the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Academician V.А. Kuznetsov (April 10–12, 2006). GEO, Novosibirsk, 168–169 (in Russian)

16. Parfenov L.M. (Ed.), 1994. Geodynamic Map of Yakutia and Adjacent Territories, Scale of 1:1 500 000. Main Office of Geodesy and Cartography, Yakutsk, 12 p. (in Russian)

17. Parfenov L.M., Berzin N.A., Khanchuk A.I., Badarch G., Belichenko V.G., Bulgatov A.N., Dril S.I., Kirillova G.L. et al., 2003. Model of the Formation of Orogenic Belts in Central and North-East Asia. Pacific Geology 22 (6), 7–41 (in Russian)

18. Parfenov L.V., Bulgatov A.N., Gordienko I.V., 1995. Terranes and Accretionary History of the Transbaical Orogenic Belts. International Geology Review 37 (8), 736–751. https://doi.org/10.1080/00206819509465425.

19. Parfenov L.M., Kuzmin M.I. (Eds), 2001. Tectonics, Geodynamics and Metallogeny of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). MAIK Nauka/Interperiodica, Moscow, 571 p. (in Russian)

20. Plushchev E.V. (Ed.), 2001. Ore Nodes of Russia. VSEGEI Publishing House, Saint Petersburg, 416 p. (in Russian)

21. Samovich D.A., Tsaruk I.I., Kokarev A.A. et al., 2012. Mineral Resource Base of Uranium in East Siberia. Glazkovo Printing House, Irkutsk, 164 p. (in Russian)

22. Seminsky Zh.V., 2004. Metallogenic Zoning Based on Plum Tectonics and Deep-Seated Structure of the Earth Crust, Exemplified by Trans-Baikal Area. In: A.I. Khanchuk, G.A. Gonevchuk, A.N. Mitrokhin, L.F. Simanenko, N.J. Cook, R. Seltmann (Eds), Metallogeny of the Pacific Northwest (Russian Far East): Tectonics, Magmatism and Metallogeny of Active Continental Margins. Proceedings of the Interim IAGOD Conference (September 1–20, 2004). Dal’nauka, Vladivostok, p. 152–153.

23. Seminsky Zh.V., 2006. Metallogenic Belts of the Southern East Siberia. Bulletin of the Siberian Branch of the Earth Sciences Section of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences. Geology, Prospecting and Exploration of Ore Deposits 3 (29), 5–15 (in Russian)

24. Seminsky Zh.V., 2015. Endogenous Ore Systems of the Southern East Siberia in the Inversion Layer of the Earth’s Crust. Bulletin of the Siberian Branch of the Earth Sciences Section of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences. Geology, Exploration and Development of Mineral Deposits 2 (51), 5–18 (in Russian)

25. Seminsky Zh.V., 2017. Ore Belts of the Baikal-Transbaikalia Region. Bulletin of the Siberian Branch of the Earth Sciences Section of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences. Geology, Exploration and Development of Mineral Deposits 40 (3), 20–34 (in Russian)