TY - JOUR

T1 - Placer minerals of the Russian Arctic shelf

AU - Ivanova, Anastasiya M.

AU - Ushakov, Vadim I.

AU - Cherkashov, Georgy A.

AU - Smirnov, Alexander N.

PY - 1999/12/1

Y1 - 1999/12/1

N2 - Placer concentrations of tin. gold, diamonds, amber and other minerals form an important part in the mineral resource potential of the Russian Arctic shelves. These concentrations occur within the nine major zones which include 20 smaller regions differing in the type of placer minerals Of primary interest are the gold and tin placers. More than 30 gold placers have been discovered at the Bol'shevik Island (Severnaya Zemlya) and on the northern Taymyr Peninsula. Placer concentrations of tin minerals are traced from the Malyi and Bol'shoi Lyakhov Islands (New Siberian Islands) to the mainland. The Lyakhov region is unique in the scope of tin resources: 13 placers of cassiterite were reported both from onshore and offshore. The East Siberian-Chukchi bimetal zone includes the major Chaun tin-bearing region and the Val'karai region is known for a combination of tin placers in the Cape Billings area and a unique placer gold occurrence at Ryveem. Placer concentrations of titanium, iron and rare earth elements, as well as placer shows of diamonds occur around the periphery of the White and Barents Seas. The coastal areas of West and East Siberia are considered to be prospective in respect of amber placers; in some areas there are significant accumulations of fossil ivory. The Cenozoic paleoenvironments on the Arctic continental margin were on the whole quite favorable for the formation and conservation of sizable placer concentrations of valuable minerals. Long duration (since Eocene to Recent) and low sedimentation rates along with relatively stable tectonic environments multiple alternations of transgressive and regressive cycles facilitated the formation of major and unique placers with polygenetic productive horizons. VNIIOkeangeologia has developed and currently operates the data base which contains characteristics of 500 placer concentrations located in the Arctic; they are classified according to their dimension and mineralogy.

AB - Placer concentrations of tin. gold, diamonds, amber and other minerals form an important part in the mineral resource potential of the Russian Arctic shelves. These concentrations occur within the nine major zones which include 20 smaller regions differing in the type of placer minerals Of primary interest are the gold and tin placers. More than 30 gold placers have been discovered at the Bol'shevik Island (Severnaya Zemlya) and on the northern Taymyr Peninsula. Placer concentrations of tin minerals are traced from the Malyi and Bol'shoi Lyakhov Islands (New Siberian Islands) to the mainland. The Lyakhov region is unique in the scope of tin resources: 13 placers of cassiterite were reported both from onshore and offshore. The East Siberian-Chukchi bimetal zone includes the major Chaun tin-bearing region and the Val'karai region is known for a combination of tin placers in the Cape Billings area and a unique placer gold occurrence at Ryveem. Placer concentrations of titanium, iron and rare earth elements, as well as placer shows of diamonds occur around the periphery of the White and Barents Seas. The coastal areas of West and East Siberia are considered to be prospective in respect of amber placers; in some areas there are significant accumulations of fossil ivory. The Cenozoic paleoenvironments on the Arctic continental margin were on the whole quite favorable for the formation and conservation of sizable placer concentrations of valuable minerals. Long duration (since Eocene to Recent) and low sedimentation rates along with relatively stable tectonic environments multiple alternations of transgressive and regressive cycles facilitated the formation of major and unique placers with polygenetic productive horizons. VNIIOkeangeologia has developed and currently operates the data base which contains characteristics of 500 placer concentrations located in the Arctic; they are classified according to their dimension and mineralogy.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0040909213&partnerID=8YFLogxK

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:0040909213

VL - 69

SP - 163

EP - 167

JO - Polarforschung

JF - Polarforschung

SN - 0032-2490

IS - 1-3

ER -