Strategic minerals resources of the Republic of Buryatia: current state and development prospects
The study is aimed at determining the current state and prospects of strategic mineral resources development in the Republic of Buryatia for use in knowledge-based high-tech industries of the Russian Federation. Comprehensive geological, geophysical and forecast metallogenic studies have been carried out based on the previously conducted geological survey, prospecting, exploration, and research work. To analyze the ores’ material composition and to establish the genetic types of the strategic mineral deposits, advanced mineralogical, petrological, geochemical, and isotope geochronological methods have been used. It has been established that the geological structure of the region is determined by its position in the folded frame of the Siberian platform south. The formation of the strategic mineral deposits of various genetic types is associated with the favorable tectonic-magmatic and ore-bearing structures distinguished in the region. Of primary commercial importance are the deposits and occurrences discovered in the region: beryllium, tungsten, molybdenum, uranium, gold, lead, silver, nickel, platinum, titanium, as well as aluminum, pure quartz raw materials, cadmium, indium, thallium, scandium, strontium, barium, rare and trace metals. The Republic of Buryatia has significant reserves of strategic metals capable to meet the needs of certain high-tech industries in the country. Over 700 mineral deposits are concentrated here, of which about 600 have been inventoried in the state balance. The study has identified over 20 types of mineral raw materials as demanded strategic resources.