A NEW TYPE OF GOLD-PLATINUM-COPPER MINERALIZATION IN NORTHERN TRANSBAIKALIA

Abstract

The northern Transbaikal region situated at the southwestern margin of the Aldan Shield incorporates a unique ore district. Giant ore deposits, such as Udokan (copper, silver), Chinei (iron, titanium, vanadium, copper, and noble metals), and Katun (rare metal and rare earth elements), are located 30–100 km south of the Novaya Chara station along the Baikal Amur Mainline. Despite unfavorable natural mining–geological and technological features of the Udokan copper deposit, its exploitation in the nearest future is inevitable. Therefore, solution to problems related to enhancement of the efficiency of raw mineral mining in the deposit and ore district has become a crucial issue. This district is characterized by juxtaposition of two large deposits (Udokan and Chinei).