Geologists from the Kola Science Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences have found out when the Severny Kamennik deposit, one of the most promising in the world, was formed. Kola Peninsula. According to them, ore rocks were formed about 2.5 billion years ago. This discovery will help more accurately predict platinum reserves and speed up the development of Arctic deposits.
To determine the age, scientists used two modern methods: Sm-Nd and U-Pb analysis of zircons. Both methods gave the same result – ore gabbronorites were formed 2.484–2.497 billion years ago. This confirms that the main geological processes that led to the formation of platinum occurred during that period.
In addition, the researchers found traces of more recent changes – about 1.95 billion years ago. These data are associated with large-scale tectonic processes that affected the entire Fennoscandian shield, including the industrial areas of the Kola Peninsula.
The Severny Kamennik deposit, included in the State Register in 2015, can become an important source of platinum and other strategic metals. Clarifying his age will allow geologists better understand how such deposits were formed and more efficiently search for new ones.
According to forecasts, production at field could begin as early as 2027. This is especially important in the context of growing demand for rare metals and active development of the Arctic.
The study not only fills gaps in the history of the region’s geological development, but also creates the basis for new exploration models. Scientists note that the data obtained will help in the exploration of other deposits in northern Russia.
The discovery of Russian geologists is of great importance for both science and industry. It confirms the rich potential of the Arctic and opens up new opportunities for the extraction of valuable metals.
The material was prepared with the support of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science as part of the Decade of Science and Technology
Source: @dprom
Photo: cuva.ru
