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Glauconite Deposits in Russia: Geological Position, Formation Conditions, and Development Perspectives

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Abstract

The article is devoted to analysis of the glauconite resource base in Russia. The geotectonic and lithological-paleogeographic positions of deposits and large glauconite occurrences, and their formation conditions are considered. Based on the structural position, age, and spatial localization of deposits and occurrences, glauconite provinces are identified and the most promising areas for expanding the glauconite resource base in the Russian Federation are identified. Information on reserves in deposits, the degree of their development, and production volumes is given. An overview of the main producer countries and glauconite production volumes in the world is presented. The geological structure and quality of raw materials in the Karinsk glauconite deposit are described. In tectonic terms, the glauconite deposits and occurrences in Russia are confined to the central parts of plates and platforms, foredeeps, and orogenic belts. The majority of glauconite deposits and occurrences are found in the Upper Cretaceous and Paleogene (Late Jurassic or Early Cretaceous in some cases) rocks. Predicted glauconite resources in the Russian Federation are more than 2.5 Gt. The most promising sites include the areas of western Siberia, as well as Moscow and Kirov districts in the European part of Russia.

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Notes

  1. Categories of reserves: А—explored in detail; В—tentatively explored; С1—weakly explored; С2—tentatively estimated (cateogories A, B, and С1 correspond roughly to “proven reserves” in the American classification; category С2, to “probable reserves.”

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank I.M. Novikov (Director, LLC “Geokompleks”) and V.A. Edapin (Director LLC “Glaukonit”) for placing the geological materials at our disposal, as well as to workers at Institute of Ore Geology, Petrography, Mineralogy and Geochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences—S.V. Zakusin (X-ray phase analysis), A.I. Yakushev (X-ray fluorescence analysis), and N.D. Karelina (technical help in the manuscript preparation). We are also thankful to I.V. Vikentyev, DSc (Geol.–Miner.) (Institute of Ore Geology, Petrography, Mineralogy and Geochemistry, Moscow) and T.S. Zaitsev, PhD (Geol.–Miner.) (Institute of Precambrian Geology and Geochronology, St. Petersburg) for useful comments that were instrumental in refining this manuscript.

Funding

Analysis of the glauconite raw material base in Russia was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project no. 18-77-00015. Study of the Karinsk deposit was accomplished under the Basic Program of Institute of Ore Geology, Petrography, Mineralogy and Geochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ore Geology, Petrography, Mineralogy and Geochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119017, Moscow, Russia

    P. E. Belousov & V. V. Krupskaya

  2. Fedorovsky All-Russia Research Institute of Mineral Resources, 119017, Moscow, Russia

    N. M. Chupalenkov

  3. Tomsk Polytechnic University, 634050, Tomsk, Russia

    M. A. Rudmin

  4. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119899, Moscow, Russia

    V. V. Krupskaya

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  1. P. E. Belousov
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  2. N. M. Chupalenkov
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  4. V. V. Krupskaya
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Correspondence to P. E. Belousov.

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Translated by D. Sakya

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Belousov, P.E., Chupalenkov, N.M., Rudmin, M.A. et al. Glauconite Deposits in Russia: Geological Position, Formation Conditions, and Development Perspectives. Lithol Miner Resour 57, 234–247 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1134/S002449022202002X

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