TPU scientists theory update searching methods for iron, zinc and lead

TOMSK, Dec 13 – RIA Tomsk. A group of researchers of Tomsk Polytechnic Institute (TPU) and Indian Institute of Technology (Bombay) developed a theory of the world's largest West Siberian iron ore basin origin, including Bakcharskoye iron ore deposit; theory confirmation can simplify the search for iron, lead and zinc deposits, the press service of TPU reported on Thursday.

According to the university, about 95 million years ago there was a shallow warm sea on the site of the world's largest West Siberian iron ore basin. According to the common theory, iron entered it from regions of ancient continents eroded by rivers. TPU scientists with colleagues from the Indian Institute of Technology put forward their theory: the source of iron is under the deposit itself - under the bottom of the ancient sea.

With reference to the associate professor of TPU Division for Geology Maxim Rudmin it is specified that scientists discovered mineral forms of metals in ore samples which accompany the process of iron accumulation - lead and zinc sulfides (galena and wurtzite), lead selenide (claustalite), cobalt and nickel arsenide (skutterudite) and other. They no doubt fell into the rock from the underlying layers, and were not brought from outside.

"If further research of the West Siberian Iron ore basin confirms the theory of polytechnicians, this will allow to take a fresh look at the methods of searching not only for similar iron deposits, but also genetically related minerals. These include significant for industry deposits, for example, lead and zinc", – is said in the statement.

It is added that the research of polytechnicians is supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research. Article of the Russian-Indian team of researchers on alternative theory was published in the Marine and Petroleum Geology journal. According to scientists, alternative theory could open up new opportunities in the development of the Bakcharskoye field.

Earlier it was reported that Bakcharskoye iron ore manifestation with an area of about 16 thousand square kilometers was discovered more than 60 years ago. The Federal Agency for Mineral Resources allocated 200 million rubles for its study in order to put reserves on the state balance and turn the manifestation into a field. Authorities stated that a complex for the extraction of iron, zirconium and marl could be created in the area of manifestation.