INFRASTRUCTURE CORRIDORS IN RUSSIA - PROS AND CONS: A MINERAL RESOURCESAPPROACH

DMITRI V. RUNDQVIST, SERGEI V. CHERKASOVVernadsky State Geological Museum, RAS (Moscow)Russian-French Metallogenic Laboratory

1.History and current situation in Russia (in terms of developing and distribution of mineral resources).

2.Re-evaluation of mineral potential.

3.From current situation to the future – challenges and solutions.

AntiquityXVIII centuryXIX centuryBy 1915by 1939by 1975

USE OF ELEMENTS BY HUMAN BEINGS

Granite open pit in Kuznechny, near St. Petersburg

Deserted open pit in Murmansk Region

Lebedinsky open pit (Kursk magnetic anomaly)

RUSSIATODAY

LAND 12.5%POPULATION 3%FORESTS 22%FRESH WATER 20%TOTAL AREA OF SHELF 30%MINERAL RESOURCES 16%

Geological knowledge about Russia

Map of mineral deposits

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Resources

Reserves

Production

Consumption

For the most important mineral resources, Russia’s share of For the most important mineral resources, Russia’s share of world resources and reserves is greater than its relative world resources and reserves is greater than its relative share of the production and consumption of the same share of the production and consumption of the same commoditiescommodities

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Platinum Palladium Nickel

Resources

Reserves

Production

Consumption

The only exception is the The only exception is the intensiveintensive production of production of platinum group metals and, to some extent, nickelplatinum group metals and, to some extent, nickel

Norilsk on a frost day

Norilsk

The same place in summer,and…

…40 years ago.

Norilsk

Oil - 57,3%

Gas – 32%

Coal – 12%

Iron ore –14,9%

Copper –85%

Nickel – 91%

Zinc –59%

Lead –9,1%

Tungsten – 96%

Besides the decrease in exploration during the last 10 years, we have also had shrinkage of the domestic market. The mining, oil and gas industries have became export-oriented. The share of exports in total production is shown here for 1999.

As a result, per capita resource consumption, As a result, per capita resource consumption, including energy resources, is now only 1/3 to 1/2 including energy resources, is now only 1/3 to 1/2 its level in developed countries.its level in developed countries.

uranium - 416,6% of uranium - 416,6% of production (as of 1996)production (as of 1996)

molmolyybdenum – 356,2%bdenum – 356,2%

At the expense of At the expense of pre-existing pre-existing stockstockpilespiles, export, exportss reached: reached:

DISTRIBUTION OF RUSSIAN MINERAL RESOURCESBY FEDERAL DISTRICT

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220-260

260-300

140-300

220-260

((BILLIONS USDBILLIONS USD))

8000-7000

4000-30004000-3000

1300-9001300-900

500-200500-200

200-100200-100

<100<100

DISTRIBUTION OF MINERAL RESOURCES IN BILLIONS OF USD AND NUMBER OF DAYS WITH LOW (below 0oC) TEMPERATURE

Drilling site in Siberia during snowstorm

During the last 40-45 years we have utilized

85% of oil50% of coal50% of iron

produced throughout human history

Consumption of metals increased 3- to 5-fold in that period, compared with the previous 35 - 40 years

Russia is rich with energy resources (32% of gas; 12--13% of oil; and 12% of coal – world explored reserves);precious metals (platinum - 40%, palladium - 90%);RE and REE (niobium - about 35%, tantalum - about 80%, yttrium - 50%, lithium - 28%, beryllium - 15%, and zirconium, 12%);metals for metallurgy (Ni – 36%, Fe – 27%, Sn – 27%, Co – 20%, Zn – 16%, Pb – 12%.); agrochemical ores (potassium salts – Russia heads the list, apatite and phosphorite – Russia is second in the World).Russia has the largest diamond resources in the world and ranks third in gold.

REASONS TO RE-EVALUATE MINERAL POTENTIAL

GROWING DEMAND, CHANGING THE STRUCTURE OF DEMAND;

DISCOVERIES OF NEW TYPES OF MINERAL DEPOSITS;

NEW TECHNOLOGIES OF EXTRACTION;

DIFFERENCE IN METHODOLOGY OF EVALUATION IN SOVIET UNION, RUSSIA, AND WESTERN WORLD.

Mineral wealth of Russia. Eds.: B. Mikhailov, O. Petrov, S. Kimelman. SPb., VSEGEI, 2007, 550 p.

Mineral resources of Russian Arctic. Ed. D. Dodin. SPb., NAUKA, 2007, 767 p.

Large and Superlarge Mineral Deposits. Vol. 1. D. Rundqvist, A. Tkachev, S. Cherkasov, et al. Ed. D. Rundqvist. Moscow, IGEM RAS, 2006, 390 p.

D. Rundqvist, S. Cherkasov, A. Tkachev, et al. Moscow, RFML, 2006.

GENERAL RESULTS OF RAS PROGRAM ON LARGE AND SUPERLARGE MINERAL DEPOSITS

AuAgCuMo

Au, Cu, Zn

Au, Ag, Sn, U

AuUCuPGE

Au, PGE,Ti, diam.

diam.Au, PGE,V

Au, PGE,Cu, Zn, Mo

Au, Ti,Zr, Li Cu, Ni, PGE

GENERAL RESULTS OF RAS PROGRAM ON LARGE AND SUPERLARGE MINERAL DEPOSITS

AuAgCuMo

Au, Cu, Zn

Au, Ag, Sn, U

AuUCuPGE

Au, PGE,Ti, diam.

diam.

Au, PGE,V

Au, PGE,Cu, Zn, Mo

Au, Ti,Zr, Li

Cu, Ni, PGE

INFRASTRUCTURE CORRIDORSIN RUSSIA

Trans-Siberian railway9288.2 km (Moscow-Vladivostok)

Railway “Industrial Urals – Polar Urals”Above 1000 km About 2,4 bln. dollarsplus 3.5 bln. dollars –energy infrastructure

INFRASTRUCTURE CORRIDORSIN RUSSIA

Sakha (Yakutia) Republic

Sakha (Yakutia) Republicpopulation 0.95 mln0.28 mln. – Yakutsk10 towns, 55 villages

Germanypopulation 82.5 mln.

Francepopulation 60 mln.

Verkhoyanye Ridge

Buildings on pilesDiamond mining – southern

Sakha (Yakutia)

INFRASTRUCTURE CORRIDORSIN RUSSIA

YANA-KOLYMA GOLD BEARING (GREEN) AND VERKHOYANYE SILVER BEARING (RED) PROVINCES

Germany

SUMMARY transportation infrastructure is the key

to Russian mineral resources

to develop new territories, we have to think of social and demographic problems, and to solve them using global common sense new geological prospecting, mining,

and refining technologies open up new resources

THANKS

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