Fedorovsky All-Russian Institute of Mineral Raw Materials – VIMS, Moscow, Russia:

L. Z. Bykhovskiy, Chief Researcher, Doctor of Geologo-Mineralogical Sciences, lev@vims-geo.ru

Institute of Mineralogy, Chemistry and Crystal Chemistry and Rater Earths – IMGRE, Moscow, Russia:
N. A. Arkhipova, Head of Department

Strategic rare metals (SRM) in Russia include Zr, Ta, Nb, Sc, Be, Li, Ge, Re, as well as yttrium-group rare earths (TRY). Russia is among the top largest holders of the reserves of these elements. At the same time, many deposits explored in the 1960s–80s feature low technical-and-economic indexes and are of no interest to investors. For this reason, out of SRM, an “ore base” is identified (or active resources), the core of this base are the deposits included in the State Balance Sheet and being in the distributed subsoil fund. The most substantial sources are operating Lovozero field (Nb, Ta, TR) and apatite deposits in the Khibiny (TR and Sr in apatite and Nb in sphene; Katuginskoe (Zr, Nb, Ta, TR) and Zashikhinskoe (Nb, Ta, TR) deposits currently under preparing for mining, and Tatarskoe deposit where earlier Nb was produced. Geological exploration activities embrace Buranny site at Tomtor deposit (Sc, TR, Nb). An increase in the Ta production is possible with the recommencement of mining operations at Orlovskoe deposit and commercial development of Vishnyakovskoe deposit. Potential reserves are assumed to be mining waste containing phosphogypsum (TR) and red mud (TR, Sc) where pilot production is launched. Higher production of Zr needs new Ti–Zr placers to be introduced, such a Tuganskoe, Beshpagirskoe and others. In order to satisfy the demand for Be, it is necessary to recommence mining at Ermakovskoe deposit and also to recover Be and Li from fluorite ore tailings are Yaroslavski Mining and Processing Plant. Pegmatite deposits, such as Kolmozerskoe and Goltsovoe are also promising in terms of Li. Considerable reserves of Li are associated with hydrominerals. Out of 5 lignite fields with the active reserves of Ge, only one, namely, Pavlovskoe, enjoys development. Re is the most deficient SRM – it is realistic to produce it at one of the copper–porphyry Ag-Sug deposits under preparing for mining this time; also promising sources are fumaroles gases of the Kudryavy volcano in the Iturup Island, where pilot production plant is under construction. Development and expansion of the SRM supply needs that economic geological evaluation of all sources is undertaken, including natural reserves, mining waste and State Reserves stock (monacite) in order to show expedience and sequence of mining.

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