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LARGE IRON OXIDE PRECIOUS METAL DEPOSITS WITH REE AND U OF THE FAR EAST AS A NEW TYPE OF IOCG DEPOSITS

A. M. Zhirnov

Institute for Complex Analysis of Regional Problems FB RAS, Birobidzhan, Russia

Two types of Proterozoic IOCG deposits in the iron ore matrix are known, varying in composition, mode of occurrence and ore structures: copper-gold-uranium deposits of the Olympic Dam type in breccia structures and niobium-rare earth stratiform deposits of the Bayan-Obo type. Data on complex ores (Fe, Au, Pt, Ag, REE, U) in large iron deposits of the Bureya massif of the Far East are analyzed. The reserves of iron ore deposits with an iron content of 35% amount to 1.4 billion tons, and resources are 2.5 billion tons. In recent years, a significant presence of precious metals has been proven in Far Eastern deposits similar to these giant ones. They are superimposed with later valuable mineralization, which is caused by the superposition of Mesozoic gold-sulfide and (locally) gold-quartz and uranium mineralization on Proterozoic iron deposits. These deposits represent a new type of IOCG deposits.

Keywords: iron ore basin, complex ores, large resources of precious metals.

DOI 10.20403/2078-0575-2025-1-111-118

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