Cherkasov rundqvist

INFRASTRUCTURE
CORRIDORS IN RUSSIA PROS AND CONS:
A MINERAL RESOURCES
APPROACH
DMITRI V. RUNDQVIST, SERGEI V. CHERKASOV
Ver nadsky State Geological Museum, RAS (Moscow)
Russian-Fr ench Metallogenic Labor ator y


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.


USE OF ELEMENTS BY HUMAN BEINGS

XVIII
XIX
Antiquity
By
bycentury
1939
1975
century

1915



Granite open pit in Kuznechny, near St. Petersburg



Deserted open pit in Murmansk Region



Lebedinsky open pit (Kursk magnetic anomaly)


RUSSIA
TODAY
LAND
POPULATION
FORESTS
FRESH WATER
TOTAL AREA OF SHELF
MINERAL RESOURCES

12.5%
3%
22%
20%
30%
16%

Geological knowledge about Russia


Map of mineral deposits


For the most important mineral resources, Russia’s
share of world resources and reserves is greater than
its relative share of the production and consumption of
the same commodities
50

30
Resources

20

Reserves
Production

10

Consumption

C

op

pe

r

um

U

ra

ni

d
ol
G

er

il
O

l
oa

ilv
S

m
ia
D

C

on

as

ds

0
G

Percents

40


The only exception is the intensive production
of platinum group metals and, to some extent,
nickel
50

Percents

40

30

Resources
Reserves

Production

20

Consumption

10

0
Platinum

Palladium

Nickel


Norilsk on a frost day


The same place in summer,
and…
…40 years ago.

Norilsk


Norilsk


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.
Oil - 57,3%
Gas – 32%
Coal – 12%
Iron ore –14,9%
Copper –85%
Nickel – 91%
Zinc –59%
Lead –9,1%
Tungsten – 96%

At the expense of pre-existing
stockpiles, exports reached:

uranium - 416,6% of
production (as of 1996)
molybdenum – 356,2%

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


DISTRIBUTION OF RUSSIAN MINERAL RESOURCES
BY FEDERAL DISTRICT

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

260-300

220-260

140-300
220-260

Ñòàâðî ï î ëü

8000-7000
4000-3000
1300-900
500-200
200-100
(BILLIONS USD)
<100

Áèðî áèäæàí

Âëàäèâî ñòî ê


Drilling site in Siberia during snowstorm

During the last 40-45 years
we have utilized
85% of oil
50% of coal
50% 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.