Interview with former boss subdepartment of geology and non-ferrous metallurgy of the State Planning Committee of the Armenian SSR by Boris Gevorkyan.
- Mr. Gevorkyan, it is generally accepted that Armenia is poor in mineral resources. Is this opinion justified?- IN Soviet years A powerful mining and industrial complex operated in Armenia, which played a serious role in the economy of the USSR. Geologists of Armenia have created a significant mineral resource base republics. The annual volume of output at the Alaverdi Mining and Metallurgical Combine alone amounted to 90–95 million rubles. In this case, 170,000 tons of sulfuric acid, 40,000 tons of copper sulfate, 40,000 tons of blister copper, 10,000 tons of copper cathode were obtained. Suffice it to say that 25% of the molybdenum concentrate produced in the USSR came from Armenia. In general, in the non-ferrous metallurgy industry, we occupied one of the leading places among the republics of the USSR. For the exploration of mineral resources in Armenia, 40 million rubles were allocated annually, which were distributed among six geological organizations of the republic. Numerous deposits of non-ferrous metals, non-metallic raw materials, fresh and mineral waters, quartz-gem raw materials, the terms of supply of reserves of these deposits have been increased. The reserves of the Kajaran copper-molybdenum deposit are designed for 150 years. The reserves of many minerals in Armenia allow long-term exploitation.
- Can we consider that the natural reserves of Armenia have been fully explored?- Some deposits and their reserves have not been fully explored. So far, many years of searching for such important raw materials as manganese, mercury, titanium, rare and scattered chemical elements, coal, oil, gas. This is explained both by organizational shortcomings and poor technical equipment of the few geological organizations, as well as by the not entirely justified choice of directions and search methods.
- Still, what kind of wealth does the subsoil of Armenia have?- For 2009 on the balance sheet of minerals there were 6 actual gold ore deposits, 6 gold-polymetallic, 9 gold-bearing complex deposits, including copper-molybdenum, copper ore, lead-zinc. These deposits contain rare and trace elements - cadmium, bismuth, rhenium, selenium, tellurium, gallium, indium, germanium, thallium. At the same time, during ore processing, 67–68% of rhenium, 0.7–4.2% of selenium, 2.5% of rhenium, etc. are transferred into molybdenum concentrate. Up to 68% of tellurium, up to 80% of bismuth and up to 97% of germanium go into the tails. The Remet project developed by Armniprotsvetmet for organizing the production of rare metal products in Armenia remained unclaimed, which leads to huge losses of expensive rare and trace elements.
The Nagin company holds licenses to develop mines in Hrazdan, Abovyan and Svarants. How rich are these deposits in iron ore? - The Hrazdan deposit was explored back in the late 60s. Its on-balance reserves amounted to 50.8 million tons, and off-balance reserves - 23.1 million tons with an average iron content of 32%. At the Yerevan Research Institute of Mining Metallurgy, during the enrichment of ores from the Hrazdan deposit, excellent results were obtained - a concentrate containing up to more than 68% iron. Research was carried out jointly with Russian scientists to develop a technology for obtaining iron from ore concentrates of the Hrazdan deposit. 5 tons of sponge iron were obtained, which in its own way chemical composition It was distinguished by high purity and was at the level of the best grades of electrolytic iron. In this regard, in 1976 A pilot industrial enterprise with a design capacity of 8 thousand tons of pure iron per year was created in Armenia. In the future, it was planned to create a plant with a production volume of up to 100 thousand tons of pure iron and 25 thousand tons of special steels and alloys per year. However, this pilot industrial enterprise could not be supplied with process gas, and it was transferred to the production of products not related to the use of iron ore.
The reserves of the Abovyanskoye deposit have also been explored and amount to 243.8 million tons. But the Abovyanskoye deposit was not involved in development due to the large volume of stripping work. The reserves of the Svarantskoye deposit are estimated at 800 million tons with an average iron content of up to 23%. This ore is amenable to magnetic enrichment, and the tailings can serve as raw material for the production of ceramic-metal products and the production of magnesium oxide. The ores of the Svarantskoe deposit contain significant amount titanium, vanadium and magnesium, therefore, when organizing their extraction, the value of this deposit increases significantly. Vanadium is used in alloying cast iron and steel, increasing their hardness, elasticity and tensile strength.
- Was it worth giving these deposits to Chinese companies?- Although Chinese entrepreneurs assure that the development of deposits will be carried out strictly in accordance with the standards environmental safety, I think the Hrazdan field should not have been transferred to them for development.
- Why exactly Hrazdan and not Abovyan? After all, the Abovyan deposit is 5 times richer?- The overburden from the Hrazdan deposit can be used in the construction of the Vanadzor – Fioletovo railway. And what is also very important, the construction of a mine near the center of Hrazdan will further worsen the ecology of the city. I think Chinese companies should have been offered to explore the Svarantskoye deposit, where there are more reserves of iron containing titanium, vanadium, magnesium, and this significantly reduces the cost of exploration, and the overburden of the Svarantskoye deposit can be used in the construction of the projected railway Armenia – Iran.
- Are other ore deposits known?- In total, about 16 occurrences of iron ore have been identified in Armenia. Of these, the Haghartsin and Ijevan manifestations deserve attention.
- It is known that Armenia is very rich nonmetallic raw materials. How effectively are these resources used?- There are 40 types of non-metallic raw materials in Armenia. A significant portion of these fossils are Construction Materials– tuff, basalt, carbonate rocks and facing materials, felsite, marble, volcanic slag, perlites, etc. At effective use nonmetallic resources, Armenia can not only replace a significant part of imported raw materials with local ones, but also export dolomite, zeolite, bentonite, diatomite, obsidian, mineral paints, marble onyx, etc. During the Soviet years, the Ijevan bentonite plant supplied the oil industry with its products. Bentonites were used during drilling operations, as well as in ferrous metallurgy, the oil refining industry, and foundries. But these resources are used minimally. It would be worth studying the experience developed countries, for example, the USA, where more than 80% of non-metallic raw materials, in particular bentonite, is used to produce more than 40 types finished products in the form of powders, pastes, granules used in various industries. Great prospects There are also other non-metallic minerals. Thus, zeolite tuffs of the Noyemberyan deposit are competitive in the world market. They can be used to improve soil quality and increase flowability mineral fertilizers, in the production of compound feeds.
- What results did the exploration of energy resources carried out for many years give?- A number of coal deposits have been discovered - Germanisskoye, Ijevanskoye, Dzhajurskoye. The Ijevan field has the greatest development prospects coal and the Dzhajur brown coal deposit. The Ijevan deposit has the largest reserves - 10 million tons, and promising resources - 80 million tons. The coal seams there are the thickest, and the coal is of high quality. Since 1951 exploration work was carried out for oil and gas. In 1984 Well "Shoraghbyur" No. 1 was drilled to a depth of 3595 m. 1 ton of oil of sufficiently high quality was obtained. I think oil and gas exploration is worth continuing.
Armenia is rich in mineral resources, but these resources must be used rationally and without waste. The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources must strengthen geological control over the exploitation of ore deposits, prevent their predatory use, organize monitoring of non-metallic deposits, and restore the exploitation of the most promising of them. And what is also very important is that it is necessary to regulate the issues of tax deductions from the exploitation of ore deposits by private firms.
In Armenia? Of course, but...
Some general information. It is known that diamonds are mostly found in kimberlite pipes, and the latter are found in ancient platforms. Constant companions of diamonds in kimberlites are pyrope garnet, olivine, and ilmenite. However, diamond finds are also known in mountainous areas. Moreover, diamonds mountain areas Unlike platform ones, they have a rounded appearance and are accompanied by satellite minerals other than in kimberlites - gold, platinum, chromite.
Below is a diagram of the location of diamond-bearing provinces and diamond finds.
1 - contours of the main ancient platforms, 2 - kimberlite provinces, 3 - finds of diamonds in placers of orogenic zones, 4 - finds of diamonds in peridotites, 5 - finds of diamonds in eclogites, 6 - finds of diamonds in basaltic lavas.
Armenia is also marked on the map with a black hexagon.
Genetically, kimberlite pipes are associated with volcanic cycles. The richest deposits are associated with Mesozoic volcanic cycles. According to the composition of the rocks, the deposits are associated with all kinds of igneous rocks, ranging from the most acidic to the most ultrabasic. However greatest number finds are confined to the most basic rocks - kimberlites. Diamond occurs in almost all igneous rock facies, but the vast majority of deposits are associated with volcanic facies. In mountainous areas, the sources of diamonds are considered to be intrusions of holocrystalline ultrabasic rocks - peridots.
The above assumptions gave grounds to Armenian geologists since 1948 to predict the possibility of discovering diamonds in the ultramafic rocks of the Sevan-Amasia-Akera hypermafic belt, which is localized in northeast coast Lake Sevan. However, the impetus for the first field research was the discovery in 1970 by MSU student V.S. Shmakov at the northern portal of the automobile tunnel, under the Pushkin Pass, of a fragment of olivine-containing rock. While polishing this piece, he discovered two grains in it that could not be sanded. They were recovered and determined to be diamonds weighing 10.5 and 11 mg, measuring about 2 mm across.
Below are the same diamonds
Immediately after the discovery, under the leadership of R. G. Gevorgyan, systematic search work began on the slopes of the Bazum ridge, in the Dzoraget River basin (i.e., the location of the find) and on the north-eastern coast of Lake Sevan in the development zone of hypermafic rocks. As a result of the work carried out (in 1971-1974) in the loose sediments of the rivers of the river basin. Dzoraget, 19 crystals and fragments of diamond crystals were discovered, eroding ultramafic massifs in the upper reaches; another grain of diamond was discovered using a screw sluice in the immediate vicinity of the Jil serpentinite massif on Sevan. Along with diamond, in the first case, chrome spinels, graphite, corundum, moissanite, and gold were found, in the second case, grains of chrome diopside. The sizes of the diamonds found range from 0.1 to 0.3 mm. According to electron microscopy data, these diamonds belong to crystals close to synthetic ones, or to the outer zones of natural diamonds in Yakutia.
It is clear that stones of this size and quality are not of jewelry interest. However, the presence of diamond in the sediments of rivers eroding the hypermafic massifs of Armenia is of great geological significance both for predicting the possibility of finding diamonds in other geological areas and for elucidating the mechanisms of the origin of diamond deposits.
As a postscript, I’ll add information from a friend who studies jewelry that gem-quality diamonds are mined in the Khosrov forest, and under the patronage of the president of the republic. But I don’t believe it and my opinion is that this is from the area of folklore, but who knows :-).
Information sources
Trofimov V.S. Bedrock diamondiferous rocks other than kimberlites // Soviet Geology, 1939, No. 4-5, volume IX.
Trofimov V.S. Natural diamonds// Nature, 1972, No. 3.
Kaminsky F.V., Prokopchuk B.I. New sources of diamonds // Nature, 1974, No. 10.
Pavlenko A.S. and others. On the question of the diamond content of the hypermafic belts of Armenia // Geochemistry, 1974, No. 3.
Gevorkyan R.G. and others. On the discovery and study of diamond crystals in Armenia // Reports of the Academy of Sciences of Armenia. SSR, 1975, No. 3.
Gevorkyan R.G. and others. Small diamonds from loose sediments of Armenia // Proceedings of the Armenian Geological Society, 1977, no. I.
Kukharenko A. A. Diamonds of the Urals. L., 1955.
Agate was described in ancient times (372-287 BC). It is believed that this was first done in the treatise “On Stones” by Theophrastus, who connects its name with the river. Agates (modern Dirillo) on the island. Sicily. There is another interpretation - from the Greek word “agates” - happy.
Agate is a crystallized translucent stone, which contains branching inclusions, veins, numerous layers, having a variety of shades. Moreover, each shade has unequal transparency, thanks to which the agate becomes even more beautiful.
Further, when systematizing, science begins to “get confused in the indications.” But one thing is clear: chalcedony and agate are found in various mineral associations, formed mainly in the late stages of volcanic processes associated with the outpouring of lava flows, including underwater, ash deposits.
One of famous places in the territory former USSR, with cooled volcanoes - Armenia.
Let me clarify that Armenia often refers to the territories of the Armenian Highlands and Cilicia. These territories have been inhabited by Armenians since ancient times. Currently, they are part of Turkey (since 1915, the year of the genocide, when the Armenian population was expelled from these lands).
Despite its rather small size (modern Armenia is located in Transcaucasia south of Russia between the Black and Caspian Seas, it occupies most interfluves of the Kura and Araks; the greatest length from northwest to southeast is 360 km, and from west to east is 200 km) are known on the territory of Armenia 565 deposits 60 types of minerals: including three metallogenic belts, in the south of the country there are large copper-molybdenum deposits, also in Armenia there are significant deposits of gold and coal containing precious metals and significant deposits of natural stones: tuffs, basalts, pumice, marble, onyx. obsidians, etc.
And 15 km north of the city of Ijevan there is one of the most famous (since the times of the USSR) agate deposits — Ijevan deposit or Sarigyukhskoe(from the name of the student Sari Gyukh). The agate deposit in Armenia is not the only one, but these agates have always stood out.
The Ijevan agate-bearing field consists of the deposit of the same name and numerous occurrences of agate. The deposit area is composed of tuffs and tuff sandstones of the Late Cretaceous, crossed by a large fault.
Ijevan agate forms tonsils and veins. The tonsils are round, less often flattened, up to 40 cm in diameter. The length of the veins is from 0.5 to 5 m, thickness is 0.2-0.3 m. The color of the agate is bluish-gray, the texture is from unclear to finely striped with a clear concentric pattern. The color of Ijevan agates is dominated by lilac and milky-deep-gray colors. Here, amethyst and agate are presented in the form of secretions and geodes, within which druses of crystals often form.
And also found moss agate with bizarre inclusions of chlorite and iron hydroxides. Actually the most interesting in beauty!
Despite living in Armenia for eighteen years during the USSR, I did not become closely acquainted with Ijevan agate at that time, even though I had been to Ijevan. I was in the geology museum with the class - as it should be: to see - to see. But the interests of youth lay on slightly different planes, and the love for stones came a little later.
Enjoy:
Geological Museum of Armenia named after O. Karapetyan, Yerevan, Armenia
Agate. Sarigyukh village, Ijevan region, Armenia. Sample A.N. Korobkov. Photo by A. Evseev
Ijevan region, Armenia. Sample FM (No. 73319. Acquisition of the museum, 1971). Photo by A.A. Evseev
It is said that production is currently suspended. There are several reasons: someone says that these quarries have not worked since Soviet times, it is believed that the most interesting material has been selected; Another opinion is that the reason is that the field was located near the border with Azerbaijan.
Don't confirm, don't deny this information I can not. But there are really Ijevan agates on sale in Lately appear quite rarely.
If you want to plunge into the historical and geological narrative, I advise you to read Anatoly Dimarov’s “Ijevan” (and not only), look for photos from Collection A . N . Korobkova .
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Armenia is poor in fuel resources. Until recently, it was classified as one of the countries with virtually no prospects for discovering oil reserves.
Meanwhile, here until the 1990s. Large-scale geological exploration work was carried out, which made it possible to estimate the forecast oil reserves at 35 million tons, and natural gas reserves at 80 billion m3. True, all these reserves were found at depths exceeding 5 km. Now the search for oil continues. In 1995, several small coal deposits were discovered in Armenia. The largest of them, Jajur, is located 15 km northeast of Gyumri and has proven reserves of 200 thousand tons. It is being mined open method.
Theoretically, iron ore reserves in three deposits - Svarantskoe, Abovyanskoe and Rozdanek - may have industrial significance. They are estimated at approximately 1 billion tons with an average iron content of 28%.
Armenia has significant industrial reserves of copper-molybdenum ore and several dozen already explored deposits of these valuable metals. The largest of them are Agarak, Teh near Lichk, Dastikert and Kajaran. Of the copper pyrite deposits, the most significant are Kafap. Shaumyan, Alaverdi, Shamlugh. The total copper reserves in the country are estimated at approximately 6.5 million tons with an average content in ore of 0.29%. These same ores contain industrial concentrations of rhenium.
The country has industrial reserves of silver and gold in several deposits. Among them, Zodskoe (Sotka) and M e grad.jure are especially interesting. In addition, there are polymetallic ores in Akhtala and poorly studied deposits of zinc and lead, the ores of which contain rare and multi-colored metals together with them.
Armenia is rich in non-metallic minerals. These are rock salt, gypsum, ceramic and porcelain raw materials, bentonite and refractory clays, perlites, diatomites, natural zeolites, colored and semi-precious stones (agates, obsidian, onyx, jasper, rock crystal, amethyst, petrified wood, tuffs and much more). The country is particularly rich in pumice reserves (from 500 million m3 to 1 billion m3), for which it occupies a leading position in the world. At the same time, the degree of production security is very high (2500 years). Reserves of bentonite clays are estimated at 500 million tons, natural zeolites - about 1 billion tons, diatomites - about 500 million m3, perlites - about 1 billion m3.
IN last years New deposits of gems have been explored - turquoise, nephritoid, Sevan jade. These deposits can have a large economic importance, since the jewelry industry is well developed in Armenia.
Numerous deposits of facing stone are known (various tuffs, colored marble, granitoids, etc.). If financial resources are available, these materials can be extracted in unlimited quantities (depending on the degree of availability of reserves).
Various mineral deposits in Armenia are partly already being developed or prepared for development, but in general they create the prerequisites for the development of the mining industry in the country, including an export-oriented one.
Armenia is rich in ore minerals. Of industrial importance are ores of non-ferrous and ferrous metals, rock salt, bentonite clays, perlites, refractory clays, diatomites, travertines, pumice, tuffs and tuff lavas, basalts, granites, andesites, andesite-basalts, marble, marble limestones, etc. Industrial accumulations have been discovered semi-precious and ornamental stones (agate, amethyst, turquoise, jasper, obsidian). Reserves of ores and metals are confirmed for 20 deposits: three - copper, six - molybdenum, five - polymetallic (lead, zinc, etc.), four - gold, two - iron (2002). Most deposits are represented by complex ores - copper-molybdenum or gold-polymetallic:
Major mineral resources of Armenia as of 1998-99
Minerals | World share, % |
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Confirmed | ||||
Other types of minerals
Iron ore deposits are located in the central, northern and south-eastern regions of the country: Abovyanskon (Kaputanskoye) with explored reserves of apatite-magnetite ores of approx. 244 million tons (Fe content 28%), Hrazdan magnetite ore deposit with reserves of 50 million tons (Fe content 32%), Svarantskoye deposit (Fe content 20%), and also in the north - Akhtala. The ore reserves of the Abovyan and Hrazdan deposits have been approved as mineral raw materials for the production of pure iron. At the Abovyanskoye field iron ore lies under a blanket of basaltic and andesite-basaltic lavas, the thickness of which is 50-180 m. These rocks have been explored in detail, and reserves of 64 million m³ have been approved as construction materials. Special steels and alloys from the ore of the Hrazdan deposit are characterized by very high properties, which is explained by the exceptional purity of the ores and the presence of a number of rare earth elements. The deposit has favorable conditions For open source development: the ore body is represented by a gently inclined layered body, has direct access to earth's surface; when it is mined to the entire depth of distribution (up to 300 m), the average opening coefficient will be only 0.6 m³/t.
"Molybdenum." Armenia is rich in molybdenum ores. It holds 5.1% of the world's total and 7.6% of the world's proven molybdenum reserves. Armenia's molybdenum reserves are characterized by high degree concentrations, almost all of them are concentrated in the molybdenum-porphyry copper deposits of the Kajaran ore field (over 90%) and in the small Agarak deposit. The average content of molybdenum in the ores is low (about 0.03%), but the deposits are complex, open pit and located in a developed area. The large Kajaran hydrothermal deposit is a stockwork with veined-disseminated copper-molybdenum ores, which incidentally contain rhenium, selenium, tellurium, and bismuth. The approved reserves of the field will allow for further development work for more than 100 years. Other deposits: Agarak copper-molybdenum, copper deposits - Kafanskoye, Shamlugskoye, Alaverdi, Lichkskoye.
Gold and non-ferrous metals. Armenia is rich in gold deposits. The Shaumyan gold-polymetallic deposit is located within the Kapan ore field and is represented by a vein type of mineralization. The veins have a steep dip, thickness 1-5 m. Explored ore reserves are estimated at 15-16 million tons (2000). The main useful components in the ore: gold (average content 2.6 g/t), silver (50.0 g/t), zinc (2.4%), copper (0.6%), lead (0.15% Two other gold-polymetallic deposits - Lichkvak and Terterasar (near the Agarak copper-molybdenum plant) have vein ore bodies up to 3 m thick. The approved balance reserves of ore of the Lichkvak deposit are 3.4 million tons with an average gold content of 5.3, silver 32 g/t. The Terterasar deposit is smaller in scale (325 thousand tons), but is characterized by high quality ore (gold content 11 g/t). In the Syunik region there are a number of deposits and occurrences of colored and noble metals, which may be of industrial interest. The Sotskre and Meghradzor gold deposits are exploited.
Among other deposits of non-ferrous and precious metals, the Alaverdi and Shamlug copper deposits, the Akhtala and Gladzor polymetallic deposits, the Armanik and Azatek gold-polymetallic deposits deserve attention. The largest of them is the reserve Armanik deposit, located 50 km from the city of Alaverdi; approved ore reserves are 15 million tons, the average content of useful components: gold - 0.84, silver - 11.0 g / t; copper - 1.08, zinc - 2.6, lead - 1.22%. The deposit is planned to be developed underground. The first three deposits are located in the north of Armenia and were exploited as part of the Alaverdi Mining and Metallurgical Combine. The ore bodies of these deposits are steep and gentle veins, ore-bearing zones and lenses. The balance of ore reserves at the Alaverdi deposit (2000) is 4.8 million tons (with an average copper content of 2.8%); at Shamlugsky - 4.5 million tons (August copper content 3.4%); at Akhtalsky - 1.3 million tons (August copper content 0.6, lead 1.7, zinc 4.5%).
Aluminum, barite. The country has industrial reserves of aluminum nepheline syenite, as well as barite with an admixture of gold and silver, deposits of lead, zinc, manganese, gold, platinum, antimony, mercury, and arsenic.
Rare earth metals. The rare earth metals found are bismuth, gallium, indium, selenium, thallium, tellurium, and rhenium. The state balance of Armenia takes into account rhenium, selenium, tellurium, bismuth, indium, gallium, cadmium. In ores and products of their processing there are: for ores of the copper-molybdenum formation - bismuth, vanadium, iron and titanium, scandium, platinoids, radiogenic osmium, for gold-polymetallic formation - germanium, antimony, arsenic and others.
Platinoids. According to preliminary data, the expected reserves of platinoids in the ores of the Kajaran deposit are about 130 tons. In addition, platinoids (0.1-1 g / t) were discovered in the black shale formations of Armenia.
Technogenic deposits of metals. An important raw material for processing is technogenic deposits metals Thus, in the ore enrichment tailings of the Kajaran copper-molybdenum deposit, vanadium turns into enrichment waste and magnetite concentrates. In the copper-electrolyte sludge of the Alaverdi MMC, the concentration of platinoids is: palladium - up to 60-90 g / t, platinum - 20-50 g / t, rhodium - 0.5-2.5 g / t.
Deposits of non-metallic minerals Armenia include different kinds natural stone - volcanic and felsic tuff, granitoid and carbonate rocks, basalt, andesite, marble, etc. Travertines are common. Among the semi-precious and ornamental stones, agate, jasper, amethyst, beryl, yakhont, obsidian, onyx, and turquoise stand out. Multi-colored volcanic tuffs and tuff lavas of the Artik type have found use as facing materials. Reserves of building stone (120 deposits in total) amount to more than 690 million m³, and facing stone (60 deposits) - 276 million m³ (2000). Among tuff deposits, Artikskoe stands out for its scale and high physical and mechanical properties (reserves 143 million m 3, Shirak region). Armenia has a large raw material base natural mineral sorbents. Armenia has large reserves of perlite (160 million tons). Forecast reserves of perlite are determined in December. billion m³. The Aragat deposit of perlite, the Sarigyukh deposit of bentonites, the Dzhradzor deposit of diatomites, and the Noyemberyan deposit of zeolites are especially important. The approved reserves of the Aragat deposit are 85.0 million m³, the Sarigyukh deposit - 67.0 million tons, the Dzhradzor deposit - 1.0 million m³ and the Noyemberyan deposit - 12.0 million tonnes (2000). Of interest are deposits of natural light aggregates - volcanic slag and pumice sand. The reserves of these minerals are measured in many tens of millions of m³ and are characterized by high quality.
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