OREANDA-NEWS. Rosgeologia has completed the first field season in the Algaminsky zirconium mineralisation at the north of the Khabarovsk Territory. Work on the isolation and localisation of sites with ores, suitable for the manufacture of commercial zircon-baddeleyite concentrate, was carried out by specialists of Dalgeofizika, JSC (Khabarovsk, part of Rosgeologia) and Sosnovgeo, JSC.

Algaminsky site is located 130 kilometres north of the village of Nelkan of Ayano-Maisky district of the Khabarovsk Territory. Basic geological studies were conducted here in the middle of the last century. From 1992 to 1994, search and evaluation work in the central part of the site was conducted by SGE "Dalgeologia".

The experts concluded that this site was a new zirconium mineralisation with no counterparts anywhere in the world. Earlier technological research has confirmed the possibility of prior enrichment of ore and obtaining "rough" concentrates and helped identify possible areas of product application.

Therefore, laboratory research by a number of scientific organisations in the Far East showed the suitability of ore from Algaminsky site for manufacture of composite powders for the production of heat-resistant and tool ceramics, plasma and electrospark sputtering of products for reinforcing their properties, obtaining abrasive materials and fire-proof coatings, as well as special heat-resistant glass and ferrozirconium-based alloys. However, all research findings are preliminary and incomplete.

New geological work will be taking place at the site for three years, from 2014 to 2016 inclusively. During this time, the specialists of Sosnovgeo and Dalgeofizika will identify zirconium mineralisation ore bodies, explore the technical properties of the ore and develop recommendations for further exploration. The results of the research will finally resolve the issue of industrial relevance related to the Algaminsky mineralisation site. Estimation of potential resources of zirconium dioxide within Algominsky mineralisation site - categories P1 - 200 thou t., P2 - 400 thou t. In addition to zirconium, the area contains iron ores and polymetals, niobium and tantalum, diamonds and gold, apatite, and - so sought after in today's economy - rare earths.