OREANDA-NEWS. JSC Irkutskgeofizika (part of the Rosgeologia holding company) has initiated appraisal works at Otboinoye rare-metal mineral occurrence in the Taishet District of the Irkutsk Region. Rosgeologia is awarded a state contract following a tender conducted in September 2014. The works are carried out using federal budget resources within the framework of the subprogramme "Development of the Rare and Rare-Earth Metal Industry" of the government programme "Development and Competitive Growth of the Industry."

Irkutskgeofizika is to complete the site exploration by the end of 2016. Irkutskgeofizika will perform excavation, well-drilling, sealing, hydro-geological, geological and geo-ecological works along with engineering and chemical-analysis studies. The field features tantalum. As a result of contract execution, the geologists expect to localise about 3 thous. tons of C1+C2 category oxide of the metal.