Exploration of Rhenium Volcanogenic Deposit and Technology of Its Development

Abstract

Rhenium is widely used in manufacturing industry and metallurgy. Today the consumption of rhenium is high, but there are very few deposits in the world where it is mined. Thus, the aim of the study is to identify areas of distribution of rhenium on Kudryavy volcano, located on the islands of the Kuril ridge (Russia). In this connection, during the field period, we took samples of a volcanic massif weighing 70 kg, and also studied the geothermal fields with a pyrometer. Laboratory research included the study of composition of samples by the method of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and spectrometric analysis. The article defines the zones of distribution of rhenium mineralization, presents the results of measurements of the temperature of geothermal fields and the elemental composition of technological samples. The geology, development technology is described, the analysis of the destruction of rocks, determined by the acoustic method, the specific resistance of breakdown during electrothermal loosening is given. The parameters of the tubular shovel conveyor at which the productivity of 88 m3/h is achieved. The results obtained will make it possible to identify promising geothermal fields, determine the development technology, and contribute to the study of volcanic deposits.