Phosphorites and Glauconites as Additional Reserves in the Development of Titanium-Zirconium Sands of the Centralnoye Deposit (Tambov Region of Russia)

Abstract

After the Soviet Union demise, Russia was plagued by severe titanium resource problems. The bulk of titanium concentrates is imported from Ukraine. But Russia has its own titanium resources not lesser than in leading countries of the world (China, Brazil, South Africa). Ores form both primary and alluvial deposits, including those located in economically developed regions. The better example is the ancient marine placer of the Centralnoye deposit in the Rasskazovsky district of the Tambov region. In addition to ilmenite, rutile and zircon, ore sands also include phosphates and glauconite. The deposit was discovered in the middle of the last century and, after geological prospecting, was classified as one of the ten largest world objects of placer titanium ores. Despite this, for many years the Centralnoye deposit remained abandoned, since by that time, in the Soviet Union in Ukraine, several mining plants were already operating, which satisfied the industry’s demand for titanium. Today Russia is in dire need of titanium raw materials and the question of the need to develop the deposit has been repeatedly raised. This topic is being discussed especially actively today since a decision has been made on the expediency of its development. However, in the modern market environment, the implementation of this decision is an extremely difficult task. Here, the factors that can reduce operating costs that can improve the economic performance of mining and processing of ore sands become important. These factors include mining and use of both phosphorites and glauconites contained in titanium-zirconium ores and in the “overburden” rocks. The article describes the technogenic waste (tailings) of titanium - zirconium ores. Their material, mineral and granulometric composition is considered, and the technological properties of phosphorites and glauconites are described in the article. On the basis of experimental data, it has been shown that the accumulated concentrates represent high-quality raw materials for the production of phosphate rock and effective phosphorus and potassium ameliorants.