STRUCTURAL AND LITHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ZIRCON-ILMENITE PLASTERS FROM THE MOKRI-YALY GROUP

Abstract

The article presents the general geological characteristics and paleogeographic conditions of the formation of the Mokri- Yaly group of zircon-ilmenite placers. The studied region is characterized by a complex geological structure and polyfacies composition. The deposits are located in the area of Precambrian folding, that had been complicated by young tectonic shifts. The Tatarske, Manuilske and Zlatoustivske deposits belong to the most promising placers of this group. They represent alluvial and coastal-marine sandy deposits (Oligocene-Miocene). The main placer minerals are ilmenite (17.5—18.2 kg/m3) and zircon (3.3—5.2 kg/m3). The distribution map of ilmenite and zircon over the area of the Tatarske, Manuilske and Zlatoustivske deposits were constracted by modern GIS-technologies. This maps are included: relief of the bottom surface, sole and roof of the ore deposit of the Mokri-Yaly depression, maps of the planar distribution of the contents of ilmenite, zircon, and the thickness of the ore stratum, distribution columns of ilmenite and zircon in the vertical cross section of the wells of each of the deposits. General ore-bearing characteristic of Tatarske deposit are layer thickness — 5 m, overburden thickness — 7.2 m, zircon content 4.2 kg/m3, ilmenite — 15.1 kg/m3; Manuilske deposit are layer thickness — 10 m, overburden thickness — to 20 m, zircon content 5.5 kg/m3, ilmenite — 26 kg/m3; Manuilske deposit are layer thickness — 3.8 m, overburden thickness — 7.2 m, zircon content 3.8 kg/m3, ilmenite — 18.4 kg/m3. The structural (structure of the reservoir, hypsometry of the deposit, relief of the modern surface, tectonic conditions, etc.) and lithological (granulometric and mineralogical features, lithofacies, distribution of ore components, etc.) characteristics were discribed (as the Mokri-Yaly group in general , as specifically the Tatarske, Manuilske and Zlatoustivske zircon-ilmenite deposits).