The first findings of Ta-Nb mineralization in granites on the western slope of the Southern Urals

Abstract

The geological position of the Barangulovo gab� bro–granite pluton is discussed against the back� ground of a brief review of previous prospecting works. The results of recent explorations for the occurrence of Ta and Nb in different Barangulovo granitoids are studied. It is concluded that the greisenized rocks can contain rare metals. Due to poor development of granitoid magmatism, the western slope of the Southern Urals is not charac� terized by rare metal mineralization, as was considered previously. There are only a few relatively large intru� sions such as Barangulovo, Mazara, Artlysh (Uraltau megazones), Berdyaush, Ryabinovka, and Akhmer (Bashkir Anticlinorium), and only the Barangulovo pluton may contain Ta and Ni (Fig. 1). The Barangulovo gabbro–granite pluton located within the Uraltau megazone in the upper Gorodskoi Klyuch, Ryastok, and Vishnevyi Dol rivers is observed