Tugansk deposit discovery and exploration

The first geological studies in Tomsk Oblast date back to the end of the XVIII century. These studies were mostly focused on geology of the Tomsk surroundings.

Regular geological surveys began only in 1920′s after the Great October Socialist Revolution.

The first discoveries of zircon and titanium minerals accumulations were made in conjunction to the prospecting works for silica/glass and molding sands near the railway Tomsk-Asino. In 1953 during a detailed exploration of the Tugansk molding sands deposit T. Murzayeva discovered high grades of ilmenite, leucoxene, and zircon in heavy suite.

In order to cover the growing domestic demand for the raw materials a large scale geological exploration has been conducted in Siberia since the mid 1950′s. The aim of that work was to expand the range of mineral raw materials to meet the industrial demand.

After due consideration of geological library materials V. Pyatnov, the member of the Giridmet institute, recommended to test the Tugansk area for the presence of commercially productive ilmenite and zircon accumulations.

In 1956 a centralized expedition under the Geological Survey Trust No.1 headed by B. Sokolov started a special survey of this ilmenite-zircon placer accumulations that resulted in pre-estimation of recoverable mineral sands reserves. Survey and exploration works were pursued further by the expedition No. 8 under the same Trust together with Tomsk complex expedition.

The Tugansk deposit exploration works report, 1958

The Tugansk deposit location map, 1958

After 1958, exploration of the Tugansk deposit was continued by efforts of the Tugansk party efforts under the Tomsk complex expedition. Exploration materials were submitted to the State Reserves Commission (GKZ) of the USSR twice. In 1959 the mineral sand reserves of Malinovsk and South-Aleksandrovsk areas were approved. G. Ionov, I. Sandanov, and M. Nagorsky took part in their preparation. In 1961 a detailed exploration was completed.

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On-balance reserves of the Tugansk deposit, 1961

The Tomsk Council of National Economy attempted to construct a pilot plant based on the reserves of Malinovsk and South-Aleksandrovsk areas. However, due to the discovery of new deposits in Ukraine the constraction of the Tugansk pilot plant was abandoned.

In 1985, in accordance with the new requirementsprescribed for the geological exploration and evaluation of ore deposits, the Ministry of Geology of the USSR charged the production geological assosiation Tomskneftegazgeologiya (Tomsk oil-and-gas geology) with the Tugansk deposit follow-up exploration.

In October 1987 a special group of the Tomsk geological survey expedition headed by V. Biryukov was formed for this project design and implementation. Over time, group members changed and skilled professionals joined the team, enabling every person involved to make a significant contribution.

In 1992 the reserves were approved in accordance with the follow-up exploration results. Similar to the previous exploration works results, the Tugansk deposit was recognizes by the State Reserves Commission (GKZ) as efficient for commercial exploitation.

Justification of exploratory standards for the Tugansk deposit ore sands, 1991