Institute of Geology of Karelian Research Centre of RAS (Petrozavodsk, Russia):

Filippov М. М., Head of Laboratory, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, e-mail: filipov@krc.karelia.ru

Information of shungisite (keramsite) production launching from shungite-bearing shale from the Karelian Nigozero deposit, is presented along with the brief historical information about K. L. Ostrovetsky – one of creative and initiative organizers of mining in Karelia. Under his management, in 1934 the first experiments on shungisite production were conducted. When heated at 1050–1110 °C, pieces of shale increase in volume and pass into light and strong vesicular pumice-like mass. In 1972, a quarry at the deposit was put into operation and a crushing-and-grading line began to operate in Kondopoga. Before 1991, 13 shungisitic gravel plants, which were supplied with raw material from the deposit, produced shungisitic gravel in several big cities of Northwest Russia. The annual production rate was up to 1 mln. m³. Deposits at Myagrozero and Krasnaya Selga were prospected in addition to the Nigozero deposit. Karelian predicted shungisite reserves are over 100 mln. m³. At the present time, shungite is not produced in Russia. The Kondopoga plant of shungite was reorientated to production of rubble and decorative plates construction. Other deposits of quality shungisite raw materials aren`t developed. Reasons for the termination of shungisite production are analyzed in this article. Examples of keramsite usage in Russia and abroad are given, as well as the arguments about necessity and possibility of reanimation of shungisite production.

1. Shustov V. Otchet po geologo-razvedochnym rabotam, provedennym v 1937 godu na Nigozerskom mestorozhdenii glinistykh slantsev. 1939 (The report on the prospecting works which have been carried out in 1937 on the Nigozero deposit of clay slates. 1939). Territorialnyy fond geologicheskoy informatsii po Severo-Zapadnomu Federalnomu Okrugu Rossiyskoy Federatsii (Territorial fund of geological information on the North-West Federal District of Russian Federation). Saint Petersburg, 1939, Inventory No. 3502.

2. Shatunov V. E. Otchet po geologo-razvedochnym rabotam partii No. 2. Nigozerskoe mestorozhdenie glinistykh slantsev. 1935 (Report on prospecting works of Party No. 2. Nigozero deposit of clay slates. 1935). Territorialnyy fond geologicheskoy informatsii po Severo-Zapadnomu Federalnomu Okrugu Rossiyskoy Federatsii (Territorial fund of geological information on the North-West Federal District of Russian Federation). Saint Petersburg, Inventory No. 2185.

3. Gelfand M. B., Bresler S. M. Otchet po geologo-razvedochnym rabotam, provedennym v 1949 godu na Nigozerskom mestorozhdenii glinistykh slantsev. 1950 (The report on the prospecting works which have been carried out in 1937 on the Nigozersky deposit of clay slates. 1950). Territorialnyy fond geologicheskoy informatsii po Respublike Kareliya (Territorial fund of geological information on the Karelian Republic). Saint Petersburg, Inventory No. 2106.

4. Martynov V. N. O kompleksnom ispolzovanii shungitovykh slantsev. 1962 god (About complex use of shungite-bearing shales. 1962). Tsentralnyy gosudarstvennyy arkhiv Respubliki Kareliya (Central State Archive of Karelian Republic). Foundation 2844, Inventory No. 1, Fund 32/335, pp. 57-65.