All-Russia Research Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources of the World Ocean (VNIIOkeangeologiya) (Saint Petersburg, Russia):

A. N. Smirnov, Deputy Director on Scientific Work, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, e-mail: okeangeo@vniio.ru
A. M. Ivanova, Leading Researcher, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences
E. A. Pashkovskaya, Researcher

This article describes a short overview of the aqueous component of mineral resource sources of the Cenozoic sea shelf of Russian Federation – the least known section of the “ocean – continent” mineragenic system. Dozens of deposits and solid minerals, located at the seabed, are situated in Russian sea shelf areas.
The objects with the following known and forecasted resources are rather commercially prospective:
-placers of tin (cassiterite), gold, and Ti-, Fe- and Zr-containing minerals;
-accumulations of limestone (seashell) and organic-mineral silts.
There is estimated a potential increasing of resources of the sea shelf areas by forecasted seabed placers of amber, diamonds and fossil mammoth ivory; metalliferous sediments with abnormal contents of fine gold and cassiterite; and accumulations of ferromanganese nodules. Methodic aspects and exploitation experience of undersea objects in Russia are reviewed. The authors outline the methodic and technical ways of investigation of localization conditions of seabed placers at prospecting and assessment stage. There is defined the insufficient geological knowledge of Russian sea shelf placer mineral resources, preventing their inclusion into economical activity of the country.

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