Sergo Ordzhonikidze Russian State Geological Prospecting University, Moscow, Russia:

A. K. Litvinenko, Head of Chair, Doctor of Geologo-Mineralogical Sciences, akl1954@yandex.ru
Sh. A. Odinaev, Post-Graduate Student
A. A. Vercheba, Dean of Geological Exploration Faculty, Professor, Doctor of Geologo-Mineralogical Sciences

In the gem-quality scapolite field Chernogorskoe composed of all non-metallic rock-forming minerals (olivine, enstatite, hornblende, phlogopite, ilmenite, titanite, calcite, dolomite, plagioclase, scapolite, K-feldspar and sodalite), cobalt and nickel are found at the contents of 0.06% and up to 0.09%, respectively, which corresponds to the ordinary ores of the known deposits. A small amount of ore minerals (ilmenite, magnetite, hematite, pentlandite, pyrrhotite and pyrite) also contain these elements in commercial quantities. This allows us to consider the entire thickness of the rocks of the deposit as a new genetic type of potential cobalt–nickel mineralization, requiring geological and economic assessment. The resources of Co and Ni encased in rocks make 409 thousand tons of cobalt and 614 thousand tons of nickel. These data define expediency of exploration to assess probable resources and reserves for subsequent substantiation of feasibility studies and exploration standards for the development of this potential field. It is recommended that the Ministry of Geology and the Ministry of Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan include this object and its surroundings in the list of priorities for licensing and attracting investors for its industrial development.

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