FSUE VNIIOkeangeologia named after I. S. Gramberg:

A. N. Smirnov, Deputy Director, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, e-mail: oceangeo@vniio.ru

O. P. Mironova, First Category Engineer

P. P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of Russian Academy of Sciences:

S. M. Isachenko, Chief Specialist

FSUE A.P. Karpinsky Russian Geological Research Institute (FGUP “VSEGEI”):

V. A. Jamoida, Leading Researcher, Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences

D. V. Ryabchouk, Leading Researcher, Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences

An expansion of the commercial prospects of the world’s largest amber-bearing region, located at the Sambian peninsula in the Sothern Baltic, may be connected with study and development of the placer areas in the water basin and its margins. In this respect, one may define two types of underwater objects which differ drastically in their geological structure, conditions of their formation and localization, as well as in mining and technical conditions of their exploitation.

The first type includes the ancient Eocene placers, located below the sea level. Its industrial prospects have been proved by long successful exploitation of the Plazh section of Palminikensk deposit where the mining is carried out from the shore, using a reclaimed breakwater. It is quite possible that many similar deposits may be found in the region. The area of the Pokrovsky harbor, about 30 km², located in the sea shelf shallow waters is the particular interest. In this area, the productive layer is opened by modern bottom abrasion. The estimated resources of the Р2 amber reach the 133 th. tons, which may exceed the resources of the Primorye deposit.

The second, completely different type of amber placers, is represented by the seabed accumulations of amber, abundant in the coastal area, in a thin mantle of Holocene - modern sediments. These placers are associated with the “litorine” sea (5-8 thousand years ago), are still forming in our times. They are developed by different ways (ranging from the hand collecting to the dredging equipment) for hundreds of years. There are no reliable information about the localization of these placers. But the volumes of the occasional output make for 75 tones per year. These volumes show the significant concentrations of amber. The studies of the amber concentrations` forming regularity, as well as the resources significance, need the special researchings.

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