D. S. Borodina, T. I. Larionova, I. V. Litvinova

Geological and hydrogeochemical features of the Norilsk (East Siberia) and Shanuch (Kamchatka) ore-bearing districts

Abstract. New object prospecting for providing processing works with copper-nickel ores required analysis of two contrasting ore-bearing districts: Norilsk and Shanuch. The authors summarized and compared geological structure, hydrogeochemical features, and geodynamic conditions of deposit formation. The compared deposits belong to magmatic sulfide types, but differ in age and geodynamic formation conditions. The groundwater chemical composition in the compared areas proves to differentiate genetic sources of mineralization: sulfide ore oxidation mainly forms the composition in the Norilsk region, while influence of magmatic fluids determines it in the Shanuch region. The identified differences highlight the importance of hydrogeochemical studies as a tool for predicting similar ore zones and reconstructing development of ore-bearing systems in different geodynamic conditions. The data are critical for understanding ore system formation patterns and consider hydrochemical parameters as informative search criteria. The findings can contribute to augmenting the commercial potential of operating deposits and new copper-nickel object prospecting.

Keywords: nickel deposits, hydrogeochemical exploration methods, search criteria, ground and surface water, metallogeny