How it is possible accurately and effectively predict the location and amount of the raw material you are looking for?

Experts of the Center of Isotope Research at the Karpinsky Institute know the answer!

One of the most impressive mechanisms for improving the quality and efficiency of the country’s geological knowledge is the introduction of the latest isotope-analytical technologies for identifying substances, including ore, and understanding its relation to specific geological processes and geodynamic settings.

Over the past two years, the Karpinsky Institute has introduced a highly effective method for predicting commercially significant gold-copper-molybdenum porphyry mineralisation based on the sorting of igneous rocks using indicative geochemical parameters of accessory zircons.

The method is based on the direct dependence of the extent of mineralisation on the indicator characteristics of autochthonous zircons (PIZ=Porphyry Indicator Zircons), which reflect the chemical composition and crystallisation conditions of the magmatic melt that formed the intrusive bodies. It was repeatedly confirmed by practical studies.

Such characteristics include the ratios of titanium, zirconium, yttrium, thorium, lead, uranium, hafnium and various rare earth elements present in the crystalline structure of zircons. Zircon, being extremely resistant to secondary alteration, preserves this initial geochemical information well.

In 2021-2022, as a result of cooperation between the Centre of Predictive Metallogenic Studies and the Centre of Isotope Research of the Karpinsky Institute, a high-tech analytical complex for the determination of PIZ in zircons from promising magmatic rocks of the porphyry family from the Far East, Siberia and the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation was developed and put into practice.

Precision isotope analytical studies have been performed at the Center of Isotope Research using a unique SIMS SHRIMP-IIe secondary ion mass spectrometer, which allows analyzing a substance with virtually no destruction of the original crystal in a 25x20x2 micrometer spot.

Totally, over 300 promising targets have been studied by the PIZ method from 2022 to 2024. The method is being developed and improved.

The results were published in highly rated domestic and foreign journals and aroused great interest of license holders. Numerous applications are being received to study areas that are promising for identifying gold-copper-porphyry mineralisation.