S.YU. ENGALYCHEV, I.V. VERBITSKY, P.M. BUTAKOV (VSEGEI)

Uranium-­molybdenum-­rhenium mineralization in the Upper Devonian sediments in the lower reaches of the Lovat River, the southeastern Main Devonian Field

The paper presents new data on the complex U­-Mo-­Re epigenetic mineralization identified in Upper Devonian sediments of the Kholmsky area (sheet O­36­XXVI), the southeastern Main Devonian Field (northwestern Russian Plate). The petrological composition of epigenetic U­Mo­Re mineralization was studied using the set of modern analytical methods. The most valuable component of mineralization is a rare element – rhenium (Re), which content in the ore zone is high and reaches 1 ppm. Most likely, Re is part of powellite and wulfenite, diagnosed in the rocks of the ore zone. High grades of U (up to 0.5%) and Mo (up to 1%) in association with Se, V, Ni, Ag, As, Ga, Pb have been also identified in the ores. The analysis of data on the U­Mo­Re mineralization showed that the area of the lower reaches of the Lovat River and, in particular, the northwestern part of the Kholmsky area, as well as the poorly studied U­Mo targets of the Starorussky potential uranium ore district, are promising for complex U­Mo­Re mineralization.
Keywords: rhenium, uranium, molybdenum, Upper Devonian, Main Devonian Field, sedimentary cover of the northwestern Russian plate.