YU.B. MIRONOV, A.M. KARPUNIN, V.Z. FUKS (VSEGEI)

Thorium metallogeny in the Russian Federation

Information is given on the possibility of using thorium in domestic nuclear power industry that makes the problem of identifying and studying thorium deposits urgent. Features of thorium geochemistry and mineralogy, the genesis and formation epochs of thorium-­oriented geological rock associations, as well as the petrological composition and geology of a number of important thorium-­bearing targets with complex ores are discussed. Their classification based on studying ore formations of the domestic metallogenic school and the IAEA is proposed. Examples of ore deposits of major geological and economic types are given. Lines for further studies are recommended.
Keywords: thorium, metallogeny, mineral deposits, ore formations, zoning.