From placer deposits to technogenic mineral formations: resource and historical perspective (a study of Amur region)

¹ Mining Institute FEB RAS, 51 Turgenev st., Khabarovsk, 680000, Russia;
² Institute of Water and Ecology Problems of Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 680000, Khabarovsk, Russia

Abstract

Attention to mined gold placers as sources of mineral reserve base replenishment is constantly increasing. We conducted an analysis of the field mining ratio regarding the 170-year period of gold mining history in the region, which is roughly divided into four stages, using the example of gold placer clusters in the Amur region. Each stage has its own peculiarities that determine the nature and methods of alluvial deposits development and the amount of raw material losses. It’s shown that previously mined placers within the studied area are being developed continuously. The technogenic complex gets involved into operation almost immediately after mining the undeveloped placer. The obtained results confirm the fact that the indicator of demand for technogenic objects continuously increases with the upward trend from 64% during the first stage to 80% at present.