PorterGeo New Search GoBack Geology References
Glavnoye Saranovsk
Russia
Main commodities: Cr


Our Global Perspective
Series books include:
Click Here
Super Porphyry Cu and Au

Click Here
IOCG Deposits - 70 papers
All available as eBOOKS
Remaining HARD COPIES on
sale. No hard copy book more than  AUD $44.00 (incl. GST)
The Glavnoye Saranov'sk, chromite deposit is located in the northern Urals of Russia, 100 km to the east of Perm.

It lies within the small, 0.22 sq. km Saranov'sk Massif ultramafic block, with a length of around 1700 to 1800 m, and average width of 200 m. The maximum width in the central portion, including the associated gabbro is 400 m. The massifs northern margin plunges to the north, gradually, while 1 km to the south a second, smaller massif is exposed which encloses a number of the older mines (Smirnov, 1977).

The Saranov'sk Massif is composed of gabbro-peridotite, and is located on the western limb of the Central Urals Uplift, in the outer belt of the Urals ultramafic zone. It is intruded into Upper Proterozoic micaceous, quartz-mica-chlorite slates and phyllites, with subordinate quartzite, limestone and dolomite. Schists predominate adjacent to the ultramafic body. The massif is a homoclinal body, conformable with the enclosing schists. The massif and the contained chromite orebody dip steeply, at 80 to 85°E, gradually flattening to 40 to 30°E at a depth of 300 to 400 m. Erosion has only exposed the upper, western portion, possibly only an apophysis, of an interpreted larger body (Smirnov, 1977).

Peridotite and gabbro-norite form a single intrusive body, cut by gabbro-dolerite dykes. There is a very sharp transition between the upper gabbro-norite and the chromite bearing peridotite. The ore-bearing zone has a width of 40 to 45 m, and includes three sub-parallel planar ore bodies, the Western, Central and Eastern. It is concentrated in the axial part of the ultramafic, although it seems to transgress upwards from the western contact towards the south (Smirnov, 1977).

The peridotites of the massif are mainly serpentinite, mostly with relict textures and are coarse grained to pegmatitic. The boundaries of the ore are very diffuse, with peridotites adjacent to the orebodies, and between them, containing considerable disseminated chrome-spinel, from 3 to 5%, and up to 20 to 25% and more (Smirnov, 1977).

The ore bands themselves are parallel. The Central orebody extends for 1200 m with a thickness of 10 m; the Western is 910 m long by 5 m thick, while the eastern is 1100 m long and 3 to 3.5 m thick. Small, impersistent and thin (1.5 m) lenses are also indicated above and below these three main orebodies. The three main orebodies are composed of almost massive chromite, with the Central being the richest. The grain size is variable, although most are medium grained (2 to 3 mm), with an overall banded fabric. The Central and Western ore bands are separated by a consistent 6 to 8 m gap, while the Eastern is closer. Nowhere do adjacent orebodies merge (Smirnov, 1977).

The ore consists of around 95% chrome-spinel with a silicate gangue, mainly of serpentine after pyroxene, and rarely after olivine. The Western, Central and Eastern orebodies have grades as follows: 35.9, 38.2 and 33.2% Cr2O3; 15.1, 18.8 and 20.3% Al2O3; 17.7, 18.5 and 20.0% FeO; 16.8, 15.2 and 16.2% MgO; and 6.2, 5.0 and 5.1% SiO2.

Within the chrome ores, due to intense hydrothermal alteration, the normal minerals of chrome-spinel, lizardite, antigorite, bastite, chlorite, actinolite and magnetite are often accompanied by phlogopite, albite, talc, quartz, calcite, magnesite, hornblende, pyrite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite and sporadic apatite. Relicts of primary olivine and pyroxene are absent (Smirnov, 1977).

The most recent source geological information used to prepare this decription was dated: 1996.    
This description is a summary from published sources, the chief of which are listed below.
© Copyright Porter GeoConsultancy Pty Ltd.   Unauthorised copying, reproduction, storage or dissemination prohibited.


  References & Additional Information

Porter GeoConsultancy Pty Ltd (PorterGeo) provides access to this database at no charge.   It is largely based on scientific papers and reports in the public domain, and was current when the sources consulted were published.   While PorterGeo endeavour to ensure the information was accurate at the time of compilation and subsequent updating, PorterGeo, its employees and servants:   i). do not warrant, or make any representation regarding the use, or results of the use of the information contained herein as to its correctness, accuracy, currency, or otherwise; and   ii). expressly disclaim all liability or responsibility to any person using the information or conclusions contained herein.

Top | Search Again | PGC Home | Terms & Conditions

PGC Logo
Porter GeoConsultancy Pty Ltd
 Ore deposit database
 Conferences & publications
 International Study Tours
     Tour photo albums
 Experience
PGC Publishing
 Our books  &  bookshop
     Iron oxide copper-gold series
     Super-porphyry series
     Porphyry & Hydrothermal Cu-Au
 Ore deposit literature
 
 Contact  
 What's new
 Site map
 FacebookLinkedin