Unique titanium Deposits of Timan: genesis and age issues

Abstract

The article critically analysesthe hypotheses about the formation, age, and sources of material of large Timan titanium deposits, which were previously considered ancient buried placers formed along the weathering crusts of the Riphean shales. We discuss an alternative hydrothermal-metamorphic hypothesis about the formation of these deposits and the source of ore material. It is established that the incoming zircon of different ages (570-3200 Ma), as well as two other geochronometers, rutile and monazite, underwent a thermal effect common for all varieties as a result of a hydrothermal process about 600 Ma ago. According to modern concepts, the closing temperature of the U-Pb system in rutile exceeds 500 °С, which suggests high-temperature conditions for the hydrothermal processing of rutile during the formation of the considered deposits in the Riphean.

Assessment of the possibility of using leucoxene-quartz concentrate as raw material for production of aluminium and magnesium titanates

“…Further beneficiation of the concentrate is possible due to a high degree of intergrowth of titanium and silicon dioxides. According to various sources [1,5], up to 60 % of explored and 80 % [1] of undiscovered reserves of titanium minerals (over seven billion tons) in the Russian Federation occur in leucoxene sandstones of Timan fields (Yaregskoye -South Timan, Pizhemskoye -Middle Timan).…”

“…The proposed technology for processing leucoxene-quartz concentrate can, probably, be applied to similar ores of related fields (Pizhemskoye field of Timan) [1,38]. Implementation of the proposed scheme as one of alternative directions for processing leucoxene-quartz concentrates will also allow the maximum implementation of the concept of resource saving [39].…”