Minerals of the Rostov region: oil, gas, anthracite, chalk, sand

At present, the mineral resources of the Rostov region are represented in a wide variety. Here many pools are explored and successfully exploited. Anthracite is extracted in this region. In Russia and in the world this is the only place where this high-calorie mineral is extracted. The area of perspective land is more than 46 thousand square meters. Km. In total, there are about 30 sites in the region subject to geological investigation. Let us consider in more detail the minerals of the Rostov Region.

General information

In the region, discovered and extracted from the bowels:

1. Limestones (flux and converter).
2. Construction Materials.
3. Refractory and refractory clays.
4. Water. On the territory of the region at depths of up to 300 m there are underground mineral medicinal and drinking waters.
5. Molding sands.

Over the past few years, deposits of non-traditional minerals have been discovered. For example, glauconites, bentonites, siliceous rocks have been discovered and are being developed. All of them have a multi-purpose purpose. They are used as mineral fertilizers, natural melirants, natural sorbents. It should be noted, however, that these deposits are not exploited on an industrial scale. The region also produces cement raw materials.

Hydrocarbons

In the region, gas and gas condensate fields are being intensively developed. A total of 20 hydrocarbon pools were identified. Among them, in addition to gas and gas condensate, one oil and one oil and gas condensate. Eastern Donbass is considered to be one of the oldest and largest mining regions. Coal reserves amount to more than 24 billion tons. Of these, 27% (over 6.5 billion tonnes) of explored reserves accounted for 12% (about 3 billion tonnes), of which 61% (over 14.5 billion tonnes) were forecasted. At present, ten prospective sites have been identified in which new mines can be built. The Rostov region is expected to provide an additional 545 million tons of coal. The volume of expedient to resource development is about 270 million tons. The total fund, thus, reaches 815 million tons. In accordance with the geological and structural features, in the Eastern Donbass there are nine major sites: Kamensk-Gundorovsky, Gukovo-Zverevsky, Krasnodonetsky, Belokalitvinsky, Shakhtinsky-Nesvetayevsky, Tatsinsky, Zadonsky, Sulino-Sadkinsky and Millerovsky District.

Unique mineral

As it was said above, high-caloric coal is extracted in the region. Its share is 90% in total. According to the degree of metamorphism, he is referred to superanthracites. This indicates the presence of such important consumer properties as high caloric content and density. The specific heat of its combustion is 33-34 MJ / kg. Its density reaches 1.76 g / m ³ . This is 20-30% higher than for conventional coals. The mineral composition is vitrinite. Microhardness of vitrinite in 5-8 r. Higher than other components. At 5-12% maternal ash content and good enrichment, it is possible to obtain low ash varieties of anthracite.

Refined products

From anthracite it is possible to obtain various materials that are in great demand in the market. Among them:

1. Silicon carbide.
2. Graphite.
3. Hydro- and thermoanthracites.
4. Sorbents.
5. Carbonaceous additives for the manufacture of steel.
6. Ferroalloys.
7. Sulfonated coal.

In addition, methane and other harmful gases are practically not found in the Don anthracite. This makes it possible to classify it as unique.

Coking minerals

They are also of great value. The share of coking coal reaches 5% of the total balance reserve in the region. Mineral marks OS, KZh. К, Ж, КО, Г is concentrated in the Tatsinsky, Belokalitvinsky, Kamensk-Gundorovsky basins. Their volume is in the range of 135 million tons. Today production is conducted only from one, "Western" mine. The Rostov region is actively explored by geologists. There are explored areas here. The most attractive in terms of economics are the following mineral regions of the Rostov region:

1. Boghrajewski-Deep.
2. Bystryansky.
3. A millstone.
4. Gornyatsky the Western.
5. Mikhailovsky.

Industrial reserves of coal are in the range of 16 million tons.

TEK

The functioning of the fuel and energy complex is carried out at the expense of the extracted fuel resources. One of the key is natural gas. It comes mainly from trunk pipelines, which are like the territory of the region from the eastern parts of the country. Today, the proven gas reserves are more than 36 billion cubic meters. The volume of previously estimated resources is in the range of 33 billion cubic meters. For oil, these figures, respectively, are equal to 3.3 and 2.26 million tons. The total hydrocarbon resources are estimated at 3.4% for oil and 20.2% for gas. This indicates a high prospect for the region in terms of production. Hydrocarbon regions of the Rostov region began to be developed on an industrial scale in 1968. Of the 20 basins, production is currently carried out in eight:

1. The Azov.
2. Leonovsky.
3. Dubovsky.
4. Markovsky.
5. Plotinsky.
6. Kruzhilovsky.
7. Sinyavsky.
8. Patronovsky.

The plans of the mining companies are to open and develop new sites. However, this will require significant investment.

Building materials

Millerovo district is considered the main site of their extraction. In the region there are inexhaustible resources for making building mixtures. The Rogalykskoe field has about 12 billion tons of deposits. Unique materials are concentrated in the southern part of the basin. About 20 million tons contain more than 50% of the calcareous component. Its presence makes it possible to produce mixtures of the highest brands "A" and "B". In a useful thickness there are chalk and limestone. Their thickness is 16-20 m. They overlie the layers above the groundwater level. Stripping minerals of the Rostov region are represented by loams. Their capacity is about 10 m. In addition, there are sand in the bowels. Loams can be used as a clay additive in clinker in the manufacture of building mixtures. The second largest in terms of building rocks is the Tarasovsky district of the Rostov region. Cleaner materials are present here. They are used in the production of higher grades of cement, fillers of paints and varnishes.

Zhirnovsky quarry

It is located in the Tatsinsky district. Non-metallic materials are concentrated in the Zhirnovsky quarry. The volume of limestone is up to 200 million tons. This material is used in the metallurgical industry. In addition, it is used in the manufacture of fluxes for blast furnace and steelmaking. According to the results of geological exploration, about 65-70% of the deposits are suitable for the converter industry. They are represented by P-2 and P-1 stamps. About 5-7% can be used for the open-hearth method of steel smelting. They are represented by the M-2 brand. About 1-2% of limestone can be used in blast furnace production. The rocks of the Zhirnovsky quarry, on the basis of complex analysis, are suitable for the production of calcined soda, calcium nitrate, calcium carbide, and the use in the sugar industry (with selective excavation of the first grade). They can be used for mineral fertilizing, Portland cement production, crushed stone for a variety of construction works.

Quartzites

These minerals of the Rostov region are represented by "drain" (quartzite) sandstones. They are of sedimentary origin. They lie in the thickness of sand and sandstones of lower density, belonging to the Buchak suite of the Eocene, in the form of disconnected lenses. Depth of their location varies from 0.5 to 20-30 m. Quaternary clays and loams, Kiev clays, including bentonites, Buchak sandstones and sands, which lie over the quartzite roof, as well as rocks present in the productive strata are considered overburden. Directly on sites of industrial value, the thickness of the layers is no more than 10-15 m. As a material for metallurgy, quartzites can be used in ferroalloys, in the production of phosphorus. Separate rocks with a high concentration of silica can be used in the manufacture of crystalline silicon. Quartzites are suitable for the production of crushed stone. Tarasovsky district of the Rostov region includes 17 sites of occurrence of the rock. In the Meshkovsky Basin there are three deposits. They are located in Verkhnedonsky district in the basin of the river. Quiet. This deposit was not operated and is available for open-pit mining.

Refractory and refractory clays

Their deposits are distributed in the center of the region within the boundaries of the open Donbass. Clays belong to the Sulin layers of the Pliocene. They are presented in the form of viscous finely dispersed plastic rocks of various colors (pink, purple, gray with a greenish or bluish tinge, yellow, white and so on). The thickness of the seams is in the range of 9-22 m. The total clay reserve in the region is about 16 million tons. Of these, 75% is found at the Vladimirovsky site. Industrial enterprises in the region as a whole are not short of raw materials. However, at the same time there is a shortage of high-quality clay for the manufacture of earthenware at the Semikarakorsk enterprise Aksinya. Presumably the reserves of this breed are present in the Konstantinovsky district. Here, in the long term, the beginning of geological exploration activities is expected. Clays from the exploited deposits are used in the production of rough ceramics (refractory bricks, outer facing tiles, ceramic pipes). Containing differences are the conditioning material for mortars. Refractory rocks act as raw materials for the production of electrical and economic porcelain, internal facing tiles.

Bentonite clays

They lie in the Tarasovsky region. A large basin has been discovered here, in which the clay volume is within 70 million tons. This rock has a number of specific properties. Bentonite clays are distinguished by high catalytic and sorption activity, binding ability. Due to these properties they are widely distributed in different industries. For example, in agriculture, bentonite clays are used to improve the quality of light soil, as a biostimulator for growing crops and increasing the yield of cereals. Concrete is included in the diet of farm animals. When it is added, the quality of sheep wool increases, an increase of 8-20% of milk yield is observed, the fat content of milk increases. Concrete is also effective as an adsorbent in wine purification and refining of vegetable oil. In industry, the breed is used in the production of drainage pipes, tiles, facing tiles, expanded clay, high-quality bricks. It is used in the preparation of drilling fluids, in the foundry industry, for pelleting ores on the lines of mining and processing plants. Concrete acts as a filtering material in the purification of drinking water from phenols, nitrates, radioactive substances, heavy metals and other harmful components.

Siliceous rocks

They were studied in terms of suitability as a building material. Recently, silicon rocks have been studied as a possible source of sorbents. Further scientific and exploration work, as well as first-priority industrial testing, is planned for four deposits: Maltchevsky - diatomites, Sepan-Rainsky - opok, Uspensky - trefoils, and Kamenolomensky South - oporny clays. These areas are characterized by very favorable geological, economic and geotechnical conditions, high quality of the material, as well as quantitative indicators. The deposits are located near settlements, roads and railways.

Directions of use

Foreign and domestic experience, in addition to the construction industry, allows the use of siliceous rocks in:

1. Cleaning of municipal and industrial sewage, technical oils, beer, syrups, etc.
2. Ecological rehabilitation of areas with high man-made load.
3. Dehumidification and cleaning of air, oil products, industrial and natural gases from carbon oxides and sulfur.
4. Manufacturing of cardboard for transportation and storage of fruits and vegetables.

Iron ore

Its deposits were found in the western part of the region, in the Matveyev-Kurgan region. The depth of occurrence is 480 m. Iron ores are of Precambrian age and are similar to those in Krivoy Rog and the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly. The rocks are represented by hematite-martite quartzites and amphibole-magnetite schists and quartzites. The concentration of iron oxides in ores varies from 37 to 55%. An approximate estimate of rock volumes with a total thickness of 60 m horizons and an area of 20 sq. M. Km. It is about 3.6 billion tons.

Noble metals

They are associated with conglomerates whose thickness is up to 600 m. They are of Precambrian age and are distributed at a depth of 350 m or more. Noble metals are also associated with sites of andesite magmatism of Donbass. In addition, gold is found in a single quantity in glauconite sands belonging to the Kharkov Paleogene suite in the northern parts of the region. The metal in the conglomerates is represented by fine fractions (0.02-0.2 mm), the content of which is not more than 2.4 g / t. In the Oktyabrsky region, gold was also shown. Here it is represented by vertically-falling veins. They are associated with the areas of change in the rocks in the region of intrusive bodies. The regions of convergent quartz-carbonate veins with an elevated metal content are excreted as ore. Their manifestation is recorded at a depth of 70 m. Here, according to the results of the search operations, the total reserve is small. However, given the small depth and deficit of the fossil, these sites can be of practical interest.

Mercury

In the Rostov region, its deposits are considered as promising. Within the boundaries of the main anticline in the Donbass, four areas with high mercury concentrations have been identified. The most promising is the Kadamovskiy district. In addition, several areas with visible mineralization, which is represented by mercury-bearing rocks, have been identified on the Northern anticline.

Titanium-zirconium placers

In the Chertkovsky and Millerovo regions, a geological survey was carried out on an area of about 2 thousand square meters. Km. Here, about 12 ore occurrences were identified. The largest is the region with an industrial content of the material and favorable conditions for working off. The concentration of ilmenite and rutile is about 10%, zircon is up to 5%. In addition, a high presence of zircon and monazite (up to 20 and 2-10%, respectively) was found in the carbonaceous sandstones that appear in the Kundruchey river basin. This ore manifestation is associated with an ancient placer.

Nickel

At a depth of 200-400 m, a number of intrusions are found in the Verkhnedonsky district, which are confined to the area of the deep fault. Out of 6 areas, searches were conducted on one. Here, the Pionerskoye mine was discovered, containing nickel ore of the segregation type. Forecast resources are estimated at 17 thousand tons. Due to the fact that segregation ores act as the main source of nickel and other related elements (platinum, copper and others), search activities on other intrusions may be of practical interest.

Diamonds

In the Verkhnedonsky district there is a wide development of volcanism, which belongs to the Devonian period. Similar formations are present in the Voronezh region, where diamond finds took place. This indicates the prospect of geological exploration in the Rostov region. In the west of the region, on Matveyev-Kurgan, Neklinovsky and Kuibyshevsky areas, diamonds were found in a single quantity. Practical interest is the area, similar in structure to the area near the river. Kalmius. Promising in this regard is the Deminsky district, which is located not far from the village of. Lysogorka. On this site, there are small intrusions, presumably having a kimberlite composition.