DEEP STRUCTURE AND METALLOGENIC POTENTIAL OF THE SOUTHERN FLANK OF THE KUVALOROG INTRUSIVE MASSIF (KAMCHATKA)

• Published in: Vestnik Kamčatskoj regionalʹnoj associacii "Učebno-naučnyj centr". Seriâ: Nauki o Zemle (Online) Vol. 4(64); no. 4; pp. 86 - 97
• Main Authors: Sidorov, M.D., Trukhin, Yu.P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Russian
• Published: Institute of Volcanology and Seismology FEB RAS 28.12.2024
• Subjects: intrusion; metallogenic resource; modeling; nickel
• ISSN: 1816-5524; 1816-5532; 1816-5532
• DOI: 10.31431/1816-5524-2024-4-64-86-97

The dееp structure of the southern flank of the Kuvalorog intrusion located in the Kvinum-Kuvalorog nickeliferous zone of the Sredinny Ridge (Kamchatka) was investigated. A volumetric model of rock density distribution up to a depth of 5 km below sea level was constructed. Massive blocks with density characteristic of basitic rocks of the Dukuk nickel-bearing plutonic complex were identified. The blocks are located on two levels and are chambers of a single magmatic system. The upper level corresponds to the exposed part of the intrusion. The lower level consists of separate blocks located at a depth of 0 to 2 km. The blocks of both levels are connected by complexly shaped lintels. The volume of hidden magmatic chambers of the lower level was determined. The average Ni, Cu, Co contents in the rocks of the intrusion and the volume of the chambers determine their metallogenic potential. The average Ni, Cu, Co contents in the rocks of the nickel–bearing complex exceed the crustal clarks by 1.5–3 times. The massive block in the area of the watershed of the rivers Кихчик and Pravaya Kikhchinskaya has the largest resources (million tons): Ni — 1.71, Cu — 0.80, Co — 0.51. The obtained estimates of the metallogenic resource of the lower level chamber are the minimum possible ones.