The Savkinsky deposit located in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast is viewed as the largest known brucite deposit anywhere in the world by volume of reserves, with approximately 30 million tons of ore, according to latest estimates.
The deposit was discovered at the beginning of the 1970s during a planned geological exploration by Soviet Union’s Ministry of Geology. The aim of the mission was to ensure a steady supply of raw materials to small and medium-sized companies that manufactured fire-retardant products. Prospecting and exploration in the region helped to find potential reserves of brucite, but practical considerations, i.e. the fact that the Savkinsky deposit location was in a remote, under-developed region, prevented the mining of the mineral at the time.Some time later, in the 21st century, the management of the Brucite+ Group of companies became interested in these deposits. Aside from the region’s vast quantities of brucite reserves that allow to mine 500,000 tons of the mineral per year, the area is located fairly close to markets in Southeast and East Asia.
At present, exploration and development of the Savkinsky deposits are a priority for the company, which adopted a long-term plan to achieve these aims. According to it, mining operations are to start in 2025.
That month, drilling began in the region and by March 2021, subsurface exploration of the Savkinsky deposit had been completed. As a result, company staff had collected 10 mineral samples with a combined weight of up to 5 tons. Preliminary estimates showed that high-grade products could be produced from brucite beneficiation.
At present, the physical volumes of assessment are concluded, but the collected data is still being organized. Technological research is conducted in terms of preparation for the development of a feasibility study for temporary exploration conditions.
Successful development and operation of the deposits has encouraged Brucite+ to make a decision to build a plant for processing of concentrated brucite ore in the Russian Far East.
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