IVS Joint Venture, Saint-Petersburg, Russia:
S. P. Nagaeva, Head of Mineralogy Research Laboratory, SPNag@yandex.ru
A. S. Sizykh, Deputy Head of Mineralogy Research Laboratory

Saint-Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg, Russia:
S. V. Petrov, Associate Professor, Candidate of Geologo-Mineralogical Sciences

Gold, silver and platinum group metals (PGM) are highly valuable minerals. Russia possesses substantial though gradually depleting reserves of PGM. One of the promising platinum-bearing provinces is the Voronezh Region. Noble metals are the most important associated components in Elanskoe deposit ore, and their extraction may enhance profi tability of the deposit development. As regards preparability of Elanskoe deposit ore samples according to the research undertaken by IVS, flotation recovery of PGM in bulk concentrate makes from 40.3 to 65.3%. Gold recovery is somewhat higher, 59.3–72.3%, and even higher is silver recovery, from 73.5 to 90.1%. Admixture of noble metals in nickel and copper concentrates is a favorable sign, which can essentially increase value of these products. For this reason, it was studied how noble metals were distributed in ore of Elanskoe deposit. The Mineralogy Research Laboratory, IVS, analyzed samples of Cu–Ni ore of Elanskoe deposit using methods of gravity and magnetic concentration. The resultant material was taken for the detailed exploration and detection of noble minerals. The analysis was performed on one-layer polished sections and briquettes. The polished sections and briquettes were manufactured on a special grinding-and-polishing machine and then were examined using high-end polarization microscope Leica DM4500P with digital camera Leica DFC490. The optical research findings were processed using specialized program Mineral S7. Microprobe analysis of the polished section and briquettes was implemented with scanning electron microscope VEGA 3LMU (Mineralogy Research Laboratory, IVS) equipped with the system of energydispersive and wave-dispersive microanalysis. The content of platinoids in minerals was determined on electron probe microanalyzer JEOL JXA-8320 (Institute of Precambrian Geology and Geochronology RAS). The analysis of all products recovered has for the first time shown mineral forms of occurrence of platinum group metals, gold and silver, and off ered a detailed description of base metallic minerals. On the ground of the measured contents of elements, the mineral register balance of noble elements has been compiled.

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