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15 July 2020
Yuzhny Island, Novaya Zemlya Archipelago: The First Ore Mining Company Started Engineering Survey and Geologic Exploration
The Pavlovskoye ore field is one of the largest polymetallic ore sites in the Bezymyansky ore cluster. The deposit area is boarded by the coastal part of the Barents Sea at a distance of 16 to 18 km from a deep-sea bay that can accept marine ships with a draught of 6 to 8 thousand tons.
This work is carried out under the project for the industrial development of the Pavlovskoye lead-and-zinc deposit to assess its mineral resources and ore reserves in line with the international JORC code. This will increase the project economic attractiveness, raise additional investment, and ensure entering into agreements with key partners, including long-term contracts for the supply of products from the Pavlovskoye deposit. The engineering survey is conducted to find optimal technical solutions as part of preparing the Pre-Feasibility Study, which will reduce the capital costs of the Arctic project implementation.
The engineering survey and geologic exploration on request of The First Ore Mining Company, JSC are carried out by RUSBURMASH, JSC (a specialized company of ARMZ Uranium Holding Co. for geologic exploration and drilling operations). About 100 specialists of RUSBURMASH, JSC were delivered by plane and helicopters to the Yuzhny Island; building materials, 4 drilling rigs, 3 motorboats, and 15 units of auxiliary equipment were delivered by barge. During the preparation for the field season, two shift camps were built: on the shore of the Bezymyannaya Gulf and in the territory of the deposit itself. Today, the work has already begun: the first 11-meter deep well is completed in the Bezymyannaya’s water area.
In total, drillers must drive 45 wells with lifting oriented cores. The core orientation at each drilling interval will be performed using Reflex ACT-IQ equipment. At the end of the works, the wells, drilling sites, and access roads will be reclaimed.
Igor Semyonov, the Executive Director of The First Ore Mining Company, JSC, stressed that «Our priorities are an unconditional compliance with the Russian environmental legislation and the minimal impact on the environment at all stages of the project. The proposed design solutions will allow us for working in the most environmentally friendly way.»
2020 field season is the final stage of the deposit exploration. In 2013–2015, unique exploration works were carried out in the Russia’s northernmost lead-and-zinc deposit. The results of these activities allowed to assess the lead-and-zinc ore reserves, obtain information on their technological properties, on the hydrogeological and mining conditions of the deposit development. Based on the exploration results, the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use (Rosnedra) approved the permanent exploration conditions and reserves of silver-containing lead-and-zinc ores of industrial grades for their open-cut mining. This data was the basis for designing the largest mining enterprise in the Arctic region.
The engineering surveys and geologic exploration at the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago should be completed before October 1st.
