On prospects and types of metal-bearing placers at the Arctic coast of the North-East of the USSR

Abstract

Analysis of the Chokurdakh and Ryveem placer fields (North-East of the USSR) revealed the continental (and not marine) origin of coastal area placers. Compasion between geological conditions of the placer fields and those of Nome region (Western Alaska) confirms that the main gold reserve belongs to continental tills. The lowest horizons of the Chokurdakh and especially Ryveem fields seem to be of no connection with valley net and can be cosidered as a special type of plain alluvial placers formed for a very long time (tens millions years), the sediments being eroded and deposited over and over. The placers finding out is a searching task which requires boring of territory (or aquatory) with rationally located grid of bore-holes. The plain placers are to be most prospective in spite of the difficulties of their finding.