Vestnik MGTU (Mar 2019)
The first find of diamond on the Sredny and Rybachy Peninsulas in the north-eastern Baltic Shield
Abstract
The regular features of the region's spatial-temporal evolution have been discussed. Based on geodynamic analysis and the time scale of the crust formation in the eastern Baltic Shield, it is defined, that the most promising search areas for diamond-bearing rocks are intersections of deep lithospheric faults and discovered belts of possible diamond-bearing kimberlitic magmatism. The paper suggests the most promising search areas for diamond-bearing kimberlitic explosion pipes that can be united in the single diamond-bearing Norwegian-Mesensky belt. Prospecting for diamonds was carried out in the area of the Rybachy and Sredny Peninsulas in 2005–2007. Detailed decoding of large-scale aerial photographs and in situ measuring of fractures in the northern margin of the Sredny Peninsula allowed defining prospective intersection nodes of deep faults. Heavy mineral concentrate has been sampled here and indicated diamonds and associated minerals. They can suggest either native wash-out origins, or immediate scouring of Paleo-marine terraces that used to be rich in these minerals. No magmatic explosion pipes of the kimberlitic composition have been found here. It can be due to a lack of geological data on the region obtained by large-scale geophysical methods. The diamond finds have made it possible to recommend enhancing such investigations and paying more attention to this issue. We take into account that the Riphean sedimentary complexes of the Rybachy and Sredny Peninsulas are formations of the passive continental margin at that time and the watershed of the Musta-Tunturi Range is close to the study area. Based on that, we suggest that the matter transfer was not significant, just first km or, probably, first tens of km. Therefore, bedrocks of diamond-bearing explosion pipes should be prospected for close to the location of the diamond find.
Keywords
