Prospects for the industrial development of the Karasug carbonatite rare earth deposit (Republic of Tyva, Russian Federation)

DOI: 10.47765/0869-5997-2026-10001

Abstract

The Karasug carbonatite deposit contains large reserves of complex iron-fluorite-barytestrontium-rare earth ores composed of useful minerals for more than 80%. Geological exploration of the  deposit was conducted in 1947–1954, 1979–1984, and 2004–2006. Primary ores of the deposit are represented by intrusive siderite carbonatites containing on average (wt.%): siderite – 61; baryte and barytocelestine – 20; fluorite – 12; pyrite – 3; bastnaesite (bastnäsite) – 1–1.5; quartz – 1–2; apatite – 0.5; molybdenite – 0.03; uraninite – 0.02. During the autometasomatism stage, the carbonatites were locally enriched in hematite (up to 5–30%) and bastnaesite (second generation) (up to 1.5–2.5%). The upper sections of the ore lodes, from the surface to a depth of 100–300 m, are represented by an "iron cap" composed of oxidized complex ores. Among the oxidized ores, a "rich" block with a total rare-earth oxide grade of 1.5 to 3.1%, averaging 2.13%, was outlined for the priority development. A technological process flow was developed for processing primary and oxidized ores to produce an assortment of products including the iron, baryte, fluorite, and bastnaesite concentrates; polyrite; and chemical compounds of barium, strontium, fluorine, molybdenum, and uranium. The mineral deposit is situated in favorable geological conditions for the open-pit mining and is connected to the city of Kyzyl by a highway and power line. If developed, the Karasug deposit will have many competitive advantages over other rare earth deposits in the Russian Federation.