PROSPECTS OF INDUSTRIAL ORE-BEARING OF ZHYRYCHI ORE OCCURRENCE

Abstract

Based on the analysis of geological exploration materials, geological and economic reassessment of the copper ore occurrence in Zhyrychi (Volyn ore region) was carried out, including the recalculation of reserves and unproved resources. As it turned out, during the exploration process, the reserves and unproved resources were significantly exaggerated, which misleads potential investors. This was primarily due to the wrong interpretation of the geological structure of the deposit, shape and size of ore bodies. The considerable horizontal length of ore bodies, which at a thickness of 1–3 m extend for several kilometers (up to 4–5 km), raises great doubts. In our view, they are represented mainly by lenticular bodies of relatively short length (the first tens up to the first hundreds of meters). According to our calculations, the unproved resources of copper of category P1 are 220.4 thousand tons, which is four times smaller than in the relevant exploration materials. Reserves of copper of category C2 and the unproved resources of precious metals should be excluded from the calculation as unreasonable and unreliable. The calculation of technical and economic indicators of copper-ore occurrence in Zhyrychi indicates the weak economic efficiency of its probable operation, which should be taken into account when considering investing in this object.