In 2011 Polar Marine Geological Expedition successfully carried out the activities on 7 State Agreements made with the department of Depths Exploration, in the continental shelf and in the World Ocean (“MORGEO”). The activity directions traditionally embraced Arctic, Antarctica and the World Ocean. Besides, the subject and research works were carried out on a number of
agreements with institutes VNIIOceangeologiya, AANII and other organisations.
ARCTIC
I. In the fourth quarter of 2011 the works on the State Agreement “State geological map scale 1:1 000 000, T-45-48” (2007-2011) were successfully finished. Based on the field and cameral works a set of State Geological map (scale 1 : 1000 000 ), T-45-48 was made in the GIS form and ready for publishing. The ages, tectonic positions, limits and areas of geological formations are made more precise, including the investigated aquatorium; the boundaries were specified of the ore zones, knots, regions, basins, perspective for the discovery of the raw deposits of various kinds; a modern evaluation was made of probable resources of the main types of minerals, including carbohydrates. The offers were prepared on modification and supplement of Taimyr-Severozemel’skaya serie of leaves of State Geological map – 1000/3. The most significant results are: a) the establishment of the age of dumb Precaembrian thicknesses by means of isotope analysis of detrital zircons, which allowed to significantly modify the region’s general stratigraphic scheme; b) the reevaluation of gold probable reserves by P3 category in ore knots and regions Taimyr peninsula and archipelago Severnaya Zemlaya; c) the specification of the prospects of oil-and-gas content of the Eastern-Kara oil and gas region with the calculation of the probable resources by category D3.
II. In 2011 the works on the State Agreement “Geological additional researches of the North-Western Is-fjord coast and Western Gren fjord coast (archipelago Spitsbergen)” (2010-2012) were continued. By the results of the field and cameral works in 2011 the model of the summary geological map of Is-fjord North-Western coast (scale 1:200 000) was made, as well as the preliminary geological-lithological schemes of Eckman-fjord area and Gren-fjord Western coast (1:50 000), and preliminary schemes, sections and cores, reflecting the structure of the Paeleozoic basic - ultrabasic magmatites in the Eastern part of Eckman-fjord area and Middle-Triassic phosphorite thicknesses on Gren-fjord Eastern coast. On Eckman-fjord area a new (the third) dyke of alkaline-ultrabasic magmatites was discovered and investigated. It proves the presence of an independent kimberlitoid field in the mentioned region, with possible prospects of diamonds. În the Gren-fjord Western coast the position of the phosphorite packages in the section was significantly specified, which would permit to make more precise evaluation of the predicted phosphorite resources of the investigated region.
ANTARCTICA
I. In the 4-th quarter of 2011 the works on the State Agreement project “Geological-geophysical research and evaluation of mineral and raw potential of the Antarctica depths and marginal seas (the Eastern part of Durville sea, mountaneous regions of Princess Elizabeth Land) in 55 RAE” (2009-2011) were successfully finished. The marine and land field works in the Eastern and Central Antarctica were carried out, including marine seismic works MOB OGT and MGD with accompanying gravity-magnetic measurements, land geological works, area aerogeophysical survey, sonar and seismic sounding of the ice thickness. A set of geophysical maps, schemes and sections of Durville Sea basin was made up (scale 1 : 2 500 000), geological maps of Westfalle oasis (scale 1 : 100 000) with detailed schemes of the key sites were constructed; by the aerogeophysical survey results a final set of geophysical maps was made of the Coast of Leopold and Astrid (Princess Elizabeth land) (scale 1 : 500 000); radilocation profiles (scale 1 : 1 000 000) were constructed reflecting the main characteristics of the subglacial radical relief in the route belt station Progress – station Vostok; the depth of the consolidated basement was determined in the Southern part of the lake hollow Vostok. The most important results are: a) on the investigated area of the Durville Sea basin (230 000 km2) the amount of sedimentary material was calculated and turned to be no less than a million km3 , which allows to evaluate the hydrocarbon potential; b) in Westfalle oasis the genesis, scale, minerageny of platinum metals ore manifestations related to the ‘Ring’ group norites were specified; c) the increase of new aerogeophysical information on the Coast of Leopold and Astrid region (Princess Elizabeth Land) turned out to be 15 000 êì2.
II. In 2011 the field and cameral works on the State Agreement “Geological-geophysical research and evaluation of mineral-raw materials of the Antarctica depths and its marginal seas (the Eastern part of Weddel Sea, mountainous regions of Mac-Robertson Land and Princess Elizabeth Land) in 56 RAE» (2010-2012) were fulfilled. The marine and land field works in the Eastern and Central Antarctica were carried out, including marine seismic works MOB OGT and MGD with accompanying gravity-magnetic measurements, land specialized geological works and a complex aerogeophysical survey. A set of preliminary geophysical maps, schemes and sections of the Eastern part of Weddel Sea (scale 1 : 2 500 000) was made; the preliminary geological maps of Porthos ridge and mountains of Cosmonauts (scale 1 : 200 000) were constructed; by aerogeophysical survey results a preliminary set of geophysical maps was made up (scale 1 :500 000) of Princess Elizabeth Land central region. It was stated that the Eastern part of Weddel Sea unlike the previously investigated regions is not perspective as for carbohydrates. The increase of new aerogeophysical information turned out to be 15 000 km2.
III. In the 3-d quarter of 2010 the works were started on the State Agreement “Geological-geophysical research and evaluation of mineral-raw potential of the Antarctica depths and its marginal seas (Prudos bay, mountainous regions of Princess Elizabeth Land) in 57 RAE» (2011-2013). The design estimates were worked out and confirmed, the cleanup activities and pre-field works were done. The geological-geophysical research grade maps were constructed, as well as the preliminary geological maps, decipherment schemes, schemes of the planned routes, profiles and detailed geological sections in all the working regions. The detailed analisis of the collected geological-geophysical information allowed to design the optimal schemes of the geological and geophsical works in the course of the forthcoming field researches.
THE ATLANTIC OCEAN
I. In the 4-th quarter of 2011 the works were successfully finished on the State Agreement “The searching works on the site “20° 08 ´N” and geological-geophysical investigations with the aim to discover the GPS ore manifestations in MAR axial zone (in the limits 19° 15 ´– 20° 05´ N.) (2009-2011). The marine works carried out in 2010 in MAR axial zone included hydrophysical sounding with hydrochemical sampling, geoacoustic profiling by the near-bottom hydrosonar, television profiling, bottom sampling and experimental electric exploring works. By the results of the work a set was made of the final maps (scale 1 : 10 000) characterizing geological structure of “20°´08´ N” (the ore field “Zenith-Victoria”) and a set of the final maps (scale 1 : 200 000), characterizing geological and geomorphological structure of the bottom site of MAR rift valley within the limits 19° 15´ – 20° 05´ N. (with a detailization site on the newly discovered ore field “Peterburgskoye”). The evaluations were made of the probable resources of “Zenith-Victoria” ore field and “Peterburgskoye” ore field by category P2 . The recommendations were offered on the advisability and succession of the further activities. The most significant results are: a) the discovery of two new ore bodies in the area of Zenith-Victoria” ore field and a considerable, practically double increase of the field resources compared to the earlier evaluations; b) the discovery of a new ore field “Peterburgskoye” (19° 52´N.), confirming high mineragenic perspectives of the mentioned of MAR axial zone (19 °15´ – 20° 05´ N.)
II. In 2011 the field and cameral works were made on State Contract “Geological investigation of the MAR axial zone with the experimental-methodic works on the usage of new field research methodics” (2011-2013). The marine works were carried out in MAR axial zone in the limits 13° 15´ – 13 °37´ N and included hydrophysical sounding with the hydrochemical sampling, geoacoustic profiling by the bottom hydrosonar, television profiling, bottom sampling and experimental-methodic electric exploring works. In the limits of the site the preparation was made for the tests in shallow waters of new national developments for the deep-water boring (the boring rig TK-15). By the results of the marine works a set of preliminary maps (scale 1 : 200 000) was made. The maps characterize geological and geomorphological structure Og MAR rift valley bottom site in the mentioned limits. A new ore field “Irinovskoye’ (13° 19´ N.) and two nearby ore manifestations were discovered, whose scales have not been evaluated yet. The new discoveries confirm the good perspectives of the investigated MAR axial zone site (13° 15´ – 13° 37´ N. ) and increase the possibility of the discovery of new ore objects in this region.