Heads of RosGeo and Ministry of Natural Resources discussed the prospects for development of Koskol group of kaolin fields

Kaolin is a white refractory clay, a raw material for the fabrication of ceramic products, paper, cardboard, cosmetics, rubber and plastic products, artificial fabrics. Currently, the needs of national industry for high-quality kaolin are met by imports from the Ukraine, Kazakhstan, USA and UK.

Koskol kaolin-promising area in Orenburg region was discovered by specialists of Votemiro Company in 2005-2008 during the mapping activities within the additional site explorations. The works of survey stage were performed in the area in 2011-2013.

In 2018-2019 the specialists of RosGeo subsidiary performed a significant scope of field survey and assessment operations: they drilled 220 wells, and made selection and analysis of 1646 samples. In the framework of desk-top processing of the received materials the geologists previously assessed the amount and quality of raw materials in the selected areas, determined its composition and properties. The results of the materials processing allowed Votemiro to make conclusions with respect to availability within Koskol area of large of high-quality kaolin deposits.

“The deposits of eluvial kaolins discovered in the Orenburg region, in accordance with our estimations, are the largest in Russia,” noted Sergey Gorkov, the head of RosGeo. “Further exploration and development of the reserves in Koskol area will allow to resolve the strategic task of creating a full-fledged national mineral and raw material base of high quality eluvial kaolins, reduce the dependence of Russian enterprises on imported raw materials.”

According to the preliminary estimates, the kaolin reserves of C1 + C2 categories within Koskol area are about 400 million tons. Currently, Votemiro is finalizing the report materials on the results of the survey and assessment work for defending in the State Reserves Committee.