This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of the publication is the sole responsibility of City of Lieksa and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.
In addition to forest resources, the Muezersky District possesses quite rich water and mineral resources. Geologically, the territory is little studied, but the minerals and deposits known to date are commercially significant, and can be used in construction.
Iron ore deposits. The Kezhozerskoye deposit of ferruginous magnetitic quartzites has been explored in detail. The reserve volume (65.5 million ton of ore) is medium. The ores are lean (average iron content is 32%), but easily dressed. There are no plans to start extracting operations in the deposit because of the significant depth of occurrence and the banded fabric, for which reasons the reserves were classified as currently non-commercial. The Mezhozerskoye deposit lies within the Gimolskoye ore field with inferred iron reserves, which are estimated at 200 million ton.
High-silica quartzites. The Metchangjarvi deposit (20 km away from the Sukkozero village) is known for high silicon oxide content (98.5%). High purity quartzite varieties are in great demand. Metchangjarvi quartzites are a valuable multi-purpose raw material used to produce industrial silicon, fluxes and crushed stone. Quartzites can be used also to manufacture ferrosilicon, substituting the more expensive quartz. An important sphere of application for quartzites is the manufacture of acid fire-resistant goods, silicate bricks. One of the most efficient uses of quartzites is the production of lining materials for induction furnaces for cast iron, steel and bronze foundry.
Boulder-gravel-sand material. The district has two medium-size (Gimolskoye and Lendery) and four small-size deposits. Total known reserves amount to 9.4% of the republic's reserves.
Building and facing stone. Surveys carried out in 1976-1964 by the Institute of Geology, Karelian Research Centre, Russian Academy of Science revealed several deposits of facing and building stone. The best opportunities for recovering stone blocks are offered by the large granodiorite deposits at Norarvijarvi and Kolotjarvi. Crushed stone can be most efficiently recovered from the gneiss-granite deposit of medium size near the village of Tumba.
The district contains some deposits of argillaceous raw materials,
which reserves have not been quantified. Information on mineral resources available in the Muezersky District and industrially recoverable is summarised in tab. 1.
Table. 1 Mineral resources of the Muezersky District
