Rare Metal—Titanium Placer Deposits in the East European and West Siberian Megaprovinces of Russia: Genesis, Geological Characteristics, Mineralogy, and Significance in the Titanium and Zirconium Mineral Resource Base

Titanium and zirconium are critical metals in many products important to the world economy and technologies. Countries in the former Soviet Union (FSU), such as Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan, have significant reserves of these metals sufficient for the development of own mineral resource base. While the world’s main resources of titanium and zirconium feedstock are concentrated mainly in the beach/marine and eolian dune deposits on the present-day coasts, resources in FSU countries are associated with ancient (Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic) coastal-marine and alluvial placer deposits. Genesis of some placers is discussed. There are two main metallogenic structures in the studied area: East European Megaprovince located within the East European platform (Russia and Ukraine) and West Siberian Megaprovince, which includes the West Siberian Platform (Russia) and North Kazakhstan.