Microstructural analysis for predicting the morphology and spatial arrangement of chromite bodies

Shortage of chromite raw materials in Russia at present time encouraged the use of methods, which have not been previously used in exploration and prediction of ore bodies. Chromite deposits of the Urals are characterized by a very complex structure. For prediction of the declination of ore bodies it is possible to use the observed relationship between the structural elements of ultrabasites and the preferential orientation of the axes of the optical indicatrix of olivine. In the majority of cases the Ngaxis of the indicatrix are parallel statistically to the linearity of chromespinelide. An important structural element is the linearity, which is presented by subparallel chains of isometric grains of chromespinelide or elongated grains of chromespinelide oriented in the same direction. The results of microstructural analysis of the enclosing rocks and measurements of the preferential orientation axes of the optical indicatrix of olivine on Yujnopogureyskoe deposit has allowed to predict the decline of the ore bodies. Information about the spatial position and morphology of the ore bodies allows effective planning of the exploration work.