Geological setting and lithological features of Cenozoic sediments in Ebelyakh Bay (Laptev Sea)

Resumo

Materials of bottom sampling and drilling on Ebelyakh Bay, the Cape Svyatoi Nos area, and southern part of the Dmitry Laptev Strait by researchers from VNIIOkeangeologiya during the past 60 years and data on the geological setting of the Chokhchur–Chokurdakh zone (Ebelyakh Bay included) were also examined. The geology and lithology of Cenozoic sediments in the water area of the bay and adjacent land were scrutinized to elucidate mineral resources in the Earth’s interior in the study area. Analysis of the Upper Jurassic–Holocene summary section shows that terrigenous material was derived from (i) coastal zones composed of granitoid or contact metamorphic rocks, (ii) Quaternary friable sediments of marine terraces and beaches, (iii) submarine rises, and (iv) river discharge. It is shown that cassiterite is associated with the Pliocene–lower Pleistocene Serkino horizon and Holocene sediments. New promising cassiterite areas have been revealed. The results suggest that prospecting for tin placers should be continued at Ebelyakh Bay.