Geoinformation forecast and exploration model of the prospective Tuyukan uranium ore site
S.A. Ustinov1, V.A. Petrov1, N.A. Grebenkin2, I.A. Kochkin1, A.M. Chepchugov1, 2
1 Institute of Geology of Ore Deposits, Petrography, Mineralogy and Geochemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
2 All-Russian Research Institute of Mineral Raw Materials named after. N.M. Fedorovsky, Moscow, Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №6/ 2025 p. 138-145
Abstract: A local forecast and exploration model has been created based on application of modern geoinformation technologies for the promising Tuyukan uranium ore site located in the Mamsko-Chuisky district of the Irkutsk region. This model is the final result of the authors' work on forecast and metallogenic multi-scale mapping of new, mainly uranium, ore objects within the considered area. Processing of heterogeneous Earth remote sensing data in combination with the author's methods of structural-geomorphological and tectonophysical analysis was carried out using GIS technologies at the previous stages of the study, for the part of O-49-XII state geological map at the scale of 1:200 000 that includes the considered site. Criteria for localization of uranium mineralization were identified based on the results, and a regional weight-based forecast and exploration model of the territory was created. Analysis of this model made it possible to clearly identify the Tuyukan site as a promising asset. Based on the regional forecast and exploration model and additional information obtained as the results of various surveys during the geological exploration stage, additional forecast criteria were formulated and visualized in the GIS for the promising Tuyukan site, which made it possible to create a local weight-based forecast and exploration model mainly focused on searching for uranium deposits. As the result, promising areas were localized within the site and recommendations for further exploration work were formulated.
Keywords: geoinformation technologies, forecast and exploration model, metallogeny, uranium, structures of ore fields and deposits, Patom Highlands, Tonodskoye Upland, Tuyukan deposit
Acknowledgements: The research was supported by the Russian Science Foundation Grant No. 24-27-00218, https://rscf.ru/project/24-27-00218/.
For citation: Ustinov S.A., Petrov V.A., Grebenkin N.A., Kochkin I.A., Chepchugov A.M. Geoinformation forecast and exploration model of the prospective Tuyukan uranium ore site. Russian Mining Industry. 2025;(6):138–145. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2025-6-138-145
Article info
Received: 02.09.2025
Revised: 27.10.2025
Accepted: 17.11.2025
Information about the authors
Stepan A. Ustinov – Cand. Sci. (Geol. & Mineral.), Deputy Director for Research, Leading Researcher, Institute of Ore Deposit Geology, Petrography, Mineralogy and Geochemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6679-9607; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Vladislav A. Petrov – Corresponding Member of RAS, Dr. Sci. (Geol. & Mineral.) Director, Institute of Ore Deposit Geology, Petrography, Mineralogy and Geochemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Nikolay A. Grebenkin – Cand. Sci. (Geol. & Mineral.), Head of the Department of Uranium and Rare Metals, All-Russian Research Institute of Mineral Resources named after N.M. Fedorovsky, Moscow, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Igor A. Kochkin – Postgraduate Student, Junior Researcher, Institute of Ore Deposit Geology, Petrography, Mineralogy and Geochemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Artur M. Chepchugov – Postgraduate Student, Laboratory Assistant-Researcher, Institute of Ore Deposit Geology, Petrography, Mineralogy and Geochemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Engineer, All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Mineral Resources named after N.M. Fedorovsky, Moscow, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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