New source of noble corundum in Kenya
- 1 — Ph.D. Assistant Professor Saint-Petersburg State Mining Institute (Technical University)
- 2 — President of Company Kennedy International Ltd
- 3 — Geologist of 1st category All-Russian State Research Geological Institute
Abstract
The large-scale occurrence of ruby and sapphire in Kenya is represented by contemporary river-bed and valley alluvial placers. The first ones are characterized by a high content of ruby (up to 10,4 ct/m3), the second type is interesting due to the amount of forecasted resources: up to 2,3 million ct of ruby and 1,2 million ct of sapphire. It turned out to trace the mechanism of corundum concentrations forming, the mineral crystallized in Archean high-alumina gneisses affected by Precambrian basites (ultrabasites), and then survived a complicated way: – ancient eluvium – ancient alluvium – transportation by basaltic Pleistocenic magma – Holocenic weathering crust of volcanites – talus – contemporary alluvium.
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