Geochemical anomaly of cobalt and nickel in the area of Chernogorsky jewelry scapolite deposit, Central Pamir (Tajikistan)

The Chernogorsky jewelry scapolite deposit is located in the eastern part of the Central Pamir tectonic zone (the eastern part of the Republic of Tajikistan). A geochemical anomaly of cobalt and nickel of more than 55,000 m2 was identified in the territory of the deposit. Within the anomaly, the metals were detected in all minerals, 95% of which belong to non-metallic minerals: olivine, enstatite, hornblende, phlogopite, calcite, dolomite, plagioclase, scapolite, potassium feldspar, nepheline, and sodalite. The deposit ore minerals comprise ilmenite, titanite, rutile, magnetite, hematite, pentlandite, pyrrhotite, and pyrite. The cobalt content is more than 20 times higher than its crustal abundance, and that of nickel is 10 times above its crustal abundance. It is recommended that the Ministry of Geology and the Ministry of Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan conduct the prospect evaluation to assess the prognostic resource potential for these elements. This allows to consider the deposit rocks (harzburgite, amphibolite and albitite) as cobalt-nickel geochemical anomaly. This anomaly should be the subject of greenfield exploration for the elements. The deposit monomineral category may change to complex polymineral and polymetal category. This will significantly increase its investment attractiveness and economic feasibility.