Phase state of the carbonaceous matter in the metalliferous shales of the Russian Far East

Carbonaceous matter (CM) in shales of some deposits and occurrences of the Russian Far East has been studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray phase and differential thermal analyses. It was shown that the carbonaceous matter in the high-temperature shales (amphibolite facies) of the Soyuznoe deposit is represented by holocrystalline graphite, while the low-temperature (greenschist facies) shales of the Sutyr and Kimkan sequences contain mainly nanocrystalline graphite. It was substantiated for natural objects that platinum is assimilated by graphite at high temperatures. This should be taken into account in planning the prospecting works, as well as in developing a technique for enrichment of carbonaceous ore, because high-temperature carbonaceous shales with holocrystalline graphite are promising for Pt, unlike their low-temperature analogues with nanocrystalline graphite.