The Centre for Russian and Central EurAsian Mineral Studies (CERCAMS)

The Centre for Russian and Central EurAsian Mineral Studies (CERCAMS) is a centre for research on the geodynamics and metallogenesis of the former Soviet Union and its neighbouring territories, including China and Mongolia.

Central Asia, Russia and adjacent areas contain vast mineral wealth. In Soviet times many organisations conducted research into and exploration of these resources.

Aims

With the active collaboration of academic institutes in the region, we aim to enhance and supplement the existing knowledge and skills base of researchers/scientists in the former Soviet Union and its neighbouring territories.

collate this data and share it with the academic community
develop state-of-the-art research in metallogenesis and geodynamics of the former Soviet Union and its adjacent territories
serve as a communication node between academic researchers and the mining industry

Rationale

CERCAMS is based at the Museum because:

the Museum is a neutral venue, readily accessible to the international community
our researchers are involved in a number of collaborative research projects across the region
we have a track record in providing grant-funded training and analytical expertise to visiting researchers from the former Soviet Union
delivering bespoke training and capacity building

Products

CERCAMS has developed a variety of commercial products. These by-products of our research include high-quality GIS layers and supporting data.

We produce a range of printed products including:

English language reference field guides
special publications and monographs
metallogenic and geodynamic maps
translations of local language texts

We have also developed a comprehensive atlas covering the central part of the Eurasian lithospheric plate.

To order CERCAMS products please download, complete and post/submit the following forms:

CERCAMS newsletters, publications and maps PDF (79KB)
Mineral deposits database and thematic maps of Central Asia GIS package  PDF (41KB)
Atlas of lithology-paleogeographical, structural, palinspastic and geoenvironmental maps of central Eurasia  PDF (35KB)

Skarn specimen from the Jilau gold deposit, Tajikistan © sample courtesy of Andy Cole

Stockwork specimen from the Jilau gold deposit, Tajikistan © sample courtesy of Andy Cole

Skarn specimen from the Jilau gold deposit, Tajikistan © sample courtesy of Andy Cole

Molybdenum stockwork ore from the Kounrad Cu-Mo porphyry, Kazakhstan

Project summary

Focus: the geodynamics and metallogenesis of the former Soviet Union and its neighbouring territories

Head of CERCAMS

Professor Reimar Seltmann

Museum staff

Professor Reimar Seltmann
Professor Richard Herrington
Dr Chris Stanley
Dr Robin Armstrong
Dr Alla Dolgopolova
Dr Chris Halls
Dr Baruch Spiro

External collaborators

Dr Martin Smith
University of Brighton
Dr Alexander Yakubchuk
Orsu Metals Corporation, London
Dr Axel Müller
Natural History Museum-University of Oslo, Norway
Dr A. Zaytsev
St Petersburg State University
Prof Anthony Naldrett
Royal Holloway, University of London and University of Toronto

Full list of CERCAMS staff, associates and scholarships PDF (44KB)

Related information

Fluid saturation textures

Line rock textured layered pegmatite-aplite zone within amazonite granite from the Etyka tantalum deposit. Transbaikalia, Russia.

Snowball-textured quartz crystals in amazonite granite from the Etyka tantalum deposit. Transbaikalia, Russia.

Unidirectional Solidification Texture (UST): line rock of albite, amazonite, quartz (+ topaz, zinnwaldite) with zoned amazonite megacrysts having albite cores (Etyka, Transbaikalia)