The main tasks of non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises are the extraction and enrichment of metals, as well as their redistribution, and the production of rolled metal and alloys. In the Russian economy, this industry plays a very prominent role. By the number of non-ferrous metal deposits, our country occupies one of the first places in the world.
Primary Sectors
All non-ferrous metals can be divided into two groups: heavy (lead, copper, zinc, tin, etc.) and light (aluminum, magnesium, titanium). Accordingly, enterprises in this industry are divided into two large groups. Also, non-ferrous metallurgy of the country is divided into:
- copper;
- lead-zinc;
- pewter;
- nickel-cobalt;
- aluminum;
- tungsten-molybdenum;
- gold mining;
- silver mining;
- platinum mining;
- titanium-magnesium.
They are part of the structure of such an industry as non-ferrous metallurgy in Russia, as well as diamond mining enterprises.
Geographic conditions
The location of non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises depends on a huge number of various natural and economic factors. However, the most significant can be considered:
- Raw. Most of all, the enterprises of the heavy group depend on where exactly the colored ores lie. Ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy in Russia, as in other countries, is directly dependent on the effectiveness of exploration work .
- Fuel and energy. This factor has a huge impact on the location of factories specializing in the mining and processing of both light and heavy metals.
Copper industry
Non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises of this group in our country are located mainly in the Urals. The Krivogorodsky, Krasnouralsky, Mednogorsky and Sredneuralsky combines are especially distinguished in the territory of this region. They are engaged in copper mining in the city of Revda, Sverdlovsk region, in Gai of the Orenburg region, in Baymak and Sibay (Bashkiria).
There are large enterprises for the extraction and processing of copper in Siberia (the cities of Norilsk and Monchegorsk).
Nickel-cobalt industry
The location of enterprises in this group is very strongly dependent on sources of raw materials. The non-ferrous metallurgy of Russia of this sub-industry is represented mainly by metallurgical plants of such regions as:
- Kola Peninsula. Here, sulphide copper-nickel ores are mainly mined and processed.
- Lower Yenisei. The largest sulfide ore processing plant is located in Norilsk. This enterprise produces platinum, cobalt, nickel, as well as copper and some rare metals.
- Ural. Enterprises in this region specialize mainly in the processing of oxidized ores. They are located in cities such as Orsk, Verkhny Ufaley, Dir.
Lead Zinc Industry
The enterprises of this group are located in:
- North Ossetia (Sadonsky deposit);
- Kemerovo region (Salair);
- Chita region (Nerchinsk deposits);
- Primorsky Territory (Dalnegorsk).
Tin mining industry
The non-ferrous metallurgy of Russia in this sub-sector is oriented mainly to regions consuming finished products. Some enterprises are also located on the route of transportation of concentrated raw materials. This geography of this industry is determined by the fact that tin is dispersed mainly in small deposits. And therefore, in this case, the construction of large factories next to them is impractical. In addition, the raw materials of the tin mining industry are characterized by a high degree of transportability.
The resources of this non-ferrous metal are mainly concentrated in the Far East and Eastern Siberia. The largest enterprises in these regions are considered to be the plants of Solnechny, Sherlovogorsk, Khrustalnensky, and Esa-Khaisky.
Aluminum industry
The main features of this sub-sector include the use by enterprises of only very high-quality raw materials. Boxides are mainly mined:
- in the North-West (Boksitogorsk);
- in the Urals (Severogorsk, Krasnoustinsk, Kamensk-Uralsky).
Large deposits of such raw materials as nepheline are mainly located on the Kola Peninsula (Kirovsk) and in Eastern Siberia (Goryachegorsk, Achinsk).
For the most part, centers for the production of this light metal from sources of raw materials are quite far removed. Aluminum metallurgy in Russia, as very energy-intensive, is represented mainly by enterprises located near sources of low-cost energy - hydroelectric power stations (in Volkhov, Kandalaksha, Volgograd, Bratsk, Krasnoyarsk, Shelekhov, etc.).
Titanium-magnesium industry
The most significant principle of the location of enterprises of this group is also proximity to cheap energy sources. While magnesium processing plants can still be located close to raw material deposits, titanium plants are almost always built near hydroelectric power plants. Mostly centers of non-ferrous metallurgy in Russia of this sub-sector are concentrated in the Urals. Alloy processing plants are usually located in areas where finished products are consumed.
Gold mining industry
This is one of the most significant groups of enterprises in such an industry as non-ferrous metallurgy in Russia. Our country takes 5-6th place in the world in gold mining . In explored reserves, the second. In tsarist Russia, this noble metal was mined and processed mainly in the immediate vicinity of loose deposits. At the moment, most of them are already exhausted. Therefore, the main emphasis is now on the development of primary deposits.
Gold occurs mainly in Siberia, the Far East and the Urals. The main share of its production falls on mines:
- Udereisky. This mine is located in the Krasnodar Territory.
- Solovievsky. This is the oldest and largest mine in the Amur Region specializing in the extraction of bulk gold.
- Nevyanovsky. Also a very old mine discovered in 1813.
- Gradskaya. The first diamond in the history of Russia was discovered at this mine.
- Ksenievsky.
- Condor. This is a relatively new mine discovered in the 60s. Mining here is not only gold, but also platinum.
- Dambuki This is not one, but two whole mines: new and old.
- Altaic. It has been under development for more than 50 years, but there is still enough gold here.
Today the leader of the gold mining industry is Polyus Gold OJSC, which is leading the development in the Irkutsk, Magadan, Amur regions, as well as in the Krasnodar Territory.
Diamond mining
The structure of such an industry as non-ferrous metallurgy in Russia includes, among others, enterprises specializing in the extraction of this expensive mineral. Its main domestic reserves in our country are in Yakutia. The largest enterprises in this region are Yubileynoye and Udachnoe, which account for 75% of all diamonds mined in Russia. Kimberlite pipes also lie in:
- Arkhangelsk region;
- Irkutsk region;
- Krasnoyarsk Territory.
Potentially diamondiferous are the Leningrad region and Karelia.
The most productive are the non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises of Russia in this group, which are developing diamonds in primary deposits. In bulk production, mainly small enterprises carry out production.
Silver industry
The geography of non-ferrous metallurgy of this sub-sector is very, very wide. Silver deposits are being developed in our country in more than 20 regions. Our country ranks first in the world in the extraction of this noble metal. Leading is the Dukatskoye field of the Magadan region.
Platinum mining
Most of this metal in Russia is mined in the Urals. A lot of platinum is also in the Baikal region, on the Taimyr Peninsula and the Kola Peninsula. Promising in this regard are Karelia and the Voronezh region.
Despite the rather difficult economic conditions, the ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy of Russia is a developing and promising industry. In any case, the enterprises of this group for the most part remain profitable. A lot of attention is also given to metallurgical companies by the state.