V.A. Stepanov

Research Geotechnological Centre, FEB RAS, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, 683002; e-mail: nigtc@ksc.iks.ru

We surveyed certain giant, large, average and small sulfide copper-nickel deposits located in the east of Euroasia. They belong to the following nickeliferous magmatic formations: gabbro-picrite-dolerite (Norilsk, Talnakh, Kolotonk), gabbro-pyroxenite-peridotite (Dzhin'chuan', Khunchilin,Yoko-Dovyrenskoye), pyroxenite-peridotite (Kingash) and regenerated diorite-norite-pyroxenite-troctolite (Shanuch, Samkhe, Puyundon). Copper-nickel deposits formed during the long time line starting from the early Proterozoic (Kingash) till Mesozoic (Norilsk, Talkhan, Khunchilin) and Cenozoic (Shanuch). The largest deposits are confined to the cratons' margins, average and small deposits are confined to the middle massifs and to the orogens that frame cratons. The oldest deposits are located inside the intrusions with a high content of magnesium in comparison with the younger ones.

Keywords: nickel, copper, deposit, sulfide, magmatic formation, Eurasia.