First experiments at Russia's SKIF microfocus station to target "invisible" gold deposits and extraterrestrial particle research

On August 19, 2026, the microfocus station, one of the first-stage experimental stations of the Russian SKIF Collective Use Center, announced its initial experimental directions. The station will utilize synchrotron radiation-based analytical techniques to study the elemental composition and structural characteristics of objects, serving fields such as geology, geophysics, microelectronics, and materials science.

At the SKIF opening ceremony, Russian President Vladimir Putin inspected the microfocus station. According to the presentation, the station's first experiments will focus on the exploration and extraction of hard-to-recover gold, platinum, rare earth elements, and oil reserves.

Ore sample research is a critical step in the development of new mineral deposits. By determining the elemental composition of rocks, researchers can more accurately assess deposit reserves, select appropriate extraction methods, and identify promising exploration areas. The microfocus station employs synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence analysis (SRXRF), which enables detection of trace valuable elements in rocks at concentrations as low as 1 mg/tonne without destroying samples, while simultaneously enabling spatial localization of study areas and construction of three-dimensional images of mineral distribution in ore rock samples.

This capability is particularly important for gold deposit development. Currently, placer gold deposits are gradually depleting, and gold content in some ores has dropped to between 1 gram and 0.7 grams per tonne, making exploration and extraction increasingly challenging. One of the first experiments planned at the microfocus station is the study of core samples from the Sukhoi Log gold deposit. This deposit is recognized as one of the world's major gold deposits, with reserves exceeding 2,500 tonnes of gold, hosted in structurally complex black shale formations characterized by diverse ore types and high gold content.

Due to the complex ore composition and diverse modes of gold occurrence, the development of an effective beneficiation scheme for the Sukhoi Log gold deposit has been hindered, slowing the commissioning of the deposit. Researchers plan to use the microfocus station's high-resolution spectroscopic imaging methods to conduct detailed studies of different ore types, aiming to identify previously undiscovered modes of gold occurrence, assess the role of organic matter in gold redistribution and enrichment processes, and provide a basis for optimizing ore beneficiation schemes.

In addition to gold deposit research, the microfocus station also plans to analyze ores from the Norilsk platinum group metal deposits, studying the modes of occurrence of strategic metals in different ore types to improve extraction systems. It will also study rare earth ore samples from the Chuktukon carbonatite deposit to determine the mineral phases and modes of occurrence of useful components required for ore enrichment technologies and comprehensive processing of rare earth element deposits.

Another experimental task of the station is the search for extraterrestrial particles in bottom sediment layers of lakes in the Tunguska Nature Reserve. Previously, researchers discovered anomalous strata dating back to 1908–1909 in sediment cores from lakes in the Tunguska Nature Reserve. These lakes are located approximately 30 to 40 kilometers from the epicenter of the Tunguska event of June 30, 1908, and the associated strata are believed to be linked to the aftermath of the Tunguska meteorite impact.

The integration of equipment and protective structures at the microfocus station is managed by Tomsk Polytechnic University. Organizations involved in the development of scientific research equipment for the station include the Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk State Technical University, and the Institute of Microstructure Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Tomsk Polytechnic University has also engaged more than 150 high-tech enterprises, research institutes, and universities from Kaliningrad, Belgorod, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, and other cities in related collaboration.