Lovchorrite Mine, Hackman Valley, Yukspor Mt, Khibiny Massif, Murmansk Oblast, Russiai

Regional Level Types
Lovchorrite Mine	Mine
Hackman Valley	Valley
Yukspor Mt	Mountain
Khibiny Massif	Massif
Murmansk Oblast	Oblast
Russia	Country

"The lovchorrite deposit on Mount Yuksporr was discovered in 1930 by Tatyana Gutkova. The vein series of pegmatites with lovchorrite has a length of 1.8 km and a width of 200-250 m and is represented by steeply dipping pegmatite bodies. Their sizes vary up to 350 meters long and 10 meters wide. Exits to the surface are located both on the top of the mountain and on its steep slopes down to the beds of rivers flowing in the adjacent valleys. The most significant outcrops are located in the middle part of the Gakmana River valley, on the steep western slopes of the mountain.

Exploration and development of the Yukspor lovchorrite deposit lasted from 1930 to 1939. An underground mine was built, the remains of adit horizons of which are clearly visible on the mountainside. In total, about 20,000 tons of ore were mined during the work; some of it is still located at the unloading point at the end of the ore passes; interesting samples are sometimes found in this dump, and a sample with lovchorrite is available to anyone if desired. Lovchorrite is currently attracting industry attention as a possible source of rare earths (yttrium and associated lanthanides), thorium and scandium.

It should be mentioned that these places are the birthplace of another mineral; it was found in 1928 during exploration of the deposit, and in 1932 it was named calcium rinkite, and subsequently calcium rinkite was given the name Götzenite. Götzenite here forms a fine-crystalline aggregate of straw-yellow color, although the true nature of the mineral can only be determined through research. In addition to veins with lovchorrite, in this area there are many veins with various mineralization, whose numerous fragments are found in abundance in the screes, sometimes providing exciting finds."