Located in the remote Khabarovsk region, near the southwest of Okhotsk and southeast of Yakutsk, the Kondyor Massif is known as the mysterious geological wonder of Siberia, Russia with many rare metals.
Satellite image of Kondyor Massif was created by NASA using geological models, providing detailed images from above of the strange circular mountain (NASA photo)
Why did mountains form?
The massif is a giant circle-shaped rock structure with a diameter of 8km, a height of 600m and 7 times larger than a meteor crater in Arizona, USA, which looks like an ancient giant crater when viewed. from above.
Satellite images show that the mountain’s geological structure is “unlike anything else in the world” because within the mountain is a treasure trove of gold, precious stones and platinum.
Many people think that this geological structure is like a giant hole created by a falling meteorite or the remnants of an inactive volcano.
Satellite images show the mountain’s geological structure “unlike anything else in the world”. – Photo: ngooiduatin.vn
However, according to experts, the most likely cause of the formation of this “wonder circle” is the result of molten magma from volcanic rock that crystallized below the surface more than 1 billion years ago, forming a perfect circle.
This structure has also undergone long-term ground erosion.
The Kondyor Massif circular crater, reminiscent of alien traces, is made of rock, more than 8km wide and located at an altitude of 600m above sea level. – Photo: cafef.vn
According to Siberiantimes, there is a stream coming from the center of the Kondyor Massif, which is replenished with water from melting ice and snow on the cliff.
Smaller streams also “contribute” to the Kondyor River, which flows out through a gap to the north of the massif.
The strange mountain is full of “treasures”
Not only a mysterious geological wonder, Kondyor Massif is also known as “treasure mountain” because it contains many precious metals inside. Accordingly, small streams radiating from the rim contain platinum deposits in the form of crystals, ingots and grains along with many other precious metals such as gold and precious stones.
They are considered the ‘best ever found’ in the world.
A 2.5g platinum ore found in Kondyor Massif. – Photo: nguoiduatin.vn
Not stopping there, this rocky mountain also produces a separate mineral called Konderite by experts, which is a mixture of copper, platinum, rhodium, lead and sulphur.
This is also the only place in the world where platinum ore is covered in a layer of extremely valuable gold “coat”.
Gold-encrusted platinum crystal. – Photo: cafef.vn
According to Siberiantimes, plutonium mining in the Kondyor Massif began in 1984.
Platinum crystals from this mass also first appeared at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, USA in 1993. Normally, about 4 tons of platinum are mined here each year.
Small streams radiating from the rim contain platinum deposits in the form of crystals, ingots and beads along with many other precious metals such as gold and precious stones. – Photo: cafef.vn
If you are an explorer, you can only admire this special Kondyor Massif from a distance, in the city of Khabarovsk about 1,100 km from it. Currently, there is no tourist infrastructure and to visit this area, you need to obtain a special permit from the host country government.
