Geological Exploration Stage
Kapitanka Project was discovered in 1952 during the delineation of the Kapytanovskyi massif.
106 inclined holes by 18,854 m were drilled in 1953-1958 during prospecting and exploration of silicate nickel and chrome deposits in the Middle Pobuzhzhia region. The reserves (resources) of silicate nickel and chrome ores within the central part of the Kapitanka Project were estimated as C1 category.
During the prospecting for nickel ores in the linear weathering crust of the Middle Pobuzhzhia in 1985-1988 within the southern part of the project, massive and disseminated chrome ores were identified, which are a continuation of the ores of the central part of the deposit, and prospective resources of P1 – category were estimated.
Detailed geological exploration work was carried out in the southern part of the Kapitanka Project from 1993 to 2010. 99 inclined holes by 23,650.1 m were drilled in 23 profiles. 4 ore bodies of chrome ores and 3 bodies of silicate nickel ores were identified, and the reserves of chrome were estimated in C1 and C2 categories. Pilot metallurgical tests were carried out.