Rare metal–titanium placer metal potential of Cambrian–Ordovician sandstones in the northwestern Russian Plate

The geological setting of the region and lithology of Cambrian–Ordovician sandstones in the northwestern Russian Plate are generally favorable for the formation of associated rare metal–titanium (titanium–zirconium) fossil complex coastal-marine placers, but such deposits have not been discovered in this region so far. Investigation of reference objects in the Russian Plate, reconstruction of lithodynamic settings of the Cambrian–Ordovician paleobasin, and study of the geology, lithology, and mineralogy of rock sequence in this region made it possible to estimate prospects of the discovery of such placers and forecast promising areas with placer mineralization. Our data suggest the presence of shallow-marine placers beneath the unconsolidated sedimentary cover on the southeastern slope of the Baltic Shield.