Central Research Institute of Geological Prospecting for Base and Precious Metals (TsNIGRI) was founded in 1935 to ensure planned gold output in Russia.

The institute focuses on diamond, precious and base metal mineral base development and reproduction.

TsNIGRI creates scientific fundamentals of deposit forecasting, prospecting, evaluation and exploration; develops methods, procedures and technologies of geological prospecting, deposit and ore-forming system models, forecasting-prospecting complexes of the main geological and economic deposit types; prepares methodological guidelines to evaluate inferred resources of diamonds, gold, silver, PGM, nickel, copper, lead and zinc.

TsNIGRI revaluates inferred resources, performs geological and economic deposit evaluation, valuation of reserves and resources, estimates and predicts mineral output and use for the near- and long term, substantiates efficient ways to prospect for hardrock minerals which ensure publicly-funded geological exploration planning. It provides scientific and methodological support of federal geological prospecting and subsurface use monitoring.

TsNIGRI is engaged in developing long-term forecasts of national economy’s mineral support, program- and purpose-oriented systems of mineral base reproduction, methods and procedures to evaluate and revaluate inferred resources and evaluating national mineral security.

TsNIGRI represents the Russian Federation at an international level. It deals with issues within the scope of the Russian Mininstry of Natural Resources and Rosnedra. Its international activity includes participation in intergovernmental commission work and international meetings.

In coordination with Rosnedra, TsNIGRI supports work organization and implementation for foreign companies and their representatives operating in Russia or planning geological exploration within it, organizes international geological conferences and field trips in Russia and participates in geological conferences and seminars abroad.

TsNIGRI greatly contributed to highly qualified geological personnel training. Since 1967, a total of 293 theses (including 49 D.Sc. and 244 Ph.D.) were supported by the institute’s Treatise Boards. The institute’s Treatise Board supports Ph.D. and D.Sc. theses, their specialization is “Geology, nonfuel mineral prospecting and minerageny” (geology and mineralogy).

Since 2000, about 100 monographs and textbooks written by TsNIGRI employees have been released, hundreds of articles have been published in periodicals. The results of scientific studies were reported at 59 international and 88 Russian congresses, conferences, forums, scientific discussions. Since 1984, TsNIGRI specialists have regularly made presentations at the International Geological Congress sessions.

Within this timeframe, state rewards were awarded to 14 TsNIGRI employees, 23 employees became laureates of the Russian government prizes (5 of them – twice), 361 employees received industry rewards.

The institute has unique information resources: books and journals – 90,000; R&D and mineral exploration reports – 13,000; geological maps – 100,000; museum’s stone material depository – 4,000 units.

TsNIGRI is a co-founder of “Otechestvennaya Geologia” (“Domestic Geology”) and “Rudy i Metally” (“Ores and Metals”) journals. These journals are included in the list of top reviewed scientific journals, they are indexed in international professional GeoRef и Сhemical Abstracts databases.

At present, the institute’s staff includes 14 Doctors of Science and 43 Philosophy Doctors, 6 full members and corresponding members of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences and the International Academy of Mineral Resources as well as 6 laureates of state prizes (Russian government and Mingeo USSR prizes), 20 honorary subsurface exploring workers, 45 excellent subsurface exploring workers and 3 honoured geologists of the Russian Federation.

The unique character and high level of scientific and methodical developments, their practical orientation determine current demand for the institute scientific potential by geological prospecting companies. The accumulated information resources, intellectual potential and complex nature of studies ensure TsNIGRI’s professional and efficient activity.