Title

Riphean silicites (stages, features, siliceous belts, and oil and gas content)

Geological position of the pre­Phanerozoic silicites forming characteristic siliceous­carbonate parageneses are considered. Main features of ancient silica formation and major development epochs and erosion cycles are identified in the Riphean stratotype. Precambrian siliceous belts are distinguished, and spatial development of silicites on the margin of vast continent is traced exemplified by one of them for the first time. Geological potential of siliceous nodules is used; this made it possible to improve the method of dismemberment of ancient carbonate complexes. The study of structure and composition of the Late Precambrian siliceous­carbonate complexes revealed their differences from the Phanerozoic analogs. Siliceous­carbonate parageneses form an independent geological formation, the Riphean representatives of which are promising for discovery of significant oil and gas accumulations.
Keywords: cherts, markers, concretions, chert belts, epochs, stages, breaks, Riphean, oil and gas bearing.