LITHOSPHERE, 2002, No. 16, p. 67

Phosphate mineralization is peculiar to the whole Baltic section of the Lower Cambrian of Belarus, but its distribution is irregular.

Rounded and slightly flat phosphate pebbles and nodules are typical for assorted coarse-grained sand-stones of the Rovno and Lontova strata, and also for the levels inside of intraformational breaks.

Light-yellow and greenish-yellow subrounded grains associated with glauconite are found throughout the section of the Baltic series except for the quartz strata and thinly laminated clayey strata in the upper part of the Lontova horizon.

Euhedral hexagonal crystals of apatite are associated with quartz sandstones in the base of the Vysokoye series, but spherolitic formations - with glauconite-free strata of the Baltic series bottom.

The main source of phosphorus was volcanic rocks of the Vendian, that were exposed in the northeastern part of Podlasie-Brest depression and subjected to denudation. This is confirmed by the predominance of mont-morillonite in the clay material of weathered rocks.

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