Subsidiaries of Russian metal giant Norilsk Nickel & Metallurgical Co. will shortly begin geological exploration of ore deposits in the Russian region of Amur that contain copper, molybdenum and gold, the Amur regional government said Thursday.

The government said that in the past, geological exploration was controlled by the state and was only financed by budget funds, but now private investors had been allowed to explore independently and at their own expense.

Norilsk Nickel will begin exploration of the 200-square kilometer Tagunakhskoe deposit that has reserves estimated at 22,000 metric tons of molybdenum and 17 tons of gold.

Polyus Gold will explore the Arbinskoe deposit where 2 million tons of copper, 200 tons of gold and 50,000 tons of molybdenum are believed to be contained within the 890-square-kilometer area.

Also, Norilsk Nickel's Chita-based subsidiary, the Far Eastern Non-Ferrous Metals Company, will begin exploration of the 370-square-kilometer Takhmtamygdinskoe deposit.

The Amur government said the deposit was believed to contain copper and gold, but there was as yet no estimate of reserves.