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The urgency of this review is conditioned by the expediency of generalization of published materials on geological features of complex ore deposits localized in sedimentary basins of many regions of the world. The purpose of the study is to compose a review of the papers published in Russia and in foreign countries during the last 25–30 years. These papers should be concerned with the issues of the placement, geological structure and Mineralogy of non-traditional deposits of precious and non-ferrous metals. This should be taken into account when forecasting such objects in appropriate geological conditions. Research methodology: the review is based on the analysis of the published data. This information characterizes unconventional complex deposits of precious and non-ferrous metals of different geological provinces of the world with varying degrees of completeness and reliability. Results. Peculiar complex polymetallic deposits of noble and non-ferrous metals are localized in sedimentary basins of many regions of the world. The ores of these deposits include Mo, Ni, Cu, Zn, U, Se, and V. They are accompanied by abnormally high concentrations of noble metals, including platinum group metals, among them Pt and Pd usually prevail. The presence of ore-bearing terrigenous carbon formations of different ages in the anoxic parts of the shelf of the inland sea basins or in marginal-continental sea basins is common to all known provinces with complex polymetallic deposits. The basins maintain a fundamentally similar paleotectonic position: they are part of the covers of ancient platforms or of the upper parts of their foundations. Summary. The most detailed information is available on deposits of Southern China, Canada, and Onega deflection in Karelia. The information about precious-metal mineralization of the Verkhnekamsk salt deposit is also presented. The data on the likely prospects for similar mineralization of some structures of the Eastern edge of the East European platform are given as well.