Russia ? Preliminary research results released by Russian scientists are allowing the country to claim 460,000 square miles of potentially energy-rich Arctic territory, the Natural Resources Ministry said Thursday.

“Preliminary, September 20, results of an analysis of the Earth’s crust show that the structure of the underwater Lomonosov mountain chain is similar to the world’s other continental shelves, and the ridge is therefore part of Russia’s landmass,” the ministry said.

Russia’s Oceanology Scientific Research Institute had undertaken two Arctic expeditions – to the Mendeleyev underwater chain in 2005 and to the Lomonosov ridge in the summer 2007 – on orders from the ministry to back the claims to the area believed to contain vast oil and gas reserves and other mineral riches likely to become accessible in future decades due to man-made global warming.

Under international law, the five Arctic Circle countries – the U.S., Canada, Denmark, Norway and Russia – each have a 200 mile economic zone in the Arctic Ocean at the moment.