Mineralization of the Evevpenta Epithermal Silver-gold ore Occurrence (Kamchatka, Russia)

The Evevpenta epithermal low-sulfidation ore occurrence is located in the northeastern part of the Central Kamchatka volcanic belt (Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia). It is hosted by andesitic lavas and pyroclastic rocks of the Middle Miocene-Early Pliocene. The ore bodies are comprised of quartz and adularia-quartz veins and stockworks, as well as hydrothermal breccias. Ore bodies are accompanied by argillic wall-rock alteration and peripheral propylitic alteration. Gold-silver mineralization was formed as a result of hypogenic (hydrothermal) and supergen stages of ore-forming processes. Two hypogenic mineral assemblages were documented: gold-telluride-quartz in the Central flank and telluride-sulfide-quartz in the Northern flank. Supergenic mineral assemblage with native (mustard) gold is detected only within the Central flank. The Evevpenta ore occurrence is a typical member of the reducing-alkaline (low-sulfidation) epithermal deposits of Kamchatka, which is based on the study of the material composition of ores.