Gold–Mercury Ore Formation in Southern Donbass

Continuous study and exploration of Hg, Hg–Sb, and Au sulfide mineralization in the Donetsk metallogenic province resulted in identification of a promising Au–Hg formation. Dokuchaev-type (Carlin-type) Au mineralization is confined to the Lower Carboniferous (Tournaisian–Lower Visean) carbonate (limestone, dolomitized limestone, and dolomite) sequence of the Pavlograd–Dokuchaev metallogenic belt. The predicted Dokuchaev gold ore district includes three ore clusters and seven ore fields. The geological structure of the district, the location of the predicted ore fields, and the preliminary characteristics of the deposits and ore bodies are discussed. Some proposals for a prospecting methodology are presented.