Correlation of Epithermal and Geothermal Deposits (an Example of Mutnovsky Geothermal Area, Southern Kamchatka)

Abstract

Mutnovsky geothermal area is located within the Mutnovsko-Asachinsky volcanic center in South Kamchatka, which is a part of the presently active Eastern Kamchatka volcanic belt. During the last five millions years three large epithermal gold-silver deposits (Rodnikovy, Mutnovsky, and Asachinsky), hydrothermal springs, geothermal deposits, and more than 25 ore manifestations with gold reserves of up to 100 tonnes, and silver reserves of up to 1,000 tonnes were formed here. Magmatic, volcanic, and hydrothermal activities accompanying the ore forming process are still continuing in this area. The largest high-temperature hydrothermal systems of South Kamchatka (Koshelevsky, Pauzhetsky, and North-Mutnovsky) make a reliable basis of the geothermal energy of the Southern Kamchatka and Petropavlovsk-Elizovo cities. Mutnovsky Au-Ag-polymetallic deposit is a typical near-surface hydrothermal volcanic vein system with reserves of 14 tonnes of gold, about 455 tonnes of silver, and about 150,000 tonnes of zinc, lead, and copper. However, the silver resources may potentially reach up to 6,000–9,000 tonnes. The Mutnovskoe Au-Ag-polymetallic deposit and the Mutnovsky geothermal deposit are located alongside each other.