The gold potential of the northern Black Sea region

Abstract

The article presents the results of the analysis and evaluation of gold occurrences of the Northern Black Sea and Crimea. The increased gold content of this region is associated primarily with magmatism and volcanism of the paleo<island arc and the Ukrainian crystalline massif. Analysis of the field studies and laboratory results made it possible to determine the main factors of the origin of a gold mineralization. The magmatism of the Crimean Mountains formed both primary ore and alluvial occurrences, which extend in series from the Karadag in the east to Heraclea and the Lomonosov massif. The main source of fine gold placers are the weathering crusts of the Ukrainian shield rocks and secondary products of alluvium repeatedly redeposited in recent times, especially in post<glacial periods, when there was a powerful outflow of unconsolidated sediments. The authors note the decisive role of ancient river systems both in the accumulation of gold<bearing sands and in the formation of a potential source of outflow for the alluvial strata of numerous small rivers. Alluvial sands and alluvial-proluvial cover pebbles of the Beregansky and Sulsky climatoliths are particularly interesting for their gold content. They form clad covers on watersheds and fill the paleo<valleys of large rivers. The authors also studied the role of the Paleo<Dnieper and other main rivers of the Northern Azov Sea region during the melting of glaciers, when huge masses of sandy<silty material, including fine and ultrafine gold, were transported over long distances. Thus, the identification of factors affecting the location, structure and composition of gold deposits is important for determining the prediction criteria of conditions potentially favorable for the formation of gold placers within the Northern Black Sea and Crimea. Data on the gold content of the Black Sea region currently is not sufficient. It is necessary to conduct further research on gold occurrences to determine the scientific and practical interest of this phenomenon. So far, we can state only the presence of gold occurrences, which provides the basis for further research and prospecting.