GOLD MINERALIZATION DEPOSITS OF THE BEACH OF SOUTH-WESTERN KAMCHATKA
The results of studies of gold-bearing beach deposits on the plot between the Bolshaya and Mitoga rivers mouths of the Kamchatka South-West coast are presented. The existing and new data on the useful component concentrations in the beach sediments depending on the shores lithodynamic activity are clarified. The characteristic of the beach formations total gold mineralization is given. Over time, the parameters of the gold halos - their contours and metal content - are changed, but their locations on the upper coastal zone in the beach sediments, are constant. This indicates the gold mineralization material continuous flow from intermediate reservoirs represented by formations of various ages and genesis. Despite relatively high gold enrichment of beaches up to 30 m wide, the most favorable for the discovery of significant gold resources are near-cliff zones of abrasive-accumulative beaches (30-70 m wide) where a number of samples both in the surface layer of sediments and at the base of the section contains Au (up to several g/m3). Also increased concentrations of gold are found in the areas of the underwater slope adjacent to the gold-bearing beach (from 50 mg/m3 to the 1 g/m3). Besides the investigated section of the beach, a gold halo lines along the coast for more than 250 km to the north, which indicates a significant prospect of identifying industrial gold placers. Further research can result in the detection of industrial gold placers not only in the beach and shallow shelf, but also within the continental part of Western Kamchatka.