Review of Epithermal Deposit Types and Exploration Characteristics: Regional Features and Examples from Kazakhstan

Epithermal deposits represent an important group of hydrothermal mineral systems characterized by diverse geological settings, mineralogical compositions, hydrothermal alteration patterns, and ore-forming processes. This review aims to characterize, summarize, and analyze high-, intermediate-, and low-sulfidation epithermal deposits and to identify their key exploration criteria. The review is based on the synthesis and analysis of published geological studies, supplemented by the authors’ own geological observations of epithermal deposits. The three main sulfidation types are compared in terms of their geotectonic settings, relationships with magmatism, mineralogical and sulfide assemblages, and hydrothermal alteration patterns. Particular attention is given to diagnostic geological features that can be used during prospecting and exploration. The comparative analysis demonstrates that the three epithermal types differ systematically in their geological environments, mineral assemblages, sulfide associations, and alteration characteristics, which provides a basis for distinguishing them during exploration. The synthesis of these features contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the geological characteristics of high-, intermediate-, and low-sulfidation epithermal systems and provides practical criteria for their prospecting and exploration. The results may be useful for improving exploration strategies and for identifying prospective areas hosting epithermal mineralization.