LITHOLOGICAL VARIABILITY OF THE KUPFERSCHIEFER IN DEPRESSIONS OF THE WEISSLIEGEND RELIEF IN THE AREA OF THE RUDNA AND SIEROSZOWICE COPPER DEPOSITS

Abstract

The paper presents analyses of spatial diversity of Kupferschiefer lithologies in the area of three top surface depressions of the Weissliegend relief in the central and northern part of the Rudna and Sieroszowice copper deposits. These are organic-rich (pitchy) shale, clay shale, and dolomitic shale. Sequences of author’s own lithological profiles and those received from the KGHM database were analyzed along 13 cross-section lines. Macroscopic studies were conducted on samples from author’s profiles. Eight types of lithological successions were distinguished and then the frequency of their occurrence along each cross-section and depression was analyzed. The most common sequence with organic-rich and dolomitic shale is observed both in author’s profiles as well as in the profiles received from the mine. In the profiles tested by the author, the dominant configurations were (1) organic-rich shale, clay shale and dolomitic shale (model sequence) and (2) organic-rich shale and clay shale. Such assemblages were observed in four cross-section lines on both slopes of the Northern Rudna Elevation, which suggests a local dependence between different lithological successions of shale and their location in the depression zones. Occurrences of a few profiles with non-standard shale sequences may suggest wider variability of sedimentation conditions in the north-easternmost Tarnówek Depression.