The geochemical bearings of the genesis of Zechstein copper deposits in southwest Poland as exemplified by the studies on the Zechstein of the Leszczyna syncline

Abstract

The studies made hitherto on the Zechstein copper ores show that these ores have been formed in the first stage by biochemical reduction during the sedimentation processes. The distribution of copper sulphides and accompanying metals as well as mineralogical studies in the Fore-Sudetic deposit have shown that some subsequent, supergenic processes affected the formation of this deposit ( T < 373°K, p = hydrostatic). Some studies on the north Sudetic copper deposit have also shown that the subsequent processes occurred during the formation of this deposit. The studies made in the present work on the distribution of V, Ag, Cu, Pb, Fe, Mn, Mg, Ca in the vertical section of the Zechstein of Leszczyna syncline have indicated some direct similarities between the processes which formed all the cupriferous Zechstein sediments hitherto identified on Poland's southwestern territory. On the basis of these observations the mechanism of formation of the Zechstein copper ores on Poland's southwestern territory had been proposed for discussion. That mechanism, in its general outline shows that during the formation of Zechstein sediments the principal equilibrium laws in aqueous solutions were obeyed.