Research Article| February 01, 2011 Zincian dolomite: A peculiar dedolomitization case? Maria Boni; Maria Boni * Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Napoli “Federico II”, Via Mezzocannone 8, 80134 Naples, Italy *E-mail: boni@unina.it. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Nicola Mondillo; Nicola Mondillo Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Napoli “Federico II”, Via Mezzocannone 8, 80134 Naples, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Giuseppina Balassone Giuseppina Balassone Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Napoli “Federico II”, Via Mezzocannone 8, 80134 Naples, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2011) 39 (2): 183–186. https://doi.org/10.1130/G31486.1 Article history received: 16 Jun 2010 rev-recd: 23 Sep 2010 accepted: 05 Oct 2010 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Maria Boni, Nicola Mondillo, Giuseppina Balassone; Zincian dolomite: A peculiar dedolomitization case?. Geology 2011;; 39 (2): 183–186. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G31486.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract A peculiar dedolomitization phenomenon is associated with the supergene alteration of Zn-Pb sulfide ores, resulting in the precipitation of newly formed carbonate phases. In addition to the deposition of calcite and several metal carbonates, this phenomenon results in a widespread replacement of host-rock dolomites by zincian dolomite phases. Dolomite samples have been collected in the oxidation zone of the mining districts of southwestern Sardinia (Italy), Yanque (Peru), and Jabali (Yemen), and the results compared with data sets from Upper Silesia (Poland) and Namibia. In all districts Zn dolomite (as much as 20% ZnO) replaces the previous dolomite phases through fractures and along crystal growth zones, and smithsonite (ZnCO3) may be high in Mg (to 15% MgO). Zn dolomites are produced by the reaction of metal-carrying and O-rich meteoric fluids with preexisting dolomite bodies hosting Zn sulfide ores, subjected to active weathering. Their occurrence in the oxidation zone of the sulfide deposits corroborates their supergene origin. The ample extent of the Zn dolomite replacement bodies, underestimated so far, is important for the exploration of nonsulfide Zn ores, because it may lead to an incorrect evaluation of the extractable metallic resources calculated from the assay data. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.