Stratigraphy of the tectonically imbricated lithological succession of the Neves Corvo mine area,Iberian Pyrite Belt,Portugal

Biostratigraphic research, based on palynomorphs and ammonoids, of the tectonically imbricated lithological succession of the Neves Corvo mine, in the Portuguese part of the Iberian Pyrite Belt, has yielded ages for all formerly recognised lithostratigraphic units. These can be assembled in three main lithological sequences: (1) detrital sandy/shale substrate (Phyllite-Quartzite Formation) of late Famennian age; (2) Volcano-Sedimentary Complex, divided into a lower and an upper suite, in which one basic, three dolerite sills and four felsic volcanic units and a mineralised package of massive sulphides are identified with ages which range from the late Famennian to the late Visean; (3) flysch succession (Mértola Formation) composed of shale and greywacke dated as late Visean to early Serpukhovian. Precise biostratigraphic dating of the sedimentrary host rocks of massive sulphide mineralisation constrains the age of the latter to the late Strunian (354.8–354.0 Ma). Three stratigraphic hiatuses, corresponding to early/middle Strunian, Tournaisian and early Visean respectively and a south-westward progressive unconformity were also recognised. Sequences 1 and 2 are related to extensional episodes while sequence 3 marks the beginning of compressive tectonic inversion which gave rise to south-westward flysch progradation in close relation to a foreland basin development. Our results lead to the reinterpretation of the tectonic structure of the Neves Corvo mine, with implications for the interpretation of the regional basin dynamics and metal exploration.Editorial handling: F. Tornos     

Evaluation of acid-producing sulfidic materials in Virginia highway corridors

Road construction through sulfidic materials in Virginia has resulted in localized acid rock drainage (ARD) that threatens water quality, sedimentation, integrity of building materials, and vegetation management. Geologic formations associated with acid roadcuts were characterized by potential peroxide acidity (PPA), expressed as calcium carbonate equivalence (CCE), and total sulfur (total-S) in order to develop a statewide sulfide hazard rating map. The geologic formations were grouped into four categories based on potential acid-producing severity: i) Tabb formation (PPA<6 Mg CCE/1000 Mg; S<0.2%); ii) Ashe formation (PPA<18 Mg CCE/1000 Mg; S<2.0%); iii) Chesapeake Group, Lower Tertiary deposits, Millboro shale, Marcellus shale, and Needmore Formation (PPA<60 Mg CCE/1000 Mg; S<2.6%), and; iv) Chattanooga shale and Quantico slate (PPA<99 Mg CCE/1000 Mg; S<3.9%). Sulfide hazard analysis should be an essential step in the pre-design phase of highway construction and other earth-disturbing activities.     

4: Transpressional tectonics, lower crust decoupling and intrusion of deep mafic sills: A model for the unusual metallogenesis of SW Iberia

SW Iberia is interpreted as an accretionary magmatic belt resulting from the collision between the South Portuguese Zone and the autochthonous Iberian terrane in Variscan times (350 to 330 Ma). In the South Portuguese Zone, pull-apart basins were filled with a thick sequence of siliciclastic sediments and bimodal volcanic rocks that host the giant massive sulphides of the Iberian Pyrite Belt. Massive sulphides precipitated in highly efficient geochemical traps where metal-rich but sulphur-depleted fluids of dominant basinal derivation mixed with sulphide-rich modified seawater. Massive sulphides formed either in porous/reactive volcanic rocks by sub-seafloor replacement, or in dark shale by replacement of mud or by exhalation within confined basins with high biogenic activity. Crustal thinning and magma intrusion were responsible for thermal maturation and dehydration of sedimentary rocks, while magmatic fluids probably had a minor influence on the observed geochemical signatures.The Ossa Morena Zone was a coeval calc-alkaline magmatic arc. It was the site for unusual mineralization, particularly magmatic Ni–(Cu) and hydrothermal Fe-oxide–Cu–Au ores (IOCG). Most magmatism and mineralization took place at local extensional zones along first-order strike-slip faults and thrusts. The source of magmas and IOCG and Ni–(Cu) deposits probably lay in a large mafic–ultramafic layered complex intruded along a detachment at the boundary between the upper and lower crust. Here, juvenile melts extensively interacted with low-grade metamorphic rocks, inducing widespread anatexis, magma contamination and further exsolution of hydrothermal fluids. Hypersaline fluids (δ¹⁸O_fluid > 5.4‰ to 12‰) were focused upward into thrusts and faults, leading to early magnetite mineralization associated with a high-temperature (> 500 °C) albite–actinolite–salite alteration and subsequent copper–gold-bearing vein mineralization at somewhat lower temperatures. Assimilation of sediments by magmas led in turn to the formation of immiscible sulphide and silicate melts that accumulated in the footwall of the layered igneous complex. Further injection of both basic and sulphide-rich magmas into the upper crust led to the formation of Ni–(Cu)-rich breccia pipes.Younger (330 to 280 Ma?) peraluminous granitoids probably reflect the slow ascent of relatively dry and viscous magmas formed by contact anatexis. These granitoids have W–(Sn)- and Pb–Zn-related mineralization that also shows geochemical evidence of major mantle–crust interaction. Late epithermal Hg–(Cu–Sb) and Pb–Zn–(Ag) mineralization was driven by convective hydrothermal cells resulting from the high geothermal gradients that were set up in the zone by intrusion of the layered igneous complex. In all cases, most of the sulphur seems to have been derived from leaching of the host sedimentary rocks (δ³⁴S = 7‰ to 20‰) with only limited mixing with sulphur of magmatic derivation.The metallogenic characteristics of the two terranes are quite different. In the Ossa Morena Zone, juvenile magmatism played a major role as the source of metals, and controlled the styles of mineralization. In the South Portuguese Zone, magmas only acted as heat sources but seem to have had no major influence as sources of metals and fluids, which are dominated by crustal signatures. Most of the magmatic and tectonic features related to the Variscan subduction and collision seem to be masked by those resulting from transpressional deformation and deep mafic intrusion, which led to the development of a metallogenic belt with little resemblance to other accretionary magmatic arcs.     

Geochemistry and geothermometry of volcanic rocks from Serra Branca, Iberian Pyrite Belt, Portugal

Volcanic rocks from Serra Branca, Iberian Pyrite Belt, Portugal, consist of calc-alkaline felsic and intermediate rocks. The latter are massive andesites, whereas the former include four dacitic to rhyolitic lithologies, distinguishable on spiderdiagrams and binary plots of immobile elements. Zircon thermometry indicates that two felsic suites may have formed from different magmas produced at distinct temperatures, with only limited fractionation within each suite. Alternatively, all the felsic rocks can be related through fractionation of a single magma if the lower zircon saturation temperature obtained for one suite merely results from Zr dilution, mostly reflecting silicification.

The relatively high magma temperatures at Serra Branca ease the classification of felsic rocks based on their HFSE contents and also indicate volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit favorability. This contrasts with other areas of the Belt that register lower magma temperatures and are subsequently barren. However, magma temperatures may have not been high enough to cause complete melting of refractory phases in which HFSE reside during crustal fusion of an amphibolite protolith, implying difficult discrimination of tectonic environments for the felsic rocks. The intermediate rocks were possibly formed by mixing between basaltic magmas and crustal material, compatible with volcanism in an attenuated continental lithosphere setting.     

江西银山矿区黄铁矿的标型特征研究

银山矿区黄铁矿有七个世代，其中与矿化密切的为３－６世代，随着矿化的演化，黄铁矿中硫相对减少，砷相对增高。银山黄铁矿微量元素以高Ａｓ、Ｔｅ，低Ｓｅ、Ｃｏ、Ｎｉ，且Ｓｅ／Ｔｅ＜１，Ｃｏ／Ｎｉ＜１为特征，黄铁矿的稀土元素配分型式与矿区火山岩一次火山岩相一致     

Oxidative dissolution of pyritic sludge from the Aznalcóllar mine (SW Spain)

As a result of the collapse of a mine tailing dam, a large extension of the Guadiamar valley was covered with a layer of pyritic sludge. Despite the removal of most of the sludge, a small amount remained in the soil, constituting a potential risk of water contamination. The kinetics of the sludge oxidation was studied by means of laboratory flow-through experiments at different pH and oxygen pressures. The sludge is composed mainly of pyrite (76%), together with quartz, gypsum, clays, and sulphides of zinc, copper, and lead. Trace elements, such as arsenic and cadmium, also constitute a potential source of pollution. The sludge is fine grained (median of 12 μm) and exhibits a large surface (BET area of 1.4±0.2 m² g⁻¹).

The dissolution rate law of sludge obtained is r=10^{−6.1(±0.3)} [O₂(aq)]^0.41(±0.04) a_H+^0.09(±0.06) g_sludge m⁻² s⁻¹ (22 °C, pH=2.5–4.7). The dissolution rate law of pyrite obtained is r=10^{−7.8(±0.3)} [O₂(aq)]^0.50(±0.04) a_H+^0.10(±0.08) mol m⁻² s⁻¹ (22 °C, pH=2.5–4.7). Under the same experimental conditions, sphalerite dissolved faster than pyrite but chalcopyrite dissolves at a rate similar to that of pyrite. No clear dependence on pH or oxygen pressure was observed. Only galena dissolution seemed to be promoted by proton activity. Arsenic and antimony were released consistently with sulphate, except at low pH conditions under which they were released faster, suggesting that additional sources other than pyrite such as arsenopyrite could be present in the sludge. Cobalt dissolved congruently with pyrite, but Tl and Cd seemed to be related to galena and sphalerite, respectively.

A mechanism for pyrite dissolution where the rate-limiting step is the surface oxidation of sulphide to sulphate after the adsorption of O₂ onto pyrite surface is proposed.     

Atmospheric oxidation of the pyritic waste rock in Maardu, Estonia. 1 field study and modelling

 A field survey and modelling of the oxidation and carbonate buffering reactions inside the alum-shale-containing waste rock dumps located in Maardu, Estonia, was accomplished. In the slope areas, the shale has been altered at high temperatures due to the spontaneous combustion and the pyritic acidity has been eliminated through migration of SO_x gases out from the dump. In the central parts of the waste rock plateaus, low temperature pyrite oxidation fronts develop towards the dump depth and towards the centres of individual shale lumps. The main secondary phases precipitating in the weathering profile are gypsum, ferric oxyhydroxide, K-jarosite and smectite. The respective field data made it possible to calibrate the two-stage oxygen diffusion model and the characteristic pyrite oxidation rate 0.06–0.08 mol of pyrite reacted per kg of available water (pyrox/H₂O value) was estimated to describe the first tens of years of dump performance. The model is capable to compare different shale disposal strategies that are illustrated with two case scenarios. The buffering of sulphuric acid by Mg-calcite appears to be an incongruent reaction with gypsum precipitating that leads to the build-up of the high Mg/Ca ratio in the leachate. Application of the Mg/Ca method estimates the pyrox/H₂O value in the range of 0.05–0.14 mol/kg. Received: 26 January 1999 · Accepted: 23. February 1999     

Atmospheric oxidation of the pyritic waste rock in Maardu, Estonia, 2: an assessment of aluminosilicate buffering potential

 The assessment of the aluminosilicate buffering potential during acid weathering of the Estonian alum shale is provided. It is found that the stoichiometric interaction between dissolved pyrite oxidation products and illite of the shale best describe the buffering process and are consistent with earlier field studies. The scheme includes incongruent dissolution of illite with smectite and K-jarosite precipitating. This complex mechanism involves buffering of 8% of the acidity by K⁺ and temporary precipitation of 25% of the acidity as K-jarosite. Dissolution proceeds at a low pH (1.5–3) until all pyrite in the shale particle is oxidised. Hence, if the total amount of illite present is larger than needed for stoichiometric interactions, only part of it is involved in a buffering process, neutralising a certain percentage of acidity. The next stage in shale weathering is the incongruent dissolution of K-jarosite with the release of the precipitated acidity and the formation of ferric oxyhydroxide. Received: 3 August 1998 · Revised paper: 26 January 1999 · Accepted: 23 February 1999     

青海祁连县大柳沟金矿控矿条件

金及多金属矿化破碎蚀变带与逆断层关系密切,柱状、针状白色毒砂及细微粒黄铁矿是金的重要标志性矿物,成矿带具有良好的成矿地球化学背景和成矿地质条件,良好的控矿、容矿构造条件。     

辽东早元古宙北辽河群里尔峪组层状硫铁矿

辽阳隆昌—本溪草河口一带的硫铁矿及其它硫化物矿床(点),赋存于早元古宙北辽河群里尔峪组钠质火山岩段向碳酸盐岩过渡的层状岩系中,严格受里尔峪组控制。里尔峪组厚度为400—600m,由3个岩段组成,原岩为火山—沉积岩,火山岩属钙碱性火山喷发系列。矿床既受层位控制,亦受岩性控制。成矿物质通常来源于辽东早元古宙裂陷槽(构造活动带)内的钠质火山喷发,具工业价值的矿床受一定的岩相古地理条件及后期褶皱构造所控制。