Postmagmatic,hydrothermal origin of sulfide and arsenide mineralizations at Limassol Forest,Cyprus

The Ni-Co-Cu ores of Pevkos and Lakxia tou Mavrou, Limassol Forest, Cyprus, have been investigated microscopically and by electron microprobe analysis. At Pevkos, the mineral association consists of pyrrhotite, pentlandite, maucherite, chalcopyrite, cubanite, magnetite, chromite and valleriite with minor amounts of westerveldite, bornite, neodigenite, covellite and cobaltite. The mineralization at Lakxia tou Mavrou comprises pyrrhotite, pentlandite, löllingite, chalcopyrite, cubanite and chromite with traces of magnetite, pyrite, maucherite and valleriite. Paragenetic, compositional and textural features suggest a nonmagmatic origin for the sulfides and arsenides; they were deposited during serpentinization of the ultramafic host rocks. A conceptual model for mineralization linked to decreasing temperatures in a hydrothermal system is presented.