Mineralogy and geochemistry of Cu-Sn-Bi ores from the Miedzianka-Ciechanowice deposit, Sudety Mts., Poland

Abstract

Miedzianka-Ciechanowice is a hydrothermal vein-type quartz and quartz-carbonate-sulphide deposit in the eastern metamorphic cover of the Karkonosze Granite in the Sudeten Mts. Within this diverse deposit, polymetallic Cu-Sn-Bi mineralization was identified. Two ore mineral stages of precipitation were recognised: I – a high-temperature mineralization stage in skarn; and II – a medium and low-temperature stage of vein mineralization. Stage I, associated with skarns, is represented by rutile, magnetite I and II, cassiterite and minor amounts of sulphides (sphalerite, pyrite, chalcopyrite and galena). Stage II, associated with quartz or quartz-carbonate veins, is represented by pyrrhotite, pyrite, arsenopyrite, cobaltite, gersdorffite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, minerals of the tetrahedrite-group, roquesite, bornite and galena. In addition a wide range of tin sulphides: stannoidite, mawsonite, ferrokesterite and bismuth sulphosalts (bismuthinite, aikinite, ikunolite, gustavite, lillianite, heyrovskite, vikingite, berryite and matildite) were identified. Minerals of the Cu-Sn-Bi associations were formed mainly in massive aggregates of chalcopyrite in quartz veins, less often in magnetite or sphalerite in skarns. In the Sudeten Mts., the presence of various tin and bismuth associations is rare and usually represents accessory mineralization.