Sphalerite origin in the Olkusz mining district: a fluid inclusion model

Abstract

The zinc and lead ores occurrences in the Olkusz district, their structures and attribution to various host rocks, are presented. The course of sphalerite crystallization in cycles starting from oversaturated solutions to relatively diluted ones is evidenced. Fluid inclusion studies in sphalerite yielded the data on the organic-aqueous, inhomogene nature of the parent fluids, Th ranging from 130 to 90ºC and vertical thermal gradient of the ore-forming fluids, from 6 to 10ºC per 100 m. A direct genetic connection of the Zn-Pb ores hosted by Paleozoic and Mesozoic beds is concluded.