Journal of

GEOsciences

  (Formerly Journal of the Czech Geological Society)

Original Paper

Martin Števko, Jiří Sejkora, Peter Bačík

Mineralogy and origin of supergene mineralization at the Farbište ore occurrence near Poniky, central Slovakia

Journal of Geosciences, volume 56 (2011), issue 3, 273 - 298

DOI: http://doi.org/10.3190/jgeosci.098

Supergene mineralization at the hydrothermal Farbište ore occurrence near Poniky, central Slovakia, was studied using optical and electron scanning microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, electron microprobe and IR spectroscopy. Two principal associations of the supergene minerals were observed. The first is represented mostly by tyrolite with a higher content of sulphate groups and chrysocolla associated with copper carbonates. The second is characterized by a rich assemblage of copper arsenates: low-S tyrolite, strashimirite, parnauite, olivenite, cornwallite, cornubite, euchroite and clinoclase, which occur together with chrysocolla, bariopharmacosiderite-Q, brochantite, azurite and malachite. Both associations formed as a result of decomposition of primary ore minerals, especially tennantite, which is the prevalent primary ore mineral at the Farbište occurrence and was the main source of Cu, As and S ions in the supergene zone.