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Geochemistry and Genesis of Sulfide Ore Deposits in the Volcano-Sedimentary Sequences of the Western Grauwackenzone (Eastern Alps, Austria)

  • Conference paper
Base Metal Sulfide Deposits in Sedimentary and Volcanic Environments

Part of the book series: Special Publication of the Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits ((MINERAL DEPOS.,volume 5))

Abstract

The Ordovician /Silurian volcano-sedimentary sequence of the Wildschönauer Schiefer series in the western part of the Grauwackenzone hosts many strata-bound Fe-Cu(Zn-Pb) ore deposits. The most important ones occur between Mittersill and Zell am See and their geochemistry is described in this paper.

Fine-grained clastic sediments locally contain thick doleritic sills and less abundant pillow lavas. These have been affected by hydrothermal alteration and contain disseminated sulfides. The whole sequence has been influenced by a low-grade metamorphism. Primary sedimentary textures are preserved in carbonrich black shales. In these black shales a positive correlation between sulfide and organic carbon content has been found. Pyrolitic carbon occurs in the mineralized sediments. It is thought to be produced by thermal effects of doleritic sill intrusion. These effects probably also caused the expulsion of pore water from unconsolidated sediments and played an important role in the mobilization of ore-bearing fluids. Petrology and geochemistry of the volcanic rocks and their geological setting suggests a continental rifting environment. Hydrothermal convection systems were produced by the thermal anomalies and caused metallogenesis by controlling the movement of seawater which became enriched in heavy metals extracted from sub-seafloor sediments and volcanics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mineralogisch-Petrographisches Institut der Universität, Grindelallee 48, D-2000, Hamburg 13, Germany

    C. D. Garbe

Authors
  1. M. Tarkian
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  2. C. D. Garbe
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Mineralogy and Geology of Ore Deposits, RWTH Aachen, Wüllnerstraße 2, D-5100, Aachen, Germany

    Günther H. Friedrich  & Peter M. Herzig  & 

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© 1988 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Tarkian, M., Garbe, C.D. (1988). Geochemistry and Genesis of Sulfide Ore Deposits in the Volcano-Sedimentary Sequences of the Western Grauwackenzone (Eastern Alps, Austria). In: Friedrich, G.H., Herzig, P.M. (eds) Base Metal Sulfide Deposits in Sedimentary and Volcanic Environments. Special Publication of the Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits, vol 5. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-02538-3_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-02538-3_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-02540-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-02538-3

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