Polymetallic ore explained

Polymetallic ores or multimetal ores are complex ores containing a number of chemical elements, among which the most important are lead and zinc. In addition, polymetallic ores can contain copper, gold, silver, cadmium, sometimes bismuth, tin, indium and gallium.[1] The main minerals that form polymetallic ores are galena, sphalerite, to a lesser extent pyrite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, cassiterite.[1] [2] They are most commonly formed from sulfides but also include oxides.[1] [3]

The three main families of sulfide polymetallic ores are identified as volcanogenic massive sulphide family, the sedimentary exhalative family, and the Mississippi Valley type family. The classification of lead-zinc deposits in particular has been varied and resulted in a number of different organizations schemes. The term "polymetallic ore" also includes nodules, principally Manganese nodules, that do not form as terrestrial deposits but as concretions on the ocean floor.[4]

Rocks containing polymetallic ores are often altered or formed by hydrothermal processes — chloritization, sericitization and silicification.[5] [6] These deposits are often iron hydroxides containing cerussite PbCO3, anglesite PbSO4, smithsonite ZnCO3, calamine Zn4[Si<sub>2</sub>O<sub>7</sub>] [OH]2×H2O, malachite Cu2[CO<sub>3</sub>](OH)2, azurite Cu3[CO<sub>3</sub>]2(OH)2. Depending on the concentration of ore minerals, a distinction is made between solid or disseminated ores. Ore bodies of polymetallic ores are distinguished by a variety of sizes (having a length of several m to km), morphology (lenticular bedding deposits,[7] stockwork, veins,[8] nests, complex tube-like bodies) and occurrence conditions (gentle, steep, consonant, secant, etc.).[9]

See also

Literature

Notes and References

  1. Vikentyev . I.V. . Damdinov . B.B. . Minina . O.R. . Spirina . A.V. . Damdinova . L.B. . 2023 . Classification of Polymetallic Ore-Forming Processes and Transitional VMS–SEDEX–MV-type: the Example of the Giant Ozernoe Deposit in Transbaikalia, Russia . Geology of Ore Deposits . en . 65 . 3 . 191–223 . 10.1134/S1075701523030054 . 1075-7015.
  2. Encyclopedia: 2000–2005 . . National Encyclopedia of Uzbekistan State Scientific Publishing House . Tashkent . Uzbek . Oʻzbekiston milliy ensiklopediyasi .
  3. Web site: Polymetallic Vein Deposits. Geologyscience.com.
  4. Book: Das . RP . Deep-Sea Mining: Resource Potential, Technical and Environmental Considerations . Anand . S. . Springer . 2017 . R. Sharma . 365-94 . Metallurgical processing of polymetallic ocean nodules.
  5. Book: Geochemistry of hydrothermal ore deposits . 1997 . Wiley . 978-0-471-57144-5 . Barnes . Hubert Lloyd . 3rd . New York.
  6. Hedenquist . Jeffrey W. . Lowenstern . Jacob B. . 1994 . The role of magmas in the formation of hydrothermal ore deposits . Nature . 370 . 6490 . 519–527 . 10.1038/370519a0 . 0028-0836.
  7. Reineck . Hans‐Erich . Wunderlich . Friedrich . 1968 . Classification and Origin of Flaser and Lenticular Bedding . Sedimentology . en . 11 . 1-2 . 99–104 . 10.1111/j.1365-3091.1968.tb00843.x . 0037-0746.
  8. Bons . Paul D. . Elburg . Marlina A. . Gomez-Rivas . Enrique . 2012 . A review of the formation of tectonic veins and their microstructures . Journal of Structural Geology . en . 43 . 33–62 . 10.1016/j.jsg.2012.07.005.
  9. Mykhailov . V. . Yessendossova . A. . 2022 . Factors of Controlling Polymetallic Mineralization on the Example of the Dalnegorsky (Far East) and Uspensky (Central Kazakhstan) Ore Districts . 15th International Conference Monitoring of Geological Processes and Ecological Condition of the Environment . en . European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers . 1–5 . 10.3997/2214-4609.2022580041.

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