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Thiosulphates as precursors of banded sphalerite and pyrite at Bleiberg, Austria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2018

H. Kucha  and
E. F. Stumpfl
H. Kucha
Affiliation:
Institute of Geology and Mineral Deposits, 30-059 Krakow, Ave. Mickiewicza 30, Poland
E. F. Stumpfl
Affiliation:
Institute of Geological Sciences, Mining University, A-8700 Leoben, Austria
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Abstract

Banded sphalerite from Bleiberg, Austria, contains ubiquitous relics of Fe-thiosulphates and Fesulphites up to 50 μm in size. Zn, Pb, Ni and As form admixtures ranging from a few to 12 wt.% in these compounds. It is suggested that banded sphalerite is formed by a replacement of banded thiosulphate and thiosulphite precursors. This suggestion is supported by a significant admixture of Fe 0.41-8.20 wt.%) and the presence of goethite inclusions in banded sphalerite. In contrast, crystalline ZnS intergrown with the banded variety is Ni-free and contains only 0.06-0.14 wt.% Fe.

Banded pyrite contains inclusions of Fe-thiosulphate up to 200 μm in size. These thiosulphates contain (wt.%): 0.09-1.92 Zn, and 2.67−4.02 Pb. Pyrite formed by replacement (breakdown) of Fethiosulphate precursors contains 3.69-3.83 wt.% Pb.

It is suggested that banded sulphides precipitate from solutions carrying sulphur with mixed valances, and crystalline sulphides grow from solutions where the dominant dissolved sulphur is in the form of sulphidic anions.

Keywords

sphaleritepyritethiosulphatethiosulphitebandingBleibergAustria
Type
Petrology and Geochemistry
Information
Mineralogical Magazine , Volume 56 , Issue 383 , June 1992 , pp. 165 - 172
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1992

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