ROZMIESZCZENIE STREFY REDUKCYJNEJ, PRZEJŚCIOWEJ I UTLENIONEJ W ŁUPKU MIEDZIONOŚNYM NA MONOKLINIE PRZEDSUDECKIEJ NA PODSTAWIE WSKAŹNIKÓW MATERII ORGANICZNEJ

Abstract

REDUCED, TRANSITIONAL AND OXIDISED ZONES DISTRIBUTION IN THE KUPFERSCHIEFER IN FORE-SUDETIC MONOCLINE BASED ON INDICES OF ORGANIC MATTER

Abstract. A new method of identifying reduced, transitional and oxidised zones in Kupferschiefer strata is based on the geochemical analyses of organic matter from 566 Kupferschiefer samples collected in the KGHM PM SA mining area and its immediate neighbourhood. The S2/S3 (HI/OI) ratio, total organic carbon (TOC) and oxygen index (OI) from Rock-Eval pyrolytic analysis were used as classification parameters. The aromatic hydrocarbon distribution indices Phen/MePhen and TrPI were used as additional criteria. In the reduced zone, most abundant in organic matter, the Cu, Ag, Pb, Zn and Co contents show a strong proportional dependence on TOC, obtaining their maximum concentrations. The contents of noble metals (Au+Pt+Pd) remain on the level of geochemical background. The beds of the newly determined transitional zone have varying organic matter parameters. They have the comparable Cu, Ag and Co contents, increased noble metal content and lowered concentrations of undesired elements (<0.1 wt. %), i.e. Pb and Zn. In the oxidised zone, the organic matter content is minimal, just as in the case of most of other metals (Cu, Ag, Pb, Zn and Mo). The noble metals content in this zone is 2 to 3 orders higher than in the reduced zone.