The origin of rhythmic sulphide bands from the Permian sandstones (Weissliegendes) in the footwall of the Fore-Sudetic “Kupferschiefer” (Poland)

Abstract

Abstract. Rhythmic copper sulphide bands occur in the Weissliegendes sandstones, in the footwall of the Kupferschiefer in the mining district of SW Poland. The 634S values of sulphides vary from -3 9 to -44%0 (6-7%0 lighter than Kupferschiefer sulphides). The copper sulphides are represented mainly by digenite and chalcocite.

The role of the Kupferschiefer in the formation of hydrothermal base metal mineralization in the Spessart ore district, Germany: insight from detailed sulfur isotope studies

“…The data that cluster in the range between −36‰ and −28‰ are very similar to the data for diagenetic pyrite and base metal sulfides (Fig. 9) that were reported from stratabound Kupferschiefer-hosted mineralization in Germany and Poland (Marowsky 1969;Sawlowicz 1989;Jowett et al 1991a;Sawlowicz and Wedepohl 1992;Bechtel et al 2001;Krouse et al 2006). Taking these data into consideration, the sulfur isotope data for the base metal mineralization in the Spessart would suggest mixing between two principal sulfur sources.…”

“…It involves migration of late diagenetic to low-temperature hydrothermal brines derived from the Lower Permian volcanics and redbed sedimentary rocks into the Kupferschiefer and direct replacement of diagenetic pyrite by base metal sulfides (Jowett 1986;Cathles et al 1993;Wedepohl and Rentsch 2006). Comprehensive evidence for this model comes from textural observations (Sawlowicz and Wedepohl 1992), basin-scale metal zoning patterns (Wedepohl and Rentsch 2006), geochronological information (Jowett et al 1987;Bechtel et al 1999;Wedepohl and Rentsch 2006), and the consistent sulfur isotope shift of the base metal sulfides towards more positive values compared to precursor pyrite (Marowsky 1969;Jowett et al 1991b).…”

“…d Primary pyrite in the Kupferschiefer mineralization; data from Marowsky (1969) and Jowett et al (1991a). e Base metal sulfides in the Kupferschiefer mineralization; data from Marowsky (1969), Sawlowicz (1989), Jowett et al (1991a, b), Sawlowicz and Wedepohl (1992), and Krouse et al (2006) Muschelkalk that directly overlies the Bunter Sandstone have the most positive δ 34 S values in the range between 17.8‰ and 20.8‰ (Müller et al 1966). The barite data that are less positive than the composition of the Zechstein evaporites are likely related to contributions of isotopically light sulfur from oxidation of sulfides in the source region.…”

Zechstein-Kupferschiefer Mineralization Reconsidered as a Product of Ultra-Deep Hydrothermal, Mud-Brine Volcanism

“…Furthermore, chalcopyrite-bornite, rhythmic lamanites grade upward into layers of subangular to subrounded, quartz grains with a partial chalcopyrite-, bornite-, and covellite-filled matrix, as shown in Figure 4 in [14] and Figures 2-4 in [15]. The copper sulfide, rhythmic bands are distinguished by their extremely light δ 34 S isotopes, which yield values between À39 and À44.…”

Generation of Mud Volcanic Systems Sourced in Dehydrated Serpentospheric Mantle: A ‘Deep-to-Seep’ Model for the Zechstein Salines-Kupferschiefer Cu-Ag Deposits

“…An upward-lightening sulfur isotope pattern was observed by Sawlowicz and Wedepohl [21] in the Weissliegend sand extrudite mounds at Rudna. The upwardlightening pattern of sulfur isotopes ranged from δ 34 SofÀ39‰ at the bottom of the chalcocite rhythmite section to À44‰ at the top of a composited rhythmite section.…”