Acta Musei Moraviae

Mineralogy of the Cu-mineralization from the quarry Podhůra near Lipník nad Bečvou (Moravo-Silesian Culm, Czech Republic)

A mineralogical study of newly collected samples of Cu-mineralization from the quarry Podhůra (Czech Republic) revealed an extraordinary rich mineral assemblage bound on steep NW-SE trending hydrothermal veins. The veins are hosted by folded Lower Carboniferous marine flysch sediments of the Hradec-Kyjovice Formation, belonging to the Moravo-Silesian Palaeozoic. The primary mineralization is very simple, being formed by chalcopyrite and minor pyrite, both disseminated in calcite gangue with numerous inclusions of dolomite to Fe-rich dolomite and rarely minute grains of xenotime-(Y) and quartz. The near-surface parts of the vein are strongly weathered. The completely weathered ore is formed by common powdery limonite, malachite, and rare cuprite and azurite. Gently weathered chalcopyrite is rimmed by common Cu-sulphides (including djurleite, digenite/roxbyite, anilite, geerite, and spionkopite) and rare bornite. In addition, a piece of native copper was found among supergene products. Chemical compositions based on spot electron microprobe analyses are given for most mineral phases. Although the similar simple primary Cu-mineralization occurs at several localities in wider surroundings, the newly studied supergene assemblage belongs to the mineralogically richest one in the whole area of the Moravo-Silesian Culm.