Polymetallic ore

Polymetallic ores or multimetal ores are complex <a href="/facts/Ores/kgc9DssX">ores</a> containing a number of chemical elements, among which the most important are <a href="/facts/Lead/EYljasJN">lead</a> and <a href="/facts/Zinc/80b1qgk3">zinc</a>. In addition, polymetallic ores can contain <a href="/facts/Copper/I8PEE8oX">copper</a>, <a href="/facts/Gold/1znknojp">gold</a>, <a href="/facts/Silver/xXe41BGg">silver</a>, <a href="/facts/Cadmium/wXkV2eIX">cadmium</a>, sometimes <a href="/facts/Bismuth/75FLjkoX">bismuth</a>, <a href="/facts/Tin/obW9mqc3">tin</a>, <a href="/facts/Indium/zRq3stVb">indium</a> and <a href="/facts/Gallium/EucevDs9">gallium</a>. The main minerals that form polymetallic ores are <a href="/facts/Galena/eSaK62FA">galena</a>, <a href="/facts/Sphalerite/5NumvnzR">sphalerite</a>, to a lesser extent <a href="/facts/Pyrite/41CYREyr">pyrite</a>, <a href="/facts/Chalcopyrite/MXBDffGw">chalcopyrite</a>, <a href="/facts/Arsenopyrite/xnb3E9yK">arsenopyrite</a>, <a href="/facts/Cassiterite/d4hzR7LB">cassiterite</a>. They are most commonly formed from sulfides but also include oxides.
The three main families of sulfide polymetallic ores are identified as volcanogenic massive sulphide family, the sedimentary exhalative family, and the <a href="/facts/Carbonate-hosted_lead-zinc_ore_deposits/pbXS3TcS">Mississippi Valley type</a> 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 <a href="/facts/Nodule_(geology)/kjYW2oxY">nodules</a>, principally <a href="/facts/Manganese_nodule/e9RCgkFo">Manganese nodules</a>, that do not form as terrestrial deposits but as <a href="/facts/Concretion/zNoJ5Fu3">concretions</a> on the ocean floor.
Rocks containing polymetallic ores are often altered or formed by <a href="/facts/Hydrothermal_processes/loQ477Ke">hydrothermal processes</a> — <a href="/facts/Chloritization/1jzSNrwH">chloritization</a>, <a href="/facts/Sericitization/5jwmLFwE">sericitization</a> and <a href="/facts/Silicification/kKTUvuDB">silicification</a>. These deposits are often iron hydroxides containing <a href="/facts/Cerussite/zutKQG6A">cerussite</a> PbCO3, <a href="/facts/Anglesite/Vu8MloA0">anglesite</a> PbSO4, <a href="/facts/Smithsonite/ffvou3Re">smithsonite</a> ZnCO3, <a href="/facts/Calamine/vnqzNxCU">calamine</a> Zn4[Si2O7] [OH]2×H2O, <a href="/facts/Malachite/NG5p4aCv">malachite</a> Cu2[CO3](OH)2, <a href="/facts/Azurite/5IutkQYG">azurite</a> Cu3[CO3]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 (<a href="/facts/Lenticular_bedding/eq6LKKHU">lenticular bedding</a> deposits, <a href="/facts/Stockwork/a93dnRrN">stockwork</a>, <a href="/facts/Vein_(geology)/TyETstxF">veins</a>, nests, complex tube-like bodies) and occurrence conditions (gentle, steep, consonant, secant, etc.).

Polymetallic ore open-in-new

Polymetallic ore