Genesis of Gabbroic Hosted Copper Mineralisations in the Albanian Mirdita Zone (Kçira, Thirra)
There is a wide variety of ore deposits in Albania, where 20% of the Cu resources belong to a deposit type of unknown genesis (sulphide-bearing quartz veins in gabbroic rocks). The focus of this paper is on two mineralisations of this type (Kçira and Thirra) in the Mirdita Zone, an ophiolite zone re...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-02-01
|
| Series: | Minerals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/14/2/195 |
| _version_ | 1797297434875920384 |
|---|---|
| author | Anikó Váczi-Lovász Zoltán Kovács Gabriella B. Kiss |
| author_facet | Anikó Váczi-Lovász Zoltán Kovács Gabriella B. Kiss |
| author_sort | Anikó Váczi-Lovász |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | There is a wide variety of ore deposits in Albania, where 20% of the Cu resources belong to a deposit type of unknown genesis (sulphide-bearing quartz veins in gabbroic rocks). The focus of this paper is on two mineralisations of this type (Kçira and Thirra) in the Mirdita Zone, an ophiolite zone representing the Mesozoic Neotethys Ocean in the Dinarides. Our aim is to understand the ore-forming processes and the genesis of these deposits, which can be used in future exploration projects. According to the petrographical analysis, the host rock suffered propylitic alteration or subgreenschist facies metamorphism. Mineral chemistry of pyrite and epidote suggests a VMS related origin, more precisely, the deeper part of its stockwork feeder zone. The bulk rock geochemical analyses confirms that the mineralisations are classified as mafic-, Cyprus-type VMS deposits. Differences in the geochemical compositions and the corresponding mineralogical observations are attributed to the distinct original geotectonic positions: higher amount of compatible elements (Cr, Ni, V and Cu) occur in Kçira, which formed in a mid-oceanic ridge environment, while incompatible elements (Ag, As, Co and Zn) are more abundant in the Thirra deposit, which formed in a supra-subduction zone setting. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:20:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bbf97cd28d1d43be98a72a1656d61994 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:20:10Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Minerals |
| spelling | doaj.art-bbf97cd28d1d43be98a72a1656d619942024-02-23T15:28:43ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2024-02-0114219510.3390/min14020195Genesis of Gabbroic Hosted Copper Mineralisations in the Albanian Mirdita Zone (Kçira, Thirra)Anikó Váczi-Lovász0Zoltán Kovács1Gabriella B. Kiss2Department of Mineralogy, Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, HungaryLithosphere Fluid Research Lab, Department of Petrology and Geochemistry, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Mineralogy, Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, HungaryThere is a wide variety of ore deposits in Albania, where 20% of the Cu resources belong to a deposit type of unknown genesis (sulphide-bearing quartz veins in gabbroic rocks). The focus of this paper is on two mineralisations of this type (Kçira and Thirra) in the Mirdita Zone, an ophiolite zone representing the Mesozoic Neotethys Ocean in the Dinarides. Our aim is to understand the ore-forming processes and the genesis of these deposits, which can be used in future exploration projects. According to the petrographical analysis, the host rock suffered propylitic alteration or subgreenschist facies metamorphism. Mineral chemistry of pyrite and epidote suggests a VMS related origin, more precisely, the deeper part of its stockwork feeder zone. The bulk rock geochemical analyses confirms that the mineralisations are classified as mafic-, Cyprus-type VMS deposits. Differences in the geochemical compositions and the corresponding mineralogical observations are attributed to the distinct original geotectonic positions: higher amount of compatible elements (Cr, Ni, V and Cu) occur in Kçira, which formed in a mid-oceanic ridge environment, while incompatible elements (Ag, As, Co and Zn) are more abundant in the Thirra deposit, which formed in a supra-subduction zone setting.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/14/2/195ophiolitepyrite chemistryhydrothermal processesfluid–rock interactionVMS stockworkDinarides |
| spellingShingle | Anikó Váczi-Lovász Zoltán Kovács Gabriella B. Kiss Genesis of Gabbroic Hosted Copper Mineralisations in the Albanian Mirdita Zone (Kçira, Thirra) Minerals ophiolite pyrite chemistry hydrothermal processes fluid–rock interaction VMS stockwork Dinarides |
| title | Genesis of Gabbroic Hosted Copper Mineralisations in the Albanian Mirdita Zone (Kçira, Thirra) |
| title_full | Genesis of Gabbroic Hosted Copper Mineralisations in the Albanian Mirdita Zone (Kçira, Thirra) |
| title_fullStr | Genesis of Gabbroic Hosted Copper Mineralisations in the Albanian Mirdita Zone (Kçira, Thirra) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genesis of Gabbroic Hosted Copper Mineralisations in the Albanian Mirdita Zone (Kçira, Thirra) |
| title_short | Genesis of Gabbroic Hosted Copper Mineralisations in the Albanian Mirdita Zone (Kçira, Thirra) |
| title_sort | genesis of gabbroic hosted copper mineralisations in the albanian mirdita zone kcira thirra |
| topic | ophiolite pyrite chemistry hydrothermal processes fluid–rock interaction VMS stockwork Dinarides |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/14/2/195 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT anikovaczilovasz genesisofgabbroichostedcoppermineralisationsinthealbanianmirditazonekcirathirra AT zoltankovacs genesisofgabbroichostedcoppermineralisationsinthealbanianmirditazonekcirathirra AT gabriellabkiss genesisofgabbroichostedcoppermineralisationsinthealbanianmirditazonekcirathirra |