The Pb-Zn (Ba) Nonsulfide Mineralizations at Bou Caïd (Ouarsenis, Algeria): Mineralogy, Isotope Geochemistry, and Genetic Inferences

Louha H, Balassone G, Boutaleb A, Boni M, Joachimski M, Mondillo N (2021)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Minerals MDPI

Original Authors: Hassina Louha, Giuseppina Balassone, Abdelhak Boutaleb, Maria Boni, Michael M. Joachimski, Nicola Mondillo

Book Volume: 11

Pages Range: 687

Article Number: 687

Issue: 7

Journal Issue: 7

DOI: 10.3390/min11070687

Abstract

The ore deposits of Bou Caïd (Ouarsenis, Algeria) occur in Jurassic and Cretaceous sedimentary rocks. The barite and Pb-Zn (Fe, Cu, and F) ore deposits of Bou Caïd belong to vein- and karst-type. The mineralization is represented in the whole area by a mixture of barite (currently still exploited) and nonsulfides consisting of hemimorphite, smithsonite, cerussite, hydrozincite, and Fe-oxy-hydroxides, with remnants of galena and sphalerite in variable proportions. Mineralogical and geochemical analyses were carried out on the Bou Caïd nonsulfides. Several samples representing nonsulfide mineralization (Grand Pic and at Srâa Abdelkader) were subjected to a multidisciplinary analytical approach, using optical microscopy (OM), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (SEM-EDS). Nonsulfide mineralization consists of a mixture of hemimorphite, hydrozincite, smithsonite, cerussite, and Fe-oxy-hydroxides, often with zebra-like textures. In the proposed paragenetic scheme, covellite and chalcocite are followed by cerussite, jarosite, smithsonite, and hydrozincite. Then, hemimorphite crystallizes, accompanied by mimetite, traces of malachite and clay minerals (also Zn-bearing), precipitate. Fe-(Mn)-oxy-hydroxides can form during various phases of the supergene stage. Small amounts of late barite can be related to partial remobilization and occur as reprecipitation products. Stable isotope analyses were performed on the calcites and metal carbonates of the supergene ores. Carbon and oxygen isotope values of smithsonite and hydrozincite were comparable to published supergene Zn carbonate data. The isotope values of the Bou Caïd calcites fell both into the hydrothermal carbonate and in the supergene fields.

Authors with CRIS profile

Michael Joachimski Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät

Involved external institutions

University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene DZ Algeria (DZ) Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II IT Italy (IT)

How to cite

APA:

Louha, H., Balassone, G., Boutaleb, A., Boni, M., Joachimski, M., & Mondillo, N. (2021). The Pb-Zn (Ba) Nonsulfide Mineralizations at Bou Caïd (Ouarsenis, Algeria): Mineralogy, Isotope Geochemistry, and Genetic Inferences. Minerals, 11(7), 687. https://doi.org/10.3390/min11070687

MLA:

Louha, Hassina, et al. "The Pb-Zn (Ba) Nonsulfide Mineralizations at Bou Caïd (Ouarsenis, Algeria): Mineralogy, Isotope Geochemistry, and Genetic Inferences." Minerals 11.7 (2021): 687.

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