REE and their relevance to the development of the Kupferschiefer copper deposit in Poland

Over one hundred samples, representing mainly clayey-organic- and carbonate-rich shales (Kupferschiefer) but also other members of different ore sections, including hangingwall dolomites (Z1 Werra) and footwall Weissliegend sandstone (Lower Permian), have been collected in different mines of the Lubin–Głogów mining district, mainly near the contact (transitional zone) between the copper-mineralized zone and secondarily oxidized (Rote Fäule = RF) zone. In general, the Polish Kupferschiefer shales are enriched in MREE in comparison to NASC. In a typical copper-rich ore section the REE amounts and patterns depend on lithologies, being generally similar in shales and dolomite. ∑REE vary among sandstones, shales and dolomites (average 73, 143 and 85 ppm, respectively), probably reflecting mainly their clay contents. Sandstones have strongly convex REE patterns with positive Eu and negative Gd anomalies and depletion in LREE and enrichment in MREE relative to HREE. The REE patterns of shale and dolomite are similar to one another and rather flat, with strong negative Eu anomalies, and a small positive Gd anomaly in the case of shales.The REE patterns of shales from the mineralized Cu-zone are generally convex (MREE enriched) and have negative Eu anomalies. However, in a section with Cu-, Zn- and Pb-shales the REE pattern of Pb-bearing shales shows a positive Eu anomaly, in contrast to other shales and overlying dolomite. More oxidizing conditions of deposition can be assumed for Pb-shales.No significant differences between REE distributions in transitional and oxidized zones have been observed. Their REE patterns are more convex and are much higher (av. 247 ppm) than those in the mineralized zone and they do not show Eu anomalies. The strongly convex pattern may suggest either enrichment in MREE or relative depletion in LREE due to localized precipitation of light REE minerals, both in shales and in the uppermost part of the sandstones.Two unique sections, one Cu-rich and one Cu-lean (partly oxidized), comprising three shale beds interbedded with dolomites have been compared. Generally ∑REE contents are similar in these two sections. Also similar are changes in contents of REE between beds in both sections, which decrease significantly upwards (from 157–171 ppm to 54–60 ppm). The REE patterns of the lowermost beds (directly overlying sandstones) are ramp-like, with LREE enrichments. The upper beds have concave REE patterns. Comparison between sections shows generally stronger negative Eu and positive Gd anomalies in the highly-mineralized section.There is a highly significant positive relationship between Cu and ∑ REE contents in Cu-rich shales and slightly less significant negative relationship for their concentration in oxidized and transitional shales. There is a moderate significant positive correlation between P2O5 and ∑ REE contents in Cu-rich shales.The observed differences in REE contents cannot be provenance dependent but have been caused by diagenetic processes, possibly related to mineralization and oxidation processes. Europium anomalies, generally reflecting different Eh conditions in the deposit, can be eliminated by the prolonged oxidation. Strong enrichment of the RF zones in REE may result from their desorption from large volumes of oxidizing, including mineralizing, solutions which probably emerged from the underlying molasse lithologies into the Rote Fäule areas. Higher contents of REE in the lowermost shales suggest upward movement of solutions from the underlying sandstones also far away from the RF areas.