COPPER MINERALIZATION OF THE POLISH KUPFERSCHIEFER: A PROPOSED BASEMENT FAULT-FRACTURE SYSTEM OF FLUID FLOW

Abstract

Research Article| November 01, 2003 COPPER MINERALIZATION OF THE POLISH KUPFERSCHIEFER: A PROPOSED BASEMENT FAULT-FRACTURE SYSTEM OF FLUID FLOW D. J. Blundell; D. J. Blundell Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, England †Corresponding author: email, [e-mail] Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar P. H. Karnkowski; P. H. Karnkowski Institute of Geology, University of Warsaw, Al. Zwirki i Wigury 93, 02-089 Warsaw, Poland Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D. H. M. Alderton; D. H. M. Alderton Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, England Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar S. Oszczepalski; S. Oszczepalski Polish Geological Institute, Rakowiecka 4, 00-975 Warsaw, Poland Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar H. Kucha H. Kucha University of Mining and Metallurgy, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information D. J. Blundell Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, England P. H. Karnkowski Institute of Geology, University of Warsaw, Al. Zwirki i Wigury 93, 02-089 Warsaw, Poland D. H. M. Alderton Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, England S. Oszczepalski Polish Geological Institute, Rakowiecka 4, 00-975 Warsaw, Poland H. Kucha University of Mining and Metallurgy, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland †Corresponding author: email, [e-mail] Publisher: Society of Economic Geologists Received: 11 Feb 2002 Accepted: 28 May 2003 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1554-0774 Print ISSN: 0361-0128 Economic Geology Economic Geology (2003) 98 (7): 1487–1495. https://doi.org/10.2113/gsecongeo.98.7.1487 Article history Received: 11 Feb 2002 Accepted: 28 May 2003 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation D. J. Blundell, P. H. Karnkowski, D. H. M. Alderton, S. Oszczepalski, H. Kucha; COPPER MINERALIZATION OF THE POLISH KUPFERSCHIEFER: A PROPOSED BASEMENT FAULT-FRACTURE SYSTEM OF FLUID FLOW. Economic Geology 2003;; 98 (7): 1487–1495. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gsecongeo.98.7.1487 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyEconomic Geology Search Advanced Search Abstract Fluid flow models previously proposed have been unable to account for the 350 Mt of copper metal associated with the Kupferschiefer shales in the southwest part of the Polish basin without an unreasonably high concentration of Cu in the brine transport system. A new conceptual model is presented, on the basis of more detailed knowledge of the structural, stratigraphic and thermal evolution of the Polish basin, that involves a localized high heat flow anomaly present at the time of the main phase of mineralization in the Early Triassic. The mechanism proposed involved injection of hot brine from a deep-seated basement fault-fracture system into Rotliegend eolian sandstone and then updip flow through this porous formation to the Lubin area, where chemical conditions in the immediately overlying Kupferschiefer shale allowed precipitation of the metals from the brine. The copper mineralization of the Lubin area is suggested to have resulted from a large number of short pulses of fluid, and flow was triggered by coseismic strain associated with normal faulting. It is proposed that, within the basement, a network of fractures with high aspect ratios opened within each interseismic period under lateral tension and filled with brine. At the time of a normal-fault–related earthquake, when fault rupture occurred, coseismic strain resulted in the closure of fractures in the vicinity of the fault and brine was expelled. Calculations suggest that, with fluid pressure generated by the coseismic strain close to lithostatic, the force from hot brine injected into the Rotliegend sandstone was sufficient to drive the brine through the aquifer at up to 63 m/yr to thesite of copper deposition in the Kupferschiefer shale. If flow from each earthquake lasted, on average, for just over a year, then approximately 0.07 km3 of fluid would have been discharged. If earthquakes and normal faulting occurred at 100- to 200-yr intervals, averaging 7,000/m.y., then 6,000 km3 of fluid could have been mobilized in a period of 12 m.y. Assuming that the fluid was a brine containing 60 ppm dissolved copper, this volume would have been sufficient to account for the observed quantity of copper in the southwest part of the Polish basin. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.