Ore Microscopy of the Silver Minerals in the Epigenetic Ag-W-Sn Deposits in the Silver Mine District, Southeastern Missouri, U.S.A.

Author

Richard D. Hagni, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow

Abstract

The Precambrian epigenetic Ag-W-Sn deposits of the Silver Mine district in SE Missouri occur as erratically distributed pods, lenses, and irregularly shaped bodies in quartz veins, contiguous greisen and greisenized tuff. Ore microscopic examination of 200 polished sections of specimens from nine mines and prospects in the district shows that the primary ores contain 24 minerals deposited during several stages. Greisen and early vein stages involved the crystallization under xenothermal conditions of quartz, topaz, apatite, sericite, cassiterite, rutile, ilmenite, wolframite, scheelite, zinnwaldite, arsenopyrite, specular hematite and magnetite. Subsequent stages of base and precious metal deposition consisted of pyrite, marcasite, chlorite, fluorite, sphalerite, pyrrhotite, argentiferous tennantite, antimonpearceite, argentiferous galena, chalcopyrite, berryite, and additional quartz. Fluid inclusion homogenization T for fluorite and sphalerite indicate that the late sulphides and silver-bearing minerals formed under epithermal conditions.
Argentiferous tennantite (Cu_11.9Ag_0.9As_3.71Sb_0.95Bi_0.01S₁₃) occurs as 100-400 μm grains disseminated in quartz. Antimonpearceite (Ag_18.8Cu_4.28As_1.34Sb_0.76Bi_0.01S₁₁) partially surrounds and veins some argentiferous tennantite grains. Argentiferous galena and argentiferous chalcopyrite (0.17% Ag) surround and partly replace argentiferous tennantite and antimonpearceite. The youngest silver mineral is berryite (Pb_3.03Cu_3.04Ag_3.09Bi_9.43Sb_0.05S₁₆), which is not found in association with argentiferous tennantite and antimonpearceite. Berryite has formed by the replacement of galena and chalcopyrite and locally it contains tiny irregularly shaped remnants of those two minerals.

Recommended Citation

R. D. Hagni, "Ore Microscopy of the Silver Minerals in the Epigenetic Ag-W-Sn Deposits in the Silver Mine District, Southeastern Missouri, U.S.A.," Syngenesis and Epigenesis in the Formation of Mineral Deposits, pp. 52 - 61, Springer Verlag, Jan 1984.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-70074-3_7

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Geographic Coverage

Southeast Missouri

International Standard Book Number (ISBN)

978-0387138459

Document Type

Book - Chapter

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 1984 Springer Verlag, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 1984