Third Worldwide Occurrence of Juangodoyite, Na2Cu(CO3)2, and Other Secondary Na, Cu, Mg, and Ca Minerals in the Fore-Sudetic Monocline (Lower Silesia, SW Poland)

Na-Cu carbonates are relatively rare secondary minerals in weathering zones of ore deposits. Hereby we describe mineral composition and crystal chemistry of the most important secondary (Na)Cu minerals and their Na- and Mg-bearing associates forming rich paragenesis in Rudna IX mine. A non-bulky Ca-rich dripstone-like paragenesis from Lubin Główny mine is also characterized, using Powder X-Ray Di raction, Rietveld, and Electron Microprobe methods. Light blue juangodoyite (3rd occurrence worldwide) and darker chalconatronite are the most important members of the Rudna IX paragenesis, being associated with malachite, aragonite (intergrown with hydromagnesite and northupite), and probably cornwallite. Most of the minerals are chemically close to their ideal composition, with minor Mg substitution in malachite. Cu chlorides are mainly represented by clinoatacamite and probably herbertsmithite. Additional, minor phases include trace Cu minerals langite, wroewolfeite, and a lavendulan-group mineral, and monohydrocalcite. Separate halite-rich encrustations are shown to be filled with eriochalcite, ktenasite, and kröhnkite. The most likely to be confirmed coexisting species include paratacamite, wooldridgeite/nesquehonite, johillerite, melanothallite, and kipushite. The Lubin paragenesis mainly comprises aragonite, gypsum, rapidcreekite, and monohydrocalcite, with trace vaterite. Blue colouration is mainly provided by a yet unspecified Ni-, Co-, Mg-, and Mn-bearing Cu-Zn-Ca arsenate mineral close to parnauite

Pierwsze próby charakterystyki geochemicznej i palinologicznej krzemienia „czekoladowego” z kopalni Wierzbica „Zele”, pow. Radom

W artykule zawarto wstępne wyniki analiz geochemicznych i palinologicznych krzemienia „czekoladowego” z kopalni Wierzbica „Zele”, pow. Radom

Bacterial Communities from the Arsenic Mine in Złoty Stok, Sudety Mountains, Poland

Investigations of bacterial communities and characterization of mineralogy of the environment in the Złoty Stok As-Au deposit werecarried out. PXRD analysis revealed the presence of picropharmacolite as the most common secondary arsenic mineral in the mine. Total DNA was extracted from slime streams or slime biofilms samples to investigate the bacterial communities. PCR amplification of 16S rDNA was performed followed by subcloning of its products. Over 170 clones were analyzed by means of RFLP method. Eight group of clones representing different restriction patterns were identified. The nucleotide sequences of their inserts suggest that bacteria present in the mine environment belong to: Flavobacteria, Sphingobacteriia, Bacteroides, Proteobacteria, Mollicutes and Firmicutes. The metagenomic approach allows to demonstrate a higher diversity of microbiota than classical microbiological studies of cultivable isolates

High Temperature Sulfate Minerals Forming on the Burning Coal Dumps from Upper Silesia, Poland

The subject of this work is the assemblage of anhydrous sulfate minerals formed on burning coal-heaps. Three burning heaps located in the Upper Silesian coal basin in Czerwionka-Leszczyny, Radlin and Rydułtowy near Rybnik were selected for the research. The occurrence of godovikovite, millosevichite, steklite and an unnamed MgSO4, sometimes accompanied by subordinate admixtures of mikasaite, sabieite, efremovite, langbeinite and aphthitalite has been recorded from these locations. Occasionally they form monomineral aggregates, but usually occur as mixtures practically impossible to separate. The minerals form microcrystalline masses with a characteristic vesicular structure resembling a solidified foam or pumice. The sulfates crystallize from hot fire gases, similar to high temperature volcanic exhalations. The gases transport volatile components from the center of the fire but their chemical compositions are not yet known. Their cooling in the near-surface part of the heap results in condensation from the vapors as viscous liquid mass, from which the investigated minerals then crystallize. Their crystallization temperatures can be estimated from direct measurements of the temperatures of sulfate accumulation in the burning dumps and studies of their thermal decomposition. Millosevichite and steklite crystallize in the temperature range of 510–650 °C, MgSO4 forms at 510–600 °C and godovikovite in the slightly lower range of 280–450 (546) °C. These values are higher than those previously reported

Recently formed arsenates from an abandoned mine in Radzimowice (SW Poland) and the conditions of their formation

In the mining galleries of the abandoned Au-As mine in Radzimowice, diverse groups of secondary arsenates crystallized recently. They form several characteristic assemblages. In the first of them the typical minerals are bukovskýite and melanterite. The second group of secondary arsenates includes scorodite, kaňkite, zýkaite, and pitticite. The third assemblage includes Co-Ni-Mg arsenates of the erythrite-annabergite-hörnesite series. The first assemblage crystallized in a zone with a very high activity of sulphate and arsenate ions and where the pH varies within a narrow range of 2.0-3.5. The second group of secondary arsenates formed in the acidic zone. The minerals identified here suggest pH variation within fairly wide ranges, from about 2.0 to 5.5. Contrary to the first and second mineral assemblage, the Co-Ni-Mg arsenates formed under different geochemical conditions. Their crystallization took place under weak acidic to neutral conditions

The impact of former mining of polymetallic ore in Czarnów on selected elements of the natural environment in the light of geochemical studies

The exploitation of mineral resources can lead to the migration of potentially harmful substances into the natural environment, resulting in environmental degradation and pollution. The mining of polymetallic ores can have severe consequences due to the release of toxic elements such as arsenic (As) and heavy metals. Among the areas contaminated with toxic elements is the village of Czarnów in the Rudawy Janowickie mountains, where mining activities related to copper, arsenic, and gold extraction were likely initiated in the Middle Ages. This study aimed to investigate the geochemical anomalies of arsenic and heavy metals in the soil and their uptake by plants in this region. Portable XRF spectrometry was used to perform geochemical soil analyses in the former mining sites. The results showed clear geochemical anomalies in the arsenic and heavy metal content of soils, with concentrations exceeding permissible standards. The highest concentrations of As were found in the mining dumps, exceeding 100 000 ppm. Phytogeochemical analyses were conducted on raspberry leaves (Rubus idaeus) to determine the content of arsenic, lead, zinc, and copper using the ICP-MS method. The findings indicated that the high levels of individual elements found may pose a risk to the environment. The study demonstrates that even abandoned mining sites can be a source of pollution, and long-term monitoring of these areas is essential to mitigate their potential environmental impact

Secondary minerals from the Breiner mine (Maramureş, Romania) as an example of recently formed secondary mineralization

The former gold and silver mine of Breiner, is located in the village of Băiuţ, in the mining area of Băiuţ-Tibleş (Maramureş, Romania). The local polymetallic occurrences are characterized by a rich sulfide (Cu, Pb, Zn sulfides/sulfosalts) and arsenic mineralization. While the primary mineralization is relatively well known, the diverse paragenesis of second- ary mineralization has never been the subject of detailed research. Based on diffraction studies, several species of weathered minerals have been identified, most of which have never been reported in the study area before. The dominant minerals in the mine belong to the melanterite and halotrichite groups. The occurrence of rare phases on a global scale has also been observed - zaherite Al12(SO4)5(OH)26 20H2O, tooeleite Fe6(AS3+O3)4(SO4)(OH)44H2 and wattevilleite - a species with uncertain chemistry, possibly Na2Ca(SO4)24H2O. The formation of these parageneses is related to currently occurring weathering processes of primary ore mineralization that undergoes decomposition under low pH conditions

Uranyl Minerals from Abandoned Podgórze Mine (Sudetes Mountains, SW Poland) and Their REE Content

The Podgórze uranium deposit is located near Kowary in the Sudetes Mountains, SW Poland. The mine is located in the Karkonosze-Izera block, largely comprising Cambrian to Devonian metamorphic rocks intruded by the Variscan Karkonosze granite. Uranyl minerals from the Podgórze mine can be divided into three assemblages. The first one is associated with heavily ventilated mining galleries. The next assemblage is related to the outflow of water from fissures in the walls of the mine galleries. The last assemblage appears in the mine dump, where there is increased activity of other weathering products. The main purpose of this paper is to determine the mineralogical characteristics of uranyl minerals from the abandoned Podgórze uranium mine and reconstruct the physicochemical crystallization conditions based on the concentrations of rare earth elements (REEs) in these minerals. The results of thermodynamic modeling show that the aqueous species of uranyl ion in the mine water are represented by UO2HAsO4 (aq), UO2CO3(OH)3−, UO2CO3 (aq), and UO2OH+. The content of REEs and their distribution patterns were used to determine the crystallization conditions of uranyl minerals. Uranyl carbonates and arsenates have generally low concentrations of REEs compared to uranyl silicates, phosphates, and hydroxides, which have higher concentrations. The differences in REE concentration patterns may be related with the oxidizing nature of water circulating in the subsurface part of the deposit