SOME IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS OF POLYMETALLIC LEAD-ZINC ORE IN THE BADOVC MINERAL DEPOSIT, KOSOVO

Abstract

In this paper, we have presented the scientific results of the chemical and mineralogical composition of sulphides mineralization at the Badovc mine. In the study, 20 samples were taken and the distribution of the metal content (Pb, Zn, Ag, Bi, Cd, Cu, As, and Sb) in the Badovc deposit was analyzed. Microscopic description of the smooth mineralogical section at the Badovc deposit has resulted in this mineral composition: sphalerite, pyrite, galena, magnetite, and non-metallic minerals. Statistical and correlative analyses, factor weights, and microscopic studies were performed. According to the correlative analysis, the results show the following geochemical relationships: Pb-Ag-Bi; Cu-Cd, while data for geochemical associations, according to another method known as factorial analysis, resulted in Pb-Ag-(Bi-Sb) and Cd-Cu. The Fe content of sphalerite ranges from 6 to 13%, or 0.16 Fe atoms in the crystal-chemical formula. In galena, apart from the very high content of Pb, the absence of Ag stands out among other elements. It contains more Sb than Bi. As a conclusion, in this study we can distinguish two generations, one with the predominance of "pyrite-sphalerite-magnetite-galena" and the other composed mainly of non-metallic minerals, "pyrite-marcasite" formed at low temperatures and acidic pH.