Mineralogy and genetic features of the Cu-As-Ni-Sb-Pb mineralization from the Mlakva polymetallic deposit (Serbia) — New occurrence of (Ni-Sb)-bearing Cu-arsenides

Abstract

(Ni-Sb)-bearing Cu-arsenides are rare minerals within the Mlakva and Kram mining sectors (Boranja ore field) one of the less-known Serbian Cu deposits. (Ni-Sb)-bearing Cu-arsenides were collected from the Mlakva skarn-replacement Cu(Ag,Bi)-FeS polymetallic deposit. The identified phases include β-domeykite, Ni-bearing koutekite and (Ni-Sb)-bearing α-domeykite. (Ni-Sb)-bearing Cu-arsenides are associated with nickeline, arsenical breithauptite, chalcocite, native Ag, native Pb and litharge. Pyrrhotite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, cubanite, bismuthinite, molybdenite, sphalerite, galena, Pb(Cu)-Bi sulfosalts and native Bi, as well as minor magnetite, scheelite and powellite are associated with the sulfide paragenesis. The electron microprobe analyses of the (Ni-Sb)-bearing Cu-arsenides yielded the following average formulae: (Cu2.73,Ni0.17,Fe0.03,Ag0.01)∑ 2.94(As0.98,Sb0.05,S0.02)∑ 1.06–β-domeykite (simplified formula (Cu2.7,Ni0.2)∑ 2.9As1.1); (Cu3.40,Ni1.40,Fe0.11)∑ 4.91(As1.94,Sb0.13,S0.02)∑ 2.08–Ni-bearing koutekite (simplified formula (Cu3.4Ni1.5)∑ 4.9As2.1); and Cu1.97(Ni0.98,Fe0.03)∑ 1.01(As0.81,Sb0.22)∑ 1.03–(Ni–Sb)-bearing α-domeykite (simplified formula Cu2NiAs). The Rietveld refinement yielded the following unit-cell parameters for β-domeykite and Ni–bearing koutekite: a = 7.1331(4); c = 7.3042(5) Å; V = 321.86(2) Å3, and a = 5.922(4); b = 11.447(9); c = 5.480(4) Å; V = 371.48(5) Å3, respectively. Ore geology, paragenetic assemblages and genesis of the Mlakva deposit are discussed in detail and the Cu-As-Ni-Sb-Pb mineralization has been compared with similar well-known global deposits.