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Multiple origin of the ‘Kniest feeder zone’ of the stratiform Zn–Pb–Cu ore deposit of Rammelsberg, Germany

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Abstract

The Zn–Pb–Cu ore deposit of Rammelsberg is characterized by a complex fluid flow history. The main phase of ore deposition occurred during the Middle Devonian in the Rhenohercynian basin. The Kniest zone underlying the stratiform ore is interpreted as the feeder zone, along which hydrothermal fluids migrated upward and were expelled on the sea floor. Mineralizing brines possibly had a minimum temperature of 130°C, and salinity ranged between 4.9 and 10.3 eq. wt.% NaCl. The ore and its host rock became folded during the Variscan orogeny, and low salinity fluids (1.0 to 2.3 eq. wt.% NaCl) were mobilized during this tectonic period. Remobilization of the ore took place during the Mesozoic by a high salinity (17.3 to 20.2 eq. wt.% NaCl) H2O–NaCl–CaCl2 fluid.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Duncan Large, Ulrich Hein, and Bernd Lehmann for their constructive reviews and suggestions. We are grateful to Stijn Dewaele, Wouter Heijlen, and Jens Schneider for stimulating discussion on the Rammelsberg ore deposits. We would like to thank Karl Strauss (Institut für Minerlogie und Mineralische Rohstoffe, TU Clausthal), who kindly helped us with the sampling at the mineral collection at the TU Clausthal, and Ir. Koch and Ir. Meier (Bergbau Goslar GmbH) for the permission to take samples of the Rammelsberg collection. Jacques Wautier kindly provided the microprobe analysis, and Herman Nijs carefully prepared sections and doubly polished wafers.

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  1. Geodynamics and Geofluids Research Group, K.U. Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E, 3001, Leuven, Belgium

    Philippe Muchez & Peter Stassen

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  1. Philippe Muchez
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  2. Peter Stassen
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Correspondence to Philippe Muchez.

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Editorial handling: B. Lehmann

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Muchez, P., Stassen, P. Multiple origin of the ‘Kniest feeder zone’ of the stratiform Zn–Pb–Cu ore deposit of Rammelsberg, Germany. Miner Deposita 41, 46–51 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-005-0039-1

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