Metal Enrichments in Bitumens from the Carboniferous of Ireland: Potential in Exploration for Ore Deposits

  • J. Parnell
Chapter
Part of the Special Publication of the Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits book series (MINERAL DEPOS., volume 9)

Abstract

The Carboniferous rocks of Ireland contain widespread occurrences of solid bitumen. Samples of bitumen from hydrothermal mineral veins in limestones, accretionary bitumen in sandstones, and reservoir bitumens in dolomitized limestones were determined to be enriched in metals in the form of micron-scale inclusions of ore minerals. The inclusions are most abundant in bitumens associated with ore mineralization. The inclusions are more likely to contain base metal-bearing phases in the vicinity of sulphide ore deposits. These results suggest that metal anomalies in bitumens may have potential in the exploration for ore deposits.

Keywords

Black Shale Dolomitized Limestone Gangue Mineral Metal Enrichment Pyrite Framboids 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1993

Authors and Affiliations

  • J. Parnell
    • 1
  1. 1.School of GeosciencesQueen’s University of BelfastBelfastUK

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