Zdeněk Pertold

Mineralogical and geochemical controls of arsenic speciation and mobility under different redox conditions in soil, sediment and water at the Mokrsko-West gold deposit, Czech Republic

Naturally contaminated soil, sediment and water at the Mokrsko-West gold deposit, Central Bohemia, have been studied in order to determine the processes that lead to release of As into water and to control its speciation under various redox conditions. In soils, As is bonded mainly to secondary arseniosiderite, pharmacosiderite and Fe oxyhydroxides and, rarely, to scorodite; in sediments, As is bonded mainly to Fe oxyhydroxides and rarely to arsenate minerals. The highest concentrations of dissolved As were found in groundwater (up to 1141 microg L(-1)), which mostly represented a redox transition zone where neither sulphide minerals nor Fe oxyhydroxide are stable. The main processes releasing dissolved As in this zone are attributed to the reductive dissolution of Fe oxyhydroxides and arsenate minerals, resulting in a substantial decrease in their amounts below the groundwater level. Some shallow subsurface environments with high organic matter contents were characterized by reducing conditions that indicated a relatively high amount of S(-2,0) in the solid phase and a lower dissolved As concentration (70-80 microg L(-1)) in the pore water. These findings are attributed to the formation of Fe(II) sulphides with the sorbed As. Under oxidizing conditions, surface waters were undersaturated with respect to arsenate minerals and this promoted the dissolution of secondary arsenates and increased the As concentrations in the water to characteristic values from 300 to 450 microg L(-1) in the stream and fishpond waters. The levels of dissolved As(III) often predominate over As(V) levels, both in groundwaters and in surface waters. The As(III)/As(V) ratio is closely related to the DOC concentration and this could support the assumption of a key role of microbial processes in transformations of aqueous As species as well as in the mobility of As.

The Cu-Zn Obrazek ore deposit, Czechoslovakia: A volcanogenic deposit included in the Ransko intrusive complex

The Cu-Zn Obrazek ore deposit is reinterpreted as metamorphosed volcanogenic-type rather than epigenetic vein-type. Enclosed by undeformed, non-metamorphosed mafic-ultramafic rocks of the Ransko complex, the ore is a highly folded, intensely metamorphosed (Zn-rich) association of banded, massive sphalerite-barite-pyrite-pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite and (Cu-rich)pyrite-chalcopyrite-pyrrhotite. Cu-rich ores are disseminated in deformed metamorphic assemblages of quartz, sillimanite, cordierite, anthophyllite, orthopyroxene and gahnite. Textural and compositional features in the metamorphic rocks suggest that the cordierite-anthophyllite assemblage was produced by regional metamorphism of rocks associated with the ore deposit. Inclusion of the Cu-Zn deposit and associated rocks in the Ransko intrusive complex produced contact metamorphic hornfelses of quartz, cordierite, orthopyroxene and Al-spinel. The occurrence and compositions of Zn-rich chromian spinel and minor intercumulus sulfides in anorthosite, troctolite and norite of the Ransko complex near the Obrazek ore body are interpreted to result from contamination of the Ransko parent magma by the Cu-Zn deposit and associated rocks.

Microscopy and Cathodoluminescence Spectroscopy Characterization of Quartz Exhibiting Different Alkali–Silica Reaction Potential

Different quartz types from several localities in the Czech Republic and Sweden were examined by polarizing microscopy combined with cathodoluminescence (CL) microscopy, spectroscopy, and petrographic image analysis, and tested by use of an accelerated mortar bar test (following ASTM C1260). The highest alkali-silica reaction potential was indicated by very fine-grained chert, containing significant amounts of fine-grained to cryptocrystalline matrix. The chert exhibited a dark red CL emission band at ~640 nm with a low intensity. Fine-grained orthoquartzites, as well as fine-grained metamorphic vein quartz, separated from phyllite exhibited medium expansion values. The orthoquartzites showed various CL of quartz grains, from blue through violet, red, and brown. Two CL spectral bands at ~450 and ~630 nm, with various intensities, were detected. The quartz from phyllite displayed an inhomogeneous dark red CL with two CL spectral bands of low intensities at ~460 and ~640 nm. The massive coarse-grained pegmatite quartz from pegmatite was assessed to be nonreactive and displayed a typical short-lived blue CL (~480 nm). The higher reactivity of the fine-grained hydrothermal quartz may be connected with high concentrations of defect centers, and probably with amorphized micro-regions in the quartz, respectively; indicated by a yellow CL emission (~570 nm).

Genesis of regionally metamorphosed skarns from the Bohemian Massif: Contact metasomatic versus sedimentary-exhalative

Several skarns were studied in the northern part of the high-grade Moldanubian zone, Bohemian Massif (Czech Republic). Three different kinds of skarn were distinguished on the basis of their host environment, and their mineralogical and isotopic compositions. Regionally metamorphosed skarns reflect post-peak metamorphic decompression after high pressure-high temperature regional metamorphism (approximately 800°C and 12 kbars) and younger regional metamorphism (670°C, 6–8 kbars) accompanied by intrusion of an orthogneiss body. Analysed d180 values from the skarn minerals are not compatible with a post-peak metamorphic contact metasomatic origin associated with emplacement of the orthogneiss. The skarn precursors are interpreted to have been an integral part of the primary (volcano-) sedimentary successions in these Moldanubian localities, and a submarine exhalative origin is inferred.

Hydrothermal alteration in volcanic rocks, eastern part of the Lukavice Group, Železné Hory Mountains, Czech Republic

Many rocks mapped as felsic metavolcanics in the eastern part of the Lukavice Group are shown to be altered mafic metavolcanics, similar to those in the Noranda and Flin Flon-Snow Lake mining districts, Canada. The relatively fresh rocks of the Lukavice Group are rhyolite, dacite-andesite, and andesite-basalt of calcalka-line character. Assuming no substantial volume change during alteration, Ti, P, La, Ce, Yb, Lu, Th (partly), Sc and V contents remained unchanged. Altered rocks are enriched in (Fe + Mg), K and Si and depleted in Na, Ca and Zr. Some elements show both increased and decreased contents in altered rocks (Mg, Ba, Sm, eu, Tb and Hf). Although hydrothermal alteration in the Lukavice Group is of large extent, it is of the proximal Kuroko style and not of regional ‘Amulet Rhyolite’ style. Implications for a large hydrothermal system within a volcanic pile are discussed in relation to the Ordovician Lukavice Group and its mineral deposits and to some other parts of the Bohemian Massif with volcanosedimentary sequences of the same age.