Occurrence of sulphides in Sowia Dolina near Karpacz (SW Poland) - An example of ore mineralization in the contact aureole of the Karkonosze granite

Abstract

The authors studied the poorly-known, uneconomic sulphide mineralization site in Sowia Dolina near Karpacz. Host rocks are hornfelses of the Velká Úpa schist series, which belongs to the Izera-Kowary Unit. Ore minerals assemblage includes: pyrrhotite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, sphalerite, galena and marcasite, accompanied by ilmenite and rutile. The oldest sulphide is high-temperature pyrrhotite crystallized at about 600°C, which is in good agreement with the temperature range of contact metamorphic conditions, revealed by muscovitesillimanite transformation. Low-temperature pyrrhotite and other sulphides formed at about 390°C (arsenopyrite geothermometer) down to 265°C (pyrrhotite geothermometer), whereas fluid inclusions studies of vein quartz demonstrated the temperature range 380-150°C. Mineralization in Sowia Dolina is similar to other ore hydrothermal deposits known from the proximal or distal contact zone of the Karkonosze granite.