Ορυκτολογική έρευνα στην παλαιά απόθεση αρσενοπρίτη Ολυμπιάδας, ΒΑ Χαλκιδική= Mineralogical study of the old arsenopyrite tailings of Olympias, NE Chalkidiki.

Περίληψη

The disposal area of Olympias mine district in NE Chalkidiki was the place where the mine wastesof the processing and enrichment of the Olympias Pb-Zn-Au-Ag ore between 1975 and 1995 were disposed. The random disposal of the expulsion of the mine wastes, results to a non-constant graded classification of grain size from the surface to the bottom. Σhe disposal area has been characterized by silt sand, silt sand conglomerate, sandy silt conglomerate and semi-conglomerate silt sand depending on the samples disposition. The processes which were used for the mineralogical recognition in that area is a short area study based on optical and scanning electron microscopy and a mineralogical study based on X-ray diffraction. The minerals which have been recognized are minor sulfides such as pyrite, sphalerite, arsenopyrite and galena, silicates such as quartz, kaolinite, feldspars (specifically albite and microcline), micas (specifically biotite), chlorite, amphiboles, pyroxenes, garnets and titanite. Also, there were found hydrant sulphosalts such as jarosite, barite and gypsum, carbonate minerals like calcite, rhodochrosite and dolomite and mineral phases of Mn and Fe oxyhydroxides, often rich in Zn, As and Sb, as skoroditis. Finally, there were recognized native elements (graphite), phosphate minerals (monazite), clays and scoria.