Organic and mineral characteristics of Kupferschiefer ore from Lubin mine (Poland): implications for bioleaching of the ore.

Abstract : The ore mineral and organic matter content of the Lubin black shale (LBS) are compared with copper concentrate (LC) obtained by flotation. Study of a mineralized profile shows a good correlation between the S, TOC and Cu, Co and Ag content, suggesting syngenetic bacterial sulfate reduction (BSR) accumulation. The presence of disseminated and fracture filling rather than framboidal Cu-minerals, suggests formation via diagenetic processes. Compared to the black shale, the LC shows a lower HI and a higher OI, and a much more diverse ore mineral content. The black shale ore is composed of 15 vol. % sulfide, this proportion reaches 27 % in the LC whereas the TOC is similar in the LC and LBS. The ore mineral diversity in the LC is due to the contribution of mineralized sandstone and dolomite adjacent the black shale ore.