Mineral Exploration at the Kimmeria Fe-Cu Skarn Deposit, N. Greece: Reassessment and New Perspectives Focusing on the CRMs

Following the worldwide increasing demand for Critical Raw Materials (CRMs), the Hellenic Geological Survey (HSGME) implemented a national project focused on the re-evaluation of certain Public Mining Areas in Greece. In this framework, exploration activities, including geological mapping, and miner...

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Main Authors: Michalis Fitros, Constantinos Mavrogonatos, Marianthi Anastasatou, Adamantia Chatziapostolou, Konstantinos Laskaridis, Petros Karmis, Magdalini Angeli, Dimitrios Tsouvalas, Alexandros Liakopoulos, Dimitrios Tarenidis, Vasiliki Angelatou
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-01-01
Series:Materials Proceedings
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4605/15/1/75
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author Michalis Fitros
Constantinos Mavrogonatos
Marianthi Anastasatou
Adamantia Chatziapostolou
Konstantinos Laskaridis
Petros Karmis
Magdalini Angeli
Dimitrios Tsouvalas
Alexandros Liakopoulos
Dimitrios Tarenidis
Vasiliki Angelatou
author_facet Michalis Fitros
Constantinos Mavrogonatos
Marianthi Anastasatou
Adamantia Chatziapostolou
Konstantinos Laskaridis
Petros Karmis
Magdalini Angeli
Dimitrios Tsouvalas
Alexandros Liakopoulos
Dimitrios Tarenidis
Vasiliki Angelatou
author_sort Michalis Fitros
collection DOAJ
description Following the worldwide increasing demand for Critical Raw Materials (CRMs), the Hellenic Geological Survey (HSGME) implemented a national project focused on the re-evaluation of certain Public Mining Areas in Greece. In this framework, exploration activities, including geological mapping, and mineralogical, geochemical, and geophysical studies, revealed significant mineralization targets which possibly host elevated contents of certain CRMs in the Kimmeria Fe skarn deposit. The mineralization is related to the contact metamorphic aureole of the Oligocene Xanthi pluton. Various skarn minerals form the following paragenetic zones in order of decreasing temperature: (i) garnet–wollastonite, (ii) garnet–clinopyroxene, (iii) garnet–epidote, and (iv) vesuvianite–scapolite. The skarn deposit consists of magnetite-rich ore occurring along with sulfides (chalcopyrite, pyrite, bismuthinite, and molybdenite), scheelite, minor sulfosalts (aikinite, wittichenite, and cubanite) and native elements (Au and Bi). Bulk-rock geochemical analyses yielded significant values, as follows: Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, up to 58 wt%; Cu, up to 6.6 wt%; Bi, up to 1100 ppm; W, up to 670 ppm; V, up to 200 ppm; Mo, up to 200 ppm; and Au, up to 2.1 g/t. Soil and stream sediment geochemistry reveals spatial and linear trends for certain groups of associated elements (i.e., Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-Cu-Bi-W and Mo-W-Zn). These trends reflect the surficial distribution of mineralized zones and imply the existence of partially unexposed mineralization in the western part of the study area, a fact also supported by geophysical evidence. A preliminary drilling project has been proposed to evaluate the qualitative characteristics of the deeper parts of the mineralization, investigate buried ore zones in the western part, and overall, reassess the economic potential of the deposit.
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spelling doaj-art-54c61d6416e94588a97bf55c025e51812025-08-20T02:21:07ZengMDPI AGMaterials Proceedings2673-46052024-01-011517510.3390/materproc2023015075Mineral Exploration at the Kimmeria Fe-Cu Skarn Deposit, N. Greece: Reassessment and New Perspectives Focusing on the CRMsMichalis Fitros0Constantinos Mavrogonatos1Marianthi Anastasatou2Adamantia Chatziapostolou3Konstantinos Laskaridis4Petros Karmis5Magdalini Angeli6Dimitrios Tsouvalas7Alexandros Liakopoulos8Dimitrios Tarenidis9Vasiliki Angelatou10Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration, 13672 Acharnae, GreeceHellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration, 13672 Acharnae, GreeceHellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration, 13672 Acharnae, GreeceHellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration, 13672 Acharnae, GreeceHellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration, 13672 Acharnae, GreeceHellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration, 13672 Acharnae, GreeceHellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration, 13672 Acharnae, GreeceHellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration, 13672 Acharnae, GreeceHellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration, 13672 Acharnae, GreeceHellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration, 13672 Acharnae, GreeceHellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration, 13672 Acharnae, GreeceFollowing the worldwide increasing demand for Critical Raw Materials (CRMs), the Hellenic Geological Survey (HSGME) implemented a national project focused on the re-evaluation of certain Public Mining Areas in Greece. In this framework, exploration activities, including geological mapping, and mineralogical, geochemical, and geophysical studies, revealed significant mineralization targets which possibly host elevated contents of certain CRMs in the Kimmeria Fe skarn deposit. The mineralization is related to the contact metamorphic aureole of the Oligocene Xanthi pluton. Various skarn minerals form the following paragenetic zones in order of decreasing temperature: (i) garnet–wollastonite, (ii) garnet–clinopyroxene, (iii) garnet–epidote, and (iv) vesuvianite–scapolite. The skarn deposit consists of magnetite-rich ore occurring along with sulfides (chalcopyrite, pyrite, bismuthinite, and molybdenite), scheelite, minor sulfosalts (aikinite, wittichenite, and cubanite) and native elements (Au and Bi). Bulk-rock geochemical analyses yielded significant values, as follows: Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, up to 58 wt%; Cu, up to 6.6 wt%; Bi, up to 1100 ppm; W, up to 670 ppm; V, up to 200 ppm; Mo, up to 200 ppm; and Au, up to 2.1 g/t. Soil and stream sediment geochemistry reveals spatial and linear trends for certain groups of associated elements (i.e., Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-Cu-Bi-W and Mo-W-Zn). These trends reflect the surficial distribution of mineralized zones and imply the existence of partially unexposed mineralization in the western part of the study area, a fact also supported by geophysical evidence. A preliminary drilling project has been proposed to evaluate the qualitative characteristics of the deeper parts of the mineralization, investigate buried ore zones in the western part, and overall, reassess the economic potential of the deposit.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4605/15/1/75Critical Raw Materialsskarn depositexplorationsulfidesore geology
spellingShingle Michalis Fitros
Constantinos Mavrogonatos
Marianthi Anastasatou
Adamantia Chatziapostolou
Konstantinos Laskaridis
Petros Karmis
Magdalini Angeli
Dimitrios Tsouvalas
Alexandros Liakopoulos
Dimitrios Tarenidis
Vasiliki Angelatou
Mineral Exploration at the Kimmeria Fe-Cu Skarn Deposit, N. Greece: Reassessment and New Perspectives Focusing on the CRMs
Materials Proceedings
Critical Raw Materials
skarn deposit
exploration
sulfides
ore geology
title Mineral Exploration at the Kimmeria Fe-Cu Skarn Deposit, N. Greece: Reassessment and New Perspectives Focusing on the CRMs
title_full Mineral Exploration at the Kimmeria Fe-Cu Skarn Deposit, N. Greece: Reassessment and New Perspectives Focusing on the CRMs
title_fullStr Mineral Exploration at the Kimmeria Fe-Cu Skarn Deposit, N. Greece: Reassessment and New Perspectives Focusing on the CRMs
title_full_unstemmed Mineral Exploration at the Kimmeria Fe-Cu Skarn Deposit, N. Greece: Reassessment and New Perspectives Focusing on the CRMs
title_short Mineral Exploration at the Kimmeria Fe-Cu Skarn Deposit, N. Greece: Reassessment and New Perspectives Focusing on the CRMs
title_sort mineral exploration at the kimmeria fe cu skarn deposit n greece reassessment and new perspectives focusing on the crms
topic Critical Raw Materials
skarn deposit
exploration
sulfides
ore geology
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4605/15/1/75
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