Sediment-hosted Copper Deposit (Shallow-marine)

Synonym

Copper Slate Deposit, Copper Sandstone Deposit, Kupferschiefer Deposit

Required Geological Setting

Neogene and Quaternary sediments

Occurrence

Bedded copper sulfide deposits in shallow-marine sedimentary rocks such as conglomerate, shale, sandstone, and dolomite. Famous examples are the Copper belt in Zambia and Congo, and the Kupferschiefer in Germany and Poland. It is considered that deposits were formed on the sallow seafloor along seashores. Reflecting oxidation state during deposition, chalcocite deposited in acidic circumstances and chalcopyrite in the reductive circumstances.

Mineral Assemblages

Chalcocite, Bornite, Chalcopyrite, Pyrite, Hematite

Mineral Assemblages (Secondary minerals)

Malachite, Chrysocolla, Azurite, Cuprite, Tenorite, Covellite, Copper