Polish Kupferschiefer Ores



Covellite (strongly pleochroic from dark to light bluish gray) cementing quartz (dark gray) sand grains in the upper 2-3 inches of the sandstone beneath the copper shale (Kupferschiefer) in the Rudna copper mine, Poland. Part of the lighter blue is chalcocite that appears very similar to covellite in it lighter blue position. Reflected light ore microscopy, plane polarized light, low magnification.



Same view as above but under crossed polars. Covellite (orange) cementing quartz (black) sand grains in the upper 2-3 inches of the sandstone beneath the copper shale (Kupferschiefer) in the Rudna copper mine, Poland. Reflected light ore microscopy, crossed polars, low magnification.



Covellite (dark to light bluish gray) cementing and filling fractures in a clastic quartz (dark gray) sand grain that exhibits mosaic (pieces could be put back together again) brecciation. Upper 2-3 inches of the sandstone beneath the copper shale (Kupferschiefer) in the Rudna copper mine, Poland. Reflected light ore microscopy, plane polarized light, low magnification.



Single clastic quartz grain (dark gray) brecciated and cemented by covellite (dark to light bluish gray). Quartz breccia fragments have been moved farther apart than in the above photomicrograph. Upper 2-3 inches of the sandstone beneath the copper shale (Kupferschiefer) in the Rudna copper mine, Poland. Reflected light ore microscopy, plane polarized light, low magnification.



Local vertical bornite-digenite vein traversing disseminated copper ores in the Kupferschiefer at the Rudna copper mine, Poland. Bornite (Bo; purple) and digenite (Di; bluish gray) are traversed by a single galena (Gn; white) vein and by later thin carrollite (Car) veins. Quartz (Qz; black) has selectively replaced galena. Reflected light ore microscopy, plane polarized light, moderate magnification, oil immersion.



Local bornite vein traversing disseminated copper ores in the Kupferschiefer at the Rudna copper mine, Poland. Chalcopyrite (Cp; yellow) has coated and veined the bornite (Bo; purple) vein and disseminated bornite grains in the host shale (black).