Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/2445/160498
Title: | Geological context and origin of the mineralization of the historic and prehistoric iron mines in the Gavà area, Catalonia (NE Iberian Peninsula) |
Author: | Díaz-Acha, Yael Campeny, Marc Melgarejo i Draper, Joan-Carles Bosch, Josep Lehbib, Saleh Torró i Abat, Lisard Proenza Fernández, Joaquín Antonio Montgarri Castillo-Oliver, M. Camprubí, Antoni Villanova de Benavent, Cristina Andreazini, Aleu Pastor, Míriam Pujol Solà, Núria Amores, Sandra Xu, Jingyao Farré, Júlia |
Keywords: | Pliocè Mines Gavà (Catalunya) Carst Pliocene Mines and mineral resources Gavà (Catalonia) Karst |
Issue Date: | 2019 |
Publisher: | Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) |
Abstract: | Mining for iron resources in the Gavà area of Catalonia occurred intermittently during the Iberian and Roman epochs, the Middle Ages, and continuing until the industrial era, as evidenced by historical and archaeological documents. Iron mining in this area could have occurred even earlier, during the Neolithic period. Iron ores were formed in two stages: (1) a regional hydrothermal alteration associated with Hercynian thrusts that produced the ankeritization of limestones within the Paleozoic series, and (2) the karstic replacement of these iron-rich carbonates during the Pliocene and Quaternary by means of supergenic fluids that produced ochres with goethite and hematite. The style of mineralization largely depends on the characteristics of the replaced protolith, and three styles of mineralization can be defined: (1)The supergenic replacement of ankeritized massive Pridolian limestones only produced local replacements that were restricted to structural or stratigraphic discontinuities, therefore, the mineralization has reduced dimensions and occurs as irregular veinlets or pipes; (2) The replacement of interbedded ankeritized limestones and pyrite-bearing shales (Lockovian) produced massive ores in pod-shaped bodies rich in silica impurities derived from the altered shales; and (3) The replacement of carbonates overthrust by pyrite- and phosphate-rich shales favored the formation of massive stratabound deposits, which are the largest and highest grade deposits in the study area, and may be locally enriched in minerals of the alunite supergroup and Ca- and Fe-rich phosphates. Outcrops of all of these styles of mineralization were mined by the Iberian cultures, during the roman period and in the Middle Ages, taking advantage of the relatively high metallurgical quality of the ores.Therefore, the exploitation during these epochs was artisanal by means of trenches or small pits. In contrast, during the industrial era only the massive stratabound deposits were exploited in open pits and underground galleries. |
Note: | Reproducció del document publicat a: https://doi.org/10.18268/BSGM2019v71n2a6 |
It is part of: | Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana, 2019, vol. 71, num. 2, p. 321-342 |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/2445/160498 |
Related resource: | https://doi.org/10.18268/BSGM2019v71n2a6 |
ISSN: | 1405-3322 |
Appears in Collections: | Articles publicats en revistes (Mineralogia, Petrologia i Geologia Aplicada) |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
---|---|---|---|---|
680625.pdf | 9.02 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
This item is licensed under a Creative Commons License