The geological setting of volcanogenic sulphide orebodies in Albanian ophiolites

Abstract Cu–Fe sulphides with minor Zn, Au and Ag occur as massive, disseminated and vein mineralizations in volcanosedimentary rocks, volcanics and occasionally associated intrusions of a sheeted dyke complex in ophiolites in Albania. The ophiolites form two sub-parallel units, the Western Ophiolite and Eastern Ophiolite Belts, stretching across the country from north-west to south-east, and have mid-ocean ridge and island arc (boninite supra-subduction type) affinities, respectively. The ores have been extensively prospected and were mined until the 1990s.The Western Ophiolite Belt comprises a volcanosedimentary series, pillow basalts, ultramafic rocks, gabbros and plagiogranites. The most significant orebodies are in volcanosedimentary rocks at Rubik, Palaj-Karme and Porave. The orebodies with massive chalcopyrite–pyrite ores vary in shape occurring between hematised radiolarian chert and tholeiitic basalt pillow lavas. Mapping the shape of the main orebody at Rubik shows a series of mounds comparable ...