Mineralogical characteristic of the Czarkowy sulphur deposit

Abstract

The Czarkowy sulphur deposit located in the northern part of Polish Carpathian Foredeep is aged Badenian. Sediments originated in the evaporite basin contain mainly carbonates with gypsum , native sulphur and significant amount of strontium within the sulphur-bearing ore. High concentration of strontium in the Czarkowy sulphur deposit could be associated with epigenetic enrichment, related with change of chemical conditions in the coastal marginal zones of Badenian basin. Presence of geochemical barrier in the mixing zone between aquifers and saline brines allowed for precipitation of strontium minerals. Euhedral well-developed bipyramidal crystals of strontium sulphates are found in cavities and pores of limestones with gypsum. Moreover, study of heavy and secondary minerals shows that celestine crystals occur in the overburden of the deposit as well.