Geochemical Atlas – Erzgebirge and Vogtland

Copper (Cu) shows a log-normal distribution. The range between absolute maximum (1910 mg/kg) and minimum (0.2 mg/kg) is vast. Arithmetic average and median are 28 mg/kg and 19 mg/kg, respectively. The average concentration in metamorphic and sedimentary rocks is higher than in acid magmatites and in the Tharandt Volcanic Complex. Three main areas, each more than 2 km in diametre, show Cu > 100 mg/kg: the central Freiberg mining district; the western tip of the Marienberg-Wolkenstein Ag/Pb/Zn deposit and the area between the Sn greisen of Gottesberg and the uranium deposit of Schneckenstein. Levels of Cu > 40 mg/kg characterize areas of Devonian sediments and volcanics along the western rim of the study area, the BiCoNi districts of Schneeberg and Johanngeorgenstadt, and parts of the Westerzgebirge complex deposit. Spots of elevated Cu south of the Brunndöbra and Schneckenstein deposits probably relate to the concealed Klingenthal-Kraslice Cu mineralisation. In the central Erzgebirge, areas with Cu > 40 mg/kg accompany the deposits of Annaberg-Buchholz and Ehrenfriedersdorf. In the eastern Erzgebirge, zones of elevated Cu follow an alignment between Freiberg and the Sn-deposits north of Altenberg, including the Sadisdorf greisen and vein deposit where mining of Sn, Pb, Cu and Ag is reported, as well as periods of Cu processing. NW of Sadisdorf, elevated Cu comes along with high Cd contents. The lowest Cu concentrations (Cu < 4 mg/kg) occur in the western and northern parts of the Eibenstock Granite, in the Fichtelgebirge Granite area, and in areas of rhyolites and Neoproterozoic gneisses of the eastern Erzgebirge.