Lead-zinc mineralization of fluoriton-bearing areas of the Middle Transnistria

The territory of Middle Transnistria within the Podolsk tectonic zone is a fluorite-bearing province. Together with fluorite manifestations, sulfide mineralization is developed. The research is based on the original stone material, which has been studied using chemical, spectral and microprobe analysis, as well as the results of previous studies of fluorite-polymetallic ore occurrences in the Podolsk tectonic zone (reports of geological works, published and stock literature). Polymetallic (Pb-Zn) mineralization is represented by cement, dissemination and thin veinlets of galena and sphalerite in fluorite-bearing sandstones of the Upper Proterozoic (Olchedaev and Yampol layers), and also rocks of the crystalline basement (in calcite and calcite-fluorite veinlets). Mostly, sandstones consist of quartz — 35—75%, feldspar — 15—45%, rock fragments — up to 20%, altered biotite (up to 5%), as well as accessory minerals, which are represented by single grains of garnet, cordierite, apatite, tourmaline, zircon, monazite. Fluorite-bearing areas with signs of lead-zinc mineralization (galena, sphalerite) have been analyzed, the mineral composition and textural features of sandstones with Pb, Zn contents in the most promising ore occurrences of fluorite have been determined. On this basis, fluorite-polymetallic ore occurrences were identified, a catalog was compiled indicating the content of fluorite, lead and zinc in them. It is shown that most of the polymetallic ore occurrences of the Podolsk tectonic zone are located in the zones of intersection with tectonic faults of the northeastern and meridional directions. The most promising areas for the integrated extraction of fluorite and polymetals (Pb-Zn) were identified: the content of fluorite, the area of deposits and their thickness were taken into account; the content of polymetals and the availability of extraction of the useful component. These criteria are most consistent with the areas – Bakhtyn-Zolotogorsk, Yaryshev-Voevodchin and Vinozh.