The Role of Organic Matter During Metal Enrichment in Permian Kupferschiefer of the Rudna Mine, Southwest Poland.

The bulk composition of organic matter and saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons extracted from 16 samples collected from two Kupferschiefer profiles in the Rudna mine, Southwest Poland has been analyzed to study the role of organic matter during base metal enrichment in the in the Kupferschiefer shale. The results indicated that the extract yields and saturated hydrocarbon yields decreased with increasing base metal contents. GC and GC/MS analyses indicated that n - alkanes and alkylated aromatic compounds were depleted and may have served as hydrogen donators for thermochemical sulfate reduction. The enrichment of base metals is closely connected with the destruction of hydrocarbons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]