The Lengenbach Quarry in Switzerland: Classic Locality for Rare Thallium Sulfosalts †
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minerals Review The Lengenbach Quarry in Switzerland: Classic Locality for Rare Thallium Sulfosalts † Thomas Raber 1,* and Philippe Roth 1,2 1 Lengenbach Research Association (Forschungsgemeinschaft Lengenbach, FGL), Gemeinde Binn, Dorfstr. 11, 3996 Binn, Switzerland 2 Swiss Seismological Service, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstr. 5, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] † Anniversary publication—60 years of continuous mineral search at Lengenbach and 15 years of FGL. Received: 11 July 2018; Accepted: 6 September 2018; Published: 14 September 2018 Abstract: The Lengenbach quarry is a world-famous mineral locality, especially known for its rare and well-crystallized Tl, Pb, Ag, and Cu bearing sulfosalts. As of June 2018, it is the type locality for 44 different mineral species, making it one of the most prolific localities worldwide. A total of 33 thallium mineral species have been identified, 23 of which are type minerals. A brief description of several thallium species of special interest follows a concise and general overview of the thallium mineralization. Keywords: Lengenbach; Binn valley; thallium; sulfosalts; hutchinsonite; fangite; richardsollyite; sartorite; routhierite-stalderite; chabournéite-dalnegroite 1. Introduction The Lengenbach quarry in the Binn valley, Valais, Switzerland (Figures1 and2) is located in Triassic meta-dolomites of the Penninic zone in the Swiss Alps. Metal extraction for economic purposes never occurred in the quarry, but specimen extraction has been continuously carried out since 1958. The quarry is currently operated by the Forschungsgemeinschaft Lengenbach (FGL, literally: Lengenbach Research Association), financed by a group of idealistic collectors and by the local community of Binn. The purpose of the research association is to promote scientific research on the unique minerals of the Lengenbach deposit and of other dolomite localities in the Binn valley. An intermittent, measured specimen extraction during the snow-free summer months shall guarantee the potential for scientific investigations on the one hand and deliver dolomite material for a publicly accessible dump, serving as an attraction to equally eager tourists and mineral collectors, on the other hand. This brief review gives a glimpse at the current status of the mineralogical research with regard to the thallium mineralization at the locality. For further information about history, geology, and mineral extracting work we recommend References [1,2]. Minerals 2018, 8, 409; doi:10.3390/min8090409 www.mdpi.com/journal/minerals Minerals 2018, 8, 409 2 of 17 Minerals 2018, 8, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 16 Minerals 2018, 8, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 16 Figure 1. The upper part of the Lengenbach quarry in the Binn valley, view to the east. FigureFigure 1. 1.The The upper upper part part ofof thethe LengenbachLengenbach quarry quarry in in the the Binn Binn valley, valley, view view to tothe the east. east. Figure 2. Ralph Cannon, technical head of the Forschungsgemeinschaft Lengenbach (FGL) research Figure 2. Ralph Cannon, technical head of the Forschungsgemeinschaft Lengenbach (FGL) research Figureassociation, 2. Ralph at Cannon,the entrance technical of the head quarry of the in Forschungsgemeinschaft front of the concrete Lengenbachhall, where (FGL)the current research association, at the entrance of the quarry in front of the concrete hall, where the current association,mineral-extraction at the entrance activities of the are quarry carried in out front at the of thelowest concrete dolomite hall, level. where the current mineral-extraction mineral-extraction activities are carried out at the lowest dolomite level. activities are carried out at the lowest dolomite level. 2. Geochemical Setting and Formation of the Lengenbach Locality 2. Geochemical2. Geochemical Setting Setting and and Formation Formation ofof thethe Lengenbach Locality Locality The Lengenbach ore body is located within the Penninic Monte Leone nappe, at the Northern The Lengenbach ore body is located within the Penninic Monte Leone nappe, at the Northern frontThe and Lengenbach subvertical ore hinge body zone is located of a large within fold. the The Penninic stratabound Monte mineralization Leone nappe, occurs at the Northernin the front and subvertical hinge zone of a large fold. The stratabound mineralization occurs in the frontstrati andgraphically subvertical uppermost hinge zonepart of of the a 240 large m thick fold. dolomite The stratabound sequence. mineralization occurs in the stratigraphically uppermost part of the 240 m thick dolomite sequence. stratigraphicallyThe formation uppermost of the parthighly of thecomplex 240 m mineralization thick dolomite in sequence. the Lengenbach deposit is not yet The formation of the highly complex mineralization in the Lengenbach deposit is not yet completelyThe formation understood. of the While highly Graeser complex [3] suggested mineralization a late introduction in the Lengenbach of As, Tl, deposit and Cu is into not a yet completely understood. While Graeser [3] suggested a late introduction of As, Tl, and Cu into a completelypre-existing understood. Fe-Pb-Zn mineralization While Graeser during [3] suggestedAlpine metamorphism a late introduction from the of underlying As, Tl, and gneissic Cu into pre-existing Fe-Pb-Zn mineralization during Alpine metamorphism from the underlying gneissic basement, Hofmann and Knill [4] proposed a pre-Alpine origin of those elements and a subsequent a pre-existingbasement, Hofmann Fe-Pb-Zn and mineralization Knill [4] proposed during a pre Alpine-Alpine metamorphism origin of those fromelements the underlyingand a subsequent gneissic isochemical Alpine metamorphism, under upper greenschist to lower amphibolite facies. isochemical Alpine metamorphism, under upper greenschist to lower amphibolite facies. Minerals 2018, 8, 409 3 of 17 basement,Minerals 2018 Hofmann, 8, x FOR PEER and REVIEW Knill [4 ] proposed a pre-Alpine origin of those elements and a subsequent3 of 16 isochemical Alpine metamorphism, under upper greenschist to lower amphibolite facies. AccordingAccording to to Hofmann Hofmann and and Knill Knill [4 ],[4], the the distinct distinct mineral mineral associations associations in in the the different different parts parts ofof the Lengenbachthe Lengenbach dolomite dolomite can be can understood be understood as a result as a ofresult slow of crystallization slow crystallization processes processes in two in different two redoxdifferent environments. redox environments. One is based One on graphite is based and/or on graphi pyrite–pyrrhotite,te and/or pyrite leading–pyrrhotite, to zerovalent leading arsenic. to Thezerovalent other, which arsenic. was essentialThe other, for which the rarewas sulfosalts’essential for formation, the rare sulfosalts’ is controlled formation, by baryte is controlled (sulfate)–pyrite by baryte (sulfate)–pyrite (sulfide), leading to trivalent arsenic. Accordingly, the As(III)-rich zone in the (sulfide), leading to trivalent arsenic. Accordingly, the As(III)-rich zone in the central part of the quarry central part of the quarry shows an enrichment in baryte and hosts the coveted Tl-Pb-Ag-Cu bearing shows an enrichment in baryte and hosts the coveted Tl-Pb-Ag-Cu bearing sulfosalts. sulfosalts. Graeser [3] as well as Hofmann and Knill [4] have each proposed a zonation scheme for the Graeser [3] as well as Hofmann and Knill [4] have each proposed a zonation scheme for the differentdifferent types types of mineralof mineral assemblages. assemblages. While While the the former former considers considers in in essence essence only only mineralogical mineralogical and spatialand criteria,spatial criteria, the later the rely later on rely geochemistry on geochemistry and there and is there no obvious is no obvious link between link between the two the zonations. two However,zonations. it is However, clear that it the is Tl-richclear that zone the is Tl restricted-rich zone to is the restricted central partto the of thecentral quarry. part Whileof the onquarry. a broad scaleWhile the differenton a broad bedding-parallel scale the different zones bedding containing-parallel the zones different containing assemblages the different strike subverticallyassemblages in anstrike east–west subvertically direction in (Figure an east1),– onwest the direction more local (Figure scale, 1) they, on canthe bemore subdivided local scale, into they ribbons can be and ellipsoidalsubdivided lenses into that ribbons thicken, and toellipsoidal a maximum lenses thickness that thicken, of 0.5 to m, a andmaximum pinch out.thickness of 0.5 m, and pinchThe out. FGL has been working for a few years on three such ribbons in the Tl-rich central zone (Figure3The). TheyFGL has are been spaced working approximately for a few years 1 m apart,on three measure such ribbons a maximum in the Tl of-rich 4 mcentral× 2 zone m and are(Figure designated, 3). They from are northspaced to approximately south as ribbons 1 m 1,apart, 1/2, measure and 2. a Structurally, maximum of they 4 m are× 2 ellipsoidalm and are in shape,designated, with a sharpfrom north contact to south to the as surrounding, ribbons 1, 1/2, mineral-poor and 2. Structurally, dolomite. they Theare ellipsoidal contrast is in essentially shape, a mineralogical-geochemical,with a sharp contact to the notsurrounding, a lithological mineral contrast.-poor dolomite. Thanks toThe their contrast high is realgar essentially contents, a allmineralogical three ribbons-geochemical, are easily identified