Richness in polymetallic mineralisation Fe, Pb, Zn, Ba and hydrothermal spring of Mount M' Cid Aicha, Tellian Atlas, North-East of Algeria

Abstract

The massif of M'cid Aïcha is located in Tellian Atlas in the north-eastern of Algeria. This mountain chain is made up extrusions of Triassic gypsiferous formations and Jurassic carbonate, which contain polymetallic mineralization (Zn, Fe, Pb, Cu and Ba) and hydrothermal spring. The region is affected at the north by magmatic events. The structure is a set of anticlines and synclines of E-W direction delimited at the north and south by longitudinal faults; it is also affected by transverse meridian faults rich by a mineralisation. The hydrothermal spring localized in the intersection of the main tectonic accidents. The formation characterises a shallow sea environment. The M'cid Aïcha deposit was once mined for their zinc ore in the form of calamine. However, the rare gitological work carried out on these two gites has described polymetallic mineralisation with Fe, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ba expressed as sulphides (galena, sphalerite, pyrite, covellite and gray copper), oxides and hydroxides (haematite, goethite and limonite), sulphate (baryte) and carbonates (cerusite, malachite and azurite). This concentration shows a form of clusters, pockets, veins and lenses of very modest dimensions.