Barite Mineralization In Southwestern Sardinia, Italy

Barite deposits occur in the Iglesiente-Sulcis district of southwestern Sardinia, an historically important lead-silver-zinc district. Barite, often genetically associated with the base metal deposits, has become an independently important economic commodity. Barite deposition in southwestern Sardinia was related to Caledonian, Hercynian, and Alpine orogenic cycles. A model is presented that relates synsedimentary, karstic, vein, and residual deposits. Synsedimentary deposits are widespread, have common depositional characteristics, and act as sources, along with hydrothermal systems, for other barite deposit types. Caledonian-, Hercynian-, and Alpine-related secondary enrichment processes resulted in residual and karstic deposits that are complex in terms of their geometry and texture, but are more economically important than those of synsedimentary or hydrothermal origin.