Geochemical Atlas – Erzgebirge and Vogtland

Tin (Sn), one of the main target metals of the Erzgebirge from early to recent past, shows a right skewed log distribution. The maximum value is 4220 mg/kg, the minimum ranges below 5 mg/kg. With 60 mg/kg, the arithmetic average is far beyond the median of 10 mg/kg. Approximately 88 % of the measured values are below 100 mg/kg and one third are below or close to the detection limit: In contrast to the other elements analysed during the recent study, the Sn map is based on XRF analyses that may ignore very low concentrations. High Sn contents (Sn > 250 mg/kg) occur predominantly in areas of outcropping geochemically specialised Upper Carboniferous igneous rocks such as the Eibenstock granite and the Altenberg-TepliceCaldera. Furthermore, areas with Sn > 100 mg/kg coincide with known deposits like the greisen of Ehrenfriedersdorf and Seiffen as well as the polymetallic mining districts of Annaberg-Buchholz, Marienberg-Wolkenstein and Freiberg. Medium contents of Sn > 40 mg/kg form a north-convex arc in the Tharandt Volcanic Vomplex, possibly related to palaeo-placers in Cretaceous sedimentary rocks. Above-median concentrations of Sn > 16 mg/kg coincide with the concealed granite of Eichigt and related skarn mineralisation of Oelsnitz. They also imply a NNE-striking zone between the deposits of Ehrenfriedersdorf and Augustusburg, partly centred on outcrops of slightly stanniferous metapelites. The lowest concentrations are found in the Vogtland area SW of the Eibenstock granite and in the central eastern Erzgebirge. Sn often relates to increased Cu, Li, Rb and W. A co-elevation of Pb, Zn and As may reveal industrial contamination.