FINELY DIVIDED SILVER IN SILICIC VOLCANICS

Abstract

Finely divided native silver was detected among rock-forming silicates in silicic volcanics hosting a lead-zinc deposit in Soviet Central Asia. It is scattered through the rock as particles both visible and indistinguishable under the optical microscope and appears not only in, but also outside of the zone of commercial ore mineralization. Taking into account our data, we may assume that finely divided silver is widespread in volcanic host rocks of stockwork-type silver and lead-zinc deposits and could be both a source and an indicator of economic silver concentrations.