The Niederschlag fluorite-(barite) deposit, Erzgebirge/Germany—a fluid inclusion and trace element study

Abstract The Niederschlag fluorite-barite vein deposit in the Western Erzgebirge, Germany, has been actively mined since 2013. We present results of a first comprehensive study mineralogy, petrography, fluid inclusions, and trace element geochemistry fluorite related to deposit. Two different stages mineralization are recognized. Stage I is older, fine-grained, associated with quartz, forms complex breccia replacement textures. Conversely, younger II accompanied by barite often occurs as banded coarse crystalline open-space infill. Fluid inclusion REY systematics distinctly for these two stages. inclusions reveal presence low medium saline (7–20% eq. w (NaCl+CaCl 2 )) homogenization temperatures 140–180 °C, whereas yield lower (80–120 °C) at least high salinity fluids involved (18–27% )). In absence geochronological data, genesis earlier generation fluorite-quartz remains enigmatic but tentatively Permian magmatism Erzgebirge. mineralization, on other hand, similarities many fluorite-barite-Pb-Zn-Cu deposits Europe that widely accepted be Mesozoic opening northern Atlantic Ocean.