Skorpion
Southern Namibia, near Rosh Pinah, Namibia
Volcanogenic massive sulfidesZn
- Type
- Supergene non-sulfide zinc (sauconite) on a VHMS protore
Over 20 Mt at 11 % Zn, mined since 2003 by solvent extraction and electrowinning. Sauconite and smithsonite ore in sheared Neoproterozoic metasediments, above remnants of a VHMS protore (pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena). Copper becomes heavier from the protore (about -0.1 ‰) to the proximal Fe-Mn-Cu-Pb zone and then the distal zinc-only orebody: supergene metal zoning follows solubility. Indicative coordinates.
δ65Cu in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : NIST SRM 976
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −0.11 ± 0.03 ‰ | −0.13 / −0.09 ‰ | 2 | hypogene sulfide protore Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 samples, Table 1. Bulk mineralised rocks (drill core, aqua regia digestion). Near-zero values, typical of VHMS. | Borg et al. (2009), Supergene Cu-isotope fractionation at the Skorpion zinc deposit, Nami… |
| 0.66 ‰ | 1 | supergene secondary sulfides (brunckite) One analysis, Table 1. Bulk mineralised rocks (drill core, aqua regia digestion). | Borg et al. (2009), Supergene Cu-isotope fractionation at the Skorpion zinc deposit, Nami… | |
| 0.56 ± 0.31 ‰ | 0.16 / 1.05 ‰ | 6 | proximal supergene Fe-Mn-Cu-Pb(-Zn) ore Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 6 samples, Table 1. Bulk mineralised rocks (drill core, aqua regia digestion). The authors give 0.60 ± 0.38 ‰ for this zone, adding two samples listed in the table under the zinc orebody. | Borg et al. (2009), Supergene Cu-isotope fractionation at the Skorpion zinc deposit, Nami… |
| 1.01 ± 0.42 ‰ | 0.2 / 1.63 ‰ | 12 | distal supergene zinc-only orebody (sauconite) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 12 samples, Table 1. Bulk mineralised rocks (drill core, aqua regia digestion). The authors give 0.97 ± 0.47 ‰ for this zone. | Borg et al. (2009), Supergene Cu-isotope fractionation at the Skorpion zinc deposit, Nami… |
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Cite this page
IsoFind Atlas (2026). Skorpion, isotope signatures. https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/skorpion/ (accessed 2026-10-13).
@misc{isofind2026skorpionisotopesignatures,
title = {Skorpion, isotope signatures},
author = {{IsoFind Atlas}},
year = {2026},
url = {https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/skorpion/},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13}
}Updated : 2026-10-13