BISMUTH MINERALIZATION OF THE ALTAI MASSIVE SULFIDE POLYMETALLIC DEPOSITS

More than 30 massive sulfide polymetallic deposits were investigated i n Rudnyi Altai using mineragraphic method and microprobe analysis; 17 deposits were found to contain bismuth minerals: native bismuth, its s ulfides, tellurides and sulfotellurides, and bismuth sulfosalts. The n umber of bismuth minerals increases in younger deposits, mainly due to the appearance of lead, lead-silver, and silver sulfosalts and the in creasing amount of copper and copper-lead sulfosalts; the portion of n ative bismuth, tellurides, and sulfotellurides diminishes. Metamorphic transformations cause the appearance of antimony-bearing bismuth sulf osalts.