Geochemical Atlas – Erzgebirge and Vogtland

The log distribution of Germanium (Ge) is slightly right skewed. With a maximum of 0.6 mg/kg, a minimum below the detection limit of 0.03 mg/kg, and almost equality of arithmetic average and median (0.08 mg/kg), Ge is both scarce and weakly zoned. Areas with highest concentrations show Ge > 0.2 mg/kg and are located in an area of Ordovician metapelites in the SW extremity of the working area between the fluorite deposits of Schönbrunn and Wiedersberg. The areas with Ge > 0.1 mg/kg are more widespread. One follows the eastern limit of Ordovician metapelites between the area NW of the Augustusburg fluorite-baryte vein deposit and the Silurian Lößnitz-Zwönitz Syncline. Germanium here coincides with lanthanum, selenium and nickel. An arc-like area SW of the Eibenstock granite shows a similar elevation in Ge, as well as the BiCoNi district of Johanngeorgenstadt, and the Cambrian to Devonian western margin of the study area, partially dominated by meta-volcanics. Ge concentrations of the eastern Erzgebirge are below average with the exception of the SE part of the Schellerhau granite, the adjacent rhyolite, and an area of Ordovician phyllites and quartzites north of the Tharandt Volcanic Complex. Isolated and point-like spots of elevated Ge originate from individual samples. They are considered either aleatory or related to mining waste, such as in the Halsbrücke district north of Freiberg due to its vicinity o dumps. The Bergen and Fichtelgebirge plutons exhibit the lowest concentrations with Ge < 0.03 mg/kg.