We applied geochemical (ICP-MS, WD-XRF, GFAAS, and AMA 254) and mineralogical (EPMA) studies of 137 samples to ore mineralization from Middle-Triassic sediment-hosted Zn-Pb (Mississippi Valley-type MVT) and Lower Zechstein sediment-hosted stratiform (SSC) Cu-Ag (Kupferschiefer-type) deposits in Poland. They contain a number of trace elements which are not recovered during the ore processing. Only Cu, Ag, Pb, Ni, Re, Se, Au, and PGE are extracted from Cu-Ag deposits while Zn and Pb are the only elements produced from Zn-Pb deposits. Zn-Pb deposits contain Cd, Ag, Ga, and Ba in slightly elevated concentrations and have potential to be mineral resources. This applies to a lesser extent to other trace elements (Bi, As, Hf, Tl, Sb, Se, and Re). However, only Cd and Ag show high enrichment factors indicative of potential for recovery. The bulk-rock analyses reveal strong correlations between Zn and Cd and Se, As and Mo, and weaker correlations between Ag and Cd, as well as Ga and Zn. Electron microprobe analyses of sphalerite revealed high concentrations of Cd (≤2.6 wt%) and Ag (≤3300 ppm). Zn-Pb deposits have fairly significant estimated resources of Ga and Sc (>1000 tons) and Cd (>10,000 tons). The Cu-Ag deposits have element signatures characterized by high values of Co, V, Ni, and Mo and much lower of Bi, As, Cd, Hg, Mo, Sb, and Tl. Bulk-rock analyses show strong correlations between Se and V; As and Co; Bi and Re; and weaker correlations between, for example, Cu and Mo; V, Ni, Ag and Mo; and Ni, V, and Co and Ni. The EPMA determinations reveal strong enrichments of Ag in Cu sulfides (geerite ≤ 10.1 wt %, chalcocite ≤ 6.28 wt %, bornite ≤ 3.29 wt %, djurleite ≤ 9080 ppm, yarrowite ≤ 6614 ppm, and digenite ≤ 3545 ppm). Silver minerals and alloys, as well as the native Ag and Au, were recorded in the Cu-Ag ores. Large resources of Co, V, and Ni (>100,000 tons) and Sc and Mo (>10,000 tons) are notable in Cu-Ag deposits. A number of trace elements, classified as critical for the economy of the European Union, including Ga and Ba (to a lesser extent Hf, Nb, and Sc) in Zn-Pb deposits, and Co and V in the Cu-Ag deposits, may eventually be recovered in the future from the studied deposits if proper ore-processing circuits and increasing demand are favorable.

The Kraków–Lubliniec tectonic zone (KLFZ) in southern Poland, which divides the Małopolska Block (MB) from the Upper Silesia Block (USB), is a portion of the SW margin of the Trans-European Suture Zone. Zircon U–Pb dating of a variety of igneous rocks (granodiorites, dacites, lamprophyre and diabase) from the subsurface Kraków–Lubliniec igneous belt along the KLFZ shows that magmatism spanned within a narrow time period (ca. 10 Ma) between 303.8 ± 2.2 and 292.7 ± 4.9 Ma. The earlier magmatism (303.8 ± 2.2–294.7 ± 2.3 Ma) was felsic calc-alkaline, and the contemporaneous or/and slightly later alkaline volcanism (294.4 ± 4.9–292.7 ± 4.9 Ma) was of mafic–intermediate composition. The felsic rocks (granitoids and dacitoids) are weakly peraluminous, medium to high K, moderate Mg# (0.39–0.46), weakly evolved and I-type rocks. Due to the intensive development of hydrothermal alteration, these rocks are commonly strongly altered and locally mineralized by porphyry and other types of Mo–Cu (W) ores that are closely related to the felsic magmatism in space and time. The zircon U–Pb dating yielded ages which are similar to the previously measured Re–Os ages of molybdenites from the KLFZ. Felsic magmatism at the Myszków Mo–Cu–W deposit yielded ages in the range 301.0 ± 2.1–295.9 ± 2.9 Ma. The youngest rocks dated are from the Mysłów area in the USB—volcanic alkaline rocks (lamprophyre and diabase) of shoshonitic character, with low Mg# (0.49 and 0.69, respectively) and Ni contents (< 62 ppm), indicative of a relatively juvenile magma composition. Inherited zircon cores, remnant detrital zircon from a sediment component in the source rocks, were dated to be ranging from ca. 2775 to 575 Ma. Inheritance of ca. 600 Ma (Cadomian basement) and ca. 1.40 Ga (Mesoproterozoic) is common in the rocks from both blocks, but those from the MB contain additional inheritance with dates of 2.78–2.67 and 2.05–1.92 Ga, both ages characteristic of zircon from the Svecofennian of northern Europe (Baltica). The inherited zircon from the youngest alkaline rocks provided evidence for Mesoproterozoic (ca. 1.55–1.44 and 1.09 Ga) and Palaeoproterozoic (1.96 Ga) thermal events in the USB, and its possible affinity to Avalonian cratonic crust as a source for its igneous protolith. U–Pb isotopic studies of zircons from KL igneous belt indicate its inherited signatures from the crustal sources and magma emplacements during the KLFZ wrenching which allowed channels and room for magma emplacement along the MB and USB in upper Carboniferous–lower Permian on SW margin of the East-European Craton. Mo–Cu (W) ore mineralization, associated with the ~ 300 Ma felsic magmatism, represents rather the product of decompression melting induced in the areas of decreased pressure, undergone in the regional wrench fault zones than the classic Mo–Cu porphyry-style mineralization.

In the crystalline basement of the Tatra Mountains (Poland/Slovakia) two types of tourmaline-rich breccia zones are described, both having originated from magmatic fluids and showing a 350 ± 1 Ma Re-Os model age. Both T1 brecciated pegmatites and T2 vein-breccias are cemented by a tourmaline-quartz matrix. In T1 breccias, the metasomatic replacement of feldspars by tourmaline and overgrowths of small Tur2 tourmalines on the primary pegmatitic Tur1 tourmaline crystals suggest an important role for metasomatic processes. The microcrystalline nature of the quartz-tourmaline matrix and high vacancy ratios in the X-site in tourmaline from T2 breccias reflect relatively rapid crystallization from an oxidized fluid. The formation of both types of breccias is related to the internal structure of the Tatra granitoid intrusion. The layered character of the granitoid body probably stimulated the formation of pegmatite-like pockets, with local overpressure causing metasomatic alteration, rock brecciation and cementation by tourmaline (T1 breccias), the final hydrofracturing of overburden rocks and fluid escape. The resulting fracture zones (T2) are interpreted as the paths for fluid migration and rapid crystallization as the pressure and temperature dropped from 7.5-6 kbar and 630-570 °C in the case of the T1 brecciated pegmatites to 2.5-1.5 kbar and 465-430 °C in the vein T2 breccias

As part of the research subject of the Polish Geological Survey, funded by NFOŚiGW, a research project was carried out at PGI-NRI in 2015–2018. Its main task was quantitative and qualitative identification of elements accompanying the main ore and associated elements, including critical ones, and mineralogical identification of their main carriers in metallic ore deposits documented after World War II, representing the main metallogenic formations in Poland. The research focused mainly on drill cores from historical survey boreholes, rarely samples from open-pits and deep mines, representing: Mesozoic Zn-Pb ores, Lower Zechstein Cu-Ag ores, Mesoproterozoic Fe-Ti-V ores, Mo-Cu-W porphyry ores, stratiform Sn ores in the Sudetes, Variscan vein and metasomatic Au-As polymetallic ores, and Cenozoic Ni ores. The PIG-PIB Chemical Laboratory performed analytical work (ICP-MS, WD-XRF, GF-ASS), which allowed quantitative identification of approximately 60 chemical elements. In addition, complementary mineralogical and petrographic studies of the trace element carriers were carried out using a polarizing microscope and an electron microprobe (CAMECA SX-100). Before sampling, metal ore-bearing intervals were examined for the content of chemical elements using a portable spectrometer (Olympus XRF Delta). The results indicate the presence of numerous elements in studied deposits, including those currently regarded as critical for the European Union economy. The collected materials allowed both developing detailed geochemical and mineralogical characteristics of ores from individual deposits and identifying critical elements. They show a clear correlation with the main ore metals, and their resources can be a matter of interest in terms of raw materials.