Supergene (geology)

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In ore deposit geology, supergene processes or enrichment occur relatively near the surface. Supergene processes include the predominance of meteoric water circulation with concomitant oxidation and chemical weathering. The descending meteoric waters oxidize the primary (hypogene) sulfide ore minerals and redistribute the metallic ore elements. Supergene enrichment occurs at the base of the oxidized portion of an ore deposit at which point the metals are redeposited on hypogene sulfides creating a zone of increased ore content. This is particularly noted in copper ore deposits where the copper sulfide minerals chalcocite, covellite, digenite and djurleite are deposited by the descending surface waters.

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