In the Central Andes (Bolivia) and the Western Carpathians (Slovakia) Sb-(Au) deposits are of wide-spread occurrence. They
may be subdivided into two principal types: (I) shear zone-hosted and (II) stockwork-like Sb deposits. Type I Sb deposits
are widespread in fine-grained metasedimentary, granitic and gneissic rocks. Type II is only found in volcanic rocks and may
be further subdivided into acid sulphate-type (IIa) and low sulphidation-type (IIb). This more subtle classification is based
upon the presence or absence of sulphate and K feldspar and applied in the same way as for epithermal Au deposits elsewhere.
Type III is a composite vein type transitional between types I and II Sb deposits. Mesothermal deposits (type I) were emplaced
syntectonically and synmetamorphically under low grade to very low grade stage metamorphic conditions. The mineralising fluids
are likely to have been derived from crustal sources through devolatalisation. Epithermal types (IIa) and (IIb) are related
in time and space with the formation of acidic to intermediate (sub)volcanic rocks of Miocene age. To distinguish the various
types of Sb mineralisation, Bi, Ag, As and Hg have proven most diagnostic. These elements are anomalously enriched in the
volcanic-hosted types IIa and IIb, whereas type I mineralisation are poor in Bi, Ag and As. The element contents of these
trace elements in type III deposits vary according to the position of the host mineralisation relative to the Tertiary igneous
rocks. Hg tends to be enriched in type II mineralisations. Even so there are also some Sb mineralisations of type I abundant
in Hg, possibly due to tetrahedrite intergrown with stibnite. In contrast to porphyry copper deposits, Sb deposits are distal
relative to the subduction zone. They are confined to sections of the fold belt where the continental crust is thick and was
subject to strong horizontal displacements. The ratio of horizontal to vertical crustal movements during the structural evolution
of the fold belt and the resultant skewness of the geothermal gradient played a decisive role for the type of volcanic-hosted
Sb deposits (types IIa and IIb) to develop and to what extent composite stibnite deposits (type III) evolved.
Received: 14 February 1997 / Accepted: 28 August 1997