Mining Stock Education · Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Dr. Rob Stevens clarifies that the term 'supergene' refers to an enriched zone often found in the oxide portion of a sulfide deposit. This enrichment occurs through the oxidation and dissolution of metals from above, followed by reprecipitation at the water table, creating a higher-grade zone sometimes called a supergene blanket.
“Uh, and, uh, you know, sometimes, uh, the term supergene is used. And this is actually the term that I'm using when I'm talking about the oxide portion of a sulfide deposit. So it's, uh, essentially an enrichment of a primary sulfide deposit by oxidation and dissolution of metals from above, and then reprecipitation at the water table. So you get a higher grade, uh, zone, uh, sometimes referred to as a supergene blanket.”