In addition, polymetallic ores can contain copper, gold, silver, cadmium, sometimes bismuth, tin, indium and gallium.
[1] The main minerals that form polymetallic ores are galena, sphalerite, to a lesser extent pyrite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, cassiterite.
[3][4] Rocks containing polymetallic ores are often altered or formed by hydrothermal processes — chloritization, sericitization and silicification.
[5][6] These deposits are often iron hydroxides containing cerussite PbCO3, anglesite PbSO4, smithsonite ZnCO3, calamine Zn4[Si2O7] [OH]2×H2O, malachite Cu2[CO3](OH)2, azurite Cu3[CO3]2(OH)2.
Ore bodies of polymetallic ores are distinguished by a variety of sizes (having a length of several m to km), morphology (lenticular bedding deposits,[7] stockwork, veins,[8] nests, complex tube-like bodies) and occurrence conditions (gentle, steep, consonant, secant, etc.).