Exploration auf Gips und Anhydrit im alpinen Niederösterreich

The diploma thesis deals with the exploration of gypsum and anhydrite occurrences in Alpine Lower Austria. The investigations focus on primary gypsum deposits, as the decline in coal-fired power generation and the associated flue gas desulfurization will mean that synthetic gypsum, as a by-product, will no longer be available or only in limited quantities in the future. The aim of this work is therefore to provide as complete a compilation and evaluation as possible of the gypsum and anhydrite occurrences found in Alpine Lower Austria. Based on extensive literature and map studies, as well as subsequent fieldwork, 23 sites were visited and roughly mapped, with samples collected from 17 localities for mineralogical, petrographic, and geochemical analyses. In addition, the lateral extent, geological structures, and (where identifiable) the surrounding rocks were documented at each site. In order to assess the composition and purity of the investigated gypsum samples, geochemical analyses were also carried out. Due to significant deviations from the expected concentrations and their total values, these analyses were repeated several times but have so far not yielded reliable results. The results show that numerous indications of gypsum-bearing Haselgebirge are present in the investigated regions. In particular, by correlating geological background data, findings from field surveys, and LiDAR data, areas where gypsum-bearing Haselgebirge is presumed to occur in the subsurface can be well delineated. Furthermore, petrographic and geochemical analyses reveal that the Haselgebirge is often associated with clay-mineral-rich and fine-grained carbonate deposits. This is also confirmed by the sometimes strongly varying contents of SiO¿, Al¿O¿, and MgO in the geochemical analyses. These admixtures of foreign material also influence the quality, which was determined based on SO¿ contents. The identified Trübenbach¿Gaming region appears to be the most promising area for further exploration activities due to its estimated available volumes of approximately 22 million m³.