Finely laminated (cm–μm scale) metalliferous precipitates are widespread in the surficial environment, especially around mineral deposits and reflect biogeochemical processes that can pervade near-surface environments on a larger scale. Examples in this paper involve precipitates of the transition metals Fe, Cu and Mn with minor Co, Ni, V and Zn; the metalloids As and Sb; and authigenic Au. Mobility and re-precipitation are driven primarily by geochemical disequilibrium, especially with respect to pH and redox states, that arises from complex interactions between biological processes, geological processes, and variations in the surrounding environment. Different degrees of chemical disequilibrium arise on small spatial scales on time scales of days to millennia. Interactions between biota, waters and rocks in these small near-surface settings affect the biogeochemical environments. Sulfur- and iron-oxidising bacteria are common biogeochemical agents associated with sulfide-bearing lithologies, but localised reductive environments can also develop, leading to gradients in pH and redox state and differential metal mobility. In general, there is commonly a spatial separation of Fe-rich precipitates from those with Cu and Mn, and other transition metals also follow Cu and Mn rather than Fe. Metalloids As and Sb have a strong affinity for Fe under oxidising conditions, but not under more reducing conditions. However, complex biogeochemical parageneses of laminated metalliferous deposits preclude prediction of finer formation details. The textures, mineral species, and metal associations within these deposits are likely to be encountered in all facets of mineral deposit development: initial exploration activity of near-surface locations, mining of shallow portions of orebodies, especially supergene zones, and downstream environmental management with respect to discharging metalliferous waters.

精细层压（厘米至微米级）的含金属沉淀物广泛存在于表层环境中，尤其是在矿床附近，并反映了可在更大范围内遍及近地表环境的生物地球化学过程。本文的实例涉及过渡金属Fe，Cu和Mn以及少量Co，Ni，V和Zn的析出物；准金属As和Sb；和自生金。流动性和再沉淀主要是由地球化学失衡驱动的，尤其是在pH和氧化还原状态方面，这是由生物过程，地质过程以及周围环境变化之间复杂的相互作用引起的。在几天到几千年的时间尺度上，在较小的空间尺度上会出现不同程度的化学不平衡。生物群系之间的相互作用 在这些较小的近地表环境中，水和岩石会影响生物地球化学环境。硫和铁的氧化细菌是与含硫岩性有关的常见生物地球化学试剂，但局部还原环境也会发展，导致pH和氧化还原状态的梯度以及不同的金属迁移率。通常，富铁沉淀物与具有铜和锰的沉淀物在空间上通常是分开的，其他过渡金属也跟随铜和锰而不是铁。准金属As和Sb在氧化条件下对Fe具有很强的亲和力，但在更多还原条件下则没有。但是，层状含金属矿床的复杂生物地球化学副生物无法预测更精细的形成细节。质地，矿物质，