Resource Evaluation of Indium in the Dajing Tin-Polymetallic Deposits, Inner Mongolia, China

Individual ores of 37 specimens and five mill concentrates were analyzed chemically, and anomalous indium contents were detected in the tin‐polymetallic veins of the Dajing mine. The indium contents are heterogenously distributed (0.5–296 ppm In), and are low generally in the ores of the East Block. Indium is mainly correlated with copper, partly with zinc in the Dajing deposits, implying that the element is substituted in copper and zinc sulfides and sulfosalts. The total indium content is expected as >768 tons, which is lower than a previous estimation of this mine. The whole tonnage of the southern part of the Da Hinggang Mountains is >1200 tons In, which is the second largest in China after the tin‐polymetallic deposits in the southern China.     

Trace elements of Indium-bearing sphalerite from tin-polymetallic deposits in Bolivia,China and Japan: A femto-second LA-ICPMS study

Indium-bearing tin-polymetallic base metal deposits in Japan (Toyoha, Ashio and Akenobe), China (Dulong and Dachang), and Bolivia (Potosi, Huari Huari, Bolivar and Porco), were studied using femto-second Laser Ablation ICPMS (fsLA-ICPMS) and EPMA analyses for major and minor elements in sphalerite, paying special attention to In concentrations.Sphalerite is a principal mineral in these tin-polymetallic deposits and a broad range of In concentration is measured in the ores. There are distinct differences in mode of occurrence of the sphalerite and the distribution of In. The highest In concentration (up to 18 wt.%) occur as a Zn–In mineral within black sphalerite zones in an oscillatory-zoned sphalerite from the Huari Huari deposits. Additionally, jamesonite from the Huari Huari deposit also contains anomalous In values, ranging from several hundreds to thousands μg/g. Sphalerite from the Toyoha and the other Bolivian deposits are characterized by oscillatory and chemical zoning, whereas those from Akenobe and the Chinese deposits are represented by homogeneous distribution of In. The 1000In/Zn values of sphalerite are in good agreement with those of the ore grade for each of the selected tin polymetallic deposits indicating that sphalerite is the principal host of In.The In-bearing sphalerite principally involves the combined coupled substitutions (2Zn^2 +) ↔ (Cu⁺, In^3 +), (3Zn^2 +) ↔ (Cu⁺, Ag⁺, Sn^4 +) and (3Zn^2 +) ↔ (2Cu⁺, Sn^4 +). The first of these is apparent in sphalerite from Huari Huari and Bolivar, whereas the second is prominent in sphalerite from Toyoha, Ashio, Potosi, Porco and Dachang. Akenobe and Dulong sphalerite features the dominant coupled substitution of (2Zn^2 +) ↔ (Cu⁺ or Ag⁺, In^3 +), owing to their poor Sn content. Occasionally, sub-micron inclusions of minerals such as stannite and Pb–Sb-bearing sulfides can occur in sphalerite, contributing to high Cu–Sn and high-Ag contents, respectively. The observed correlations of each element in the In–Cu–Ag–Sn-bearing sphalerite can be proposed as a fundamental reason for the indium enrichment related to sulfur-rich oxidized magmatism. In addition, the Ag content in sphalerite is considered a possible indicator of formation depth, which ranges from plutonic to subvolcanic environments.     

Resource Evaluation and Some Genetic Aspects of Indium in the Japanese Ore Deposits

Abstract. There have been two primary sources for industrial indium; one from massive sulfides, while the other is dissemination-veins and skarns, related to felsic igneous rocks. The latter group of the In-bearing deposits is abundant in the Japanese Islands. Indium occurs as In-minerals such as sakuraiite, roquesite, laforetite and many unidentified minerals, but the majority is contained as an impurity in sphalerite, and tin and copper sulfides. Average grades of the ores from which indium has been extracted vary from a few ppm (e.g., Kosaka mine) to more than 300 ppm (Toyoha mine). The amount of indium in all the major basemetal deposits is estimated by analyzing representative samples. The main indium deposits are subvolcanic and tin-poly-metallic vein types. The largest one is Toyoha mine (4,700 tons hi) and the Ashio mine (ca. 1,200 tons In) was found to be the second largest. Many small occurrences, were recognized in the Miocene magnetite-series belt, besides the classic occurrences in the ilmenite-series granitic terrains of SW Japan, including the Ikuno and Akenobe tin(-tungsten) polymetallic veins, located in the northern margin of the late Cretaceous Sanyo ilmenite-series province. Magnetite-series magmas with deep source are necessary to concentrate sulfur in the magma chamber but sedimentary source rocks and their reducing agents are needed to collect and to precipitate indium. The Japanese islands are essentially accretionary terrains intruded by various deep oxidized magmas; thus forming magnetite/ilmenite-series paired belts, which are sometimes mixed. This unique geologic setting may be the most fundamental reason why indium is rich in vein-type deposits of the Japanese Island arcs.     

^40Ar-^39Ar Isotopic Dating of the Xianghualing Sn-polymetallic Orefield in Southern Hunan, China and Its Geological Implications

The Xianghualing Sn-polymetallic orefield in Hunan Province, southern China, is a large-size tin orefield. Although numerous studies have been undertaken on this orefield, its genesis, mineralization age, and tectonic setting are still controversial, mainly because of the lack of reliable geochronological data on tin mineralization. The 40Ar/39Ar stepwise heating dating method was first employed on muscovite from different deposits in this orefield. The muscovite sample from the Xianghualing Sn-polymetallic deposit defines a plateau age of 154.4±1.1 Ma and an isochron age of 151.9±3.0 Ma; muscovite from the Xianghuapu W-polymetallic deposit yields a plateau age of 161.3±1.1 Ma and an isochron age of 160.0±3.2 Ma; muscovite from the Jianfengling greisen-type Sn-polymetallic deposit gives a plateau age of 158.7±1.2 Ma and an isochron age of 160.3±3.2 Ma. The tungsten-tin mineralization ages in the Xianghualing area are therefore restricted within 150-160 Ma. The tungsten -tin mineralization in Xianghualing occurred at the same time as the regional tin-tungsten mineralization including the Furong tin orefield, Shizhuyuan tungsten-tin polymetallic deposit and Yaogangxian tungsten-polymetallic deposit. Thus, the large-scale tungsten-tin metallogenesis in South China occurring at 160-150 Ma. probably is closely related to asthenospheric upwelling and crust-mantle interaction under a geodynamic setting of crustal extension and lithosphere thinning during the transformation of tectonic regimes during the Mid-Late Jurassic.     

Indium Mineralization in Copper–Tin Stratiform Skarn Ores at the Saishitang–Rilonggou Ore Field,Qinghai, Northwest China

The Saishitang–Rilonggou Ore Field (SROF), which includes the Saishitang, Tongyugou, and Rilonggou ore deposits as well as other scattered occurrences, is located in the Elashan region in Qinghai Province, and is a significant Cu–Sn ore field in NW China. These ores are hosted in stratiform skarn deposits with the main metals being Cu and Sn, as well as Zn, Pb, Au, Ag, and trace elements (e.g. Ga, Ge, Se, and In). Bulk‐rock geochemical analyses of 50 ore samples from the three deposits show that In contents in the Saishitang deposit range from 0.03 to 39 ppm (average 12.7 ppm, n = 19), with 1000 In/Zn values that vary from >0.01 to 29.83 (average 4.29). Indium contents in the Tongyugou deposit vary from 7.51 to 131 ppm (average 28.37 ppm, n = 13), with 1000 In/Zn values from 0.74 to 48 (average 17.55). Finally, indium contents in the Rilonggou deposit vary from 0.73 to 120 ppm (average 36.15 ppm, n = 18), with 1000 In/Zn values from 0.33 to 47 (average 8.52). Indium is hosted mainly in sphalerite, while some other In‐bearing minerals (e.g., roquesite, stannoidite, and stannite) are present locally within the ore field. Roquesite, which replace or fill bornite, occurs in bornite‐rich ores in the Saishitang deposit. This is the first reported Chinese locality of roquesite. Based on previously reported Zn resources, a total of 136 tons of In is calculated to be hosted in the SROF, with 30, 66, and 40 tons of In attributed to the Saishitang, Tongyugou, and Rilonggou deposits, respectively. The differences in indium contents among the deposits and their respective geological histories and characteristics suggest that the origin of indium relates to volcanogenic metallogenesis in an early Permian volcano‐sedimentary basin. Based on the evaluation of In resources, future mining operations should include the recovery of indium in the Tongyugou and Rilonggou deposits.     

岩浆-热液系统中铟的成矿作用

铟作为支撑新兴高科技产业发展的关键金属,主要应用于电子工业、半导体、焊料合金及航空航天等领域,对国家安全和经济发展至关重要.当前铟的重要来源是与花岗质岩浆有关的锡多金属矿床,其中铟的富集程度远超其他类型矿床.文章在简要概括铟矿床类型的基础上,探讨了铟在岩浆-热液系统各演化阶段的富集过程以及锡、铟同步富集的原因.在岩浆演化过程中,如果有黑云母、角闪石等铟的主要载体矿物发生分离结晶,铟的成矿潜力便会被大大削弱.当铟进入成矿流体后,铟的氯化物、氟化物和氢氧化物对铟的搬运有重要作用,流体的温度、pH值以及金属配体的种类和浓度是控制铟迁移和沉淀的重要因素.而当铟从流体中沉淀时,因四次配位的In3+与贱金属硫化物(闪锌矿、黄铜矿、黝铜矿等矿物)中四次配位的金属离子更相似,造成大量的铟以类质同象替换的方式进入硫化物而与锡发生分离;沉淀后的含铟矿物在后期地质过程中可能经历铟的重新活化、迁移和扩散等过程,导致铟再次富集.铟的富集过程与锡有关,这可能是由于铟和锡具有相似的地球化学性质,二者在表生环境中活动性弱,会滞留在经历化学风化的富黏土的沉积岩中,这样的沉积岩经变质作用会形成大量的云母类矿物,而黑云母作为铟和锡的共同载体,其在高温条件下发生分解可能是导致铟和锡在矿床中同步富集的根本原因.此外,新近在一些贫锡岩浆热液矿床中发现铟也能够超常富集,其机理尚不清楚.加强表生环境中锡与铟预富集过程的研究以及贫锡矿床中铟富集机制的研究,对查明铟-锡共生、分离机制和完善铟成矿理论至关重要.     

In, Sn, Pb and Zn Contents and Their Relationships in Ore-forming Fluids from Some In-rich and In-poor Deposits in China

All the indium-rich deposits with indium contents in ores more than 100×10- 6 seems to be of cassiterite-sulfide deposits or Sn-bearing Pb-Zn deposits, e.g., in the Dachang Sn deposit in Guangxi, the Dulong Sn-Zn deposit in Yunnan, and the Meng'entaolegai Ag-Pb-Zn deposit in Inner Mongolia, the indium contents in ores range from 98×10-6 to 236×10-6 and show a good positive correlation with contents of zinc and tin, and their correlation coefficients are 0.8781 and 0.7430, respectively. The indium contents from such Sn-poor deposits as the Fozichong Pb-Zn deposit in Guangxi and the Huanren Pb-Zn deposit in Liaoning are generally lower than 10×10-6, i.e., whether tin is present or not in a deposit implies the enrichment extent of indium in ores. Whether the In enrichment itself in the ore -forming fluids or the ore-forming conditions has actually caused the enrichment/depletion of indium in the deposits? After studying the fluid inclusions in quartz crystallized at the main stage of mineralization of several In-rich and In-poor deposits in China, this paper analyzed the contents and studied the variation trend of In, Sn, Pb and Zn in the ore-forming fluids. The results show that the contents of lead and zinc in the ore-forming fluids of In-rich and -poor deposits are at the same level, and the lead contents range from 22×10-6 to 81×10-6 and zinc from 164×10-6 to 309×10-6, while the contents of indium and tin in the ore-forming fluids of In-rich deposits are far higher than those of In-poor deposits, with a difference of 1-2 orders of magnitude. Indium and tin contents in ore-forming fluid of In-rich deposits are 1.9×10-6-4.1×10-6 and 7×100-6-55×10-6, and there is a very good positive correlation between the two elements, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9552. Indium and tin contents in ore-forming fluid of In-poor deposits are 0.03×10-6-0.09×10-6 and 0.4×10-6--2.0×10-6, respectively, and there is no apparent correlation between them. This indicates, on one hand, that In-rich ore-forming fluids are the material basis for the formation of In-rich deposits, and, on the other hand, tin probably played a very important role in the transport and enrichment of indium.     

湖南走马坪多金属成矿区矿化特征及成因探讨

湖南走马坪矿区是以钨、锡、铅、锌、银矿化为主的多金属成矿区，文章对其矿化特征作了总结，在此基础上分析其成因，并提出了找矿方向。     

武夷山成矿带桃溪隆起、岩浆侵入和区域铜多金属矿成矿作用

武夷山成矿带内矿区的最大特征就是分布有老地层和岩浆岩.老地层集中分布区——桃溪隆起区是武夷山隆起的一部分, 表现为变质核杂岩的特征, 其中分布着大中型铜多金属矿床和大量的多金属矿点, 如紫金山铜金矿、岩背锡矿和红山铜矿, 它们是武夷山成矿带乃至中国东部的典型特征.主要矿床的成矿年龄集中于130~90 Ma, 属燕山晚期; 成矿特征表现为斑岩型-岩浆热液型铜多金属矿.成矿斑岩体成岩时代90~140 Ma, 多为燕山期复式杂岩体的中晚期, 桃溪隆起区这种时空一致性是由于中生代晚期岩石圈拆沉的产物.桃溪隆起区在中生代晚期经历了岩石圈加厚期后的拆沉、软流圈物质侵入、岩浆作用及其伴随的成矿作用.这些认识对该区找矿部署具有重要的意义.      

湘南骑田岭锡矿成矿规律探讨

骑田岭地区位于炎陵-郴州-蓝山北东向基底构造岩浆岩带中部,是南岭中段多金属成矿带的重要组成部分。现已查明111—333锡资源量101.3×104t,近期又发现了具超大型找矿前景的芙蓉锡矿田。锡矿类型可分为气化高温热液型锡矿、高—中温热液型锡矿、次火山热液型锡矿及冲积型砂锡矿四大类7个亚类,构成了一个较完整的成矿系列。各类锡矿是多次构造-岩浆活动综合作用的产物,燕山早期晚阶段及燕山晚期早阶段是主成矿期。特殊的地质构造背景造就了区内锡矿“带状分布、成群产出、等距展布”的空间分布规律,也展示了巨大的找矿潜力。     

北祁连块状硫化物矿床中矿石和主要矿石矿物地球化学特征

对北祁连山白银矿田和郭密寺矿田中主要矿床的矿石和矿石矿物组分特征研究表明，由于各矿田的成矿条件和地球化学背景存在差异，造成不同矿床的矿石和矿石矿物元素组合各具特色。但作为同一类型矿床，它们之间又有很多共性，特别是同一矿田内各矿床的地球化学特征具有相似性和过渡性，反映了成矿条件变化的趋势。     

论华南喷流—沉积块状硫化物矿床

现代海底喷流－沉积硫化物矿床的发现极大地推动了海底热液成矿理论的发展,也大大地提高了对古代海底喷流块充化物矿术的研究水平。本文指出喷流－沉积是重要的成矿作用,提出喷流－沉积矿床是华南Ｃｕ、Ｐｂ、Ｚｎ、Ｓｎ、Ａｇ、Ａｕ等矿产资源的重要来源,形成了一批超大型矿床,并将华南许多曾被认为属夕卡岩矿床重新确认为喷流－沉积岩床。文章还论述了华南喷流－沉积块状硫化物矿床的特征、分类、时空分布及其成矿特点等问题,提出断裂拗陷带型喷流－沉积块状硫化物矿床是华南具有特色的类型,而陆相断陷盆地中喷流－沉积矿床值得进一步深入研究。     

个旧矿区高松矿田锡多金属矿床找矿效果的浅析

个旧矿区高松矿田是一个以层间氧化矿床为主，深部有接触蒂矽卡岩型硫化物矿床产出，为锡、铅、银富集程度较高的锡多金属矿田，其中层间氧化矿床是目前云南锡业集团公司松树脚锡矿地质找矿的主要对象．以高松矿田为例，对区内矿床的产出特征、找矿方法进行了分析、评述，同时对提高找矿效果的途径提出了认识。     

New data on distribution of indium in ore deposits of Central Kazakhstan

Iron, tin, tungsten, copper, and polymetallic deposits are examined and the paper investigates the mineral distribution of indium in mineral deposits in central Kazakhstan. Indium is a relatively rare element; of the 18 formations examined only five revealed high concentrations of indium. Economic accumulations were discovered only in Early and Late Variscan skarnitic formations with lead-zinc, copper, and bismuth mineralizations. Among the hypogene minerals, indium was found in sulfides, and silicates. Among supergene minerals indium was found only in oxides, carbonates, and silicates. Sphalerites are the principal collector of indium. No connection between the enrichment in indium and the typomorphic peculiarities of different varieties of sphalerites could be established. In mineral deposits with higher indium concentration, a paragenetic connection of this element with tin is noticeable. Regular enrichment of sphalerites in indium would admit as most probable an isomorphous replacement of zinc and bivalent iron by indium. — A.W. Bellais     

内蒙古东南部矽卡岩型金属矿床的综合找矿模式

矽卡岩型金属矿床是内蒙古东南部重要的矿床类型,集中分布在黄岗梁－乌兰浩特铜多金属成矿带西南段,其代表性矿床有白音诺铅锌矿床和浩布高铅锌铜锡矿床以及黄岗铁锡矿床,是中国北方重要的铅锌矿和锡矿产地。总结、分析了此类型矿床中的代表性金属矿床的物化探勘查方法及其有效性,建立了矽卡岩型金属矿床地、物、化综合找矿模式。此类金属矿床多分布于黄岗－乌兰浩特铜多金属成矿带西南段二叠系大理岩或结晶灰岩夹层内,其受构造作用形成的复背斜轴部的虚脱部位是赋矿的有利场所。金属矿化特别是铅锌矿化与锰钙质辉石矽卡岩关系密切。矿床所在地区主要地层和酸性侵入岩类主要金属元素Cu、Pb、Zn、Ag、Sn的质量分数均大大高于背景值,并在矿带、矿化蚀变带和出露矿体上呈现高强度、衬度高、分带清晰的局部异常。成晕元素具有较好的分带性：矿体前缘晕为As、Sb、Hg、Pb、F;尾晕为Sn、W、Mo。矿体和矿化矽卡岩上常呈现高极化率、高磁力、高重力、低电阻率（三高一低）的组合异常特征。     

大井锡多金属成矿地质特征及找矿方向探讨

内蒙古林西大井锡多金属矿是我国北方最大的锡多金属矿床，通过对其地质背景、成矿地质条件、富集规律、控矿因素的认识和分析，建立大井式的综合找矿标志，对指导矿区及其外围找矿，扩大矿产资源、发展地方经济，具有重要的意义。     

玻利维亚铜金锡铁主要矿床类型及资源潜力

玻利维亚的铜矿规模以中小型为主,主要成矿类型为红层型(砂岩层)、沉积相关脉状型、VMS型和IOCG型等。金矿规模以中小型为主,主要成矿类型有火山成因浅成热液型、与深成岩相关的脉状矿床、造山型矿床和砂金矿。锡矿发育众多大型、超大型矿床,成矿类型以玻利维亚型多金属脉状矿床和与长英质深成岩相关的脉状矿床为主,少量砂锡矿。铁矿以El Mutún超大型BIF型铁锰矿著称。西科迪勒拉和玻利维亚高原有重要的浅成低温热液贵金属资源潜力;东科迪勒拉北部主要为钨、锡、金、锑资源,中部为锡、银、金、锑资源,南部有金、锑、银、铅、锌潜力;次安第斯带南部有银-锌资源潜力;查科-贝尼平原带有广泛的砂金矿资源;前寒武纪克拉通内金、铂、镍、钽、铜和铁锰资源潜力丰富。     

个旧矿区西部凹陷带花岗岩锡矿床地质特征及控矿规律分析

个旧矿区是一个与花岗岩有关的特大型锡多金属矿集区。近年来在花岗岩体内发现了蚀变花岗岩锡多金属矿体,进一步拓展了找矿的空间。笔者在分析个旧老厂矿田西部凹陷带花岗岩锡多金属矿床地质特征的基础上,着重从花岗岩体表层原生破裂构造对矿床的控矿规律进行了探讨。     

The Genetic Types of Some Granite Intrusions Associated with Tin Polymetallic Deposits in the Nanling Region

Tin polymetallic deposits are the most important type of tin deposit in the Nanling region. Manyresearchers both at home and abroad consider this type of tin deposit to be the product of differentiation andevolution of granite magmas resulting from anatexis of continental crust and to be genetically related to thetransformation-type (S-type) granitoids. In this paper, on the basis of the geological settings, petrology, REEgeochemistry and strontium and oxygen isotopic compositions of 6 granite intrusions associaied with tinpolymetallic deposits in the Nanling region, the authors suggest that the ore-bearing granites of this type areprobably the products of differentiation and evolution of acid magmas resulting from 40-50‰ fractionalcrystallization of magmas formed by partial melting of the pre-existing intermediate-basic volcanic rocks ofmantle origin in the lower crust and a small amount of sialic material and belong to crust-mantle-derivedgranitoids (approaching I-type of B. W. Chappell and A.J.R. White, but being evidently different from theS-type granitoid related to W, Sn, Nb, Ta and REE deposits).