南海北部西沙海槽沉积物管状黄铁矿特征及其形成机理

南海北部西沙海槽S1站位的岩心柱沉积物中广泛发育自生矿物黄铁矿,其形态以管状为主,且具有内部中空的圈层结构。使用扫描电镜、电子探针、LA-ICP-MS、SIMS等测试方法研究了管状黄铁矿的形态及圈层结构,结果显示:(1)管状黄铁矿发育内部中空的圈层结构,其中内圈层(Ipy)由莓球状黄铁矿呈五角十二面体紧密堆积组成,外圈层(Opy)由晶形较好晶粒较大的八面体黄铁矿组成,并混有沉积碎屑及钙质生物壳体;(2)内圈层和外圈层分别呈现出贫S富Fe和富S贫Fe的特征,其成因是甲烷渗漏造成的局部还原环境使得As进入黄铁矿中导致晶格空缺或被扭曲,从而促进Ni、Co、Cu、Zn、Pb等微量元素的掺入;(3)内圈层、外圈层发生了明显的硫同位素分馏现象,内圈层中δ~(34)S平均为-37. 8‰,外圈层中δ34S平均为-29. 3‰。研究认为,管状黄铁矿作为曾经甲烷渗漏的通道,其生长机制可分为3个阶段:(1)气水通道形成阶段:向上运移的甲烷流体在沉积物孔隙中逐渐形成气水通道;(2)外圈层形成阶段:当向上运移的甲烷与硫酸盐发生甲烷厌氧氧化时,逐渐形成晶体较大、晶形较好的八面体黄铁矿外圈层;(3)内圈层形成阶段:随着甲烷浓度逐渐降低,在气水通道中的微生物作用下,剩余甲烷与向下运移的硫酸盐继续反应形成莓球状黄铁矿内圈层。因此,南海北部的泥岩中大量发育的管状黄铁矿常常与地层中甲烷水合物的存在有关。     

陕西旬阳地区小河金矿硫铅同位素组成及地质意义

小河金矿是近年来在南秦岭中带发现的中型金矿床,矿石类型为微细浸染型,矿床受地层和构造双重控制。在野外工作基础上,根据矿物组合及穿插关系划分了4个成矿阶段:Ⅰ,成矿早期少硫化物石英脉成矿阶段;Ⅱ,石英脉、黄铁矿、毒砂成矿主阶段;Ⅲ,石英脉-多金属硫化物成矿主阶段;Ⅳ,方解石、石英脉成矿晚阶段。其中Ⅱ、Ⅲ阶段是主要金矿化阶段。不同阶段样品的原位硫同位素结果显示:成矿早阶段石英脉期的黄铁矿δ³⁴S值为20.80‰~25.77‰,均值为23.59‰;主成矿期II阶段中黄铁矿、毒砂δ³⁴S值为15.46‰~19.12‰,均值为17.5‰;主成矿期Ⅲ阶段中方铅矿、闪锌矿δ³⁴S值为11.35‰~16.78‰,均值为13.88‰。硫同位素特征指示硫以沉积硫为主,成矿过程可能存在低δ³⁴S值热液的持续加入。金属硫化物Pb同位素测试结果显示²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb为17.882 1~18.367 4,²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb为15.614 0~15.674 1,²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb为38.016 3~38.934 2,指示小河金矿铅主要源于地壳,同时伴随幔源铅的混入。综合矿床地质特征及硫、铅同位素地球化学特征,认为小河金矿成矿过程可能存在流体混合作用。     

南秦岭柞水—山阳矿集区夏家店金矿床黄铁矿微量元素和氢、氧、硫同位素对矿床成因的制约

为了研究柞水—山阳矿集区夏家店金矿床成因,采用LA-ICP-MS和LA-MC-ICP-MS技术分析夏家店金矿床矿体及围岩样品中黄铁矿原位微量元素及氢、氧、硫同位素组成特征。结果表明,该矿床黄铁矿的Co/Ni 比值为0.11~0.76,说明其与沉积作用有关。矿石中黄铁矿的δ³⁴S值(-9.40‰~7.16‰)与围岩碳质板岩的δ³⁴S值(-8.84‰~10.64‰)接近,黄铁矿的δ³⁴S均值(2.47‰)基本落在岩浆硫的范围内,指示矿石硫可能由地层硫和岩浆硫混合而成。氢、氧同位素测试结果表明,夏家店矿床成矿流体可能主要来自岩浆水,成矿后期有大气降水的加入。综合矿床地质特征、成矿温度、金赋存状态等特征和黄铁矿微量元素、硫同位素组成可知,夏家店金矿床属于卡林型金矿,其成矿流体主要来自岩浆水,成矿后期有大气降水加入;其成矿物质是由深部岩浆与地层混合而成。     

甘肃两当湘潭子金矿床地质特征及成因

甘肃两当湘潭子金矿位于西秦岭造山带东段,金矿体主要受北西西向断裂控制,与区内发育的中酸性岩脉空间关系密切。显微观察和电子探针分析表明,Au主要赋存在黄铁矿和毒砂中,矿体中黄铁矿Co/Ni特征显示黄铁矿的成因与岩浆作用有关。通过稀土元素分析发现,矿石的稀土元素特征与岩体的稀土元素特征基本一致,而与地层围岩有明显差异。对矿石中的黄铁矿进行硫同位素测试,硫化物δ³⁴S值介于-5.7‰~2.0‰之间,均值为0.38‰,δ³⁴S值频数分布比较集中,具有以近零为中心的塔式分布特征,表明矿石中硫的来源与岩浆作用有关。通过氢氧同位素分析,湘潭子金矿区矿石的δ¹⁸${{\text{O}}_{{{\text{H}}_{2}}\text{O}}}$值介于3.44‰~9.65‰之间,均值为6.29‰,δD介于-120.10‰~-79.00‰之间,均值为-100.47‰,表明本区成矿流体主要来自岩浆水。铅同位素特征显示湘潭子金矿区铅的演化与岩浆作用和造山运动关系密切。通过对比研究可知湘潭子金矿的主成矿时代为印支晚期。湘潭子金矿是印支晚期含成矿物质和流体的岩浆上侵,受浅部断裂系统控制的脉状矿体。湘潭子金矿的发现及成因研究对西秦岭地区找矿方向具有重要的意义。     

陕西商南三官庙金矿床流体包裹体及C-H-O-S稳定同位素研究

三官庙金矿床位于秦岭造山带南秦岭北部逆冲推覆构造带内,为断裂构造控矿的热液型矿床。热液成矿期划分为成矿早阶段(S1)、主阶段(S2)和晚阶段(S3)。成矿主阶段流体包裹体的完全均一温度T_h为150~420 ℃,盐度为2.1%~24.1%;成矿晚阶段T_h为81~190 ℃,盐度为5.6%~22.2%。包裹体研究显示,在成矿主阶段温度>250 ℃时,以流体混合作用为主而导致矿物沉淀;在成矿主阶段温度<250 ℃及成矿晚阶段,以流体沸腾作用为主而导致矿物沉淀。成矿主阶段成矿流体的δD_V-SMOW为-84.4‰~-77.0‰,δ¹⁸${{\text{O}}_{{{\text{H}}_{2}}\text{O}}}$为5.0‰~5.7‰,成矿流体来源以岩浆水为主,同时混入了外来流体。成矿流体的δ¹³C_ΣC为-13.5‰~-5.2‰,反映碳为岩浆来源并受到低温蚀变的影响。黄铁矿单矿物δ³⁴S_CDT为-2.73‰~-1.31‰;毒砂单矿物δ³⁴S_CDT为-3.36‰~0.03‰,反映成矿物质硫为典型的单一岩浆来源。综上分析,认为三官庙金矿床为岩浆热液成因,其成矿机制为:印支期末,在钠长(角砾)岩形成过程中,含金热液流体沿断裂构造运移,在距离钠长(角砾)岩较远地段的层间破碎带内,成矿流体发生混合及沸腾作用,促使成矿物质发生沉淀,最终形成三官庙金矿床。     

内蒙古大井铜锡多金属矿床矿石中Cu-S同位素特征及成矿预测

内蒙古大井铜锡多金属矿床是大兴安岭成矿带代表性矿床之一,矿区位于内蒙古东部林西县境内,成矿地质条件良好。矿床矿石中同位素特征及与成矿的关系研究薄弱。本文通过对矿体中黄铜矿Cu同位素,黄铜矿、黄铁矿S同位素和Pb同位素的研究表明:黄铜矿δ⁶⁵Cu 值总体范围为 -0.46‰+0.32‰,平均值为0 ‰,2σ误差平均值约为0.03‰;黄铜矿、黄铁矿δ³⁴S值总体范围为 +0.076 ‰+3.00‰,平均值为+1.83‰,且δ³⁴S值分散程度也较小,整体较均一,属于岩浆硫的同位素特征;Pb同位素数据整体变化很小,具体为²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=18.29118.353,²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb =15.50115.574,²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb =38.05138.265。结合区域前人的研究表明,大井矿Cu同位素的变化是由于硫化物-岩浆分异过程导致,大井矿矿石黄铜矿δ⁶⁵Cu的变化可能指示了矿化阶段成矿硫化物的演化方向,δ⁶⁵Cu逐渐降低的方向可能存在隐伏矿体,研究区域东部生产区域与外围预测未生产区域具有一致的Cu同位素特征,Cu同位素证据表明大井矿外围预测区可能存在深部隐伏矿体。     

新西兰北岛红树林沉积物中黄铁矿微观形貌特征及其环境指示意义

为探究红树林沉积环境自生黄铁矿形貌特征及其分布规律,利用新西兰北岛红树林沼泽区三个不同植被带采集的沉积物柱状样品,在偏光显微镜及扫描电镜下对其不同深度沉积物样品中黄铁矿数量及形貌特征进行了分类、统计。结果表明:(1)三个植被带沉积物样品中均存在莓球状黄铁矿、团块状黄铁矿、结核状黄铁矿及晶粒状黄铁矿,且结核状黄铁矿占比最高;(2)莓球状黄铁矿平均粒径7.77μm,微晶形态以八面体和五角十二面体型为主;(3)相比光滩区、内部林区两个植被带,红树林林缘区沉积物的莓球状黄铁矿粒径变幅较大,自形晶含量最高。初步判断本研究区沉积环境属于贫氧沉积环境,红树林林缘区水环境动荡,黄铁矿发育程度较高。相比中国海南省、厦门红树林湿地及美国西海岸Elkhorn Slough盐沼湿地沉积环境,本研究区红树林沉积环境更封闭,促进了自形晶的广泛发育。     

山西梨园金矿黄铁矿微量元素及S-Pb-He-Ar同位素地球化学特征及其地质意义

山西梨园金矿是近年华北克拉通内部金矿找矿的新进展,其矿化样式多,具有较高的研究价值。梨园金矿赋存于太古宙阜平群片麻岩和混合岩化花岗岩中,受区内北北东向断裂控制,主要由爆破角砾岩型的1号矿体和石英脉型的2号矿体组成。矿石矿物主要为黄铁矿、方铅矿和闪锌矿等,脉石矿物主要为石英、绢云母、钾长石等,蚀变类型主要为硅化、钾长石化、绢云母化、绿泥石化等。黄铁矿、黄铜矿和闪锌矿δ³⁴S值为0.9‰~4.3‰,平均值为3.0‰,说明硫源主要来自岩浆;方铅矿δ³⁴S值为-12.8‰~1.4‰,平均值为-4.2‰,pH值升高可能是造成方铅矿高负δ³⁴S值的原因。金属硫化物Pb同位素变化范围较小,²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb为16.697~16.890,²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb为15.239~15.267,²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb为42.186~45.334,均落入下地壳演化线附近,表明成矿流体运移过程中可能淋滤了富Th的下地壳物质。黄铁矿的³He/⁴He为0.27~1.04 R_a,⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar为1 194.61~5 488.80,³⁸Ar/³⁶Ar为0.204~0.218,表明成矿流体主要来源于地壳,部分来源于地幔流体,具有壳幔混合的岩浆流体特点。微量元素特征显示黄铁矿具有岩浆热液型黄铁矿的特点,辉绿岩脉和石英斑岩的部分物质可能加入了成矿过程。文章认为梨园金矿为与浅成岩浆侵入作用相关的岩浆热液型金矿床,爆破角砾岩型和石英脉型矿体不同的沉淀机制和矿物结晶过程是导致二者REE含量、S-Pb-He-Ar同位素等方面存在差异的主要原因。梨园金矿深部具有寻找细脉浸染型矿体的可能,其成矿作用是太行山中部地区燕山期构造岩浆活动的又一具体表现。     

东沙海区浅层沉积物中黄铁矿异常及其意义

东沙海区浅层沉积物的两个岩心出现大量的黄铁矿。GC10岩心中的黄铁矿在300cm以下含量增加，在700am的区段达到最高，主要为管状、棒状、莓球状；HD319岩心黄铁矿则相对较低，只在最底部730cm的区段突然增加，以莓球状为主。GC10岩心黄铁矿含量异常层位与甲烷含量增加层位一致，而在Corg-Ssulfide^2-含量变化图上，S^2-含量与有机碳含量线性关系不明显，显示了该岩心黄铁矿的形成主要受高甲烷流通量影响；而HD319岩心的有机碳高的层位，S^2-含量也高，表明HD319岩心黄铁矿的形成与沉积物中有机质降解密切相关。GC10岩心黄铁矿的δ^34S（‰）值在-17．149～-33．240CDT之间，显示了非常负的硫同位素比值和宽的区间；HD319的矿S（‰）值-36．363～-39．162CDT之间，相对比较稳定。GC10岩心黄铁矿的δ^34S（‰）值特征，可能与富甲烷环境有关，而HD319受其影响稍弱。     

中非赞比亚成矿带谦比希铜钴矿床钴的赋存状态与成矿规律

谦比希铜钴矿床是中非赞比亚成矿带重要的超大型铜钴矿床之一,由主矿体、西矿体和东南矿体3部分组成,赋矿层位主要为下罗安亚群敏多拉组和基特韦组,岩性包括泥质板岩、泥质石英岩、板岩、石英砂岩等。现有资料对于矿床中钴的赋存状态和含钴矿物成因的研究较为薄弱,这也直接制约了对钴矿的成因认识及今后找矿方向。本次研究聚焦谦比希矿床中的富钴矿物,对该类矿物进行电子探针、微区X射线荧光光谱分析和S同位素研究,通过查明谦比希矿床中钴的赋存状态及成因机制,为今后区域上钴资源的找矿勘查提供理论依据。分析结果表明谦比希矿床中钴以独立矿物和类质同象形式存在,其中独立矿物主要为硫铜钴矿和硫钴矿。在热液黄铁矿(Py2)和磁黄铁矿中,钴含量最高分别可达4.9%和1.5%,Co与Fe含量成反比关系且Co富集区域较为均匀地分布在硫化物中,说明Co取代Fe以类质同象方式赋存于黄铁矿和磁黄铁矿中。此外,谦比希矿床热液期黄铁矿-磁黄铁矿的Co-Ni范围不同于夕卡岩型及其他几种成矿类型的黄铁矿和磁黄铁矿,结合前人对热液矿化期流体包裹体的H-O同位素研究,暗示富钴的成矿流体可能并非岩浆热液流体,而是中-高温的变质热液流体。西矿体斑铜矿和东南矿体磁黄铁矿δ³⁴S值分别为6‰~6.9‰和7.2‰~12.6‰,表明热化学硫酸盐还原作用是谦比希矿床还原性硫形成的主要机制,硫化物在经历了变质作用后δ³⁴S值具有均一化。综合本文和前人已有研究,我们认为钴的主成矿期与卢菲利安造山作用密切相关,造山期中-高温变质热液使得钴、铜等金属元素再富集。NE-SW向挤压形成的褶皱枢纽及特定走向断层的交汇处等构造发育部位可以作为钴矿体的有利找矿地段,而热液脉中的黄铁矿-磁黄铁矿组合可作为区域上寻找钴矿体的矿物标志。     

Morphology and formation mechanism of pyrite induced by the anaerobic oxidation of methane from the continental slope of the NE South China Sea

In order to understand the response of authigenic pyrite to gas hydrate geo-systems, pyrite tubes or rods at the sulfate–methane transition (SMT) zone of core GC10 from the northern continental slope of the South China Sea (SCS) were investigated. In situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) results show that the pyrite tube consists of pyrite micro-crystals with trace amount of graphite in the inner tube. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations of pyrite tubes indicate various aggregations in the form of framboidal, euhedral, and colloidal pyrite microcrystals. Typical framboidal pyrite is considered as packing of octahedral microcrystals. Interestingly, many framboids in the tubes consist of round or irregular microcrystals and have an outer crust that consists of secondary pyrite. The size of the framboids in the inner wall of the tube is larger than that in the middle wall or foraminifer-filled pyrite. High-resolution transmission electron microscopic (HRTEM) images show marcasite lamellae defects in the spherulitic pyrite crystals, which reveal different solution conditions during the pyrite precipitation. Nano-foil-like graphitic carbon was observed to be closely associated with the pyrite spherules. The occurrence of both marcasite layers and nano-foil-like graphitic carbon suggest that the migration of methane from deep sediment. It is suggested that the formation of pyrite serves as a catalyst during the reaction from methane to elemental carbon under the anaerobic oxidation of methane. Meanwhile, this reaction results in local acidification of the solution inside the pyrite tubes, which favors marcasite lamellae growth on the host pyrite substrate.     

基于共生金属硫化物硫同位素分馏程度约束热液活动温度：以川中下寒武统龙王庙组为例

硫循环及硫同位素(δ³⁴S)分馏研究对地表圈层的成岩作用具有重要意义,其中多种金属硫化物中硫同位素的分馏程度可以约束成矿热流体温度,进而作为地温计证据约束热液活动。四川盆地龙王庙组储集层内的热液改造影响着该储集层的非均质性,本研究着重讨论目的层中与热液成因白云石所伴生的黄铁矿(FeS₂)-黄铜矿(CuFeS₂)成矿现象：基于详尽的岩石学证据,应用纳米二次离子探针(NanoSIMS)对金属硫化物内部硫同位素分布进行测定,并基于热力学驱动下的硫化物间平衡分馏程度计算其成矿温度,进而约束层段内热液活动过程。研究发现：(1)微区硫同位素分布显示黄铁矿(FeS₂)与黄铜矿(CuFeS₂)沉淀过程中不仅存在热力学分馏,还存在动力学分馏现象,其中动力学分馏程度可以达到40.1‰,应用NanoSIMS微区测定手段可以有效剔除动力学分馏数据影响,获取热力学平衡分馏数据;(2)黄铁矿(FeS₂)与黄铜矿(CuFeS₂)成矿过程或利用不同的硫源,其中黄铁矿...     

广西宁明组植物化石中黄铁矿及其沉积意义

对化石中的黄铁矿进行研究,有助于明确生物的化石化过程以及期间的沉积微环境。利用光学显微镜和扫描电镜,对广西宁明组植物化石中保存的黄铁矿进行了分析,发现离散型单晶和成群的莓状体共同保存。单晶绝大多数为无规则至球状体,晶棱不明显,表面可见凹点;少数为八面体,晶棱明显,表面光滑;单晶直径为0.79~1.58 μm;莓状体为圆球状,粒径为7.23~14.95 μm,S/Fe原子个数比的均值为1.54。莓状体的粒径大小和变化幅度均处于低值段,其S/Fe原子个数比值小于2,结果均说明当时植物体上、下表皮间为一种贫氧的水体环境,并在短时间内形成了莓状体。植物化石上、下表皮间由于未保存组织结构,而被大量的、近似层状分布的黄铁矿单晶和莓状体充填,结果支持了化石内莓状体形成与有机质降解之间存在着必然联系。     

黑龙江省嫩江—黑河构造混杂岩带科洛金矿床成因:来自黄铁矿化学成分及He-Ar、S、Pb同位素证据

科洛金矿床位于黑龙江省嫩江—黑河构造混杂岩带中,为一正在勘查的中型金矿床。前人研究认为该矿床为一中温、富水、低盐度的韧性剪切带型金矿床。但随着勘查工作的持续开展,新发现了大量含多金属硫化物的石英脉型矿石。为进一步明确该矿床成因,对科洛金矿床内韧性变形和浸染状-团块状两种不同产状黄铁矿进行了系统的成分标型及稳定同位素特征研究。结果表明:韧性变形黄铁矿较浸染-团块状黄铁矿的S/Fe值低,Au、Ag、Co含量高,As含量低,总体显示韧性变形黄铁矿相对贫硫;黄铁矿微量元素显示两类黄铁矿REE具有相似的地球化学特征,整体呈轻稀土富集、重稀土亏损的“右倾”式稀土配分模式。稀土元素总量为17.00×10^-6~66.95×10^-6,韧性变形黄铁矿含量明显偏低,LREE/HREE值为5.25~12.50,相对较稳定。Y/Ho值与地幔和地壳重合范围较多,Zr/Hf值、Nb/Ta值变化范围较大,显示成矿环境不稳定;黄铁矿³He含量为2.405×10^-13~10.811×10^-13,⁴He含量为3.35×10^-7~4.99×10^-7,³He-⁴He图和R/R_a-⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar图显示成矿流体有以地幔为主的壳幔混源特征,成矿过程应有大气降水的参与;黄铁矿δ³⁴S变化范围小,集中在+2.3‰~+7.6‰(韧性变形黄铁矿δ³⁴S平均值偏低),稍正向偏离陨石硫特征;黄铁矿的²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=18.157~18.211;²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=15.542~15.594;²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=38.032~38.218(韧性变形黄铁矿的²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb、²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb、²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb平均值偏低),均显示与造山作用关系密切。利用黄铁矿化学成分特征元素Co/Ni值及Co-Ni成因判别图解认为科洛金矿有热液成因矿床特征;利用w(Fe+S)-w(As)图解和Co-Ni-As含量图解显示石英脉型矿石反映浅成低温热液型金矿特征。综合区域变质变形事件、典型矿床特征及矿区内已取得的年龄、流体包裹体等相关数据认为,科洛金矿床应存在两期矿化:三叠纪形成的韧性剪切带型金矿床和白垩纪形成的浅成低温热液型金矿床。建议在今后的矿产勘查中注意寻找真正的韧性剪切带型金矿。     

山东平邑归来庄碲型金矿床中黄铁矿的矿物学特征研究

归来庄贫硫氧化型低温热液碲金矿床中黄铁矿形成于3个世代，不同世代黄铁矿的S／Fe均小于2，硫的质量分数平均值50．9％(小于标准值53．4％)，显示出明显的硫元素匮乏。不同时期的黄铁矿在晶形上有较明显的差异，并出现环带、环边及交代环边等结构构造。随着成矿作用的不断进行，从成矿早阶段到晚阶段成矿热液中的硫由于硫化物的不断结晶而消耗，成矿热液中硫逸度持续降低，可供进入黄铁矿品格的硫越来越少。成矿晚期，成矿热液中的砷替代硫大量进入黄铁矿的晶格中而形成与归来庄金矿床成矿作用密切相关的富砷黄铁矿，对该类型矿床具有找矿勘探的指示意义。     

Crystallographic and chemical variations during pyritization in the upper Barremian and lower Aptian dark claystones from the Lower Saxonian Basin (NW Germany)

In the Lower Saxonian Basin, cores from three drill holes provide a cross-section from the basin centre towards the margin through the upper Barremian/lowermost Aptian pyritic claystones and marls. Microscopic analyses distinguish six types of pyrite (I: ‘cones and tubes’, II: ‘tubes’, III: ‘isometric crystal aggregates’, IV: ‘pseudomorphs of fossils’, V: ‘star-like concretions’, and VI: ‘filiform pyrite-marcasite intergrowths’) which are associated with subordinate amounts of Fe carbonate, chalcopyrite, sphalerite and wurtzite. The crystal morphology of these sulphides shows a clear-cut diagenetic sequence from pyrite crystals dominated by the octahedron to those dominated by the cube. Among these early to late diagenetic pyrites, the conversion of crystal habits is accompanied by a striking variation in trace element contents, some of which have extremely low values (e.g. Au, Se, Te, Tl, Co). In this context, classification of crystal habits and analyses of As and Ni establishes a sequence of pyritization which may help define a basin zonation for these argillaceous sedimentary rocks, categorized as ‘normal facies’—oxygenated bottom waters—interrupted by short episodes of bottom water oxygen depletion (‘bituminous facies’). Substitution of the cube for the octahedron in the Fe bisulphide aggregates led to a continuous removal of As and Ni from the pyrite, attesting to a steady decrease of those elements in the pore fluids with time. By contrast, within each type of pyrite, As and Ni contents increase from the margin towards the centre of the basin, owing to pre-concentration of both elements in the basinal sediments, which are more abundant in organic matter. Some other elements, however, such as Mn, Cu, Sb and Ag, do not follow this trend and are unrelated to the lattice transformation of the Fe bisulphides. Their sometimes anomalously high quantities in Fe bisulphides are controlled by the host rock chemistry (presence of volcaniclastic material) and accessory minerals intergrown with pyrite (e.g. chalcopyrite). Pyrite I through III formed in tubular hollows of burrowing organisms, and type IV in tests of fossils. Types V and VI did not result from replacement or void filling but were generated by diffusion of sulphate along inhomogeneties, such as bedding planes, shrinkage cracks or water escape structures.     

Zinc-rich Pyrite from the TAG Active Mound, the TAG Hydrotherma Field, Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Abstract: Pyrite rich in Zn, up to 3.1 wt%, was found in the TAG active mound of the TAG hydrothermal field, the slow-spreading Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 26°08'N and 44°49'W. The Zn-rich pyrite is characterized by an optical homogeneity, a homogeneous distribution of Zn in the back-scattered electron images, both at a magnification of about 500, a negative correlation between Fe and Zn contents of the pyrite and a rather small unit cell edge (a₀ = 5.4117 ± 0.0008Å), strongly indicating that the detected Zn is present in the pyrite in solid solution. Such Zn concentrations are observed exclusively in dendritic pyrite, suggesting that the Znrich pyrite grew from hydrothermal fluids of a high degree of supersaturation due to quenching on the seafloor.     

Pyrite—‘fool's gold’ or misunderstood mineral?

Pyrite (FeS₂) is the most abundant sulphide mineral in the Earth's crust, and with its characteristic shape and appearance, is easily one of the most recognizable. Yet, pyrite has a somewhat tarnished reputation with many considering it to be waste material and of little economic importance, never-mind interest. This assessment however, is misleading and a considerable volume of current research focuses upon the unique characteristics and formation of pyrite. Indeed, with its potential for revealing the very foundations of life, as well as maximizing the discovery and exploitation of society's future metallic resources, pyrite may be of much greater interest and benefit than many geologists realize.     

Experimental study on prevention of acid mine drainage by silica coating of pyrite waste rocks with amorphous silica solution

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a widespread environmental problem associated with working and abandoned mining operations. It results from the microbial oxidation of pyrite in the presence of water and air, affording an acidic solution that contains toxic metal ions. Pyrite microencapsulation, utilizing silica coating, is a novel approach for controlling AMD that has been shown to be very effective in controlling pyrite oxidation. The roles of the solution pH and silica concentration in the formation mechanism for the AMD-preventing coating were investigated. A silica coating can be formed from silica solution at pH 7, at which the amount of Fe eluted from pyrite into the solution is small. No coating was formed at other pH values, and the amounts of eluted Fe were larger than at pH 7, especially at pH 11. The silica coating forms from 2,500 to 5,000 mg/L silica solutions, but not from 0 or 1,000 mg/L silica solutions. The coating formation rate was slower in the 2,500 mg/L silica solution than in the 5,000 mg/L silica solution. The formation of silica coating on pyrite surfaces depends on three main steps: formation of Fe(OH)₃ on the surface of pyrite, reaction between Fe(OH)₃ and silicate in the solution on the pyrite surface, and growth of the silica layer on the first layer of silica. The best pH condition to enable these steps was around 7, and the silica coating formation rate can be controlled by the concentration of silica.