Altaite from the Kovurmadara ore occurrence

The Lower Eocene Kovurmadara deposits in the Transcaucasian copper-molybdenum province are selenium- and tellurium-rich and contain altaite (PbTe) associated with the galenasphalerite stage of hydrothermal mineralization. Se substitutes isomorphically for S more readily than does Te, and sphalerite permits greater substitution of Se for S than does galena. Te is more abundant than Se and thus is found in altaite and other Te minerals, as well as in substitution for S. – P. W. Wood.     

Te and Se mineralogy of the high-sulfidation Kochbulak and Kairagach epithermal gold telluride deposits (Kurama Ridge, Middle Tien Shan, Uzbekistan)

Summary The Late Paleozoic Kochbulak and Kairagach deposits are located on the northern slope of the Kurama Ridge, Middle Tien Shan, in the same volcanic structure and the same ore-forming system. Au–Ag–Cu–Bi–Te–Se mineralization is confined to veins and dissemination zones accompanied by quartz-sericite wall-rock alteration. The tellurides, calaverite, altaite, hessite, and tetradymite are widespread at both deposits; at Kairagach selenides and sulfoselenides of Bi and Pb are common, while at Kochbulak Bi and Pb telluroselenides and sulfotelluroselenides are typical. The paragenetic sequence of telluride assemblages are similar for both deposits and change from calaverite + altaite + native Au to sylvanite + Bi tellurides + native Te, Bi tellurides + native Au, and, finally, to Au + Ag tellurides with time. These mineralogical changes are accompanied by an increase in the Ag content of native gold that correlates with a decrease in temperature, fTe₂ and fO₂ and an increase in pH.     

黑龙江三道湾子碲金矿床物质组成及成因意义

三道湾子碲金矿床位于黑龙江省北部大兴安岭中段成矿带的东部,为一典型的碲化物型金矿床.笔者采用显微镜观察和电子探针分析技术,确认该矿床的矿石中存在碲金银矿、针碲金银矿、碲金矿、碲银矿和碲铅矿等碲化物.矿石中也存在大量自然金颗粒,产在石英、碲金银矿的裂隙中,或与碲化物共生产出.电子探针分析结果显示,该矿床内自然金的w(Au...     

新疆阿勒泰多拉金矿矿石组份特征及金的赋存状态

对阿勒泰多拉金矿床的矿石类型、构造和结构、矿石成分、主要矿物—自然金的物化特征,赋存状态及含金主要矿物黄铁矿的特征和矿石中的碲化物等进行了较为深入的研究.     

Tellurides associated with volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) mineralization at Yuinmery and Austin,Western Australia

Tellurides have been identified in VMS mineralization at Yuinmery and Austin in the Archean Youanmi Terrane, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Tellurides identified at Yuinmery include: petzite, stützite, hessite, tellurobismuthite, altaite, rucklidgeite, melonite, mattagamite and a nickel-cobalt telluride with chemical composition similar to cobaltian melonite which has previously only been reported once before. Tellurides and related minerals identified at Austin include: stützite, volynskite, tellurobismuthite, tetradymite, tsumoite, rucklidgeite, altaite and a mineral with the formula (Bi,Pb)₃(Te,Se,S)₄ corresponding to the rare mineral poubaite. The tellurides are interpreted to have been deposited with the base metals on and immediately below the sea floor by very hot fluids during a period of quiescence in the volcanism. The mineral assemblage suggests that the fluids in both areas had high ƒTe₂ and were oxidising but close to the pyrrhotite-pyrite boundary. The presence of Ni and Co tellurides at Yuinmery but not at Austin is probably due to the derivation of the fluids at Yuinmery from mafic volcanism whereas at Austin the succession is dominantly felsic. The metamorphic grade at Austin is higher than that at Yuinmery and this may have resulted in some re-crystallization of tellurides and tellurosulfides.     

北京市得田沟金矿床碲矿物系列的研究

北京市得田沟金矿床是受韧性剪切带控制的金－黄铁矿－多金属硫化物石英脉型金矿床。笔者通过研究发现该矿床中的碲已达工业品位。     

Mineralogy of telluride-bearing epithermal ores in the Kassiteres-Sappes area, western Thrace, Greece

Summary The Kassiteres-Sappes district represents a multi-centered, porphyry-epithermal system developed during the Oligocene to Miocene at a composite calc-alkaline to high-K calc-alkaline volcanic edifice. Precious and base metal mineralization postdates the emplacement of dacite and rhyolite porphyries and is partly superimposed on earlier microdiorite-related porphyry-style mineralization exposed at the Koryfes Hill prospect. A second mineralized porphyry-type system genetically related to a dacite porphyry body developed near the St Demetrios deposit. Tellurides occur mainly at the St Barbara prospect and the St Demetrios deposit. Based on petrographic, electron microprobe, and scanning electron microscope analyses, hessite, petzite, sylvanite, altaite, stützite and native tellurium occur in the St Barbara prospect. These tellurium-bearing minerals are hosted in intermediate-sulfidation type veins and accompanied by pyrite, chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite-group minerals, galena and native gold/electrum. The St Demetrios mineralization includes hessite, altaite, stützite, and tetradymite in close spatial relation to a high-sulfidation assemblage composed of enargite, chalcopyrite, goldfieldite, and native gold. Tellurides were deposited at logfTe₂ values of −8.5 to −7.1 and logfS₂ values of −10.7 to −7.9 (275 °C). The ore systems are characterized by Au, Ag, Te, Bi, and Mo, which suggests a magmatic contribution to the mineralizing fluids. Ore-forming components were likely derived from both the dacite and rhyolite porphyries.     

山东省平邑归来庄碲型金矿床碲元素地球化学特征及成矿机制探讨

归来庄贫硫氧化型低温热液碲金矿床中金及碲化物矿物主要有自然金、碲金矿、碲金铜矿、碲银矿、碲金银矿、碲铅矿、碲镍矿、碲汞矿及自然碲等。金元素主要来源于泰山群山草峪组的片麻岩及寒武一奥陶系海相碳酸盐岩;碲元素主要是由铜石杂岩体的二长质、正长质等中偏碱性岩浆从地球深部的上地幔、下地壳带入矿区并进入由岩浆水及大气降水等组成的成矿热液中,与金元素形成碲金络合物进行搬迁、富集,因成矿体系的ｐＨ、Ｅｈ等物理化学     

Diverse metal sources of Archaean gold deposits: evidence from in situ lead-isotope analysis of individual grains of galena and altaite in the Ross and Kirkland Lake deposits,Abitibi Greenstone belt,Canada

Lead isotope compositions for individual grains of galena and altaite (PbTe) were determined in situ using a secondary ion mass spectrometer (SIMS). Galena was collected from the Ross deposit and altaite from the Kirkland Lake (KL) deposits in the southern Abitibi greenstone belt, Superior Province of Canada. The samples from KL are more radiogenic than those from the Ross deposit. Isotopic compositions vary significantly between different grains in each deposit and form broad linear arrays in ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb-²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb-²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb diagrams. The linear arrays of Pb-isotope data are attributed to mixing of Pb from different sources. At least two sources are required for individual deposits: one with low U/Pb and Th/Pb ratios and the other with high ratios. Lead minerals occurring with Au are less radiogenic than those that are not obviously associated with Au, suggesting that Au was supplied from low U/Pb sources such as sulphides or older ultramafic-mafic rocks. While most data are consistent with the derivation from local rocks, highly radiogenic Pb with relatively low ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ratios recorded at KL require post-Archaean mineralization or derivation of the Pb from an unusual crustal source with low . The latter interpretation is favored because of the lack of textural evidence and because it is difficult to dissolve and precipitate altaite at low temperatures. The presence of a Pb reservoir with low is also inferred from the data of Archaean banded iron formations and volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits. Different isotopic patterns of the two deposits suggest different sources of metals in the two deposits. While this conclusion does not reject the derivation of fluids from the lower crust or mantle, the data are not in accord with conceptual models invoking a common source reservoir for metals. The study suggests that fluids, which may have a common origin, leached metals and other constituents from the upper crustal rocks during their ascent. The proposed model, different origins for different constituents, explains much of the conflicting evidence presented by Archaean Au deposits, including provinciality of mineralogy and relatively uniform fluid inclusion and C-isotope data from many Au deposits.     

Melonite group minerals and other tellurides from three Cu–Ni–PGE prospects, Eastern Desert, Egypt

Melonite group minerals and other tellurides are described from three Cu–Ni–PGE prospects in the Eastern Desert of Egypt: Gabbro Akarem, Genina Gharbia and Abu Swayel. The prospects are hosted in late Precambrian mafic–ultramafic rocks and have different geologic histories. The Gabbro Akarem prospect is hosted in dunite pipes where net-textured and massive sulfides are associated with spinel and Cr-magnetite. Michenerite, merenskyite, Pd–Bi melonite and hessite occur mainly as inclusions in sulfides. Typical magmatic textures indicate a limited role of late- and post-magmatic hydrothermal processes. At Genina Gharbia, ore forms either disseminations in peridotite or massive patches in hornblende-gabbro in the vicinity of metasedimentary rocks. Actinolitic hornblende, epidote, chlorite and quartz are common secondary silicates. Sulfide textures and host rock petrography suggest a prolonged late-magmatic hydrothermal event. Michenerite, merenskyite, Pd–Bi melonite, altaite, hessite, tsumoite, sylvanite and native Te are mainly present in secondary silicates. The Abu Swayel prospect occurs in conformable, lens-like mafic–ultramafic rocks in metasedimentary rocks and along syn-metamorphic shear zone. The sulfide ore and host rocks are metamorphosed (amphibolite facies; 550 to 650 °C, 4 to 5 kbar) and syn-metamorphically sheared. Melonite group minerals are represented by merenskyite and Pd–Bi melonite. Other tellurides comprise hessite, altaite and joséite-B. Melonite group minerals and tellurides occur as inclusions in mobilized sulfides and along cracks in metamorphic garnet and plagioclase.The different geological history of the three prospects permits an examination of the role played by magmatic, late-magmatic and metamorphic processes on the mineralogy of melonite group minerals and diversity of tellurides. The contents of PGE and Te in the ore and temperature of crystallization control the mineralogy and compositional trends of the melonite group minerals. Crystallization of the melonite group minerals over a wide range of temperatures in a Te-rich environment enhances the elemental substitutions. Merenskyite dominates the mineralogy of the group at low Te activity, while Pd–Bi melonite is the common phase at high Te activity.     

New data on mineralogy and metallogeny of scarns in the Pitkyaranta ore region

A wide application of modern precision research techniques to the studies of Pitkyaranta ores allowed us to find increased contents of indium (to 0.33%), silver (447 g/t), gold (0.2–0.4 g/t), and palladium (0.2 g/t). A series of rare minerals previously not found here was also discovered. Among ore minerals, these are roquesite, zavartskite, electrum, stutzite, altaite, bismite, glaucodot, cervelleite, hedleyite, pavonite, cannonite, plantnerite, lindkvistite, ashoverite, etc. The discovery of roquesite and electrum is the most important in terms of metallogeny. Roquesite (indium sulfide) is found in Karelia for the first time. The highest indium contents in direct correlation to those of zinc are characteristic for polymetallic ores of the Pitkyaranta ore fields with sphalerite as the concentrating mineral (to 0.5% of In). The predicted zinc resources are evaluated to ∼2.5 million t for the Pitkyaranta group of ore deposits, and to 400 000 t for the Hopunvaara region. Respectively, the resources of indium amount to ∼2400 t (total) and 600 t for the Hopunvaara region.     

Composition and conditions of formation of gold-telluride mineralization in the Tissa-Sarkhoi gold-bearing province (East Sayan)

The structure and petrologic composition of new gold-ore provinces in southeastern East Sayan (Tissa-Sarkhoi cluster) are considered. Several morphogenetic types of gold mineralization have been established: quartz veins with beresitization zones, veinlet-disseminated ores in granitoids, and listwaenitization and sulfidation zones in effusions of the Sarkhoi Group and intrusive rocks of the Late Riphean Khorin-Gol complex. According to geochronological dates and some mineralogical and geochemical features, the gold mineralization is close in age to these Precambrian island-arc complexes. Parageneses of two stages of ore formation have been recognized: early high-temperature (250–460 °C) gold-pyrite and late low-temperature (110–280 °C) gold-telluride. The latter mineralization is widespread and is represented by tellurides of Au, Ag, Pb, Bi, and Ni — petzite, calaverite, hessite, tellurobismuthite, altaite, and melonite. Native gold associated with these tellurides is characterized by a fineness of 750–900‰. The intimate temporal and spatial relationships of the gold mineralization with island-arc volcanoplutonic complexes and the wide occurrence of its veinlet-disseminated type suggest that this is porphyry gold mineralization related to the Late Riphean-Vendian island-arc magmatism.     

Ore petrography and chemistry of the tellurides from the Dongping gold deposit,Hebei Province,China

The Dongping gold deposit is a mesothermal lode gold deposit hosted in syenite. The ore petrography and chemistry of the tellurides from the alteration zone of the deposit have been studied in detail using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, electron probe micro-beam and X-ray diffraction facilities. The tellurides, consisting mostly of calaverite, altaite, petzite tellurobismuthite and tetradymite, are hosted irregularly in pyrite fractures and voids. In the ore bodies, the species and quantity of tellurides decrease from the top downwards, accompanied with lowering of gold fineness, and the existence of tellurides exhibits a positive correlation with gold enrichment. Mineral paragenesis and chemical variations suggest that during evolution of the ore-forming fluids Te preferably incorporated with Pb to form altaite, followed in sequence by precipitation of petzite, and calaverite when Ag has been exhausted, and the residue fluids were enriched in Au, giving rise to formation of native gold. Calculation with reference of the fineness of native gold coexisting with the tellurides indicates that at 300 °C, log f (Te₂) varied between − 8.650 and − 7.625. Taking account of the Au–Ag–Te mineral paragenesis, it is inferred that log ƒ (Te₂) varies from − 9.12 to − 6.43, log ƒ (S₂) − 11.47 to − 8.86. In consideration of the physicochemical conditions for formation of tellurides, with comparison to some known telluride deposits, it is suggested that high log ƒ (Te₂) is a key factor for high fineness of native gold as well as precipitation of abundant tellurides.     

Minerals of the Au-Ag-Pb-Te-Se-S system of porphyry-copper-molybdenum deposits from the Nakhodka ore field, Chukchi Peninsula, Russia

The Nakhodka ore field located 220 km south of the Bilibino town, Chukchi Peninsula, Russia comprises Cu-Mo-porphyry (Malysh and Vesennii) and Mo-Cu-porphyry (Nakhodka, III Vesennii) deposits. The late epithermal mineralization with native gold of low fineness (498?C766) of the first group deposits refers to the IS (intermediate sulfidation) type, which is characterized by the occurrence of petzite; stutzite; acanthite; pearceite; and minerals of the Pb-Bi-Ag-Se-Te, Ag-Te-Se, and Ag-Bi-Se systems, as well as by native tellurium. The epithermal mineralization forms at fTe₂(?19...?18) and fS₂(?14...?13) and temperatures <200°C. The second group deposits do not exhibit epithermal mineralization; telluride mineralization is present as only native tellurium and altaite.     

山东乳山金矿中金-银碲化物的矿物学特征与沉淀机理

通过显微鉴定和应用电子探针微束分析,查明乳山金矿中碲化物主要为碲银矿和碲金银矿,少量碲铅矿和碲铋矿,它们呈密切共生的集合体或联生体产出在黄铁矿等硫化物及石英等脉石矿物粒问或裂缝中。碲银矿和碲金银矿中Au含量变化较大,w（Au）为痕量至26．1％,与银呈负相关,与铋为正相关,可能是以类质同象形式替代Ag进入到碲银矿中;碲铅矿中未检测到金。金在金-银碲化物中的含量随温度降低而升高,相关矿物的形成顺序为碲银矿-碲金银矿-（碲金矿）。将金银碲化物成分投到Au-Ag-Te三元成分,共生图解上发现,它们都不是标准成分的端元矿物,推测这些碲化物（尤其是金银碲化物）是在非平衡状态下快速沉淀形成的,可能与含矿浠体的闻歇忡沸腾作用有关。     

‘Invisible gold’ in bismuth chalcogenides

Gold concentrations have been determined by LA-ICPMS in bismuth chalcogenides (tellurides and sulfosalts, minerals with modular structures; chalcogen X = Te, Se, and S) from 27 occurrences. Deposit types include epithermal, skarn, intrusion-related and orogenic gold. The samples comprised minerals of the tetradymite group, aleksite series, bismuth sulfosalts (cosalite, lillianite, hodrushite, bismuthinite, and aikinite), and accompanying altaite. Gold concentrations in phases of the tetradymite group range from <0.1 to 2527 ppm. Phases in which Bi > X tend to contain lower gold concentrations than Bi₂X₃ minerals (tellurobismuthite and tetradymite). Cosalite and lillianite contain Au concentrations ranging up to 574 and 3115 ppm, respectively. Bismuthinite derivatives have lower Au concentrations: <2 ppm in bismuthinite and up to 542 ppm in aikinite. In our samples, Au concentrations in altaite range from <0.2 to 1662 ppm.Smoother parts of the LA-ICPMS profiles suggest lattice-bound gold, whereas irregularities on the profiles are best explained by the presence of gold particles (?1 μm in diameter). Plotting Au vs. Ag for the entire dataset gives a wedge-shaped distribution, suggesting that Ag underpins Au uptake in both bismuth tellurides and sulfosalts. In the tellurides, correlation trends suggest statistical substitution of Ag(Au), together with Pb, into the octahedral site in the layers. In sulfosalts, Au follows coupled substitutions in which M¹⁺ (Ag, Cu) enters the structure. In tellurides, the presence of van der Waals gaps at chalcogen-chalcogen contacts provides for p-type semi-conductive properties critical for gold scavenging from fluids. Such weak bonds may also act as sites for nucleation of Au (nano)particles. In sulfosalts, contacts between different species that replace one another are also highly predictable to act as traps for (nano)particulate gold.Invisible gold in Bi-chalcogenides is useful to (i) identify trends of orefield zonation, (ii) discriminate between ‘melt’ and ‘fluid-driven’ scavenging, and (iii) interpret replacement and remobilisation processes. Bismuth chalcogenides have the potential to be significant Au carriers in sulfide-poor Au systems, e.g., intrusion-related gold, with impact on the overall Au budget if mean Au concentrations are high enough and the minerals are sufficiently abundant.     

Lebediny gold deposit,Central Aldan: Mineral parageneses,stages, and formation conditions

The mineral parageneses and succession of their formation are considered for the first time for the Zverevsky, Orekhovy, and Vodonosny ore lodes of the Lebediny gold deposit and the Radostny prospect in the Central Aldan ore district, which are genetically related to the epoch of Mesozoic tectonomagmatic reactivation. The orebodies, represented by two morphological varieties—ribbonlike lodes and steeply dipping veins—are hosted in lower part of the Vendian–Cambrian dolomitic sequence, which is cut through by Mesozoic subalkaline intrusive bodies. The chemistry of fahlore and rare minerals, including native gold and bismuth, altaite, aikinite, tetradymite, and sulfosalts of lillianite series, has been studied. Native gold is related to the late hydrothermal process and occurs in skarn and in quartz–tremolite–sulfide and quartz–carbonate–sulfide veins. The data on stable sulfur (δ³⁴S) isotopes of sulfides, oxygen (δ₁₈O) and carbon (δ₁₃C) isotopes of carbonates, as well as on fluid inclusions in various generations of tremolite and quartz, provide evidence for the heterogeneity of ore-bearing solutions, their relationships to magmatism, the depth of the source feeding each specific lode, and different sources of ore-forming hydrothermal solutions.     

Te-Rich argyrodite occurrence in Roşia Montană ore deposit,Apuseni Mountains,Romania

A new argyrodite occurrence has been discovered in the Ro?ia Montan? ore deposit located in the South Apuseni Mountains, Romania. Argyrodite is associated with common base metal sulfides and sulfosalts (galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite ± alabandite, pyrite, and marcasite), tellurides (hessite, altaite, sylvanite) and rare electrum grains in the Ag-rich Cârnicel vein hosted by an extracraterial phreatomagmatic breccia within the Cârnic massif. SEM and EPMA analyses revealed that this argyrodite is Te-rich and a mean Ag_8.04Ge_0.9Te_2.07S_3.77 formula was calculated. This phase could be the germaniferous equivalent of the previously-described Te-rich canfieldite. To cite this article: L. Bailly et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

Geochemistry and mineralogy of Platinum-group elements in the Ransko gabbro–peridotite massif,Bohemian Massif (Czech Republic)

The Ransko gabbro-peridotite massif in Eastern Bohemia is a strongly differentiated intrusive complex of Lower Cambrian age. The complex hosts low grade Ni-Cu ores mainly developed close to the contact of olivine-rich rocks with gabbros, in troctolites and, to a much lesser extent, in both pyroxene and olivine gabbros and plagioclase-rich peridotites. The ore zone is characterized by strong serpentinization and uralitization. The total Ni + Cu locally reaches up to 4 wt%. Anomalous concentrations of platinum-group elements (PGE's) (maximum 532 ppb Pd, 182 ppb Pt, 53 ppb Rh, 15 ppb Ru, 41 ppb Ir) were detected in samples of Cu-Ni and Ni-Cu ores (maximum 2.63 wt% Ni and 2.31 wt% Cu) from the Jezírka orebody. The main ore paragenesis includes pyrrhotite, pentlandite, chalcopyrite, cubanite, pyrite, magnetite, mackinawite, valleriite, ilmenite and sphalerite. During this work, michenerite, froodite, sperrylite, gold, native bismuth, altaite, tsumoite, hessite, an unnamed Bi-Ni telluride, cobaltite-gersdorffite and galena were newly identified. The host rocks originated through partial melting of a slightly depleted mantle source with noble metals scavenged from this primitive magma prior to the development of these rocks.     

高分辨扫描电镜和X射线能谱Mapping技术研究碲矿物的成分和形态特征

X射线能谱元素像分析技术(EDS-Mapping)可直接观察岩石光片中目标元素的分布特征。本文采用高分辨扫描电镜及配置的X射线能谱仪综合分析技术,对山东归来庄金矿中碲元素和其他元素的分布特征和组合规律进行研究,定性确定含碲矿物、形态特征及其与其他矿物间的空间关系。结果表明,研究区金矿中含碲矿物有棱角状碲金银矿、碲化铅等,以浸染状形貌他形镶嵌于主矿物他形石英和片状云母之间,颗粒大小从几微米到几百微米极不均匀。对典型含碲矿物的微区成分进一步精确测定,得到碲金银矿和碲化铅的化学式为Ag_(0.85)Au_(2.55)Te_6和Pb_(0.52)Te_(0.48),其中碲金银矿成分明显异常。本文研究为稀散分布微细矿物的成分、形态分布及与围岩关系建立了一套先进实用的表征方法,可为含碲金矿的综合利用提供技术支持。