The Partitioning of Tungsten bwtween Aqueous Fluids and Silicate Melts

The partitioning of tungsten between aqueous fluids and silicate melts

An experimental study has been carried out to determine the partition coefficients of tungsten between aqueous fluids and granitic melts at 800 °C and 1.5 kb with natural granite as the starting material. The effects of the solutions on the partition coefficients of tungsten show a sequence of P > CO ₃ ²⁻ > B > H₂O. The effects are limited (generallyK _D < 0.3) and the tungsten shows a preferential trend toward the melt over the aqueous fluid. The value ofK _D increases with increasing concentration of phosphorus; theK _D increases first and then reduces with the concentration of CO ₃ ²⁻ when temperature decreases, theK _D between the solution of CO ₃ ²⁻ and the silicate melt increases, and that between the solution of B₄O ₇ ²⁻ and the silicate melt decreases. The partition coefficients of phosphorus and sodium between fluids and silicate melts have been calculated from the concentrations of the elements in the melts. TheK _D value for phosphorus is 0.38 and that for sodium is 0.56. Evidence shows that the elements tend to become richer and richer in the melts.