Sphalerite and Pyrite Geochemistry from the Pusangguo Co-Rich Cu–Zn–Pb Skarn Deposit, Tibet: Implications for Element Occurrence and Mineralization
The Pusangguo deposit (1.42 Mt @ 1.42% Cu, 0.14 Mt @ 1.82% Zn, 0.08 Mt @ 1.01% Pb, and 285.8 t Co @ 140 g/t Co) is the first Co-rich Cu-Zn-Pb skarn deposit discovered in the Gangdese metallogenic belt. However, the trace and minor element geochemistry of the sulfides in this deposit has not been stu...
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/9/1165 |
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| author | Zhuang Li Hao Tan Feng Zhao Zuopeng Xiang Han Wu Peng Zhang |
| author_facet | Zhuang Li Hao Tan Feng Zhao Zuopeng Xiang Han Wu Peng Zhang |
| author_sort | Zhuang Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Pusangguo deposit (1.42 Mt @ 1.42% Cu, 0.14 Mt @ 1.82% Zn, 0.08 Mt @ 1.01% Pb, and 285.8 t Co @ 140 g/t Co) is the first Co-rich Cu-Zn-Pb skarn deposit discovered in the Gangdese metallogenic belt. However, the trace and minor element geochemistry of the sulfides in this deposit has not been studied, limiting further understanding of elements’ occurrence and mineralization. Here, we identified four ore stages, and two types of sphalerites (SpI and SpII) and pyrites (PyI and PyII), in this deposit. In this study, LA-ICP-MS in-situ trace element analyses were conducted on sphalerite and pyrite, to obtain their chemical compositions, elemental substitution mechanisms, and mineralization physicochemical conditions. The results indicate that two types of sphalerites are generally more enriched with Co than pyrite. SpI has higher concentrations of Co, Cr, Cu, Ag, and As compared to SpII. Both types of sphalerite have very low contents of Sn, Ge, and Ga. PyII has higher contents of most trace elements, such as Co, Ni, Mn, Zn, Cu, As, Sn, Se, Pb, Ag, and Bi, compared to PyI. Both types of pyrite are poor in Mn, Ga, Ge, and Cd, but enriched in As, Co, and Ni. The Mn, Fe, Co, and Cd in sphalerite, and Co, Ni, and Mn in pyrite are generally lattice-bound, while Cu, As, Ag, and Sb are usually present in both micro-inclusions and coupled substitution. Significant elemental correlations in sphalerite indicate the possible substitution mechanisms 2Fe<sup>2+</sup> + Ga<sup>2+</sup> ↔ 3Zn<sup>2+</sup>, 2Fe<sup>2+</sup> + Ge<sup>4+</sup> ↔ 4Zn<sup>2+</sup>, and (Sb<sup>3+</sup>, Sn<sup>3+</sup>) + (Cu<sup>+</sup>, Ag<sup>+</sup>) ↔ 2Zn<sup>2+</sup>. The correlation trends between trace elements in pyrite suggest the coupled substitution mechanisms of (Tl<sup>+</sup> + Cu<sup>+</sup> + Ag<sup>+</sup>) + (As<sup>3+</sup> + Sb<sup>3+</sup>) ↔ 2Zn<sup>2+</sup> and As<sup>3+</sup> + Cu<sup>+</sup> ↔ 2Zn<sup>2+</sup>. The mineralization temperature at Pusangguo, as determined by the GGIMFis sphalerite geothermometer, is 237–345 °C (avg. 307 °C), consistent with the high Zn/Cd ratio (avg. 203), low Ga/In (avg. 0.06), and high In/Ge (avg. 15.9) in sphalerite, and high Co/Ni ratio (avg. 24) in pyrite. These results indicate that the ore-forming fluid was high-temperature, with a low sulfur fugacity (<i>f</i>S<sub>2</sub>) (10<sup>−13.4</sup> to 10<sup>−8.3</sup>) and low oxygen fugacity (<i>f</i>O<sub>2</sub>). The high temperature, and low sulfur fugacity and oxygen fugacity of the ore-forming fluid, and the fluid-mixing process, jointly controlled the sulfide precipitation, which caused the formation of the Pusangguo deposit. |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:26:08Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-6de5a69fcbf7404ead0d73c12d77c0d82023-11-19T12:05:14ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2023-09-01139116510.3390/min13091165Sphalerite and Pyrite Geochemistry from the Pusangguo Co-Rich Cu–Zn–Pb Skarn Deposit, Tibet: Implications for Element Occurrence and MineralizationZhuang Li0Hao Tan1Feng Zhao2Zuopeng Xiang3Han Wu4Peng Zhang5School of Geography and Resource Science, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang 641100, ChinaSchool of Geography and Resource Science, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang 641100, ChinaSchool of Geography and Resource Science, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang 641100, ChinaKey Laboratory of Tectonic Controlled Mineralization and Oil Reservoir of Ministry of Natural Resources, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, ChinaSchool of Geography and Resource Science, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang 641100, ChinaKey Laboratory of Tectonic Controlled Mineralization and Oil Reservoir of Ministry of Natural Resources, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, ChinaThe Pusangguo deposit (1.42 Mt @ 1.42% Cu, 0.14 Mt @ 1.82% Zn, 0.08 Mt @ 1.01% Pb, and 285.8 t Co @ 140 g/t Co) is the first Co-rich Cu-Zn-Pb skarn deposit discovered in the Gangdese metallogenic belt. However, the trace and minor element geochemistry of the sulfides in this deposit has not been studied, limiting further understanding of elements’ occurrence and mineralization. Here, we identified four ore stages, and two types of sphalerites (SpI and SpII) and pyrites (PyI and PyII), in this deposit. In this study, LA-ICP-MS in-situ trace element analyses were conducted on sphalerite and pyrite, to obtain their chemical compositions, elemental substitution mechanisms, and mineralization physicochemical conditions. The results indicate that two types of sphalerites are generally more enriched with Co than pyrite. SpI has higher concentrations of Co, Cr, Cu, Ag, and As compared to SpII. Both types of sphalerite have very low contents of Sn, Ge, and Ga. PyII has higher contents of most trace elements, such as Co, Ni, Mn, Zn, Cu, As, Sn, Se, Pb, Ag, and Bi, compared to PyI. Both types of pyrite are poor in Mn, Ga, Ge, and Cd, but enriched in As, Co, and Ni. The Mn, Fe, Co, and Cd in sphalerite, and Co, Ni, and Mn in pyrite are generally lattice-bound, while Cu, As, Ag, and Sb are usually present in both micro-inclusions and coupled substitution. Significant elemental correlations in sphalerite indicate the possible substitution mechanisms 2Fe<sup>2+</sup> + Ga<sup>2+</sup> ↔ 3Zn<sup>2+</sup>, 2Fe<sup>2+</sup> + Ge<sup>4+</sup> ↔ 4Zn<sup>2+</sup>, and (Sb<sup>3+</sup>, Sn<sup>3+</sup>) + (Cu<sup>+</sup>, Ag<sup>+</sup>) ↔ 2Zn<sup>2+</sup>. The correlation trends between trace elements in pyrite suggest the coupled substitution mechanisms of (Tl<sup>+</sup> + Cu<sup>+</sup> + Ag<sup>+</sup>) + (As<sup>3+</sup> + Sb<sup>3+</sup>) ↔ 2Zn<sup>2+</sup> and As<sup>3+</sup> + Cu<sup>+</sup> ↔ 2Zn<sup>2+</sup>. The mineralization temperature at Pusangguo, as determined by the GGIMFis sphalerite geothermometer, is 237–345 °C (avg. 307 °C), consistent with the high Zn/Cd ratio (avg. 203), low Ga/In (avg. 0.06), and high In/Ge (avg. 15.9) in sphalerite, and high Co/Ni ratio (avg. 24) in pyrite. These results indicate that the ore-forming fluid was high-temperature, with a low sulfur fugacity (<i>f</i>S<sub>2</sub>) (10<sup>−13.4</sup> to 10<sup>−8.3</sup>) and low oxygen fugacity (<i>f</i>O<sub>2</sub>). The high temperature, and low sulfur fugacity and oxygen fugacity of the ore-forming fluid, and the fluid-mixing process, jointly controlled the sulfide precipitation, which caused the formation of the Pusangguo deposit.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/9/1165LA-ICP-MSsulfidesgeochemistrytrace element occurrencesubstitutionPusangguo |
| spellingShingle | Zhuang Li Hao Tan Feng Zhao Zuopeng Xiang Han Wu Peng Zhang Sphalerite and Pyrite Geochemistry from the Pusangguo Co-Rich Cu–Zn–Pb Skarn Deposit, Tibet: Implications for Element Occurrence and Mineralization Minerals LA-ICP-MS sulfides geochemistry trace element occurrence substitution Pusangguo |
| title | Sphalerite and Pyrite Geochemistry from the Pusangguo Co-Rich Cu–Zn–Pb Skarn Deposit, Tibet: Implications for Element Occurrence and Mineralization |
| title_full | Sphalerite and Pyrite Geochemistry from the Pusangguo Co-Rich Cu–Zn–Pb Skarn Deposit, Tibet: Implications for Element Occurrence and Mineralization |
| title_fullStr | Sphalerite and Pyrite Geochemistry from the Pusangguo Co-Rich Cu–Zn–Pb Skarn Deposit, Tibet: Implications for Element Occurrence and Mineralization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sphalerite and Pyrite Geochemistry from the Pusangguo Co-Rich Cu–Zn–Pb Skarn Deposit, Tibet: Implications for Element Occurrence and Mineralization |
| title_short | Sphalerite and Pyrite Geochemistry from the Pusangguo Co-Rich Cu–Zn–Pb Skarn Deposit, Tibet: Implications for Element Occurrence and Mineralization |
| title_sort | sphalerite and pyrite geochemistry from the pusangguo co rich cu zn pb skarn deposit tibet implications for element occurrence and mineralization |
| topic | LA-ICP-MS sulfides geochemistry trace element occurrence substitution Pusangguo |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/9/1165 |
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