Geochemical and Isotopic Fractionation in the Hypogene Ore, Gossan, and Saprolite of the Alvo 118 Deposit: Implications for Copper Exploration in the Regolith of the Carajás Mineral Province
In the Carajás Mineral Province, gossan formation and lateritization have produced numerous supergene orebodies at the expense of IOCG deposits and host rocks. The Alvo 118 deposit comprises massive and disseminated hypogene copper sulfides associated with gossan and mineralized saprolites. The hypo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/11/1441 |
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| author | Pabllo Henrique Costa dos Santos Marcondes Lima da Costa Desiree Lisette Roerdink |
| author_facet | Pabllo Henrique Costa dos Santos Marcondes Lima da Costa Desiree Lisette Roerdink |
| author_sort | Pabllo Henrique Costa dos Santos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the Carajás Mineral Province, gossan formation and lateritization have produced numerous supergene orebodies at the expense of IOCG deposits and host rocks. The Alvo 118 deposit comprises massive and disseminated hypogene copper sulfides associated with gossan and mineralized saprolites. The hypogene reserves are 170 Mt, with 1% Cu and 0.3 ppm Au, while the supergenes are 55 Mt, comprised of 30% gossan and 70% saprolite, with 0.92% Cu and 0.03 ppm Au. The gossan includes goethite, malachite, cuprite, and libethenite zones. The saprolite comprises kaolinite, vermiculite, smectite, and relics of chlorite. In the hypogene mineralization, Ag, Te, Pb, Se, Bi, Au, In, Y, Sn, and U are mainly hosted by chalcopyrite and petzite, altaite, galena, uraninite, stannite, and cassiterite. In the gossan, Ag, Te, Pb, Se, and Bi are hosted by Cu minerals, while Au, In, Y, Sn, and U are associated with iron oxyhydroxides, in addition to Zn, As, Be, Ga, Ga, Mo, Ni, and Sc. As supporting information, δ<sup>65</sup>Cu values indicate that the gossan is immature and, at least partly, not affected by leaching. In the saprolite, Ga, Sc, Sn, V, Mn, Co, and Cr are associated with the iron oxyhydroxides, partially derived from the host rock weathering. The δ<sup>56</sup>Fe values indicate that hypogene low contribution of the hypogene mineralization to the saprolite iron content. The association of Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, Hf, Zr, Th, TiO<sub>2</sub>, Ce, La, Ba, and Sr represents the geochemical signature of the host rocks, with dominant contributions from chlorites, while In, Y, Te, Pb, Bi, and Se are the main pathfinders of Cu mineralization. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:35:21Z |
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| id | doaj.art-877b72ab9d4649e1b792b2e7bf9ac5a6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:35:21Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-877b72ab9d4649e1b792b2e7bf9ac5a62023-11-24T14:57:41ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2023-11-011311144110.3390/min13111441Geochemical and Isotopic Fractionation in the Hypogene Ore, Gossan, and Saprolite of the Alvo 118 Deposit: Implications for Copper Exploration in the Regolith of the Carajás Mineral ProvincePabllo Henrique Costa dos Santos0Marcondes Lima da Costa1Desiree Lisette Roerdink2Geosciences Institute, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, BrazilGeosciences Institute, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, BrazilDepartment of Earth Science, University of Bergen, 5007 Bergen, NorwayIn the Carajás Mineral Province, gossan formation and lateritization have produced numerous supergene orebodies at the expense of IOCG deposits and host rocks. The Alvo 118 deposit comprises massive and disseminated hypogene copper sulfides associated with gossan and mineralized saprolites. The hypogene reserves are 170 Mt, with 1% Cu and 0.3 ppm Au, while the supergenes are 55 Mt, comprised of 30% gossan and 70% saprolite, with 0.92% Cu and 0.03 ppm Au. The gossan includes goethite, malachite, cuprite, and libethenite zones. The saprolite comprises kaolinite, vermiculite, smectite, and relics of chlorite. In the hypogene mineralization, Ag, Te, Pb, Se, Bi, Au, In, Y, Sn, and U are mainly hosted by chalcopyrite and petzite, altaite, galena, uraninite, stannite, and cassiterite. In the gossan, Ag, Te, Pb, Se, and Bi are hosted by Cu minerals, while Au, In, Y, Sn, and U are associated with iron oxyhydroxides, in addition to Zn, As, Be, Ga, Ga, Mo, Ni, and Sc. As supporting information, δ<sup>65</sup>Cu values indicate that the gossan is immature and, at least partly, not affected by leaching. In the saprolite, Ga, Sc, Sn, V, Mn, Co, and Cr are associated with the iron oxyhydroxides, partially derived from the host rock weathering. The δ<sup>56</sup>Fe values indicate that hypogene low contribution of the hypogene mineralization to the saprolite iron content. The association of Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, Hf, Zr, Th, TiO<sub>2</sub>, Ce, La, Ba, and Sr represents the geochemical signature of the host rocks, with dominant contributions from chlorites, while In, Y, Te, Pb, Bi, and Se are the main pathfinders of Cu mineralization.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/11/1441chalcopyritepetzitechloritestable isotopes |
| spellingShingle | Pabllo Henrique Costa dos Santos Marcondes Lima da Costa Desiree Lisette Roerdink Geochemical and Isotopic Fractionation in the Hypogene Ore, Gossan, and Saprolite of the Alvo 118 Deposit: Implications for Copper Exploration in the Regolith of the Carajás Mineral Province Minerals chalcopyrite petzite chlorite stable isotopes |
| title | Geochemical and Isotopic Fractionation in the Hypogene Ore, Gossan, and Saprolite of the Alvo 118 Deposit: Implications for Copper Exploration in the Regolith of the Carajás Mineral Province |
| title_full | Geochemical and Isotopic Fractionation in the Hypogene Ore, Gossan, and Saprolite of the Alvo 118 Deposit: Implications for Copper Exploration in the Regolith of the Carajás Mineral Province |
| title_fullStr | Geochemical and Isotopic Fractionation in the Hypogene Ore, Gossan, and Saprolite of the Alvo 118 Deposit: Implications for Copper Exploration in the Regolith of the Carajás Mineral Province |
| title_full_unstemmed | Geochemical and Isotopic Fractionation in the Hypogene Ore, Gossan, and Saprolite of the Alvo 118 Deposit: Implications for Copper Exploration in the Regolith of the Carajás Mineral Province |
| title_short | Geochemical and Isotopic Fractionation in the Hypogene Ore, Gossan, and Saprolite of the Alvo 118 Deposit: Implications for Copper Exploration in the Regolith of the Carajás Mineral Province |
| title_sort | geochemical and isotopic fractionation in the hypogene ore gossan and saprolite of the alvo 118 deposit implications for copper exploration in the regolith of the carajas mineral province |
| topic | chalcopyrite petzite chlorite stable isotopes |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/11/1441 |
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