Au-Ag-Se-Te-S Mineralization in the Maletoyvayam High-Sulfidation Epithermal Deposit, Kamchatka Peninsula
The Maletoyvayam high-sulfidation (HS) epithermal Au-Ag deposit is one of the numerous hydrothermal deposits of the Kamchatka volcanogenic belt, consisting of two main associations: Au-rich (Ag-free) and Ag-bearing. The first one derived from acidic solutions, whereas the second assemblage crystalli...
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/3/420 |
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| author | Nadezhda Tolstykh Maria Shapovalova Maksim Podlipsky |
| author_facet | Nadezhda Tolstykh Maria Shapovalova Maksim Podlipsky |
| author_sort | Nadezhda Tolstykh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Maletoyvayam high-sulfidation (HS) epithermal Au-Ag deposit is one of the numerous hydrothermal deposits of the Kamchatka volcanogenic belt, consisting of two main associations: Au-rich (Ag-free) and Ag-bearing. The first one derived from acidic solutions, whereas the second assemblage crystallized from moderately dilute solutions, with both occurring at high oxygen fugacity. The Au-rich association contains the most atypical gold chalcogenides of the Au-Se-Te-S system, which are characterized by Se-S and Te-Se substitutions, e.g., a complete series from maletoyvayamite to tolstykhite Au<sub>3</sub>(Se,S)<sub>4</sub>Te<sub>6</sub>; a series of auroselenide Au(Se<sub>1.00–0.64</sub>S<sub>0.36–0.00</sub>); a combined series of gachingite Au(Te,Se) and unnamed Au(Se,Te): Au(Te<sub>0.80–0.40</sub>Se<sub>0.20–0.60</sub>). Meanwhile, in the second Ag-bearing assemblage, sulfides of the Au-Ag type prevails, e.g., petrovskaite AuAgS, miargyrite (Ag,Au)(Sb,As)S<sub>2</sub>, uytenbogaardtite Ag<sub>3</sub>AuS<sub>2</sub>, fischesserite Ag<sub>3</sub>AuSe<sub>2</sub> with Au-Ag substitution, and tolstykhite. The Se/S ratio, of the second association, decreases while increasing the Ag concentration in the ore-forming system, including Au-Ag substitutions. The Au content in miargyrite (Au,Ag)SbS<sub>3</sub> reaches up to 0.48 apfu, suggesting the existence of a new mineral phase of composition AgAuSb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>6</sub>. Au oxide complexes, in both associations, are represented by either a mixture of redeposited gold and Fe-Sb oxide or a homogeneous (Au,Sb,Fe)<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> composition. These oxides are formed by replacement of calaverite. The ore mineralization of this HS deposit is considered unique due to the special conditions of the ore-forming environment, such as acidic solutions, high oxygen fugacity, and log <i>f</i>Se<sub>2</sub> above −5.7; all contributed to the formation of AuSe phases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:08:37Z |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:08:37Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-b473578c7f184626a8a2843e6abf83d32023-11-17T12:48:20ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2023-03-0113342010.3390/min13030420Au-Ag-Se-Te-S Mineralization in the Maletoyvayam High-Sulfidation Epithermal Deposit, Kamchatka PeninsulaNadezhda Tolstykh0Maria Shapovalova1Maksim Podlipsky2Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090, RussiaSobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090, RussiaSobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090, RussiaThe Maletoyvayam high-sulfidation (HS) epithermal Au-Ag deposit is one of the numerous hydrothermal deposits of the Kamchatka volcanogenic belt, consisting of two main associations: Au-rich (Ag-free) and Ag-bearing. The first one derived from acidic solutions, whereas the second assemblage crystallized from moderately dilute solutions, with both occurring at high oxygen fugacity. The Au-rich association contains the most atypical gold chalcogenides of the Au-Se-Te-S system, which are characterized by Se-S and Te-Se substitutions, e.g., a complete series from maletoyvayamite to tolstykhite Au<sub>3</sub>(Se,S)<sub>4</sub>Te<sub>6</sub>; a series of auroselenide Au(Se<sub>1.00–0.64</sub>S<sub>0.36–0.00</sub>); a combined series of gachingite Au(Te,Se) and unnamed Au(Se,Te): Au(Te<sub>0.80–0.40</sub>Se<sub>0.20–0.60</sub>). Meanwhile, in the second Ag-bearing assemblage, sulfides of the Au-Ag type prevails, e.g., petrovskaite AuAgS, miargyrite (Ag,Au)(Sb,As)S<sub>2</sub>, uytenbogaardtite Ag<sub>3</sub>AuS<sub>2</sub>, fischesserite Ag<sub>3</sub>AuSe<sub>2</sub> with Au-Ag substitution, and tolstykhite. The Se/S ratio, of the second association, decreases while increasing the Ag concentration in the ore-forming system, including Au-Ag substitutions. The Au content in miargyrite (Au,Ag)SbS<sub>3</sub> reaches up to 0.48 apfu, suggesting the existence of a new mineral phase of composition AgAuSb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>6</sub>. Au oxide complexes, in both associations, are represented by either a mixture of redeposited gold and Fe-Sb oxide or a homogeneous (Au,Sb,Fe)<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> composition. These oxides are formed by replacement of calaverite. The ore mineralization of this HS deposit is considered unique due to the special conditions of the ore-forming environment, such as acidic solutions, high oxygen fugacity, and log <i>f</i>Se<sub>2</sub> above −5.7; all contributed to the formation of AuSe phases.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/3/420epithermal deposithigh-sulfidationseleniumselenideAu-Se-Te systemKamchatka peninsula |
| spellingShingle | Nadezhda Tolstykh Maria Shapovalova Maksim Podlipsky Au-Ag-Se-Te-S Mineralization in the Maletoyvayam High-Sulfidation Epithermal Deposit, Kamchatka Peninsula Minerals epithermal deposit high-sulfidation selenium selenide Au-Se-Te system Kamchatka peninsula |
| title | Au-Ag-Se-Te-S Mineralization in the Maletoyvayam High-Sulfidation Epithermal Deposit, Kamchatka Peninsula |
| title_full | Au-Ag-Se-Te-S Mineralization in the Maletoyvayam High-Sulfidation Epithermal Deposit, Kamchatka Peninsula |
| title_fullStr | Au-Ag-Se-Te-S Mineralization in the Maletoyvayam High-Sulfidation Epithermal Deposit, Kamchatka Peninsula |
| title_full_unstemmed | Au-Ag-Se-Te-S Mineralization in the Maletoyvayam High-Sulfidation Epithermal Deposit, Kamchatka Peninsula |
| title_short | Au-Ag-Se-Te-S Mineralization in the Maletoyvayam High-Sulfidation Epithermal Deposit, Kamchatka Peninsula |
| title_sort | au ag se te s mineralization in the maletoyvayam high sulfidation epithermal deposit kamchatka peninsula |
| topic | epithermal deposit high-sulfidation selenium selenide Au-Se-Te system Kamchatka peninsula |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/3/420 |
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