Abstract
Indium (In) is commonly hosted in Sn-rich deposits but rarely reported in Sn-poor deposits. However, an In-rich and Sn-poor skarn deposit, the Qibaoshan Cu-Zn-Pb deposit, has been identified in south China. Geochemical analyses were undertaken on 23 samples representing the following mineral assemblages: sphalerite-pyrite, pyrite-chalcopyrite, pyrite-sphalerite-galena-chalcopyrite, pyrite, magnetite-pyrite, and magnetite. The results show that In is richest in the sphalerite-pyrite ores, with concentrations of 28.9–203.0 ppm (average 122.8 ppm) and 1000 In/Zn values of 2.7–10.9 (average 7.0). Other ore types in the Qibaoshan deposit are In poor, whereas all are Sn poor (10 to 150 ppm), with most samples having Sn concentrations of ≤70 ppm. Indium is mainly hosted by sphalerite, as inferred from the strong correlation between In and Zn, and weak correlation between In and Sn. Mineral paragenetic relationships indicate sphalerite formed from late quartz-sulfide stage of mineralization processes. Indium in the Qibaoshan deposit is richer in vein-type orebodies than in lenticular-type orebodies occurring at contact zones between carbonate and quartz porphyry, or in carbonate xenoliths. Igneous intrusions that were Sn poor and emplaced at shallow depths formed the In-rich orebodies of the Qibaoshan deposit.
Highlights
With indium (In) being widely used in high-technology applications, it is important for geologists to understand the development of In deposits [1,2,3]
Indium is hosted by many deposit types [1], and industrial In resources are generally associated with massive sulfide, granite-related vein, skarn, and disseminated deposits [2,4]
This paper presents new geochemical and mineralogical data that are used to develop a genetic model for In mineralization in the Sn-poor Qibaoshan skarn deposit
Summary
With indium (In) being widely used in high-technology applications, it is important for geologists to understand the development of In deposits [1,2,3]. Pyrite Belt [9,10,11] and the Meng’entaolegai Ag-Pb-Zn deposit in north China [12] Considering these associations with Sn-rich mineralization, could In-rich deposits occur in Sn-poor environments?. Volcano (average 20 ppm In) on Iturup Island, Russia, represents an active magmatic system [16,17] These examples illustrate the existence of In-rich mineralization in Sn-poor deposits, but no detailed study has been conducted on this deposit type. South China contains significant In mineralization and important deposits occur in Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong and south Hunan provinces (Figure 1a). This paper presents new geochemical and mineralogical data that are used to develop a genetic model for In mineralization in the Sn-poor Qibaoshan skarn deposit
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