Scheelite geochemical signatures by LA-ICP-MS and potential for rare earth elements from Hutti Gold Mines and fingerprinting ore deposits

Abstract

Scheelite (CaWO4), with gold and REE enrichments, is found in appreciable concentrations in the world class Hutti Gold deposit, Eastern Dharwar Craton (EDC), India. We used in situ Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) to determine the rare earth elements in scheelite and utilize results to fingerprint the extensions/continuity of auriferous ore shoots/lodes/reefs. The Hutti Gold deposit is briefly compared to southern African gold deposits and corroborates in terms of geochemistry, structural, chemical alterations and REE contents in scheelite etc… The scheelite samples from Hutti are enriched in light rare earth elements (LREE) up to 11 ppm and depleted in heavy rare earth elements(HREE) up to 6.50 ppm with positive to negative europium anomaly. The total REE (∑ REE + Y) of the scheelite samples is up to 35 ppm. The ratio of LREE/HREE values is 1.80.The results for the REEs indicate: (1) considerable differences in the ΣREEs amongst the sample suite (2) most samples are dominated by a single chondrite-normalized (CN) pattern, but rarely a second pattern is present; 3) although the type of CN REE patterns vary (e.g., convex MREE, LREE enrichment), there is a similarity among deposit types; and 4) both positive and negative ‘Eu’ anomalies are observed; 5) positive correlations between MREE and HREE suggesting a strong influence of magmatic fluids. These initial results suggest that the minor and trace-element chemistry of scheelite may offer the potential to discriminate and identify deposit types based on its geochemical fingerprinting.