Abstract
Metallic mineral deposits represent natural geochemical anomalies of economically valuable commodities but, at the same time, their weathering may have negative environmental implications. Cu-sulfide mineral deposits have been recognized as deposits with a particularly large environmental footprint. However, different Cu deposits may result in significantly different environmental impacts, mostly depending on weathering conditions, but also on geological characteristics (mineralogy, geochemistry, host-rock lithology) of the Cu mineralization. This study presents new mineral and geochemical data from the Repparfjord Tectonic Window sediment-hosted Cu deposits and the Caledonian volcanogenic massive sulfides (VMS) deposits. The deposits share similar mineral features, with chalcopyrite and bornite as the main ore minerals, but they differ according to their trace element composition, gangue mineralogy, and host lithology. The studied sediment-hosted Cu deposits are depleted in most toxic metals and metalloids like Zn, As, Cd, and Hg, whereas the Røros Caledonian VMS mineralization brings elevated concentrations of Zn, Cd, In, Bi, As, and Cd. The conducted leaching experiments were set to simulate on-land and submarine weathering conditions. A high redox potential was confirmed as the main driving force in the destabilization of Cu-sulfides. Galvanic reactions may also contribute to the destabilization of minerals with low rest potentials, like sphalerite and pyrrhotite, even under near-neutral or slightly alkaline conditions. In addition, the presence of carbonates under near-neutral to slightly alkaline conditions may increase the reactivity of Cu sulfides and mobilize Cu, most likely as CuCO3 (aq).
Highlights
Copper is one of the most widely used mineral commodities in modern society, with a particular importance to electronics, electrical power generation, and the renewable energy sector, as well as in electric vehicle technologies [1,2,3]
Mineral analyses show that typical ore assemblages from the Nussir and Ulveryggen sediment hosted Cu deposits consist of chalcopyrite, bornite, and chalcocite (Figure 2B,C)
The Cu mineralization found in the Nussir and Ulveryggen sediment-hosted Cu deposits is characterized by predomination of chalcopyrite, bornite and chalcocite
Summary
Copper is one of the most widely used mineral commodities in modern society, with a particular importance to electronics, electrical power generation, and the renewable energy sector, as well as in electric vehicle technologies [1,2,3]. Cu can be found in various types of mineral deposits, but in addition to the Cu-porphyry type (e.g., Chuquicamata, Chile [4]; El Teniente, Chile [5]; Ok Tedi, Papua New Guinea [6]), deposits of volcanogenic massive sulfides (VMS) and Cu-sediment hosted types represent the most important sources of Cu. Worldwide, 20 million tons (Mt) of copper was the total mine production in 2020 [7]. 20 million tons (Mt) of copper was the total mine production in 2020 [7] This number decreased from 24.5 Mt in 2019 due to COVID19 lockdowns in April and May [8]. A range from 60% to 75% of copper is mined from porphyry-copper deposits [10], 20% from sediment-hosted Cu deposits [11], and around 6% of Cu is mined from VMS deposits [12]
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