Trace element geochemistry of sphalerite in Huize lead-zinc deposit, northeast Yunnan, China

Abstract

The Huize surperlarge lead-zinc deposit is a typical deposit in the Sichuan-Yunnan-Guizhou Zn-Pb polymetallic mineralization zone, and sphalerite is the main ore minerals, which can divided into three metallogenic stages. Sphalerite of early metallogenic stage with dark brown, black brown colour, has higher content of silver, germanium and thallium. Sphalerite's colour of middle metallogenic stage is brown and light brown, with higher content of indium. Whereas sphalerite of later metallogenic stage with higher content of gallium, and its colour is light brown, rosiness, pale yellow, even achromaticity. Cadmium is significantly enriched in sphalerite of different metallogenic stages. By the study of trace element geochemistry of sphalerite, the Huize lead-zinc deposit is different from the typical MVT type deposits, which indicate that the Huize leadzinc deposit formed in a special environment, and is not a typical MVT type deposit.