Abstract
The trace element (TS) composition of isocubanite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, bornite, and covellite from oxidized Cu-rich massive sulfides of the Ashadze-2 hydrothermal field (12°58′ N, Mid-Atlantic Ridge) is studied using LA-ICP-MS. The understanding of TE behavior, which depends on the formation conditions and the mode of TE occurrence, in sulfides is important, since they are potential sources for byproduct TEs. Isocubanite has the highest Co contents). Chalcopyrite concentrates most Au. Bornite has the highest amounts of Se, Sn, and Te. Crystalline pyrite is a main carrier of Mn. Covellite after isocubanite is a host to the highest Sr, Ag, and Bi contents. Covellite after pyrite accumulates V, Ga and In. The isocubanite+chalcopyrite aggregates in altered gabrro contain the highest amounts of Ni, Zn, As, Mo, Cd, Sb (166 ppm), Tl, and Pb. The trace element geochemistry of sulfides is mainly controlled by local formation conditions. Submarine oxidation results in the formation of covellite and its enrichment in most trace elements relative to primary sulfides. This is a result of incorporation of seawater-derived elements and seawater-affected dissolution of accessory minerals (native gold, galena and clausthalite).
Highlights
The understanding of the distribution and the mode of occurrence of trace elements (TEs) in sulfides is highly important, since these minerals are potential sources for byproduct TEs
NaCu2 (SO4 )2 (OH) ×2H2 O and bonattite (CuSO4 × 3H2 O), the presence of which is most likely related to the laboratory oxidation of samples
Hydrothermal field is a result of influence of several important factors: local formation conditions, hydrothermal field is a result of influence of several important factors: local formation conditions, seawater entrapment, and host rocks
Summary
The understanding of the distribution and the mode of occurrence of trace elements (TEs) in sulfides is highly important, since these minerals are potential sources for byproduct TEs. Depending on the formation conditions and the mode of their occurrence, sulfide minerals exhibit specific TE associations [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]. The contents and the mode of occurrence of TEs, can dramatically change during the replacement of one sulfide by another, as was recently shown for primary and secondary sulfides of the Semenov-2 hydrothermal field, 13◦ 300 N, Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) [11]. A potential sulfide concentrate would contain various Cu minerals (primary hydrothermal chalcopyrite and isocubanite and supergene minerals of the covellite group) with a different mode of occurrence of TEs [11,12]. Due to variety of geodynamic settings, Minerals 2020, 10, 743; doi:10.3390/min10090743 www.mdpi.com/journal/minerals
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