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Minerals
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Selenium, Tellurium and Precious Metal Mineralogy
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Selenium, Tellurium and Precious Metal Mineralogy

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Deposits".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2024) | Viewed by 2292

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Jiajun Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: gold deposit; barium deposit; scattered element deposit; ore deposit geochemistry; ore genesis; mineralogy of selenium and tellurium
Dr. Shen Gao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
Interests: hydrothermal mineral genesis and metal enrichment mechanisms

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Selenium- and tellurium-bearing precious metal minerals are significant producers of Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, and potentially strategic elements if mineral processing methods are optimized for recovery. These minerals include many phases (e.g., Au-Ag-Te and Au-Ag-Se) and occur in many types of ore deposits from different backgrounds, such as epithermal, Carlin-type, orogenic, and intrusion-related gold deposits as well as magmatic Cu–Ni–PGE sulfide, IOCG, VMS, porphyry, and skarn deposits. In recent years, high-precision analysis (e.g., in situ technology and high-resolution mass spectrum) on minerals has provided an opportunity to investigate mineral genesis, metal sources, and enrichment mechanisms, as well as metal recovery in ore deposits. This Special Issue is focused on Se- and Te-bearing precious metal minerals from different deposit types, including, but not limited to (1) mineral genesis in ore deposits; (2) high-resolution chemistry and isotope analyses of minerals; (3) hydrothermal experiments (e.g., nucleation and growth); (4) numerical modeling; and (5) environmentally friendly recovery approaches.

Prof. Dr. Jiajun Liu
Dr. Shen Gao
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Se- and Te-bearing mineralogy
  • precious metals
  • ore genesis
  • mineral chemistry
  • isotopes
  • fluid conditions
  • enrichment mechanism

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 654 KiB  
Article
Comparison of the Application of High-Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS) and Collision/Reaction Cell Technology of Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-CCT-MS) in the Determination of Selenium in Coal-Bearing Strata
by Shumao Zhao, Rongkun Jia, Qiuchan Han, Niande Shang, Kaiyan Teng and Jiawei Feng
Minerals 2024, 14(5), 510; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14050510 - 13 May 2024
Viewed by 150
Abstract
Selenium, a trace element of significant importance for human health and the environment, can be introduced into the environment through coal combustion. Accurate determination of selenium in coal and coal-bearing strata is essential for implementing effective management strategies and control measures to minimize [...] Read more.
Selenium, a trace element of significant importance for human health and the environment, can be introduced into the environment through coal combustion. Accurate determination of selenium in coal and coal-bearing strata is essential for implementing effective management strategies and control measures to minimize potential risks to human health and the environment. This study introduces an improved approach for the determination of 77Se in the medium resolution mode using HR-ICP-MS, effectively separating interference from doubly charged ions and enabling precise determination of selenium in coal-bearing strata. The relative errors of the standard reference samples obtained by HR-ICP-MS are between 0.65% and 6.33%, comparing to that of ICP-CCT-MS (1.58%–17.27%), prove the reliability of this method. Additionally, the X (bar)—S control charts obtained from HR-ICP-MS compared to ICP-CCT-MS demonstrate the superior stability of HR-ICP-MS in continuous determination. Consequently, though ICP-CCT-MS has better instrumental stability reflected through the internal standard recovery (ICP-CCT-MS:104.81%; HR-ICP-MS:80.54%), HR-ICP-MS is recommended as the preferred method for selenium determination in coal-bearing strata because of its high accuracy and good stability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selenium, Tellurium and Precious Metal Mineralogy)
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20 pages, 16805 KiB  
Article
Mineral Assemblages and Ore-Forming Physicochemical Conditions of the La’erma and Qiongmo Au–Se Deposits in the Western Qinling Orogen, Central China
by Jiajun Liu, Guoming Weng, Emmanuel John M. Carranza, Degao Zhai, Yinhong Wang, Fangfang Zhang, Shen Gao and Lei Xu
Minerals 2024, 14(5), 507; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14050507 - 13 May 2024
Viewed by 252
Abstract
The La’erma and Qiongmo Au–Se deposits are characterized by a paragenetic Au–Se association hosted in the siliceous formation of the Cambrian Taiyangding Group in the western Qinling Orogen, central China. The La’erma and Qiongmo Au–Se deposits, which are considered to be the Carlin [...] Read more.
The La’erma and Qiongmo Au–Se deposits are characterized by a paragenetic Au–Se association hosted in the siliceous formation of the Cambrian Taiyangding Group in the western Qinling Orogen, central China. The La’erma and Qiongmo Au–Se deposits, which are considered to be the Carlin gold deposits, comprise a variety of selenides, native gold, and stibnite coexisting with baryte. Four stages have been recognized: sage I comprises pyrite and quartz with minor stibnite; stage II is composed mainly of sulfides; stage III is composed mainly of selenides; and stage IV is dominated by quartz–baryte–dickite. Stages II and III are the main metallogenic stages. Based on changes in mineral assemblages, combined with fluid inclusions and thermodynamic data, we evaluated the physicochemical conditions of the main metallogenic stages. The logfS2 values of ore-forming fluids at stage II ranged between −10.44 and −14.60 with logfSe2 being less than −10.70. Comparably, during stage III, which is characterized by numerous selenides, the logfS2 and logfSe2 ranged from −7.13 to −12.20 and −13.98 to −8.82, respectively. The occurrence of baryte during the mineralization suggests a consistently oxidizing condition, which can effectively remove Au from fluids. More importantly, this study emphasizes that the oxidizing condition was only a fundamental prerequisite for the deposition of selenides, and a high ∑Se/S ratio of the fluid ultimately controlled the precipitation of selenides. In the La’erma and Qiongmo deposits, intense water–rock reactions occurred as ore-forming fluids flowed into the Se-rich siliceous formations, resulting in an increase in the ∑Se/S ratio of the fluid and in the precipitation of selenides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selenium, Tellurium and Precious Metal Mineralogy)
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23 pages, 18571 KiB  
Article
Constraints on Ore Genesis from Trace Ore Mineralogy: A New Occurrence of Kupčíkite and Paděraite from the Zhibula Cu Skarn Deposit, Southern Tibet
by Jing Xu, Cristiana Liana Ciobanu, Nigel John Cook, Shen Gao, Taiping Zhao and Jichen Jiang
Minerals 2024, 14(5), 474; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14050474 - 29 Apr 2024
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Abstract
Mineral assemblages containing Cu-Bi sulfosalts, Bi chalcogenides, and Ag-(Au) tellurides have been identified in the mid-Miocene Zhibula Cu skarn deposit, Gangdese Belt, southern Tibet. Different mineral assemblages from three locations in the deposit, including proximal massive garnet skarn, proximal retrogressed pyroxene-dominant skarn in [...] Read more.
Mineral assemblages containing Cu-Bi sulfosalts, Bi chalcogenides, and Ag-(Au) tellurides have been identified in the mid-Miocene Zhibula Cu skarn deposit, Gangdese Belt, southern Tibet. Different mineral assemblages from three locations in the deposit, including proximal massive garnet skarn, proximal retrogressed pyroxene-dominant skarn in contact with marble, and distal banded garnet–pyroxene skarn hosted in marble, are studied to constrain the evolution of the mineralization. Hypogene bornite contains elevated Bi (mean 6.73 wt.%) and co-exists in proximal andradite skarn with a second bornite with far lower Bi content, carrollite, Au-Ag tellurides (hessite, petzite), and wittichenite. This assemblage indicates formation at relatively high temperatures (>400 °C) and high fS2 and fTe2 during prograde-stage mineralization. Assemblages of Bi sulfosalts (wittichenite, aikinite, kupčíkite, and paděraite) and bismuth chalcogenides (e.g., tetradymite) in proximal pyroxene skarn are also indicative of formation at relatively high temperatures, but at relatively lower fTe2 and fS2 conditions. Within the reduced distal skarn (chalcopyrite–pyrrhotite-bearing) in marble, cobalt, and nickel occur as discrete minerals: cobaltite, melonite and cobaltic pentlandite. The trace ore mineral signature of the Zhibula skarn and the distributions of precious and critical trace elements such as Ag, Au, Co, Te, Se, and Bi support an evolving magmatic–hydrothermal system in which different parts of the deposit each define ore formation at distinct local physicochemical conditions. This is the first report of kupčíkite and paděraite from a Chinese location. Their compositions are comparable to other occurrences, but conspicuously, they do not form nanoscale intergrowths with one another. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selenium, Tellurium and Precious Metal Mineralogy)
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23 pages, 20609 KiB  
Article
Enrichment of Se-Te-Au in the Jilongshan Au-Cu Skarn Deposit, Hubei Province: Insight from Pyrite Texture and Composition
by Guizhou Nan, Jing Xu, Wenyuan Liu, Suyu Chen, Zhihui Cen and Jichen Jiang
Minerals 2023, 13(12), 1516; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13121516 - 3 Dec 2023
Viewed by 970
Abstract
Selenium and Te are two important critical metals, which are often produced as by-products in Au-Cu deposits related to magmatic–hydrothermal systems, such as porphyry and skarn deposits. The Jilongshan Au-Cu deposit is a typical skarn deposit located in the middle and lower parts [...] Read more.
Selenium and Te are two important critical metals, which are often produced as by-products in Au-Cu deposits related to magmatic–hydrothermal systems, such as porphyry and skarn deposits. The Jilongshan Au-Cu deposit is a typical skarn deposit located in the middle and lower parts of the Yangtze River metallogenic belt. Previous studies show that it has valuable Se and Te resources, but their occurrence, particularly the relationship between the texture and composition of pyrite, and the enrichment mechanism of Se, Te, and Au remain unclear. Here, the textures and the major and trace elements of the Jilongshan pyrites were studied by using an optical microscope, EMPA, and LA-ICP-MS to reveal the occurrence of Se, Te, and Au in pyrite, as well as their genetic links with the pyrite mineralogical signature. The results show that there are three types of ores in the Jilongshan deposit, including granite porphyry-hosted, skarn-hosted, and carbonate-hosted ores. All of these ores contain major amounts of pyrite, which can be divided into four different generations. The first generation of pyrite (Py1) belongs to sedimentary genesis with a typical framboid texture and its Co/ Ni ratios are less than 1, whereas Py2, Py3, and Py4 belong to hydrothermal genesis and their Co/ Ni ratios are between 1.0 and 30.2. Selenium concentrations in Py2 and Py3 are relatively high (median, 138 ppm and 344 ppm, respectively), which are mainly present as isomorphism and a small amount as selenite in pyrite. Compared with granite porphyry-hosted and skarn-hosted ores, pyrite from carbonate-hosted ores has the highest Se concentrations. The latest generation of pyrite (Py4) contains the highest concentrations of Te (average, 140 ppm) and Au (average, 12 ppm) among the hydrothermal pyrites. Therefore, the precipitation of Se mainly occurs in pyrite during the early high-temperature stage, whereas higher concentrations of Te and Au are mainly enriched in pyrite during the late stage with low temperatures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selenium, Tellurium and Precious Metal Mineralogy)
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