Pyrite hydrothermal

The concentrations of base-metals (Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn) in hydrothermal solution in equilibrium with sulfides (chalcopyrite, pyrite, galena and sphalerite) depend on several variables such as pH, ntQx- concentration, temperature, /WH2S, and fo2- The relation between the concentrations and these variables can be derived based on the chemical equilibrium for the following reactions. 

Supergroup rocks in the Hishikari district suffered hydrothermal alteration. Chlorite, quartz and sericite occur abundantly near the veins. The other constituents are pyrite, albite, calcite and organic matter. 

In contrast to the of hydrothermal solution for the vein, that of pyrite in hydrothermally altered rocks (Shimanto Shale) varies very widely, ranging from —5%o to - -15%o. Based on the microscopic observation, pyrite with low values less than 0%o is usually framboidal in form, suggesting that low 8 S was caused by bacterial reduction of seawater sulfate. There are two possible interpretations of high 8 " S values (+10%o to - -15%o). One is the reduction of seawater sulfate in a relatively closed system. The other one is a contribution of volcanic SO2 gas. As noted already, volcanic SO2 gas interacts with H2O to form H2SO4 and H2S. value of SO formed by... 

Shikazono, N. (1973) Sphalerite-carbonate-pyrite assemblage in hydrothermal veins and its bearing on limiting the environment of their deposition. Geochem. J. 7, 97-114. 

The H2S concentration of hydrothermal solution is plotted in Fig. 2.33. Based on these data, we can estimate the temperature of hydrothermal solution buffered by alteration mineral assemblages such as anhydrite-pyrite-calcite-magnetite and pyrite-pyrrhotite-magnetite for Okinawa fluids. 

For example, assuming anhydrite-magnetite-calcite-pyrite-pyrrhotite buffers redox in sub-seafloor reaction zones and a pressure of 500 bars, dissolved H2Saq concentrations of 21 °N EPR fluid indicate a temperature of 370-385°C. However, the estimated temperatures are higher than those of the measurement. This difference could be explained by adiabatic ascension and probably conductive heat loss during ascension of hydrothermal solution from deeper parts where chemical compositions of hydrothermal solutions are buffered by these assemblages. 

It is well known that anhydrite, pyrite, magnetite, and epidote are widespread in the country rocks in the Kuroko mine area. Therefore, it is likely that this assemblage controls the chemistry of the hydrothermal solution. 

Fig. 2.44. logaoi-pH range.s for Kuroko ore fluid.s and midoceanic ridge hydrothermal. solution. I Kuroko 2 Axial Explorer 3 2I°N, Southern Juan de Fuca 4 2I°N, Endeavour 5 Guaymas. Temperature = 250°C, ESr (total reduced sulfur concentration) = 6.6 x 10 m. HM hematite, MT magnetite, PY pyrite, PO pyrrhotite. Dotted line Au solubility (ppm) (Shikazono, 1988). 

The vesicle volume of the Kuroko basalt is large (average 20%) and vesicles are filled with hydrothermal minerals (epidote, calcite, chlorite, pyrite, quartz) which formed... 

Whether the adsorption of molecules at the surface of minerals is a curse or a blessing for the adsorbed substances depends on many parameters. Experiments showed very different adsorption behaviour of adenine on different minerals. Active minerals are of particular importance for hydrothermal processes (see Sect. 7.2). The surface concentration of adenine on pyrites is fifteen times, that on quartz five times, and on pyrrhotite three and a half times as high as in a starting solution whose concentration is 20 pM (Cohn, 2002). 

Table 7.1 Comparison of the yields of carbon-containing compounds obtained from an atmosphere of CH4, NH3, H2O and H2 using spark discharges with those obtained under hydrothermal conditions from a mixture of HCN, HCHO and NH3 at 423 K and 10 atm in the presence of pyrite-pyrrhotite-magnetite redox buffer (Holm and Andersson, 1995)...

Pyrite is not only one of the key compounds in Wachtershauser s theory, but could also have fulfilled an important function for phosphate chemistry in prebiotic syntheses. A group in Rio de Janeiro studied the conditions for phosphate sorption and desorption under conditions which may have been present in the primeval ocean. In particular, the question arises as to the enrichment of free, soluble inorganic phosphate (Pi), which was probably present in low concentrations similar to those of today (10 7-10 8M) (Miller and Keffe, 1995). Experiments show that acid conditions favour sorption at FeS2, while a weakly alkaline milieu works in an opposite manner. Sorption of Pi can be favoured by various factors, such as hydrophobic coating of pyrite with molecules such as acetate, which could have been formed in the vicinity of hydrothermal systems, or the neutralisation of mineral surface charges by Na+ and K+. 

An example of a hydrothermal deposit is the New Rambler deposit, described by McCal-lum et al. [4] in the Medicine Bow Mountains in south-western Wyoming, USA, which contains a significant amount of PGM. The ore occurs in irregular pods that are hydro-thermally decomposed into metadiorite and metagabbro zones. Pyroxenite and peridotite are reported to be intersected at a depth beneath the ore zone. All have been affected by supergene alteration. The main sulphides in the ore include pyrite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, covellite and marcasite with associations of electrum, pentlandite and PGM. 

The most important tin deposits are hydrothermal deposits (hypothermal and mesothermal). The magmatic deposits do not often contain tin mineralization. Tin may also be present in pegmatitic ore bodies. However, tin found in pegmatitic deposits can be classified into two basic types (a) quartz-cassiterite lenses in granite, when cassiterite is associated with topaz, beryl and, to a lesser degree, sulphides (b) sulphide deposits, where tin is mainly cassiterite associated with arsenopyrite, pyrite, chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite. Such deposits are common in South America (Peru, Bolivia). 

Vapor and brine from the Brandon vent of the East Pacific Rise have identical Fe isotope compositions, implying that phase separation does not produce an isotopic fractionation (Beard et al. 2003a). The role that sulfide precipitation plays in controlling the Fe isotope composition of the fluid remains unknown. The precision of the two sulfide analyses reported by Sharma et al. (2001) was not sufficient to resolve if sulfide precipitation would produce Fe isotope fractionation in the vent fluid. In a detailed study of sulfldes from the Lucky Strike hydrothermal field from the mid Atlantic Ridge, however, Rouxel et al. (2004) found that sulfldes span a range in 5 Fe values from -2.0 to +0.2%o, and that pyrite/marcasite has lower 5 Fe values ( l%o) as compared to chalcopyrite. The variations in mineralogy and isotope composition are inferred to represent open-system equilibrium fractionation of Fe whereby... 

The electrochemical precipitation of gold is considered here the main mechanism for gold precipitation. Such a mechanism can be viewed as a filter to extract gold in solution, even in low concentration, during hydrothermal fluid flow in the veins. It can also be considered as independent of physico-chemical condition variations, hence accounting for the vertically and laterally extensive gold mineralization in the prolific Poderosa-Pataz district. The most important contribution of our study lies in the fact that the As enrichment is not a primary feature of pyrite growth but... 

Gaboury, D. Graham, S. 2004. In-situ trace elements by LA-ICP-MS In metamorphosed pyrites as pathfinder for hydrothermal conditions. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Abstract of the 13 annual V.M. 

A sulfidic halo is characterized mostly by elevated S, Au, As and Sb. It extends further than suggested by previous alteration studies, and is defined by the development of disseminated hydrothermal pyrite and, to a lesser extent, arsenopyrite. Gold deposits of the Costerfield stibnite domain (i.e., Fosterville and Costerfield) can be differentiated from Au-As orogenic deposits by a greater primary dispersion of anomalous As and higher threshold values for Sb, as well as by the presence of slightly elevated concentrations of Hg (>0.01 ppm). Other chalcophile elements at variably elevated levels within the sulfidic alteration halo include Mo, Se, Bi, Pb and Cu. 

Abstract Black shales in the hanging wall to the Pb-Zn VHMS deposits of the Mount Read Volcanics may have been altered by the underlying hydrothermal systems and the signature of such alteration may provide vectors to mineralisation. The major and trace element chemistry of the Rosebery Hanging wall Shale and the trace element chemistry of the pyrite and pyrrhotite that it contains have been investigated. Preliminary results indicate that a whole-rock Sb and Tl halo at the base of the shale unit is not as extensive as has previously been suggested. The elevated Co, Zn, As and Mo contents and Co/Ni of early pyrite, proximal to the orebody may provide vectors to underlying mineralisation. 

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