• Spectroscopy and Spectral Analysis
  • Vol. 34, Issue 12, 3327 (2014)
WANG Yan1、*, SUN Xiao-ming1、2、3, WU Zhong-wei1、2, DENG Xi-guang4, DAI Ying-zhi2, and LIN Zhi-yong2
Author Affiliations
  • 1[in Chinese]
  • 2[in Chinese]
  • 3[in Chinese]
  • 4[in Chinese]
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    DOI: 10.3964/j.issn.1000-0593(2014)12-3327-06 Cite this Article
    WANG Yan, SUN Xiao-ming, WU Zhong-wei, DENG Xi-guang, DAI Ying-zhi, LIN Zhi-yong. The Enrichment Characteristic and Mechanism of Gold-Silver Minerals in Submarine Hydrothermal Sulfides from the Ultra-Slow-Spreading SWIR[J]. Spectroscopy and Spectral Analysis, 2014, 34(12): 3327 Copy Citation Text show less

    Abstract

    In the present study, content and occurrence of Au, Ag in three submarine hydrothermal sulfide samples from the ultra-slow-spreading Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR) were studied by using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The results of ICP-AES show that all of the samples have signs of Au-Ag enrichment. By SEM/EDS, we discovered a mass of gold-silver minerals in the samples. In S27-4, gold occurs as irregular-shaped native gold and electrum grains in sulfides or between crystal particles. However, we discovered lots of Au-independent silver minerals except parts of electrum in S35-22. EDS results of silver minerals indicate that silver minerals closely related with halogen element, inferring that silver minerals may be silver halides. Electrum in S35-22 can be absorbed at the surface or crystal edge of pyrite besides occurring in or between sulfides as S27-4, supposed to be related to surface defect in pyrite. Electrum is the only Au-Ag mineral discovered in S35-17. These electrum gains occur as inclusion gold, absorbed gold or fissure gold. In addition, there are different Au-Ag mole ratios of electrum in three samples, indicating distinct hydrothermal conditions. In the base of research before, we consider that AgCl-2 is the dominant complex of silver in ore-forming fluid of S27-4, however, gold is transported as AuCl-2 transforming to AuHS0, indicating that hydrothermal fluids decreased from high-moderate to moderate-low temperature and conductive cooling played an important role in this process. Similar enrichment mechanism happened in S35-22, but silver halides discovered in S35-22 suggest a higher temperature and chloride in the early stage. However, The enrichment of electrums in black smoke sample(S35-17) relates to mixing of hydrothermal fluids and seawater.
    WANG Yan, SUN Xiao-ming, WU Zhong-wei, DENG Xi-guang, DAI Ying-zhi, LIN Zhi-yong. The Enrichment Characteristic and Mechanism of Gold-Silver Minerals in Submarine Hydrothermal Sulfides from the Ultra-Slow-Spreading SWIR[J]. Spectroscopy and Spectral Analysis, 2014, 34(12): 3327
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