Transient non-soluble noble metal transport in hydrothermal ore systems
Por:
Cano, N, González-Jiménez, JM, Camprubí, A, Morales-Casique, E, González-Partida, E
Publicada:
13 mar 2025
Resumen:
The transport of noble metals (Au, Ag) by metal-rich melts in hydrothermal ore systems is now acknowledged as a complementary mechanism to complexing ligands in solution. However, it is unclear where/when both mechanisms coexist and whether metal-rich melts can be physically transported by hydrothermal fluids. Here we show evidence for a suspension-like transport of nano-to-micron-sized metal-rich sulfide-sulfosalt melts within epithermal fluids at <400 degrees C, forming irregular and bleb-like polymineral inclusions of Ag-Au-Cu-Pb(-Fe-Zn)-As-Sb-S-Se upon cooling. These polymineral inclusions, 5 nm to 40 m in size, are cogenetic with fluid inclusions in quartz. Numerical modeling based on particle fluidization and settling theory shows hydrothermal fluids can mechanically transport metal-rich sulfide-sulfosalt nano-micromelts at fluid flow rates <10(-1) m/s. The chemical similarity between nano- and micron-scale polymineral inclusions suggests the coalescence of nanomelt precursors during transient transport from their source(s) to deposition sites, playing a key role in noble metal mineralization.
Filiaciones:
Cano, N:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Inst Geol, Ciudad Univ, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Lab Nacl Geoquim & Mineral LANGEM, Ciudad Univ, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
González-Jiménez, JM:
CSIC, Inst Andaluz Ciencias Tierra IACT, Avda Palmeras 4, Armilla 18100, Granada, Spain
Camprubí, A:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Inst Geol, Ciudad Univ, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Lab Nacl Geoquim & Mineral LANGEM, Ciudad Univ, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Morales-Casique, E:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Inst Geol, Ciudad Univ, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
González-Partida, E:
UNAM, Inst Geociencias, Blvd Juriquilla 3001, Juriquilla 76230, Qro, Mexico
gold, All Open Access; Gold Open Access
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