Nanomaterial accumulation in boiling brines enhances epithermal bonanzas
Por:
Cano N., González-Jiménez J.M., Camprubí A., Domínguez-Carretero D., González-Partida E., Proenza J.A.
Publicada:
1 ene 2023
Categoría:
Multidisciplinary
Resumen:
Epithermal bonanza-type ores, characterized by weight-percent contents of e.g., gold and silver in a few mm to cm, are generated by mixtures of magmatic-derived hydrothermal brines and external fluids (e.g., meteoric) that transport a variety of metals to the site of deposition. However, the low solubilities of precious metals in hydrothermal fluids cannot justify the high concentrations necessary to produce such type of hyper-enriched metal ore. Here we show that boiling metal-bearing brines can produce, aggregate, and accumulate metal nanomaterials, ultimately leading to focused gold + silver ± copper over-enrichments. We found direct nano-scale evidence of nanoparticulate gold- and/or silver-bearing ores formed via nonclassical growth (i.e., nanomaterial attachment) during boiling in an intermediate-sulfidation epithermal bonanza. The documented processes may explain the generation of bonanzas in metal-rich brines from a range of mineral deposit types. © 2023, Springer Nature Limited.
Filiaciones:
Cano N.:
Programa de Posgrado en Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, CDMX, 04510, Mexico
González-Jiménez J.M.:
Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, CSIC-Universidad de Granada, Avda. de Las Palmeras 4, Armilla, Granada, 18100, Spain
Camprubí A.:
Instituto de Geología, UNAM. Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, CDMX, 04510, Mexico
Domínguez-Carretero D.:
Departament de Mineralogia, Petrologia i Geologia Aplicada, Facultat de Ciències de la Terra, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès s/n, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
González-Partida E.:
Centro de Geociencias, UNAM, Blvd. Juriquilla 3001, Qro., Juriquilla, 76230, Mexico
Proenza J.A.:
Departament de Mineralogia, Petrologia i Geologia Aplicada, Facultat de Ciències de la Terra, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès s/n, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
Green Published, gold, All Open Access; Gold
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