T3 Rare Earth and Critical Elements in Ore Deposits

Sunday, 25 September 2016
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Room 301

A REVIEW OF CRITICAL ELEMENTS IN SELECT SEDIMENTARY ROCK-HOSTED PB, ZN, AND CU DEPOSITS

Paper number: T3-11
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 10:30 AM – 10:45 AM

Authors

Abstract

Critical elements such as Co, Ga, Ge, In, PGEs, and Re have been sourced from various sedimentary rock-hosted base metal deposits such as carbonate-hosted Mississippi Valley-type (MVT), clastic-dominated Zn-Pb, carbonate-hosted polymetallic, and sedimentary rock-hosted stratiform copper deposits. Cobalt is a major commodity coming out of sedimentary rock-hosted stratiform copper deposits, specifically from the Central African Copperbelt. Cobalt is only noted in a few MVT deposits. Gallium has been produced from MVT sphalerite ores and is noted in carbonate-hosted polymetallic deposits. Germanium is produced from carbonate-hosted polymetallic deposits (e.g., Kipushi, Tsumeb) and in some MVT deposits. Indium was produced from the Rammelsberg clastic-dominated deposit and is reported from Sullivan and Red Dog as well as the Tri-State, Viburnum Trend, Lisheen, San Vicente, and Shalipayco MVT deposits. Platinum group elements have been produced from the Polish Kupferschiefer sedimentary rock-hosted stratiform copper deposits. Rhenium occurs in sedimentary rock-hosted stratiform copper deposits in the Chu-Sarysu basin of Kazakhstan and is noted in carbonate-hosted polymetallic deposits. A suite of samples from select sedimentary rock-hosted deposits from around the globe were analyzed by LA-ICP-MS with results closely resembling what was found reported in the literature. Samples from the Central African Copperbelt have notable Co± Ga, Ge; clastic dominated Zn-Pb deposit have elevated In associated with elevated Cu values; MVT deposit have notable Co, Ga, Ge, ± In. It remains critical to evaluate the spatial distribution of these elements within specific deposits and deposit types for understanding the favorable setting for their enrichment.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 48, No. 7

doi: 10.1130/abs/2016AM-285640

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