N. V. Trubkin

Composition, formation conditions, and genesis of the Talatui gold deposit, the Eastern Transbaikal Region, Russia

The mineral composition of the Talatui gold deposit has been studied with modern methods. Previously unknown minerals (ilmenite, siegenite, glaucodot, wittichenite, matildite, hessite, pilsenite, zircon, tremolite, cummingtonite, hercynite, and goethite) have been identified in the ore. A high Re content has been detected in molybdenite. The spatiotemporal separation of Au and Ag is caused by different mineral species of these elements and their diachronous precipitation during the ore-forming process. Gold crystallized along with early mineral assemblages, beginning from virtually pure gold (the fineness is 996). Silver precipitated largely at the end of the process as hessite (Ag2Te) and matildite (AgBiS2). The temperature of ore deposition varied from 610 to 145°C, the pressure was 3370–110 bar, and the salt concentration ranged from 56.3 to 0.4 wt % NaCl equiv. The heterogeneous state (boiling) of fluid at the early stages has been documented. The chemical and isotopic compositions of the fluid testify to its magmatic nature and the participation of meteoric water at late stages in the ore-forming process. Thermodynamic modeling reproduces the main specific features of ore formation, including separation of Au and Ag. A physicochemical model of the gold mineralization in the Darasun ore district has been proposed. On the basis of several attributes, the Talatui deposit has been referred to the prophyry gold-copper economic type.

Gold deposit in the Butarny granitoid stock, Russian Northeast

The Butarny gold deposit is situated in the central part of the Khurchan-Orotukan Zone of tectonomagmatic activation, which is traced for 150 km in the near-meridional direction, and localized in the slightly eroded Late Jurassic granitoid stock of the same name. The explored orebodies are quartz veins and pinnate veinlets with low-grade pocket-disseminated sulfide (mainly arsenopyrite) mineralization containing native gold. The Bi-bearing gold-pyrite-arsenopyrite and the quartz-löllingite-arsenopyrite-stibnitejamesonite stages of the veined low-sulfide ore formation have been distinguished. The main mineral assemblage consists of arsenopyrite, native gold, and native bismuth. The minerals-carriers of gold were deposited during the final stage of ore-bearing quartz crystallization at 334−245°C from low-concentrated pneumatolytic-hydrothermal carbonated fluid containing CO2 and CH4 (5.8−2.2 and 1.6−0.5 mol/kg of solution, respectively). The ore-bearing fluid had variable salinity (5.3−2.2 wt % NaCl equiv). It is quite probable that the gas-saturated fluid participated in transport and precipitation of ore matter. Its density varies from 1.02 to 0.77 g/cm3. The pressure is estimated at 1600 to 780 bar. The fluid regime of ore formation at the Butarny deposit is similar to that of typical intrusion-related gold deposits. The Au tenor of beresitized granodiorite, numerous quartz veinlets, and extensive Au-bearing weathering mantle allow us to suggest stockwork mineralization.

Evolutionary historical model of the Dukat silver giant

There are good grounds to believe that the inherited development of ore bodies controls the most important regularities in the location of deposits, especially of large ones, and also explains quite clearly the relatively selective ore occurrence in different magmas. Giant silver deposits were identified among both Paleozoic bodies and their regenerated Late Mesozoic vein-disseminated analogues. Jointly they represent a unified polychronic ore formation range. The performed investigations of mineral composition and the isotopic Sm-Nd system of granitoids in the Dukat ore field and their gold- and silver-bearing melanocratic inclusions established the possible occurrence of the Paleozoic juvenile continental crust of the Siberian Craton in their composition and confirmed our complicated scheme of oregenesis at the Dukat silver giant. The occurrence of high-grade gold in the melanocratic mineral aggregates of granitoids in the Dukat ore field should be regarded as a feature of hypabyssal gold-bearing zones being of high commercial interest.

Abramovite, Pb2SnInBiS7, a new mineral species from fumaroles of the Kudryavy volcano, Kurile Islands, Russia

Abramovite, a new mineral species, has been found as fumarole crust on the Kudryavy volcano, Iturup Island, Kuriles, Russia. The mineral is associated with pyrrhotite, pyrite, würtzite, galena, halite, sylvite, and anhydrite. Abramovite occurs as tiny elongated lamellar crystals up to 1 mm long and 0.2 mm wide (average 300 × 50 μ m), which make up chaotic intergrowths in the narrow zone of fumarole crust formed at ∼600°C. Most crystals are slightly striated along the elongation. The new mineral is silver gray, with a metallic luster and black streak. Under reflected light, abramovite is white with a yellowish gray hue. It has weak bireflectance; anisotropy is distinct without color effects. The chemical composition (electron microprobe) is as follows, wt %: 20.66 S, 0.98 Se, 0.01 Cu, 0.03 Cd, 11.40 In, 12.11 Sn, 37.11 Pb, 17.30 Bi; the total is 99.60. The empirical formula calculated on the basis of 12 atoms is Pb1.92Sn1.09In1.06Bi0.89(S6.90Se0.13)7.03. The simplified formula is Pb2SnInBiS7. The strongest eight lines in the X-ray powder pattern [d, Å (I)(hkl)] are 5.90(36)(100), 3.90(100)(111), 3.84(71)(112), 3.166(26)(114), 2.921(33)(115), 2.902(16)(200), 2.329(15)(214), 2.186(18)(125). The selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns of abramovite are quite similar to those of the homologous cylindrite series minerals. The new mineral is characterized by noncommensurate structure composed of regularly alternated pseudotetragonal and pseudohexagonal sheets. The structure parameters determined from the SAED patterns and X-ray powder diffraction data for pseudotetragonal subcell are: a = 23.4(3), b = 5.77(2), c = 5.83(1) Å, α = 89.1(5) °, β = 89.9(7)°, γ = 91.5(7)°, V = 790(8) Å3; for pseudohexagonal subcell: a = 23.6(3), b = 3.6(1), c = 6.2(1) Å, α = 91(2)°, β = 92(1)°, γ = 90(2)°, V = 532(10) Å3. Abramovite is triclinic, space group P(1). The new mineral is named in honor of Russian mineralogist Dmitry Abramov. The type material of abramovite has been deposited in the Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow.

Dispersed mineralization in granitic rocks in the Dukat ore field, the Russian Northeast: Sources and relationship with epithermal gold-silver and silver-base-metal ores

The dispersed mineralization in the Late Cretaceous leucogranite of the Dukat ore field comprises melanocratic high-sulfide epidote-feldspar, pyroxene-feldspar and low-sulfide allanite-fluorite-feldspar inclusions in greisenized intrusions. The silver-base-metal mineralization is composed of pyrite, pyrrhotite, small particles of Pb, Zn, Sn, Ag, and Sb sulfides and oxides, their native species, and intermetallic compounds; the rare-metal mineralization consists of REE, Th, U, Ti, Zr, Nb, Ta, and W oxides, silicates, and aluminosilicates. The isotopic Nd, Sr, and Pb isotopic compositions and geochemical characteristics of the mineralized inclusions, rock-forming minerals of granitoids, hydrothermal minerals of preore metasomatic propylites and orebodies at the Dukat deposit show that their components have been taken from heterogeneous domains of the Paleozoic juvenile continental crust of the Siberian Platform.

Manganese oxides and associated minerals as constituents of dispersed mineralization of metasomatic rocks in the Dukat ore field

Lithiophorite and coronadite—varieties of vernadite and todorokite—make up finely dispersed colloform mixtures along with minor grains and nanoparticles of aluminosilicates and ore minerals in metasomatic rocks of the Dukat ore field, which were formed in local areas of fluid and hydrothermal-solution discharge at the upper level of the ore-forming system. Fe-vernadite associates with feroxyhyte, magnetite, apatite, K-feldspar, native silver, and acanthite in greisenized granitoids and with epidote, cerianite, plattnerite, and Fe-chlorite in quartz-garnet-chlorite propylites. Todorokite with high Pb, Tl, and Sn contents associates with epidote, albite, bitumen, and native silver in quartz-epidote-chlorite propylites. Al-vernadite, coronadite, and lithiophorite associate with opal, kaolinite, Fe-chlorite, zincite, uraninite, native silver, and acanthite in argillisites. These data allowed us to estimate the conditions of manganese accumulation in the epithermal ore-forming system and deposition conditions of Mn-rich, finely dispersed mineral mixtures in mineralized zones hosted in metasomatic rocks of the ore field.

Micro- and nanoparticles of zincite and native zinc from disseminated mineralization of metasomatic rocks in the Dukat ore field

Data on the morphology and crystal structure of micro- and nanoparticles of zincite and native zinc that occur among the newly formed minerals of metasomatic rocks in the Dukat ore field are presented. The origin of minute particles in the discharge areas of hydrothermal fluids is caused by the specific dynamics of the heterogeneous mineral-forming environment, resulting in the formation of ultralocal zinc concentrations. In propylite and greisen, the minute particles, which are products of the earliest stages of ore deposition, arise at the front of growing Fe-chlorite and apophyllite crystals. Aggregation of zincite nanoparticles with formation of metalliferous inclusions and fibrous native zinc proceeds in the greisen zones during aggradation recrystallization of a finely dispersed mineral system under the effect of additional portions of reduced fluids. In the zone of argillic alteration, dendritic zincite crystals result from crystallization of gels formed during coagulation of colloid solutions.

Typomorphic Characteristics of Molybdenite from the Bystrinsky Cu–Au Porphyry–Skarn Deposit, Eastern Transbaikal Region, Russia

The paper presents pioneering data on the composition, texture, and crystal structure of molybdenite from various types of molybdenum mineralization at the Bystrinsky Cu–Au–Fe porphyry–skarn deposit in the eastern Transbaikal region, Russia. The data were obtained using electron microprobe analysis (EMPA), laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Molybdenite found at the deposit in skarn, sulfide-poor quartz veins, and quartz–feldspar alteration markedly differs in the concentrations of trace elements determined by their species in the mineral, as well as in its structural features. Molybdenite-2H from skarn associated with phyllosilicates occurs as ultrafine crystals with uniform shape and texture; no dislocations or inclusions were found but amorphous silica was. The molybdenite composition is highly contrasting in the content and distribution of both structure-related (Re, W, and Se) and other (Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Ag, Cd, Sb, Te, Ag, Pd, Au, Hg, Pb, and Bi) metals. In the sulfide-poor quartz veins, highly structurally heterogeneous (2H + 3R) molybdenite microcrystals with abundant defects (dislocations and volumetrically distributed inclusions) are associated with illite, goethite, and barite. Some single crystals are unique three-phase (2H + 3R polytypes + amorphous MoS2). The mineral has a low concentration of all trace elements, which are uniformly distributed. However, individual domains with uniquely high Pd, Te, Ni, Hg, and W concentrations caused by mineral inclusions are found in some grains. Molybdenite from quartz–feldspar alteration is characterized by low concentrations of all trace elements except for Re and Se, which enrich some domains of the grains. Our data indicate that the compositional and structural heterogeneity of molybdenite from the Bystrinsky deposit are its crucial features, which obviously correlate with the types of Mo mineralization.

Mineralogy and Formation Conditions of Novoshirokinsky Base Metal–Gold Deposit, Eastern Transbaikal Region, Russia

This article presents the new mineralogical, fluid inclusion, and isotopic data for ores of the Novoshirokinsky base metal–gold deposit. Mineralogical sequence is supplemented and specified. The mineral assemblages containing native gold are studied. Morphology, grain size and chemical composition of native gold are described. Major parameters and composition of mineralizing fluids of the main ore stages at the deposit are estimated: main base metal (mid-temperature conditions, fluid salinity 3.1–13.1 wt % equiv NaCl) and carbonate–base metal (low-temperature conditions, fluid salinity 1.0–12.9 wt % equiv. NaCl). Sulfur isotopic composition of sulfides from commercial mineral assemblages has been studied. The δ34S value (+10.5 ± 1‰) of mineralizing fluid has been calculated. The Novoshirokinsky deposit is similar to epithermal deposits and is spatially related to the Late Jurassic porphyry system. Evidence is provided on carbonate rocks of basement involved in the ore-forming process.

Structural state of native molybdenum in the lunar regolith

The structural state was determined for zero-valence molybdenum in the lunar regolith. The body- and face-centered molybdenum forms (BCC and FCC, respectively) were identified. Disruption of the structure down to complete amorphization was noted. This might be caused by the long-term influence of the solar wind.