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The Paleo-Mesoproterozoic North Singhbhum Mobile Belt (NSMB) is a fold-thrust belt typically found in a collisional setting and is well known for hosting gold mineralisation. A study carried out in the northern part of NSMB depicts varieties of acid volcanic rocks along with mica schist, ferruginous cherty quartzite, black shale, and sheared granite, which are all ubiquitously traversed by quartz veins/reefs. In the study area, gold mineralisation is mostly restricted to brecciated quartz reef occurring ENE–WSW along S1 foliation, which also depicts syn to late kinematic brittle–ductile shearing. The petrographic studies of mineralised cherty variant of quartzite in quartz reef depict the presence of two generations of the quartz vein. The older one is smoky/bluish, altered, recrystallised and consists of disseminated and stringers of pyrite, chalcopyrite, etc., whereas the younger veins are milky white and lack mineralisation. The presence of pyrite–pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite–pyrrhotite associations and conversion of pyrite to pyrrhotite along fracture depicts prograde metamorphism. Trace elemental mineral chemistry depicts significant Au enrichment in pyrite. A positive correlation between Co and Ni concentrations in pyrite indicates hydrothermal origin. Au–As ratio explains the enrichment of gold in pyrite, where gold occurs as a solid solution in pyrite, which is generally referred to as invisible gold. The presence of gold grains/nuggets at the microscopic level and in pan concentrate as well as considerable analytical value in bulk rock coupled with occurrence in sulphide structure, points towards the bimodal nature of gold mineralisation. Mode of occurrence, nature of mineralisation, and surficial, structural and mineralogical characteristics suggest gold mineralisation of the study area is of orogenic type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exponential increasing demands for base metals have made meaningful processing of their quite low-grade (>1%) resources. Froth flotation is the most important physicochemical pretreatment technique for processing low-grade sulfide ores. In other words, flotation separation can effectively upgrade finely liberated base metal sulfides based on their surface properties. Various sulfide surface characters can be modified by flotation surfactants (collectors, activators, depressants, pH regulators, frothers, etc.). However, these reagents are mostly toxic. Therefore, using biodegradable flotation reagents would be essential for a green transition of ore treatment plants, while flotation circuits deal with massive volumes of water and materials. Pyrite, the most abundant sulfide mineral, is frequently associated with valuable minerals as a troublesome gangue. It causes severe technical and environmental difficulties. Thus, pyrite should be removed early in the beneficiation process to minimize its problematic issues. Recently, conventional inorganic pyrite depressants (such as cyanide, lime, and sulfur-oxy compounds) have been successfully assisted or even replaced with eco-friendly and green reagents (including polysaccharide-based substances and biodegradable acids). Yet, no comprehensive review is specified on the biodegradable acid depression reagents (such as tannic, lactic, humic acids, etc.) for pyrite removal through flotation separation. This study has comprehensively reviewed the previously conducted investigations in this area and provides suggestions for future assessments and developments. This robust review has systematically explored depression performance, various adsorption mechanisms, and aspects of these reagents on pyrite surfaces. Furthermore, factors affecting their efficiency were analyzed, and gaps within each area were highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrite is the most widely distributed sulfide mineral with a wide range of uses, and pyrite is mainly recovered by means of flotation in practical production, and the commonly used flotation collectors are mainly xanthates with good flotation performance. The adsorption behavior of commonly used collectors ethyl xanthate and butyl xanthate on the surface of pyrite is investigated by using the density functional tight bounding theory (DFTB). The results show that when a single reagent acts on the pyrite surface, butyl xanthate has a stronger effect than ethyl xanthate, and the adsorbed mineral surface shows obvious hydrophobicity. The interaction between ethyl xanthate and butyl xanthate had a stronger effect than that of a single reagent, and the simulation of the flotation environment at ordinary temperature using molecular dynamics revealed that the synergistic adsorption of the two different reagents on the surface of pyrite was more hydrophobic, that is, the synergistic adsorption of the combined collector of ethyl xanthate and butyl xanthate on the surface of pyrite was stronger. The results of the study are of great significance for the synergistic effect between the combined collector and the mineral. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tunnel waste constitutes a prevalent by‐product of highway construction in high‐altitude mountainous and hilly regions. Sulphide minerals exhibit a unique distribution pattern within the alpine hills. Consequently, tunnel excavation can disrupt the stability of these sulphide minerals, rendering the tunnel waste susceptible to generating secondary environmental hazards during stockpiling. This research delves into the migration and transformation dynamics of potential environmental pollutants in tunnel waste through geoenvironmental simulation techniques. Controlled variables were employed to simulate various conditions, including surface illumination, internal anaerobiosis, water content and aerobic environments. The study's findings indicate that the presence of pyrite in the waste stream primarily drives the secondary contamination of the tunnel waste. Pyrite within the slag tends to react and form sulphuric acid in the stockpile environment, thus creating an acidic milieu that exacerbates the release of existing contaminants. The emergence of an anaerobic environment and a photocatalytic system composed of Fe/Ti substances in the waste stream serves to further accelerate pollutant release. This study thoroughly investigates the primary causes of environmental pollution during the stockpiling of tunnel slag and assesses the potential environmental impact scenarios. The outcomes of this research offer substantial theoretical and empirical support for the management of slag generated during the tunnel construction process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper slag is a residue from the copper smelting process that not only takes up large amounts of space, but also contains harmful elements that can cause environmental pollution. In this paper, zinc in copper slag is sulfide-roasted using pyrite as a vulcanizing agent and anthracite and K2CO3 as additives, thus leaving zinc in the slag mainly in the form of ZnS. After sulfurization roasting, the slag can be stripped of Zn by flotation, and the remaining iron can be further applied in the blast furnace ironmaking process. The effects of temperature, holding time, pyrite addition, and K2CO3 addition on the Zn sulfation rate were investigated. The results showed that when pyrite, anthracite, and K2CO3 were added to the slag in amounts of 35, 2, and 10 pct of the slag's original mass, respectively, the total Zn in the slag was 3.16 pct, and its sulfuration rate was 83.5 pct. When pyrite was used to sulfide and dezincify copper bottom-blown smelting slag, the ZnO content in the slag was effectively reduced in preparation for subsequent ironmaking after flotation. This approach not only solves the problem of large piles of copper slag that cannot be fully utilized, but also alleviates the current shortage of iron ore in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Xiling Gold Mine is a world-class giant monolithic gold deposit with an average gold content of 3.81 g/t, offering significant mining value. Utilizing techniques such as optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and the mineral automatic analysis instrument(AMICS), the process mineralogical characteristics of the ore from the Xiling Gold Mine were analyzed, including an examination of mineral composition, dissemination grade, existence state of gold and its carrier minerals, and other pertinent features. The results indicate that gold in the ore primarily exists in the form of native gold and electrum. The majority of metal minerals are pyrite, accompanied by small quantities of sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena, and arsenopyrite. Non-metallic minerals are predominantly quartz followed by muscovite, orthoclase, and potassium feldspar. Gold minerals within the ore mainly occurred in exposed gold form with a dissemination grain size concentrated above 10 µm. There is a close relationship between gold minerals and pyrite regarding their dissemination patterns; pyrite exhibits relatively coarse dissemination grain sizes, and the gold can be easily recovered under appropriate grinding fineness conditions at suitable reagent dosages during processing using full sulfide flotation technology. Based on the results of the process mineralogy analysis, the Xiling gold mine was processed using the full sulfide flotation process. The results of the closed -- circuit flow test show that under appropriate grinding fineness and reagent system conditions, the mineral processing indicators of Au 62.77 g/t with an Au recovery rate reaching 98. 89% can be achived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrite is a ubiquitous sulfide mineral found in diverse geological settings and holds great significance in the formation of Au deposits as well as the safe utilization of groundwater due to its remarkable ability to incorporate substantial amounts of As. However, despite its importance, there remains a dearth of fundamental data on the partitioning of As between pyrite and fluid, which is key for accurately modeling the As distribution in these environments. Here, we present new insights into the partitioning behavior of As between pyrite and fluid at conditions that mimic natural fluid systems. Pyrite was synthesized by replacement of natural siderite in hydrothermal experiments at 200 °C and pH 5 applying a wide range of fluid As concentrations, spanning from 0.001 to 100 µg/g. The As distribution and concentration in synthetic pyrite was analyzed by quantitative LA-ICP-MS mapping providing a high spatial resolution and sensitivity at 2–3 µm image pixel size at a detection limit of ∼1 µg/g at the single pixel scale. Pyrite-fluid partitioning coefficients (D As (py/fluid)) between synthetic pyrite and experimental fluid agree with previously published data for high fluid As concentrations of 1 µg/g to 100 µg/g (D As < 2000). However, at low As concentrations in the experimental fluid (<1 µg/g), a steep increase in the D As (py/fluid) values of up to ∼30,000 was detected, demonstrating even stronger As partitioning into pyrite. This is confirmed by the analyses of natural pyrite that precipitated from As-poor fluids (0.3–0.4 ng/g) within a deep anoxic aquifer in SE Sweden. The discovery holds significant implications for the mobility and scavenging of As, which in turn is important for understanding the formation and fingerprinting of mineral deposits as well as for the secure utilization of groundwater resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an editorial for a special issue on "Valuable Metals Recovery by Mineral Processing and Hydrometallurgy." It emphasizes the importance of metals for society and the need for efficient techniques to process ores and extract metals. The recovery of metals from secondary sources, such as mining waste, is also highlighted. The editorial discusses various aspects and challenges of metal recovery, including the use of flotation in mineral beneficiation and the application of hydrometallurgical methods. It presents studies on grinding media, pulp oxidation-reduction potential, and the use of new reagents for metal recovery. The editorial also explores the extraction of metals from refractory ores and mining waste. Overall, the papers in this special issue demonstrate the potential for recovering valuable metals from various sources using modern techniques and theoretical frameworks. [Extracted from the article]

This study presents the sulfur isotopic characteristics in baryte from carbonatites of the Sallanlatva massif and sulfides (mainly pyrite and pyrrhotite) from carbonatites, phoscorites and products of their contact interaction with the host silicate rocks of most carbonatite-bearing complexes of the Devonian Kola Alkaline Province (KAP). For some complexes (Ozernaya Varaka, Kontozero), these characteristics are reported for the first time. The determined range of δ34S variations of sulfides in one complex does not exceed 4‰, but reaches 20‰ for the entire Kola Alkaline Province. This may be related to the evolution style of carbonatites and associated rocks. It is shown that the δ34S value in sulfides decreases from (1) the least evolved volcanic carbonatites of the Kontozero complex (δ34Savg. = –1.3‰) through (2) carbonatites and phoscorites of the Kovdor, Ozernaya Varaka, Sokli, and Salmagora massifs towards (3) the rocks of Seblyavr, Vuoriyarvi, and, finally, the carbonatites of Sallanlatva (δ34Savg. = –14.7‰) massifs, where sulfides differ from those of other KAP carbonatites in their exceptionally low δ34S values. The carbonatite volcanics of Kontozero are almost barren of REE mineralization; carbonatites of the second group contain accessory amounts of REE minerals; the third group is peculiar in the abundance of late carbonatites, where REE carbonates are frequently major minerals. Thus, the greater the volume of REE minerals in carbonatites of the complex, the lower the δ34S value in sulfides from its carbonatites and associated rocks. For the first time in the KAP, the sulfur isotopic composition of associated baryte–pyrite pairs was studied in the Sallanlatva carbonatites. The sulfur isotopic characteristics are shown to correspond to the final low-temperature (250–350°C) stage of carbonatite evolution in oxidized conditions, which satisfies the parameters of baryte crystallization. Since the studied samples of the Sallanlatva carbonatites are explosive breccias, the oxidized composition of fluids may indicate their phreatomagmatic nature, i.e., formation due to the interaction of intruded hot matter (melt/fluid) with meteoric waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourmaline is a valuable forensic mineral that contains a wide range of elemental components capable of reconstructing its geologic evolution. In this study, we developed detailed petrographic and geochemical research on tourmaline-bearing rocks and tourmalinites found surrounding the ca. 3.30 Ga rhyolite of the Gavião Block, northern São Francisco Craton. Two distinct types of mineral assemblages in the tourmaline-bearing rocks are recognized based on the presence of sulfides, oxide minerals, and carbonaceous matter. Along with these tourmaline-bearing rocks, tourmalinite samples are found. The mineral chemistry of tourmalines from the two types of tourmaline-bearing rocks reveals mainly schorl-dravite as tourmaline from a mineral assemblage containing quartz, tourmaline, pyrite, and hematite, and a diverse composition ranging from schorl-dravite, feruvite-uvite, and schorl-feruvite solid solutions for tourmalines present in the mineral assemblage that contains quartz, pyrite, and carbonaceous matter. The tourmaline composition is essentially foitite-schorl in tourmalinite samples. Most of the metasedimentary rocks studied have felsic and mafic source compositions. The interaction of hydrothermal fluid was crucial for the formation of sulfide and tourmaline minerals. However, distinct tourmaline origins are recognized in tourmaline-rich rocks, pointing out the relevance of sedimentary and metamorphic processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxidative flotation separation of chalcopyrite from pyrite in weak alkaline seawater solution was investigated using potassium ferrate (K2FeO4) as the oxidizing reagent. The optimal K2FeO4 concentration of 0.25 kg/t was found to strongly depress pyrite (from 88.05% to 7.92%) but insignificantly influence chalcopyrite (remaining at around 93%). K2FeO4 oxidized pyrite to form hydrophilic Fe2O3, Fe(OH)3, FeOOH, and Fe2(SO4)3 that covering on pyrite surface to prevent the adsorption of collector sodium butyl xanthate (SBX), thereby depressing pyrite flotation. Although a small amount of hydrophilic species was formed on chalcopyrite surface after the addition of K2FeO4, some hydrophobic substances such as S22-/Sn2-/S0 were also observed, resulting in an unaffected overall floatability. Further, density functional theory (DFT) calculation proved that the activity of Fe on chalcopyrite surface was much lower than that on pyrite. Therefore, this study provides a green way to separate chalcopyrite from pyrite effectively in a low-alkali seawater system, which is of significance to the separation of sulfide minerals in the fresh water-lack areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the findings of a geophysical survey conducted on the Khachkovi gold-polymetallic occurrence in Georgia. The study aimed to evaluate the geological prospects through comprehensive investigations. Three methods - electrometry, magnetometry, and gamma spectrometry - were employed in the survey, covering approximately 3.5 square kilometres. Analysis of the survey data revealed high magnetic field anomalies and variations in the gravity field, indicating gabbro-diorite intrusive bodies at depth. The Khachkovi occurrence was structurally associated with faults, fractured zones, and hydrothermally altered zones. Electrically conductive minerals within the hydrothermally altered zones were confirmed through induced polarization values and anomalous potassium content. The study area exhibited low potassium, thorium, and uranium levels, potentially due to Quaternary sediments and weak alterations. Hydrothermally altered sulfide mineral-containing zones were primarily linked to fault zones, intrusive bodies, and brecciated zones. The surface hydrothermally altered zone consisted mainly of pyrite-bearing rocks. The geophysical survey provided valuable insights into the geological characteristics and prospects of the Khachkovi gold-polymetallic occurrence, offering guidance for further exploration activities. These findings contribute to understanding the mineralization potential and future mining efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of chromate in the aquatic environment poses toxicity and pollution to the environment. Therefore, the needs to establish methods to get rid of this species is a must. The effect of different natural rock minerals; pyrite, magnetite, pyrrhotite, and wurtzite as constituent parts of the Earth's crust can play a major role in waste treatment. The properties of those minerals towards the behavior of chromium (sorption) were studied under the effect of changes of pH and contact time to treat the waste solution of toxic chromate. The total chromium species in the reaction system was determined using Cr51 as a simpler, faster and more accurate analytical tools. Concerning the effect of types of minerals, the synthetic ones, the results indicated that pyrrhotite and wurtzite were highly effective for the removal of chromate with almost 100 % sorption capacity as it was pH-independent, despite the presence of a degree of reductive ability of both minerals. While, it was 99 % at pH 8.5 and 28 % at pH 3 for pyrite and magnetite, respectively, which was pH dependent. The equilibrium adsorption capacities for chromium adsorption were 0.34 ± 0.15, 0.028 ± 0.01 and 4.27 ± 1.3 mg/g mineral for natural minerals pyrite, magnetite and synthetic one pyrhotite, respectively. However, it was found 117.7 ± 10.9 mg/g for synthetic mineral wurtzite. These results can be attributed to the redox power of oxide and sulfide minerals; magnetite and, pyrite used. For kinetic studies of chromium (VI) adsorption, non linear model approved that the reaction could be described based on pseudo-second-order kinetics in such simulated environmental heterogeneous systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrite is the most common sulfide mineral in hydrothermal ore-forming systems. The ubiquity and abundance of pyrite, combined with its ability to record and preserve a history of fluid evolution in crustal environments, make it an ideal mineral for studying the genesis of hydrothermal ore deposits, including those that host critical metals. However, with the exception of boiling, few studies have been able to directly link changes in pyrite chemistry to the processes responsible for bonanza-style gold mineralization. Here, we report the results of high-resolution secondary-ion mass spectrometry and electron microprobe analyses conducted on pyrite from the Brucejack epithermal gold deposit, British Columbia. Our δ34S and trace element results reveal that the Brucejack hydrothermal system experienced abrupt fluctuations in fluid chemistry, which preceded and ultimately coincided with the onset of ultra-high-grade mineralization. We argue that these fluctuations, which include the occurrence of extraordinarily negative δ34S values (e.g., -36.1%) in zones of auriferous, arsenian pyrite, followed by sharp increases of δ34S values in syn-electrum zones of nonarsenian pyrite, were caused by vigorous, fault valve-induced episodic boiling (flashing) and subsequent inundation of the hydrothermal system by seawater. We conclude that the influx of seawater was the essential step to forming bonanza-grade electrum mineralization by triggering, through the addition of cationic flocculants and cooling, the aggregation of colloidal gold suspensions. Moreover, our study demonstrates the efficacy of employing high-resolution, in situ analytical techniques to map out individual ore-forming events in a hydrothermal system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Empire State mine in Balmat, New York, is known for its fine mineral specimens, including sphalerites, calcites, pyrite, pyrrhotite, halite, and quartz. The article acknowledges the lack of detailed documentation on mineral discoveries in the area but provides a list of 116 known minerals from the Balmat mines. The Empire State mine, owned by Titan Mining Corporation, is one of six zinc mines in the region. The rocks in the mines have undergone metamorphism, and the formation of mineral pockets occurred due to fluid movements. Recent discoveries of minerals in the mine have attracted attention from collectors and researchers, and it is hoped that future documentation will provide more information about these finds. [Extracted from the article]

The Baiyun gold deposit is a medium-sized deposit in northeastern Hubei around the southern margin of the Tongbai-Dabie metallogenic belt. However, its genesis has not been determined. The metallogenic process of the Baiyun gold deposit can be divided into three stages: quartz + feldspar, quartz + native gold + electrum + polymetallic sulfides, and quartz + pyrite + calcite + iron dolomite + illite. In this study, LA-ICP-MS was used for in situ trace element and isotope analyses in the main and late ore stage hydrothermal sulfides to evaluate the genesis and evolution of ore-forming fluids. Gold is positively correlated with Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Te and the Co/Ni ratio is greater than 1. The S isotope values of Py1 and Py2 are −0.23–3.04‰ and 1.27–6.09‰, respectively. As mineralization progressed, S isotope values increased. In situ S isotope values of the two types of galena symbiotic with pyrite in the main metallogenic stage are 2.97–3.47‰. In situ Fe isotopic values of pyrite are −0.05–0.82‰; values in the two stages are similar without significant fractionation. We inferred that the Baiyun gold deposit formed via magmatic mineralization related to the subduction of the Pacific Plate during the Yanshanian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gold grade in a gold ore in Sichuan province is 3.74 g/t, which exists in the form of natural gold wkh fine particle size and Is distributed in pyrite in the form of wrapped gold, intergranular gold and fissure gold. After Knelsen gravity separation test, some qualified gold concentrate can be obtained, but the tailings have high gold grade, which caused by the loss of some undissociated natural gold and some gold-carrying sulfide. In order to further reduce the gold grade of the Knelson tailings, it is necessary to optimize the parameters of the Knelsen gravity separation process and adopt a combined process to recover the remaining sulfide gold-bearing sulfide minerals, so as to reduce the gold grade of tailings and improve the overall gold recovery. The natural gold embedded in pyrite and filled in pyrite particles can be recovered with pyrite flotation. Therefore, Knelsen gravity separation and flotation process was used to carry out the test. The optimum Knelsen gravity separation conditions are as follows: grinding fineness 70= passing 0. 074 mm, gravity multiple 90 G, liquid water volume of 9 L/min. A gold concentrate with gold grade of 67 g/t and recovery of 80.72% can be obtained under these conditions. Flotation condition test has been carried out for Helen's gravity separation tailings, and the optimal reagent regime and operating parameters have been determined as follows: the dosage of the activator copper sulfate 100 g/t, the collector (butyl xanthate and ammonium dibutyl dtthiophosphate 2 : 1) dosage 40 g/t, the dosage of the frother pine oil 20 g/t and the roughing time 3 min. A gold flotation concentrate with gold grade of 11. 04 g/t and operation recovery of 87.23% can be obtained under these conditions. According to the best conditions, the flotation process of "one roughing, two cleanings and two scavengings" has been used to carry out the locked-cycle test of the gravity separation-flotation. A gravity separation concentrate with gold grade of 56.6 g/t and gold recovery of 73.81% and a flotation gold concentrate with gold grade of 63.1 g/t and gold recovery of 24.25% have been obtained, with gold grade of 0.09 g/t and gold recovery of 1.92% in the flotation tailing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physical properties of seafloor massive sulfides are crucial for interpreting sub-seafloor images from geophysical surveys, shedding light on the evolution of seafloor mineral deposits. While some studies have explored the relationship between electrical properties and the volume of conductive minerals in rocks from seafloor massive sulfide deposits, they primarily focused on artificial samples, leaving the characteristics of natural samples less understood. Moreover, there has been no comprehensive study detailing the general characteristics of electrical properties, particularly chargeability and relaxation time, in relation to the volumetric fraction of sulfides in rocks from massive sulfide mounds in typical hydrothermal areas. In this study, we employed complex conductivity measurements, elemental concentration analysis, and mineral content identification on to rock samples from the active hydrothermal zones of the Okinawa Trough in Japan. The complex conductivity observed was remarkably high, with a pronounced imaginary component and a broad frequency range. This is attributed to induced polarization extending beyond our measurement range. The rock samples were rich in conductive sulfide minerals such as pyrite, chalcopyrite, and galena. Using the Cole–Cole rock physics model, we established a correlation between rock chargeability and relaxation time coefficient with the volume fraction of conductive sulfide minerals, which deviated from previous findings. The intensity of induced polarization was notably higher than anticipated in earlier studies using artificial samples. Furthermore, we observed a distinct positive correlation between the coefficient of relaxation time and the increase in sulfide volume, likely due to the geometric characteristics of the sulfide minerals. Our findings suggest that rocks in massive sulfide mounds may generally construct sulfide clusters that lengthen the conductive path of the electrical carrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many massive sulfide deposits have been discovered in the Upper Paleozoic rift-related volcaniclastic sequence in South China, among which the Yushui copper deposit is the most important due to its high grade. The deposit has been variably attributed as SEDEX (sedimentary exhalative) or MVT (Mississippi valley type). The Yushui copper deposit in Guangdong (South China) contains stratiform bornite-chalcopyrite orebodies (102.1 kt Cu @ 3.5%, 186.6 kt Pb @ 4.29%, 117.6 kt Zn @ 2.91%, and 339 t Ag @ 112 g/t) developed along the contact between Upper Carboniferous dolostone and Lower Carboniferous pebbly quartz sandstone, which indicates a shallow marine deposition environment. The Yushui deposit comprises an upper massive sulfide orebody and a lower stockwork orebody with intense alteration. In this study, we newly identified Carboniferous tuffs and syn-volcanic faults in the footwall, and exhalites in the hanging-wall. Hematite from the Cu ores yielded a U-Pb age of 320 ± 15 Ma (MSWD = 2.1, n = 57), and hydrothermal dolomite yielded a Sm-Nd isochron age of 308.1 ± 4.6 Ma (n = 7; MSWD = 0.94), which constrains the timing of mineralization at Yushui. These ages are coeval with the Carboniferous host rocks. Combining the evidence from the geological features (syn-volcanic faults, volcanic rocks, exhalites) and hematite trace element compositions, we suggest that the Yushui is a shallow marine VMS (volcanogenic massive sulfide) deposit. The Sr-Nd isotope composition of hydrothermal dolomite (εNd ~−12) indicates that the ore-forming materials were originated from the crustal basement. The Yushui copper deposit was likely formed during the Late Carboniferous continental back-arc extension in eastern South China. The regional extension may have caused enhanced heat flow, which promoted fluid convection in the basement rocks. In addition, we suggest that volcanic rocks and disseminated chalcopyrite-pyrite mineralization in the Lower Carboniferous quartz sandstone and exhalites are good indicators for regional VMS prospecting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfides are usually associated with deposits of metals and coal. The reactive wastes from their exploitation, typically stored in piles and tailings dams, are often the mining sector's primary source of environmental problems. The surrounding river waters can present signs of acid mine drainage, responsible for aquatic ecosystem degradation. So, the main target of the present study is to investigate the impact of this process on the water's environmental quality and potential ecological risk. The study area is located at the Iberian Pyrite Belt, in an old sulfide exploitation, closed without environmental rehabilitation measures. The results exhibit high sulfate concentrations (410,601 mg/L) and potentially toxic elements, with prominence of Fe (134,000 mg/L), overcoming many other extreme cases of AMD pollution. The Ficklin diagram exposes that most samples are classified as "high-acid, high-metal." Two of them have extreme classifications (high-acid, extreme-metal). The pH value is well below the acceptable range for the environmental quality of superficial waters (5–7), measuring at a minimum of 0.84. Regarding seasonal variability, the study showed a higher degree of contamination in dry conditions (e.g., 4,420 mg/L of Cu), while the rainy month had lower concentrations of PTE (186.8 mg/L of Cu for the same sampling point). In addition, the water does not accomplish the environmental objectives established by the EU Water Framework Directive. According to the new approach developed based on a scale adjustment, the potential ecological risk index studied indicates that most sampled sites present strong, very strong, and even extremely potential ecological risk. With a typical Mediterranean climate, the region suffers from water scarcity, predicting increasingly in the future more degrading scenarios for water environmental quality. Consequently, urgent mitigation and remediation measures are necessary to improve and preserve water quality and fulfill the objectives of the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides a historical account of the New Cornelia copper mine in Ajo, Arizona. It discusses the challenges faced by the mine, including low-grade copper deposits and difficulties in metallurgy. The text also highlights the minerals found at the mine, such as Ajoite, Azurite, Calcite, Chrysocolla, and Copper. The article includes descriptions and photographs of different copper specimens and acknowledges the contributions of collectors and researchers in enhancing our understanding of these minerals. This information is valuable for researchers interested in the New Cornelia mine and its mineral specimens. [Extracted from the article]

The gold grade of a gold ore was 3.25 g/t, and the content of silver, copper and other metals was too low to have recovery value. The content of liberated gold and exposed gold in the ore was very low, only 4.24%, the gold was mainly embedded in metal sulfide and oxide minerals as inclusions, accounting totally for about 92.09%, and the rest was silicate coated gold, accounting for only 3.67%. According to the properties of the ore, combined with the field flotation process and reagent regime, the flotation reagent optimization condition test was carried out. The optimum process parameters obtained were: The fineness of grinding 84.6%-0.074 mm, the dosage of sodium silicate 1 600 g/t, the dosage of copper sulfate 200 g/t, the dosage of butyl xanthate dosage 100 g/t, the dosage of ammonium dibutyl dithiophosphate 30 g/t, and the dosage of terpenic oil 100 g/t. When the grinding fineness was 84.6%-74 µm and the best reagent regime was adopted, after the flotation process of one roughing, two cleaning and two scavenging, middling returning to closed circuit in sequence, a gold concentrate with recovery of 91.88% and gold grade of 47.85 g/t was obtained, while the grade of tailings was 0.28%. The results of semi-quantitative X-ray fluorescence analysis of concentrate and tailings showed that the contents of iron, sulfur, arsenic, antimony and other elements were significantly different, and their contents in the concentrate were much higher than those in tailings. It shows that the flotation process has a good separation effect on pyrite, arsenopyrite and stibnite. The experimental results lay a foundation for the flotation reagent optimization of the gold ore and have guiding significance for its beneficiation production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a wide variety of ore deposits in Albania, where 20% of the Cu resources belong to a deposit type of unknown genesis (sulphide-bearing quartz veins in gabbroic rocks). The focus of this paper is on two mineralisations of this type (Kçira and Thirra) in the Mirdita Zone, an ophiolite zone representing the Mesozoic Neotethys Ocean in the Dinarides. Our aim is to understand the ore-forming processes and the genesis of these deposits, which can be used in future exploration projects. According to the petrographical analysis, the host rock suffered propylitic alteration or subgreenschist facies metamorphism. Mineral chemistry of pyrite and epidote suggests a VMS related origin, more precisely, the deeper part of its stockwork feeder zone. The bulk rock geochemical analyses confirms that the mineralisations are classified as mafic-, Cyprus-type VMS deposits. Differences in the geochemical compositions and the corresponding mineralogical observations are attributed to the distinct original geotectonic positions: higher amount of compatible elements (Cr, Ni, V and Cu) occur in Kçira, which formed in a mid-oceanic ridge environment, while incompatible elements (Ag, As, Co and Zn) are more abundant in the Thirra deposit, which formed in a supra-subduction zone setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Niuxingba-Liumukeng deposit, located in the Yinkeng ore field (Jiangxi province, South China), is a typical Ag-Pb-Zn deposit hosted in the Yudu-Ganxian metallogenic belt. Based on the field investigation and mineralogical studies, the mineralization of this deposit can be divided into three stages: quartz-pyrite-arsenopyrite stage (I), quartz-galena-sphalerite-sulfosalt stage (II), and quartz-carbonate stage (III), with stage II being the main Ag mineralization stage. In this contribution, we reported the occurrence of bismuth-bearing minerals in this hydrothermal deposit and its implications for ore formation. Based on the results of electron microprobe analyses, we infer that the dominant occurrence of bismuth at Niuxingba-Liumukeng is primarily marked by solid solutions within the crystal lattice of galena and as visible independent bismuth-bearing minerals. The independent bismuth minerals consist of berryite [Pb3(Ag,Cu)5Bi7S16], emplectite (CuBiS2), and aikinite (PbCuBiS3). Most bismuth minerals replace chalcopyrite or fill in the cracks of pyrite and chalcopyrite. Meanwhile, we found a large number of Bi-bearing minerals closely coexisting with Ag-bearing minerals, indicating that bismuth may have played a crucial role in silver deposition from hydrothermal fluids. We considered that the existence of bismuth-rich melts associated with the ore-forming hydrothermal systems could help to promote the enrichment and precipitation of silver to form economic ores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of investigations into enrichment of precious metals in sphalerite and pyrite from the Maluntou epithermal gold deposit, China, are reported. The obtained data suggest intimate associations of Au- and Ag-bearing nanoparticles with chalcopyrite inclusions in sphalerite and pyrite. The origins of chalcopyrite inclusions involved different hydrothermal processes, including recrystallization-driven phase separation from parent chalcopyrite-sphalerite solid solutions and replacement of pre-existing pyrite in the presence of Cu-bearing fluids. The chalcopyrite blebs/lamellae follow sphalerite {111} planes, which define a shared sulfur layer for both chalcopyrite and sphalerite. This study indicates that mixing and boiling during the evolution of ore-forming fluids for the Maluntou deposit are key processes for the abnormal enrichment of precious metals in sphalerite and pyrite. The chalcopyrite micro/nano inclusions enhanced enrichment of precious metals in sphalerite provides new insights into the controls on the enrichment of precious metals in sulfides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrite, the most common sulfide mineral, is a ubiquitous component of many hydrothermal gold deposits. Geochemical patterns within the refractory pyrite structure represent a valuable repository of information that can help constrain the sources of ore-forming materials, and the evolution of ore-forming processes over time. However, there are still a lot of debates on the mechanisms of physico-chemical processes in ore-forming fluid controlling trace element and sulfur isotope distributions in pyrite during growth. In our manuscript, we use cutting-edge complementary microanalytical methods to understand the origin and evolution of zoned gold-bearing pyrite in samples from the largest gold deposit in the Ailaoshan gold belt, SW China, Zhenyuan (exceeding 100t Au, average grade: 5.3 g/t). Pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, and stibnite are the most abundant sulfide minerals in most orebodies. Of these, pyrite is dominant and is also the most important host for gold. Two types of pyrite can be clearly distinguished: framboidal pyrite and hydrothermal pyrite. Gold is most commonly hosted by hydrothermal pyrite. Framboidal pyrite, mainly hosted by carbonaceous slate, hosts negligible Au, and features low δ34S values ranging from − 35.0 (± 0.9) to − 25.6 (± 1.0)‰. Hydrothermal pyrite is characterized by complex intra-grain zoned textures with alternating As-rich and As-poor bands readily recognizable on backscattered electron images. Scanning electron microscopy and trace-element analyses show that both visible and invisible gold occur only in the As-rich bands. Compared to the As-poor bands (72.1% of Au concentration data < 1.96 ppm, n = 43), the As-rich bands are characterized by far higher concentrations of Au (up to 1420 ppm), Cu, Ag, Sb, and Tl, but lower concentrations of Co and Ni. In-situ sulfur isotope analysis indicates that the δ34S values of As-rich zones range from − 7.3 (± 0.6) to 2.9 (± 0.6)‰ and are similar to those of As-poor zones (from − 6.9 (± 0.7) to 2.8 (± 0.6)‰), but distinct from the framboidal pyrite. Combined with published fluid inclusion data and a probable age for the magmatic event associated with mineralization, these data suggest that magmatic–hydrothermal fluids contributed most ore-forming materials and that periodic boiling led to formation of the rhythmic As-rich and As-poor bands in pyrite. Our data for pyrite constrain the evolution of ore-forming processes and provide new insights into the formation of zoned pyrite, with the conclusions having broad implications for analogous hydrothermal gold deposits worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Microbially mediated NO3−-N and Cr(VI) reduction is being recognized as an eco-friendly and cost-effective remediation strategy. Iron sulfide mineral, as a natural inorganic electron donor, has a strong influence on NO3−-N and Cr(VI) transformation, respectively. However, little is known about the simultaneous nitrate and chromium removal performance and underlying mechanism in an iron sulfide mineral-involved mixotrophic biofilter. This study demonstrated that the NO3−-N and Cr(VI) removal efficiencies were stable at 62 ± 8% and 56 ± 10%, and most of them were eliminated in the 0–100-mm region of the biofilter. Cr(VI) was reduced to insoluble Cr(III) via microbial and chemical pathways, which was confirmed by the SEM–EDS morphology and the XPS spectra of biofilm and pyrite particles. SO42− was as a main byproduct of pyrite oxidation; however, the bacterial SO42− reduction synchronously occurred, evidenced by the variations of TOC and SO42− concentrations. These results suggested that there were complicated and intertwined biochemical relations between NO3−-N/Cr(VI)/SO42−/DO (electron acceptors) and pyrite/organics (electron donors). Further investigation indicated that both the maximal biomass and greatest denitrifiers' relative abundances in microbial sample S1 well explained why the pollutants were removed in the 0–100-mm region. A variety of denitrifiers such as Pseudoxanthomona, Acidovorax, and Simplicispira were enriched, which probably were responsible for both NO3−-N and Cr(VI) removal. Our findings advance the understanding of simultaneous nitrate and chromium removal in pyrite-involved mixotrophic systems and facilitate the new strategy development for nitrate and chromium remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Xitieshan deposit, located in the central segment of the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin, is among the largest massive Pb-Zn sulfide deposits in China. This deposit, along with its ore-bearing rock series known as the Tanjianshan Group, underwent greenschist facies metamorphism due to subsequent orogeny. We investigated the in situ sulfur isotopes of sulfides with different occurrences to define the origin of ore-forming fluids. The δ34S values of sulfides from stratiform ores, massive ores in schist, stockwork ores in marble, schist and discolored altered rocks that constitute a typical double-mineralization structure range from −5.3‰ to +5.6‰ and from −1.7‰ to +32‰, respectively, indicating distinct biological and thermochemical reductions in seawater sulfates. These are similar to the sulfur isotopic characteristics of VSHMS deposits. Pyrite, whose LA-ICP-MS trace element compositions can provide significant information about metallogenic evolution and deposit genesis, is ubiquitous throughout the whole mineralization process. In these stratiform, massive and stockwork ores, three pyrite types were identified: colloform pyrite (Py0), fine-grained anhedral spongy pyrite (Py1) and coarse-grained euhedral pyrite (Py2). The contents of most metallogenic elements, such as Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, Mo, Mn and Sn, decrease from Py0 to Py2 with the enhancement of metamorphic recrystallization. This suggests that the expelled elements appear as inclusions in primitive pyrite, contributing to the precipitation of new sulfide phases, such as sphalerite and galena. Orogenic metamorphism played an important role in controlling further Pb-Zn enrichment of the Xitieshan deposit. Moreover, there is another mineralization type, primarily occurring as sulfide veins in the undeformed Formation C siltstones of the Tanjianshan Group, which also crosscut early-formed sulfides, showing close-to-zero S isotopic compositions. In this mineralization type, pyrite (Py3) displays high Se/Tl (>10) and Co/Ni (>2.2) ratios, both indicating a minor superimposed post-orogenic magmatic–hydrothermal event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study sought to investigate the physiochemical conditions and fluid evolution within the Yolindi Cu-Fe skarn mineralization located in the Biga Peninsula, NW Turkey. This was accomplished through a comprehensive investigation of geological and mineralogical data, along with isotopic analyses of sulfur (δ34S), carbon (δ13C), and oxygen (δ18O) of sulfide and calcite minerals, respectively, as well as fluid inclusion data pertaining to various minerals (e.g., andradite, quartz, and calcite). The Yolindi area features a complex geological framework, including the Paleozoic Kalabak Group (which includes the Torasan, Yolindi, and Sazak formations) and the Triassic Karakaya Complex. These formations were subsequently intruded via Early Miocene Şaroluk granitoids and Hallaçlar volcanics. Skarn formation is zoned into endoskarn and exoskarn types (being categorized into proximal, intermediate, and distal zones), with distinct mineral assemblages indicating concentric and contact metamorphic alteration patterns around the western part of Şaroluk granitoid intrusion in contact with the Torasan formation. The ore mineralogy and paragenesis suggest three distinct stages of evolution: an initial phase of prograde metasomatism characterized by the formation of magnetite and pyrite alongside anhydrous calc-silicate minerals; a subsequent phase of retrograde alteration marked by the formation of epidote, actinolite, and scapolite, accompanied by the occurrence of chalcopyrite and specular hematite; and finally, a post-metasomatic stage involving oxidation processes that led to the development of secondary mineral assemblages containing cerussite, covellite, and malachite. Sulfur isotopes (δ34S) of sulfides from endoskarn (from +0.27 to +0.57‰VCDT) to intermediate exoskarn (from −9.44 to −5.46‰VCDT) zones indicate a diverse sulfur source, including magmatic, sedimentary, and possibly organic matter. δ34S values in hydrothermal fluids suggest a magmatic–hydrothermal origin, with endoskarn and proximal zone fluids showing a slight negative signature and intermediate zone fluids indicating a strong influence from organic-rich or metamorphic sulfur reservoirs. Carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions (δ13C and δ18O) of calcite revealed a progression from marine carbonate signatures in marble samples (from +1.89 to +2.23‰VPDB; from +21.61 to +21.73‰VSMOW) to depleted values in prograde (from −6.0 to +0.09‰VPDB; from +6.22 to +18.14‰VSMOW) and retrograde skarns (from −3.8 to −2.25‰VPDB; from +0.94 to +3.62‰VSMOW), reflecting interactions with high-temperature magmatic fluids and meteoric water mixing. The fluid inclusions in prograde minerals generated under the conditions of fluid boiling exhibited high temperatures, reaching up to 412 °C, and salinities up to 26 wt.% NaCl equivalent. Conversely, the fluid inclusions in retrograde minerals, which were generated due to fluid mixing, exhibited lower temperatures (with an average of 318 °C) and salinities with an average of 4.9 wt.% NaCl equivalent. This indicated that the cooler and more diluted fluids mix with meteoric waters and interact with organic materials in the host rocks. This suggests a multifaceted origin involving various sources and processes. Therefore, this study concluded that the skarn mineralization in the Yolindi area resulted from complex interactions between magmatic, metamorphic, and meteoric fluids, reflecting a dynamic ore-forming environment with implications for the regional metallogeny of Cu-Fe skarn deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Goshgarchay Cu‐Au deposit is located in the central part of the northwest flank of the Murovdagh region in the Lesser Caucasus. The Goshgarchay Cu‐Au deposit is associated with Middle Jurassic volcanic and Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous high‐K calc‐alkaline intrusive rocks. The Cu‐Au mineralization is commonly related to quartz‐sericite‐chlorite alteration dominantly composed of chalcopyrite, gold, sphalerite, pyrite, bornite, hematite, covellite, chalcocite, malachite, and azurite. The Goshgarchay copper‐gold deposit, which is 600 m wide and approximately 1.2 km long, is seen as a fault‐controlled and vein‐, stockwork– and disseminated type deposit. The Goshgarchay Cu‐Au deposit predominantly comprises Cu (max. 64500 ppm) and Au (max. 11.3 ppm), while it comprises relatively less amounts Zn (max. 437 ppm), Mo (max. 47.5 ppm), Pb (max. 134 ppm), and Ag (max. 21 ppm). The homogenization temperatures and salinities of fluid inclusions in quartz for stage I range from 380°C to 327°C, and 6.9 wt% to 2.6 wt% NaCl eq., respectively. Th and salinities in quartz for stage II range from 304°C to 253°C, and 7.6 wt% to 3.2 wt% NaCl eq., respectively. The calculated δ34Sh2s values (–1.5‰ to 5.5‰) of sulfides and especially the narrow range of δ34Sh2s values of chalcopyrite and bornite (between –0.07‰ and +0.7‰) indicate that the source of the Goshgarchay Cu‐Au mineralization is magmatic. Based on the mineralogical, geochemical, fluid inclusion, and sulfur isotopic data, the Goshgarchay Cu‐Au deposit represents a late stage peripheral magmatic‐hydrothermal mineralization probably underlain by a concealed porphyry deposit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depressants are critical reagents for the selective separation of minerals in froth flotation. They serve a vital role in preferentially making the gangue minerals hydrophilic and prevent them from reporting to the mineral-rich froth phase. Current practice involves the use of inorganic depressants, which are toxic and non-biodegradable. Environmentally friendly, flexible and affordable flotation depressants are needed due to the depletion of easy-to-process high-grade ores as well as sustainability and environmental concerns. This paper discusses various organic depressants that have been adopted for selective depression of unwanted minerals in chalcopyrite flotation. The origin and chemistry, organic depressant-gangue minerals interaction mechanism, and the use of organic depressants in the most common chalcopyrite-flotation instances, including chalcopyrite separation from galena, molybdenite, sphalerite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, talc, serpentine and carbonaceous materials, are discussed. This review shows that organic depressants can partially or fully replace current inorganic depressants used in suppressing both sulfide and non-sulfide gangue minerals in chalcopyrite flotation. In this review, a well-detailed and well-referenced discussion is provided for the current state of organic depressants in chalcopyrite flotation, as well as a valuable discussion is provided to comparatively evaluate the depression performance of the various reported organic depressants. Finally, suggestions are made regarding future research challenges and directions. The recent advancements, developing features, and research prospects discussed in this article will provide a helpful reference for academics who want to delve deeper into the greening of chalcopyrite flotation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfidic schists are important rock formations due to their trace metal and metalloid (TMM) content and carry the potential for pyrite and pyrrhotite to hydrate and oxidize leading to acid-enhanced chemical weathering. The objectives of this study were to compare TMMs in sulfidic schists to other co-occurring bedrock, evaluate conditions that optimize TMM rock weathering, and examine streamwater TMMs in relation to bedrock lithology and human development in eleven streams across central Massachusetts. Sulfidic schists samples had the highest As (72 ± 46 mg kg−1), Cu (63 ± 21 mg kg−1), and Pb (63 ± 33 mg kg−1) concentrations. Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) images show As and Pb were widely distributed across silicate and sulfide minerals in both the mica schist and sulfidic schists, not exclusively hosted in sulfide minerals as hypothesized. Batch reactors had TMM dissolution rates an order of magnitude higher for sulfidic schists than granite and mica schists. Furthermore, TMM dissolution was greatest under pH 9 than pH 7 or pH 5 and dissolution rates were two times greater under anoxic conditions compared to oxic conditions. Streamwater concentrations of As (0.01 to 10.3 μg L−1), Cu (0.2 to 206 μg L−1), and Pb (0.001 to 8.3 μg L−1) were below Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards. Across the eleven watersheds, % sulfidic schists were positively correlated with mean streamwater S and Cu concentrations and area-normalized annual export. Streamwater As and Pb concentrations were significantly correlated with %Developed land and %Mica schist, which strongly covaried. Our study confirmed the elevated abundance of TMMs in sulfidic schists but laboratory experiments suggest the precipitation of amorphous Fe oxyhydroxide phases decreased dissolved TMMs during oxic weathering. Future work will need to incorporate groundwater and stable isotope systems to separate anthropogenic and geogenic analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ari vent field (AVF) is an ultramafic-hosted seafloor massive sulfide (SMS) deposit in the middle part of the Central Indian Ridge. In this paper, we describe the detailed mineralogy and geochemistry of hydrothermal sulfide samples from the AVF, which can be classified into Fe–Cu- and Cu-rich types based on the major sulfide minerals. Sulfide mineralisation of the former type comprises: (1) stage I, early deposition of magnetite, pyrrhotite, isocubanite, chalcopyrite, and subhedral–euhedral pyrite under high-temperature fluid conditions (> 335 °C); (2) stage II, deposition of colloform pyrite, sphalerite, galena, and electrum from low-temperature fluids (< 200 °C) during the later mineralisation stage; and (3) stage III, seawater alteration that caused the precipitation of uraninite and chalcocite. This indicates that the fluids in the AVF had decreasing temperature and ƒS2 and increasing ƒO2 as mineralisation proceeded. The Cu-rich sulfide samples have mineral assemblages and a paragenesis similar to those of the Fe–Cu-rich sulfide samples, but the higher proportion of isocubanite is indicative of relatively high-temperatures and reducing conditions during mineralisation. Bulk chemical compositions of the AVF sulfides are characterised by high U contents (up to 51.9 ppm) and a distinct Sn distribution (2.1–86.4 ppm) between the two different types of hydrothermal samples, which differ from those of other ultramafic-hosted sulfide deposits. The U content is controlled mainly by the precipitation of discrete uraninite grains (< 1 μm in size) on altered surfaces of pyrite and hematite. The oxidative alteration of Fe-bearing minerals caused the fixation of seawater-derived U. Laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry analysis showed that most trace elements occur in solid solution in the sulfide minerals, mainly controlled by the physicochemical conditions of the hydrothermal fluids (e.g. temperature, ƒS2, and ƒO2). In particular, a comparative analysis of other mid-ocean ridge systems shows that the ultramafic-hosted sphalerite and pyrite are more enriched in Sn as compared with those hosted by basaltic rocks. However, the Fe–Cu-rich sulfide samples of the AVF are Sn-poor (< 10.2 ppm), because pyrite is substantially depleted in Sn (mostly < 1 ppm) as compared with sphalerite, regardless of the effect of the ultramafic-hosted mineralisation. This indicates that in situ trace element analysis of sphalerite and pyrite, especially for Sn, can provide insights into the different hydrothermal mineralisation in basaltic- and ultramafic-hosted systems, which cannot necessarily be inferred from bulk analysis. Our comparison also suggests that the Sn contents of ultramafic-hosted SMS deposits would be a possible source of Sn for the ultramafic-hosted volcanogenic massive sulfide (UM-VMS) deposit. The δ34S values (+ 6.2 to + 8.5‰) of the pyrite record thermochemical sulfate reduction of seawater, which suggests that sulfur and most metals were predominantly leached from the associated host rocks with a contribution (29–40%) from reduced seawater sulfur. In conclusion, the AVF is a rock-dominated system that contains ultramafic-hosted mineralisation in the Central Indian Ridge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbially assisted bio-oxidation of sulfide concentrates in stirred-tank reactors (stirred-tank reactor bio-oxidation (STRB)) and acid pressure oxidation (POX) are widely used to pretreat refractory sulfide concentrates and increase gold extraction via cyanidation. Continuous STRB requires a comparatively long residence time; however, in some cases, it cannot effectively oxidize some sulfide minerals. POX enables oxidation in a short residence time. At the same time, if a processed concentrate contains a large amount of sulfur, it decreases the ratio of the solid mineral phase to liquid (pulp density) during POX and limits its economic attractiveness. In the present work, experiments were performed to investigate the problems associated with both processing methods for refractory sulfide concentrates. The experiments combined both treatments (STRB and POX) based on the example of a pyrite–arsenopyrite gold-bearing concentrate. The gold recovery from the untreated concentrate via cyanidation reached 58%. Continuous STRB for 2, 4, and 6 days oxidized 43, 74, and 79% of the sulfide sulfur (Ss), respectively. The gold recovery rates from the bio-oxidation residues were 68, 82, and 88%, respectively. The pressure oxidation of both the concentrate and STRB residues increased Ss oxidation by 97–99% and gold recovery by 96–97%. For 2 days, STRB decreased the Ss content and increased the possible liquid-to-solid ratio for POX. The combined processes result in a new promising direction because the POX stage allows high gold recovery, whereas combining STRB and POX provides products for further POX in terms of Ss content and increases POX productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The North Singhbhum Mobile Belt (NSMB) in the eastern Indian shield is an excellent example of a diverse lithological domain with multiphase shear/fracture zones. It is a well-acknowledged prospective region known for various mineralizations, e.g., Cu, Au, U, and Fe. The present study was conducted in the Babaikundi–Birgaon Axis (a shear and fracture zone within NSMB) within Babaikundi village. The study suggests that anomalous zones are possibly related to gold-associated sulfide mineralization using photomicrography and geophysical methods such as magnetic, self-potential (SP), and very low-frequency (VLF) electromagnetic (EM) methods. Photomicrography on quartz samples and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) Backscattered-Electron (BSE) images show that gold particles are present in the quartz reef vein in Babaikundi. Magnetic data are presented in the total magnetic intensity (TMI), upward continuation, and analytical signal maps. VLF-EM data were analyzed using different processing techniques to delineate anomalous auriferous zones. Furthermore, the SP data were inverted using the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Very Fast Simulated Annealing (VFSA), and Genetic Algorithm (GA) approaches for comparative study of the resultant model parameters and their suitability considering a 2D inverted resistivity section derived using VLF-EM. The photomicrography study indicates the existence of gold/ pyrite/pyrrhotite within the Babaikundi–Birgaon axis, which corresponds to a low magnetic anomaly based on a magnetic study; a high current density, a high Fraser value, and a low resistivity based on the VLF-EM study; and a negative SP value was found based on the SP study. The combined study generally supports mapping auriferous zones and demarcates the Babaikundi–Birgaon axis within the Babaikundi–Birgaon area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the increasing complexity and dilution of copper resources, a large number of refractory polymetallic complex chalcopyrite are produced. In this study for resolving puzzle in oxygen pressure acid leaching of polymetallic complex chalcopyrite, such as prone to produce dangerous solid wastes like lead jarosite and high iron content in leaching solution, the technology of hydrothermal leaching under oxygen pressure without acid is proposed to extract copper efficiently and selectively and to precipitate iron by hematite process simultaneously. The results show that under the experimental conditions of initial sulfuric acid concentration of 0 g/L, reaction temperature of 200 °C, oxygen partial pressure of 1.2 MPa, liquid–solid ratio of 10 mL/g, sodium lignosulfonate addition of 0.5 pct mass of raw material, leaching time of 120 minutes, and stirring speed of 400 r/min, copper leaching rate can reach 99.86 pct. At this time, the iron content of leaching solution is only 4.3 g/L; Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), porphyrite (Cu5FeS4), pyrite (FeS2), galena (PbS), and other mineral phases can completely react in the system to form corresponding metal sulfate, and Fe3+ is converted to hematite by directed hydrolysis, thus inhibiting the generation of dangerous solid waste such as lead jarosite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supergene hydrous sulfate minerals form through the oxygenation and weathering of primary sulfides. In the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau region, with an alpine and dry environment, hydrous sulfate minerals oxidized from pyrite-bearing ore bodies provide important clues regarding the mineralization and environment. The Tuolugou sedimentary-exhalative (SEDEX) Co-Au deposit is located in the East Kunlun metallogenic belt of the northern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in China. In the mining district, pyrite is the prevalent Co-hosting sulfide mineral, and is partially exposed on the surface to weathering and oxidation. Herein, we document the mineral assemblages in the supergene oxidation zone in the Tuolugou deposit, probe the genesis of supergene assemblage, and explore the implications for exploration. Three zones can be recognized in the oxidation zone of the Tuolugou deposit, including the outer zone (natrojarosite), intermediate zone (rozenite and aplowite), and inner zone (roemerite and melanterite). The mechanism of oxidation under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, as well as zoning with different oxidation degrees, are described in detail. Hydrous sulfates such as natrojarosite can be used as possible indicators of the exploration of albitite-related SEDEX deposit in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The galvanic interaction of gold and associated sulfide minerals in thiocyanate systems has a significant impact on gold leaching. The density functional theory was used to further reveal the galvanic interaction between gold and associated minerals. The electron transfer between gold and its associated minerals at different galvanic interaction distances was simulated. The results show that with the increase of the contact distance between pyrite and gold, the charge of pyrite increases, indicating that it is losing electrons gradually; the charge of arsenopyrite and chalcocite decreases with the rise of the contact distance between gold and pyrite, suggesting that they are gaining electrons. In addition, gold has the greatest influence on the gain and loss of electrons in pyrite and arsenopyrite and has the least influence on chalcocite. Through the calculation of the density of states, it is found that different distances of galvanic interaction have a great influence on the density of states of surface atoms under the action of pyrite and arsenopyrite with gold but have little effect on the density of states of surface atoms under the action of chalcocite with gold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Wawa Gold Corridor, a series of Archean orogenic Au deposits in the Michipicoten greenstone belt, Canada, comprises two styles of Au mineralization: (1) syn-deformation gold associated with pyrite and arsenopyrite; and (2) late- to post-deformation gold associated with chalcopyrite and Bi-Te(-S) phases. Through petrographic and mineral–chemical analysis, it was determined that gold in the latter assemblages precipitated from Bi-rich polymetallic melts during hydrothermal overprinting of the earlier Au-As-S mineralization; this event was likely driven by the emplacement of Archean lamprophyres. The formation and evolution of these melts was governed by fluid–pyrite reaction interfaces, where the bulk composition of the melts was broadly controlled by the trace-element chemistry of the sulphide minerals in the local host rocks. This suggests that the melt-formation event involved mobilization of existing metal endowments related to early Au events, rather than addition of new Au, Bi, and Te. Thus, the deposition of high-grade Au by Bi-rich melts was dependent on pre-existing sulphide mineralization, both as a source of metals and as micro-environments that stabilized the melts. The paragenesis documented in the Wawa Gold Corridor (i.e., early hydrothermal Au-As-S mineralization and late melt-related Au-Bi-Te mineralization) has been previously recognized in numerous other orogenic and non-orogenic Au deposits. Herein, it is suggested that this apparent consistency in the timing of melt events across multiple systems probably reflects the physicochemical conditions (i.e., fO2-aH2S) of orogenic fluids being incompatible with molten Bi. Bi-rich polymetallic melts are hence unlikely to form primary Au mineralization in orogenic systems but can, however, have a significant impact on the ultimate deposit-scale distribution of Au via secondary mobilization and enrichment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-grade polymetallic chalcopyrite ore has a high lead and iron content and a low softening point, which is difficult to treat using conventional pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processes. In order to investigate the suitable methodology for efficient utilization, it was pelletized with CaO for oxidation roasting in the present work. By controlling the Po2 and Pso2 in the gas phase, the metal sulfide in the ore was converted into easily soluble metal oxide, the thermal analysis of the roasting process was carried out and the acid leaching of the extracted calcine at atmospheric pressure was investigated. The results show that by pelletizing with CaO and then roasting at 800 °C for 1 h, chalcopyrite is converted into CuO, which can be easily dissolved, galena and pyrite are converted into PbO2 and Fe2O3, respectively, and sulfur reacts with CaO and turns into CaSO4, which can fix the sulfur in the calcine. The copper leaching rate of calcine can reach 98.60 wt.% under atmospheric pressure in the H2SO4-H2O system. CaO can increase the softening point of raw materials, improve the roasting effect, promote the phase transformation of chalcopyrite in the oxidation process, and convert sulfur into CaSO4 to fix sulfur, effectively avoiding SO2 pollution to the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Au mineralization in the Kubi Gold Mining Area in the Birimian of Ghana is associated with garnet (about 85 vol.%), magnetite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, and sulfide minerals, as well as quartz with gold and calcite. These minerals and the included elements can act as indicator minerals or pathfinder elements. For the present work, we collected samples from drill holes at different depths, from the alluvial zone (0–45 m) to the ore zone (75–100 m). The distributions of minerals and elements in the rocks that act as indicator minerals and pathfinder elements in the concession area were investigated along the drill hole cross sections. X-ray diffraction shows that the samples contain garnet, pyrite, periclase, and quartz as the main indicator minerals. By energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fe, Mg, Al, S, O, Mn, Na, Cu, Si, and K are identified as corresponding pathfinder elements. The results indicate that the Au mineralization in the Kubi Mine area correlates mostly with the occurrence of garnet, pyrite, goethite, and kaolinite in the host rocks, which show towards the surface increasingly hematitic and limonitic alteration in form of Fe(oxy-)hydroxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cenozoic-age Makum coal from northeastern India offers numerous research opportunities because of its diverse geochemical and geological characteristics. Due to its high sulfur content, the coal has been found to be less useful for industrial purposes. It can, however, serve as a hub for ongoing research on coal-based derivative products. The aim of this research work is to investigate the mineralogical and geochemical compositions of the coal, mine overburden (MOB) and shale samples taken from the Makum coal field and also on establishing a mutual relationship between them. To characterize the geochemical controlling factors of the Makum coal field, the study employs coal petrography, FTIR, mineralogical, and geochemical analysis. According to X-ray diffraction analysis, the major minerals like quartz, kaolinite, haematite, illite, pyrite, and calcite are present in coal and MOB. Pyrite is observed by SEM–EDS analysis as cubic-shaped particles that are smaller than a few µm in size. The presence of sulfide minerals represents a phase of pyrite mineralization. The petrography study was used to better understand the environment that existed during the formation of the plant material, which aids us in determining the quantity of detrital mineral sediment contained in the coal. According to the ICP-MS analysis, the samples indicate significant levels of rare earth elements including yttrium. The present study reveals higher concentrations of potential hazardous elements in the coal samples, with V, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Zn content in coal being considerably enriched compared to world-average concentrations. The correlation analysis reveals that the potential hazardous elements like Co, Ni, As, and Cu are associated with pyrite as they have strong affinity towards pyrite. Thus, numerous minerals and rare earth elements (REEs) exist, opening up a fresh avenue for more research in the area. This study also assists researchers in understanding the significance of Makum coal and provides numerous ideas for coal characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process mineralogy of a copper-molybdenum mixed concentrate in Tibet was studied by means of chemical analysis， microscopic analysis and MLA analysis. The research shows that the mixed concentrate contains 19.00% copper and 0.38% molybdenum， and both copper and molybdenum mainly exist in the form of sulfide. Pyrite， chalcopyrite and bornite are the main minerals in the mixed concentrate， with molybdenite present at a content of 1.0%.The grinding fineness of the mixed concentrate is extremely fine， and the degree of dissociation of molybdenite is excellent. Additionally， a small part of molybdenite exists in coexistence with chalcopyrite and pyrite. The research results provide theoretical guidance for on-site copper-molybdenum separation and transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dengjiashan is a large‐scale Pb–Zn deposit discovered in the western part of the Xicheng ore field within the West Qinling metallogenic belt. Information regarding the distribution and occurrence of trace elements in ore minerals and mineralization, as well as the genesis of this deposit, remains scarce. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) analysis and elemental mapping were used to determine the distribution and occurrence of trace elements in the sulfide minerals of the Dengjiashan deposit, as well as delineate the process of its genesis. Our results showed that the trace elements enriched in the different sulfides were significantly different. Sphalerite is the main carrier mineral of the scattered elements Cd, Ge and Ga. Based on the trace element content and ratio, principal component analysis and colour of the sphalerite and pyrite, the deposit likely formed in a medium‐temperature environment. The comparative analysis of trace elements from multiple deposits of different origins, combined with the geological characteristics and distribution of sulfide trace elements, suggests that Dengjiashan is a sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX)‐type deposit. As the metallogenic process had a closer relationship to medium‐low temperature hot brine and later tectonic metamorphic hydrothermal fluid, than with magmatic hydrothermal fluid, the deposit is likely of non‐magmatic SEDEX–hot brine superimposed transition origin. This study provides additional insight on the distribution of trace elements in the sulfide minerals of the Dengjiashan deposit, as well as the processes that led to its formation, and may further facilitate ongoing and future key metal prospecting and exploration efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prediction of band edge potentials in photocatalytic materials is an important but challenging task. In contrast, bandgaps can be easily determined through absorption spectra. Here, we present two simple theoretical approaches for the determination of band edge potentials which are based on the electron negativity and work function of each constituent atom. We use these approaches to determine band edge potentials in semiconducting metallic oxides and sulfides, such as titanium dioxide (TiO2), chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), pyrite (FeS2), covellite (CuS), and chalcocite (Cu2S) with respect to an absolute scale (eV) and an electrochemical scale (V). Until now, there is little information on iron and copper sulfides referring to these thermodynamic parameters. TiO2 (Titania p25) was used as reference semiconductor to validate the calculation procedures using experimental values by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), diffuse reflectance spectrometry (DRS), and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR). The production of key chemical species such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive sulfur species (RSS) has been theoretically and experimentally determined by EPR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]