Gold, arsenic, and copper zoning in pyrite: A record of fluid chemistry and growth kinetics
Chemical zoning in minerals records fluid-rock interaction and crystal growth kinetics via texturally complex features, the genesis of which remains a subject of debate. Here, we combined nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) and atom probe tomography to better characterize trace-elem...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
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GEOLOGICAL SOC AMER, INC
2019
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/79362 |
| _version_ | 1848764037943263232 |
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| author | Wu, Y.F. Fougerouse, Denis Evans, Katy Reddy, Steven Saxey, David Guagliardo, P. Li, J.W. |
| author_facet | Wu, Y.F. Fougerouse, Denis Evans, Katy Reddy, Steven Saxey, David Guagliardo, P. Li, J.W. |
| author_sort | Wu, Y.F. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Chemical zoning in minerals records fluid-rock interaction and crystal growth kinetics via texturally complex features, the genesis of which remains a subject of debate. Here, we combined nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) and atom probe tomography to better characterize trace-element zoning in a gold (Au)-rich pyrite crystal from the Daqiao epizonal orogenic Au deposit, China. Observations on the micron to atomic scale were used to recognize the multiple processes and mechanisms that created the zoning. Chemically distinct, micron-scale concentric zones of pyrite formed in response to changing fluid composition in a dynamic hydraulic fracturing environment. At a smaller scale, within an Au-rich zone, sector zones of Au, As, and Cu at the micron to sub-micron scale were controlled by the structure of the crystal surface. Micron-scale patchy distribution of Au, As, and Cu and atomic-scale transitions from homogeneous to heterogeneous "island" arsenian pyrite formed as a consequence of heteroepitaxial Stranski-Krastanov growth. Nanoscale Au oscillatory zoning is interpreted as a consequence of diffusion-limited self-organization processes at the crystal-fluid interface. The multiple scales of observation enabled us to see how kinetically driven intrinsic processes interacted with extrinsic factors (e.g., pressure decreases) to produce the complexity in mineral zoning. Nanoscale heterogeneities in Au, As, and Cu present as solid solution in pyrite suggest that interpretation of spikes on microbeam-derived depth-concentration profiles as metallic particles should be treated with caution. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:13:00Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-79362 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:13:00Z |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| publisher | GEOLOGICAL SOC AMER, INC |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-793622020-07-07T00:46:24Z Gold, arsenic, and copper zoning in pyrite: A record of fluid chemistry and growth kinetics Wu, Y.F. Fougerouse, Denis Evans, Katy Reddy, Steven Saxey, David Guagliardo, P. Li, J.W. Science & Technology Physical Sciences Geology TRACE-ELEMENT CARLIN-TYPE SULFUR ISOTOPES MODEL DEPOSIT Chemical zoning in minerals records fluid-rock interaction and crystal growth kinetics via texturally complex features, the genesis of which remains a subject of debate. Here, we combined nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) and atom probe tomography to better characterize trace-element zoning in a gold (Au)-rich pyrite crystal from the Daqiao epizonal orogenic Au deposit, China. Observations on the micron to atomic scale were used to recognize the multiple processes and mechanisms that created the zoning. Chemically distinct, micron-scale concentric zones of pyrite formed in response to changing fluid composition in a dynamic hydraulic fracturing environment. At a smaller scale, within an Au-rich zone, sector zones of Au, As, and Cu at the micron to sub-micron scale were controlled by the structure of the crystal surface. Micron-scale patchy distribution of Au, As, and Cu and atomic-scale transitions from homogeneous to heterogeneous "island" arsenian pyrite formed as a consequence of heteroepitaxial Stranski-Krastanov growth. Nanoscale Au oscillatory zoning is interpreted as a consequence of diffusion-limited self-organization processes at the crystal-fluid interface. The multiple scales of observation enabled us to see how kinetically driven intrinsic processes interacted with extrinsic factors (e.g., pressure decreases) to produce the complexity in mineral zoning. Nanoscale heterogeneities in Au, As, and Cu present as solid solution in pyrite suggest that interpretation of spikes on microbeam-derived depth-concentration profiles as metallic particles should be treated with caution. 2019 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/79362 10.1130/G46114.1 English GEOLOGICAL SOC AMER, INC restricted |
| spellingShingle | Science & Technology Physical Sciences Geology TRACE-ELEMENT CARLIN-TYPE SULFUR ISOTOPES MODEL DEPOSIT Wu, Y.F. Fougerouse, Denis Evans, Katy Reddy, Steven Saxey, David Guagliardo, P. Li, J.W. Gold, arsenic, and copper zoning in pyrite: A record of fluid chemistry and growth kinetics |
| title | Gold, arsenic, and copper zoning in pyrite: A record of fluid chemistry and growth kinetics |
| title_full | Gold, arsenic, and copper zoning in pyrite: A record of fluid chemistry and growth kinetics |
| title_fullStr | Gold, arsenic, and copper zoning in pyrite: A record of fluid chemistry and growth kinetics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gold, arsenic, and copper zoning in pyrite: A record of fluid chemistry and growth kinetics |
| title_short | Gold, arsenic, and copper zoning in pyrite: A record of fluid chemistry and growth kinetics |
| title_sort | gold, arsenic, and copper zoning in pyrite: a record of fluid chemistry and growth kinetics |
| topic | Science & Technology Physical Sciences Geology TRACE-ELEMENT CARLIN-TYPE SULFUR ISOTOPES MODEL DEPOSIT |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/79362 |