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Geoscience ›› 2025, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (01): 115-132.DOI: 10.19657/j.geoscience.1000-8527.2024.022

• Mineral Deposit • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Characteristics and Significance of Trace Elements in Metal Sulfides from the Zhaxikang Sb-Pb-Zn-Ag Deposit, Xizang

LIU Zi’an1(), WANG Da1(), MA Guotao2, WEI Shoucai3, SHI Gongwen4, JIA Lanxiang4, JIANG Chengkai1   

  1. 1. School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
    2. Chengdu Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, China Geological Survey, Chengdu, Sichuan 610081, China
    3. Second Geological Brigade, Bureau of Geology and Mineral Exploration and Development of Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa, Xizang 850000, China
    4. Huayu Mining Company, Lhasa, Xizang 850000, China
  • Online:2025-02-10 Published:2025-02-20
  • Contact: WANG Da

Abstract:

The ore genesis of the Zhaxikang Sb-Pb-Zn-Ag deposit, the first super-large deposit in the North Himalayan Metallogenic Belt, remains highly debated. Moreover, many associated elements have not been fully utilized during the mining and beneficiation processes. Based on mineralogical and petrographic studies, in-situ trace element analysis of sphalerite, galena, pyrite, boulangerite, and stibnite from the Zhaxikang deposit was conducted using electron microprobe (EPMA), elemental mapping, and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), aiming to provide theoretical basis for the comprehensive utilization of associated elements and to resolve the controversy on ore genesis. The results show that Cd is enriched in sphalerite, galena, and boulangerite, and Ag is enriched in all five types of metal sulfides. Therefore, in the ore dressing process, attention should not only be paid to the extraction of Ag from galena, but also to the comprehensive utilization of Ag in pyrite, boulangerite, sphalerite, and stibnite, as well as Cd in sphalerite, galena, and boulangerite, to improve the overall utilization rate and reduce environmental risks. In addition, Cu and Sn are enriched in sphalerite and stibnite, while Bi is enriched in galena, pyrite, and boulangerite, but their low enrichment coefficients limit their recovery value. Other trace elements are present in low average concentrations, mostly below 10×10-6. The element composition discrimination diagrams of the sulfide minerals reveal that the Zhaxikang Sb-Pb-Zn-Ag deposit is similar to SEDEX-type deposits. The Fe-Zn contents (3.23%-12.10%, 53.63%-67.89%) of sphalerite are consistent with mesothermal hydrothermal deposits (mineralization temperature is about 200 ℃). The Ga/Ge ratio indicates a metallogenic temperature range of 185-200 ℃, and the Zn/Cd ratio (137.33-679.00) suggests that the Zhaxikang deposit is a low-intermediate temperature hydrothermal deposit. In conclusion, the Pb-Zn mineralization of the Zhaxikang Sb-Pb-Zn-Ag deposit is most likely the SEDEX type. This study provides new perspectives and data support for the debate on the ore genesis of the Zhaxikang deposit and proposes a scheme for the comprehensive utilization of ores in mining and beneficiation processes, which is significant for mineral resource development and environmental protection.

Key words: Zhaxikang Sb-Pb-Zn-Ag deposit, elemental analysis, resource optimization, ore genesis, SEDEX-type deposit

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