Ultraviolet-photoluminescence and trace element analyses in Ga-rich sphalerite from the Djebel Gustar Zn-Pb deposit, Algeria

Šoster, Aleš (avtor), Bertrandsson Erlandsson, Viktor (avtor), Velojić, Miloš (avtor), Gopon, Phillip (avtor)

The Djebel Gustar Zn-Pb deposit in northeastern Algeria is one of many carbonate-hosted base metal deposits in the Atlas metallogenic province of North Africa. The sphalerite in this deposit occurs in five distinct types that differ in texture, mineral assemblage, chemical composition, and UV photoluminescence signature. Detailed investigation of trace elements by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) showed that the sphalerite is significantly enriched in the critical metal Ga. The trace element concentrations of the different sphalerite types correlated well with their photoluminescence color; with Mn$^{2+}$ (orange-yellow), Cu$^+$ (green), and Ga$^{3+}$ (red) being the dominant activators. We suggest that the Ga enrichment in the Djebel Gustar deposit is the result of formation conditions that include the mixing of a Cl-rich fluid carrying mainly Zn and Pb with a more reduced and Cl-poor fluid containing considerable organic matter and/or calcite with adsorbed Ga(OH)$_3$. This Ga was subsequently incorporated into sphalerite, rather than forming a stoichiometric Ga phase. Furthermore, our study demonstrates that UV photoluminescence of low Fe sphalerite has the potential to become a simple and affordable tool for preliminary characterization of sphalerite ores in mining and exploration with respect to critical elements such as Ga.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: sphalerite, gallium, mineral chemistry, critical metal, LA-ICP-MS
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: NTF - Naravoslovnotehniška fakulteta
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2023
• Št. strani: 14 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 157, art. 105474
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-148650
• UDK: 55
• ISSN pri članku: 0169-1368
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oregeorev.2023.105474
• COBISS.SI-ID: 151214595
• Datum objave v RUL: 28.08.2023

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Ore geology reviews
• Skrajšan naslov: Ore geol. rev.
• Založnik: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0169-1368
• COBISS.SI-ID: 1242133

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.