Textural and trace element evolution of pyrite during greenschist facies metamorphic recrystallization in the southern Apuan Alps (Tuscany, Italy): Influence on the formation of Tl-rich sulfosalt melt

George, Luke L.; Biagioni, Cristian; D’Orazio, Massimo; Cook, Nigel J.

doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2018.08.032

Cited by 68 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 107 publications

(139 reference statements)

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“…Pyrite can, however, also host a range of elements that are deleterious to processing, or which carry significance from an environmental perspective. Release of elements like Hg, or particularly Tl, [16][17][18] from pyrite can have major ramifications for environmental management around mine sites.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multivariate Statistical Analysis of Trace Elements in Pyrite: Prediction, Bias and Artefacts in Defining Mineral Signatures

et al. 2020

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Pyrite is the most common sulphide in a wide range of ore deposits and well known to host numerous trace elements, with implications for recovery of valuable metals and for generation of clean concentrates. Trace element signatures of pyrite are also widely used to understand ore-forming processes. Pyrite is an important component of the Olympic Dam Cu–U–Au–Ag orebody, South Australia. Using a multivariate statistical approach applied to a large trace element dataset derived from analysis of random pyrite grains, trace element signatures in Olympic Dam pyrite are assessed. Pyrite is characterised by: (i) a Ag–Bi–Pb signature predicting inclusions of tellurides (as PC1); and (ii) highly variable Co–Ni ratios likely representing an oscillatory zonation pattern in pyrite (as PC2). Pyrite is a major host for As, Co and probably also Ni. These three elements do not correlate well at the grain-scale, indicating high variability in zonation patterns. Arsenic is not, however, a good predictor for invisible Au at Olympic Dam. Most pyrites contain only negligible Au, suggesting that invisible gold in pyrite is not commonplace within the deposit. A minority of pyrite grains analysed do, however, contain Au which correlates with Ag, Bi and Te. The results are interpreted to reflect not only primary patterns but also the effects of multi-stage overprinting, including cycles of partial replacement and recrystallisation. The latter may have caused element release from the pyrite lattice and entrapment as mineral inclusions, as widely observed for other ore and gangue minerals within the deposit. Results also show the critical impact on predictive interpretations made from statistical analysis of large datasets containing a large percentage of left-censored values (i.e., those falling below the minimum limits of detection). The treatment of such values in large datasets is critical as the number of these values impacts on the cluster results. Trimming of datasets to eliminate artefacts introduced by left-censored data should be performed with caution lest bias be unintentionally introduced. The practice may, however, reveal meaningful correlations that might be diluted using the complete dataset.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multivariate Statistical Analysis of Trace Elements in Pyrite: Prediction, Bias and Artefacts in Defining Mineral Signatures

et al. 2020

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“…This could denote a coupled substitution 2Fe 2+ ↔ M 3+ + Tl + , where M 3+ are As 3+ and Sb 3+ . Such substitution mechanisms were suggested by [55,56] and proved by [57]. The stronger positive correlation between Tl and Sb (r = 0.98), than Tl with As (r = 0.75) supports a predominant Sb 3+ + Tl + coupled substitution.…”

Section: Colloform Pyrite Chemistry: Mode Of Occurrence Of Trace Elemmentioning

confidence: 71%

Efflorescent Sulfate Crystallization on Fractured and Polished Colloform Pyrite Surfaces: A Migration Pathway of Trace Elements

2019

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The colloform pyrite variety incorporates many trace elements that are released in the environment during rapid oxidation. Colloform pyrite from the Chiprovtsi silver-lead deposit in Bulgaria and its oxidation efflorescent products were studied using X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, electron microprobe analysis, and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Pyrite is enriched with (in ppm): Co (0.1ammoniomagnesiovoltaite were identified in the efflorescent sulfate assemblage. Sulfate minerals contain not only inherited elements from pyrite (Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ag, In, As, Sb, Hg, Tl, and Pb), but also newly introduced elements (Na, and Th). Voltaite group minerals, copiapite, magnesiocopiapite, and römerite incorporate most of the trace elements, especially the most hazardous As, Sb, Hg, and Tl. Colloform pyrite occurrence in the Chiprovtsi deposit is limited. Its association with marbles would further restrict the oxidation and release of hazardous elements into the environment.Minerals 2020, 10, 12 2 of 25 trace metals, such as thallium, and the production of sulfuric acid. However, its abundance makes pyrite also the major constituent of mine waste and the main contributor to the formation of acid mine drainage in some mining areas. The latter being a result of the high reactivity to oxygen and water. Pyrite oxidation [20][21][22][23][24] leads to the formation of a number of water-soluble sulfates [25][26][27][28][29][30]. Their formation in situ on pyrite-containing wastes in tailing impoundments or other waste storage facilities is more abundant but can be observed during certain environmental conditions, usually employing low humidity. However, the "colloform"/spherulitic pyrite tends to accommodate more trace elements due to the conditions of its formation (supersaturated fluids and rapid crystal growth [31][32][33][34][35][36][37]) and also oxidizes more rapidly to produce efflorescent sulfates due to the larger reactivity area.The phenomenon of sulfate crystallization on samples containing "colloform"/spherulitic pyrite during their laboratory storage gives a unique opportunity of direct observation of this process, and information to what extent the trace elements incorporated in pyrite can be mobilized into the environment and behave as pollutants.In this study, we report data on the trace element composition of colloform pyrite from the Ag-Pb Chiprovtsi deposit (NW Bulgaria) and the mineralogy and trace element composition of the efflorescent sulfates formed during its oxidation in laboratory conditions. The results are interpreted with respect to the partitioning of inherited trace elements among newly formed sulfates and their environmental significance. Geological BackgroundThe Chiprovtsi silver-lead deposit represents the central and eastern part of an ore zone that extends from the outcropping in NW-W direction Sveti Nikola granite to the E of the Zhelezna village in the Western Balkan Mountains (Bulgaria) (Figure 1). The western part of the ore zone is...

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“…These orebodies form a discontinuous mineralized belt of ~10 km with a NE-SW orientation (Figure 1). Their geological setting and geochemical features have been summarized in previous works (e.g., References [8,9]). From northeast to southwest, the main mining sites were Fornovolasco, Buca della Vena, Canale della Radice, Monte Arsiccio, and Pollone mines.…”

Section: Geological Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Geochemical data collected on the pyrite ores from the Southern Apuan Alps (Northern Tuscany, Italy) revealed the occurrence of high Tl, Sb, As, and Hg contents, as well as minor amounts of Zn, Cd, Pb, Ag, and Cu [7][8][9]. These results posed concerns about the release of these hazardous elements in the environment, as a consequence of pyrite weathering [10][11][12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Secondary Sulfates from the Monte Arsiccio Mine (Apuan Alps, Tuscany, Italy): Trace-Element Budget and Role in the Formation of Acid Mine Drainage

et al. 2021

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A suite of sulfate minerals from the Monte Arsiccio mine (Apuan Alps, Northern Tuscany, Italy), previously identified by using both X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman spectroscopy, was studied through inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), in order to determine their trace-element content. Several elements (Tl, Rb, As, Sb, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Cr) were found above the detection limits. Among them, some are important from an environmental perspective and may reach relatively high concentrations (e.g., Tl = 1370–2988 μg/g; As = 505–1680 μg/g). Thus, these sulfates may act as transient sinks for some of these potentially toxic elements, as well as for sulfate ions and acidity. Indeed, dissolution experiments revealed the ability of these secondary minerals to produce a significant pH decrease of the solutions, as well as the release of Fe, Al, and K as major ions. This work discusses the relation between the budget of trace elements and the crystal chemistry of sulfate minerals and provides new insights about the environmental role played by the sulfate dissolution in controlling the quality of water in acid mine drainage systems.

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Textural and trace element evolution of pyrite during greenschist facies metamorphic recrystallization in the southern Apuan Alps (Tuscany, Italy): Influence on the formation of Tl-rich sulfosalt melt

Cited by 68 publications

References 107 publications

Multivariate Statistical Analysis of Trace Elements in Pyrite: Prediction, Bias and Artefacts in Defining Mineral Signatures

Multivariate Statistical Analysis of Trace Elements in Pyrite: Prediction, Bias and Artefacts in Defining Mineral Signatures

Efflorescent Sulfate Crystallization on Fractured and Polished Colloform Pyrite Surfaces: A Migration Pathway of Trace Elements

Secondary Sulfates from the Monte Arsiccio Mine (Apuan Alps, Tuscany, Italy): Trace-Element Budget and Role in the Formation of Acid Mine Drainage

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