Hyperspectral cathodoluminescence study of indium-bearing sphalerite from the Mt Carlton high-sulphidation epithermal deposit, Queensland, Australia

Sahlström, Fredrik, Blake, Kevin, Corral, Isaac, and Chang, Zhaoshan (2017) Hyperspectral cathodoluminescence study of indium-bearing sphalerite from the Mt Carlton high-sulphidation epithermal deposit, Queensland, Australia. European Journal of Mineralogy, 29 (6). pp. 985-993.

[img] PDF (Published Version) - Published Version
Restricted to Repository staff only

View at Publisher Website: https://doi.org/10.1127/ejm/2017/0029-26...
 
8
2


Abstract

Sphalerite is the most important host mineral for the recovery of indium. New techniques to study the presence and distribution of this critical metal in sphalerite can therefore be of interest for scientific and technological purposes alike. In this study we use the emerging tool of hyperspectral cathodoluminescence (CL) mapping, combined with X-ray element mapping and spot analyses, to characterise the composition and CL properties of indium-bearing sphalerite from the Mt Carlton high-sulphidation epithermal deposit (NE Queensland, Australia). Mt Carlton sphalerite contains highly elevated concentrations of indium (up to 19.59 wt%) occurring within similar to 1 mu m thick colloform bands, which show an average composition of (Zn0.63Cu0.20In0.15Ga0.01) S-0.96. Indium, Cu and Ga are interpreted to have been incorporated via the coupled substitution 2Zn(2+)<-> Cu+(In, Ga) (3+). Hyperspectral CL mapping reveals a high-intensity CL emission directly related to In-Cu-(Ga)-rich sphalerite, centred at wavelengths between similar to 500 and similar to 600 nm. The CL peak is shifted to the higher-wavelength positions when the proportion of In relative to Cu increases. Our study shows that hyperspectral CL mapping is a powerful and efficient technique to study the distribution of In in sphalerite.

Item ID: 53550
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1617-4011
Keywords: cathodoluminescence, hyperspectral, sphalerite, indium, gallium, copper, Mt Carlton, high-sulphidation, epithermal
Related URLs:
Additional Information:

A version of this publication was included as Chapter 4 of the following PhD thesis: Sahlström, Fredrik (2018) The Mt Carlton high-sulfidation epithermal deposit, NE Australia: geologic character, genesis and implications for exploration. PhD thesis, James Cook University, which is available Open Access in ResearchOnline@JCU. Please see the Related URLs for access.

Funders: Geological Survey of Queensland, Evolution Mining
Date Deposited: 09 May 2018 08:05
FoR Codes: 37 EARTH SCIENCES > 3705 Geology > 370505 Mineralogy and crystallography @ 50%
37 EARTH SCIENCES > 3705 Geology > 370508 Resource geoscience @ 50%
SEO Codes: 84 MINERAL RESOURCES (excl. Energy Resources) > 8401 Mineral Exploration > 840105 Precious (Noble) Metal Ore Exploration @ 20%
84 MINERAL RESOURCES (excl. Energy Resources) > 8401 Mineral Exploration > 840102 Copper Ore Exploration @ 80%
Downloads: Total: 2
More Statistics

Actions (Repository Staff Only)

Item Control Page Item Control Page