Mineral Composition and Geochemical Analysis of Sulfosalts
Summary
Sulfosalts represent a diverse class of metal sulphide minerals in which semi-metal atoms (for example arsenic, antimony and bismuth) enter the anionic framework alongside sulphur. Their structures range from trigonally to cubically coordinated polyhedral networks, hosting a variety of base and precious metals. The mineral composition of sulfosalts is controlled by temperature, pressure and fluid chemistry, giving rise to extensive solid solutions and rare end-member species. Modern microanalytical techniques—electron probe microanalysis, laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and single-crystal X-ray diffraction—have elucidated cation distributions, trace element partitioning and structural order–disorder phenomena. Geochemical studies of fluid inclusions, stable isotopes and sulphur fugacity constraints reveal the evolution of ore-forming fluids, from high-temperature magmatic brines to low-temperature hydrothermal solutions. These insights underpin exploration models for copper, lead, silver and gold deposits worldwide and inform metallurgical processing strategies for critical element recovery.
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Mineral Composition and Geochemical Analysis of Sulfosalts publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in mineral composition and geochemical analysis of sulfosalts across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Sulfosalt: A complex sulphide mineral in which semi-metal atoms substitute for sulphur within a metal–sulphur framework.
Tetrahedrite group: A family of cubic sulfosalts with general formula M12X4S13 (X = As, Sb, Bi), characterised by tetrahedrally coordinated metal sites.
Fluid inclusion: A microscopic pocket of aqueous or mixed fluid trapped within a mineral, preserving information on temperature, pressure and solute chemistry during crystallization.
Sulphur fugacity: A measure of the effective partial pressure or chemical activity of sulphur species in geological fluids, controlling sulphide and sulfosalt stability.
References
- Tetrahedrite-(Cd), Cu6(Cu4Cd2)Sb4S13, from Radětice near Příbram, Czech Republic: the new Cd member of the tetrahedrite group. European Journal of Mineralogy (2023).
- Tennantite-(Cu), Cu12As4S13, from Layo, Arequipa Department, Peru: a new addition to the tetrahedrite-group minerals. Mineralogical Magazine (2022).
- Mineralogical and Fluid Inclusion Evidence for Reworking of Au Mineralization by Ag-Sb-Base Metal-Rich Fluids from the Bytíz Deposit, Příbram Uranium and Base-Metal Ore District, Czech Republic. Minerals (2022).
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