A primary study on the current status and mineralization regularities of associated Te and Se resources in porphyry-skarn Cu polymetallic deposits in the Middle-Lower Yangtze River Valley metallogenic belt,China
In porphyry-skarn copper polymetallic deposits,there are commonly large amounts of associated Te and Se resources which contributed almost all of the global current Te and Se production.However,the mineralization regularities of associated Te and Se in those deposits are poorly understood.Numerous copper polymetallic deposits in the Middle-Lower Yangtze River Valley metallogenic belt(MLYRB)contain associated Se and/or Te resources.However,researches on current status,occurrence state,and the mineralization regularity of those associated Te and Se resources are notably limited.Based on previous research data,we have estimated the amounts of associated Te and Se resources in the MLYRB and explored occurrence states,distribution regularities and mineralization regularities of those associated Te and Se.At present,the amounts of associated Te and Se resources in the MLYRB are 9,061 and 10,574 metric tons,respectively,which are equivalent to resources of 18 large Te deposits and 21 large Se deposits.A portion of these mineral resources has been recovered and utilized.Especially,the largest amounts of associated Te and Se resources are found in the Jiurui ore district.Te and Se occurred mainly in forms of independent minerals,with four types of Te minerals and two types of Se minerals in terms of the occurrence state.These independent Te and Se minerals were formed in the sulfide mineralization stages.Two types of Se minerals were mianly formed in the late sulfide mineralization stage.Based on the relative scale of resources,three types of Te and Se deposits including the selenium deposit,Te-Se deposit,and Se-Te deposit have been classified in the MLYRB.Specifically,from the center(intrusive body)to the outer zone,the Te and Se contents are generally increased from the porphyry-type ore bodies,to skarn ore bodies,to carbonate replacement-type ore bodies.This paper provides an initial insight into the mineralization regularities of Te and Se in the MLYRB.It offers a scientific basis for resource assessment and mineral exploration of Te and Se resources.It is suggested that researches on the enrichment mechanisms of Te and Se resources with in the porphyry-skarn copper-gold metallogenic system should be strengthened in the future.
Te and Se mineralizationresourceoccurrence statemineralization regularitythe Middle-Lower Yangtze River Valley metallogenic belt