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Pyrite, the most abundant sulfide on Earth and a common component of gold deposits, can be a significant host for refractory gold. This is the first documentation of pore-attached, composite Au-telluride nanoparticles in "arsenic-free" pyrite. Trace elements mapping in pyrite from an intrusion-hosted Au deposit with orogenic overprint (Dongping, China) shows trails of tellurides overlapping Co-Ni-zonation. Intragranular microfracturing, anomalous anisotropy, and high porosity are all features consistent with devolatilization attributable to the orogenic event. The pyrite-hosted nanoparticles are likely the "frozen," solid expression of Te-rich, Au-Ag-Pb-bearing vapors discharged at this stage. Nanoparticle formation, as presented here, provides the "smallest-scale" tool to fingerprint Au-trapping during crustal metamorphism.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Earth Sciences
Research Group:	Geochemistry
Research Field:	Inorganic geochemistry
Objective Division:	Mineral Resources (Excl. Energy Resources)
Objective Group:	Mineral exploration
Objective Field:	Precious (noble) metal ore exploration
UTAS Author:	Gilbert, S (Ms Sarah Gilbert)
ID Code:	81376
Year Published:	2012
Web of Science® Times Cited:	108
Deposited By:	Centre for Ore Deposit Research - CODES CoE
Deposited On:	2012-12-04
Last Modified:	2013-04-04
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