Analysis of Mineralization System and Prediction of New-Type Ore Deposits

The discovery of new-type ore deposits, an important approach to guarantee the mineral resources supply in the 21st century, often brings about a gigantic increase in the mineral resources reserves. The analysis of mineralization system is of great importance to the discovery of new type ore deposits. ① The understanding of the relationship among various ore deposit types within a mineralization system in a region can help us to locate the unknown ore deposit types from the known ore deposit types, evidence that has been proved in the mineral prospecting history of ore belts in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China. ② The understanding of the spatial structure of a mineralization system, especially of the vertical zonation, is helpful for the discovery of the concealed ore deposit types. ③ Clarifying the temporal structure of a mineralization system, including the iteration relationship between the mineral deposit types in the mineralization, leads to the location of the missing mineralization chains from the known mineralization chains (mineral deposit type), a method often proved to be effective in the magmatic hydrothermal mineralization system.④ Clarifying the factors restraining the diversity of mineral deposit types in mineralization system leads to the discovery of the potential of new type mineral deposits in relevant region. ⑤ Studying new mineralization setting and new ore forming processes leads to discovery of new type mineral deposit. More probabilities of discovery of new type mineral deposits are present in biogenic mineralization system, deep sea mineralization system, low temperature mineralization system, tectonic mineralization system and superimposed mineralization system.

A New Potential Caledonian–Indosinian Ore Concentration Area:Evidence from Diagenesis and Mineralization Ages of the Miao'ershan–Yuechengling Region

Objective The Miao＇ershan-Yuechengling composite granite, located in northern Guangxi at the western section of the Nanling Range, is a multi-period and multi-stage composite pluton with an exposed area of more than 3000 km2 （Fig. 1）. Paleozoic and Proterozoic strata are exposed around it, and magmatic activities mainly occurred during the Caledonian and Indosinian periods. Till now, more than one hundred W-Sn-Mo-Pb-Zn-Cu （U） deposits and ore occurrences have been discovered along the inner and outer contact zones of this granite. Through recent years＇ research, we infer that this area is not only a preferred area for studying granite and mineralization in Caledonian and lndosinian periods, but also a potential Caledonian- lndosinian ore-concentrated area.

New Technology “Flotation to Form Agglomerates and Magnetic Separation” Allows Great Breakthrough for World Low-Grade Light Rare Earth Ores

Rare earth resources are relatively scarce worldwide, but their global consumption is increasing year-by-year. At present, China has about 36% of the global rare earth reserves, but provides 90% of the world＇s supply, which has generally met world demand and promoted the development of the world economy. In order to continuously and stably supply rare earths to international markets, the Chinese Government has financially supported the Institute of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources within the China Geological Survey to study the utilization of low-grade rare earth ores. Following many years of experimental research, the project has developed a new technology entitled ＂Flotation to Form Agglomerates and then Magnetic Separation＂, which will bring a technological revolution to the world＇s light rare earth ore dressing.

Yixunite and Damiaoite—A Twin of New Native Alloys of Indium and Platinum from the Yanshan Mountains

Yixunite and damiaoite Were found in a cobalt- and copper-bearing platinum ore vein of a contact metasomatic deposit. The chief ore minerals are bornite, chalcopyrite, magnetite and carrollite. The platinum minerals include moncheite, sperrylite, daomanite, cobalt malanite and cooperite. Yixunite and damiaoite occur as immiscible globules, 1.0 to 2.0 mm in diameter. Yixunite is always in the central part of a globule. It is opaque with metallic lustre, bright white colour and black streak. HM = 5.8; VHN50 = 634 kg/mm2 (573-681 kg/ mm2); insoluble in HCl, HNO3, HF or H3PO4; no cleavage; no magnetism. Density is hard to measure because of small grain size. Calculated density = 18.21 g/cm3. Reflective colour is bright white with a yellowish tint. Isotropic. The mean analytical results (ranges) (%) are: Pt 82.8 (81.8-83.6), In 16.4(15.6-17.1) and total 99.2. The empirical formula (based on 4 atoms) is Pt2.993 In1.007 . The five strongest lines of X-ray diffraction (hkl, d,I) are 111, 2.30 (100); 200, 1.99 (60); 202, 1.411 (40);311, 1.203 (80); 222, 1.151(40). Space group: Pm3m with a =0.3988(3) nm and Z= 1. Damiaoite occurs as single globules or was exsolved from yixunite. Opaque with metallic lustre; bright white colour with black streak; HM = 5.3; VHN50 = 485 kg/mm2 (434-529 kg/mm2); insoluble in HC1, HNO3, HF or H3PO4; cleavage: no; magnetism: no. Density: hard to measure because of small grain size. Calculated density = 10.95 g/ cm3. Reflective colour is bright white with a yellowish tint. Isotropic. The mean analytical results (ranges) (%) are Pt 45.6 (45.4-46.0), In 53.5 (52.4-53.9), total 99.1. The empirical formula (based on 3 atoms) is Pt0.002 In1.998. The six strongest lines of X-ray diffraction (hkl.d,I) are 220,2.25 (100); 311,1.92 (60); 400,1.59 (60); 422,1.299 (80); 440,1.125 (60); 620,1.006 (70). Space group: Fm3m with a = 0.6364 (3) nm and Z = 4.

Changchengite—A New Iridium Bismuthide-Sulphide from the Yanshan Mountains

Changchengite occurs in chromite orebodies in dunite and in platinum placer deposits in chromite orebodies nearby. The mineral occurs as massive aggregates or veinlets on margins of iridisite (IrS2) and replaces it. Opaque. Lustre metallic. Colour steel-black. Streak black. Hm = 3.7. VHN20= 165 kg/ mm2. Isotropic. Cleavage none. Density 11.96 g/ cm3. Seven electron microprobe analyses give the following mean chemical results (wt. %): S 7.2, Cu 0.3, Te 0.4, Ir 41.2, Pt 2.8 and Bi 47.3 with total 99.1. The simplified formula is IrBiS. The strongest X-ray powder diffraction lines (hkl, d, I) are 210, 2.75 (70); 211, 2.51 (60); 311, 1.860 (100); 440. 1.090 (50) and 600, 1.027 (50). The X-ray powder diffraction pattern is similar to that of mayingite. After the diffraction data are indexed the mineral is determined to be cubic. The space group is P213 with a = 0.6164(4) nm, V = 0.2342 nm3 and Z = 4.

Malanite——A New Cupric Platinum (Pt^(3+)) and Iridium (Ir^(3+)) Sulphide

Malanite was first found in veinlets of disseminated copper-nickel ores inZunhua County, Hebei Province, and then in platinum-bearing chromite ores in ShuangfengVillage, Yanshan. In the former case, malanite appears as octahedrons or dodecahedrons asso-ciated with pyrrhotite, pentlandite, sperrylite and cooperite; while in the latter case, it is massiveor present in anhedral glomerocrysts, filling in cracks of iridisite and associated with osmiride,ferrian platinum and iridisite. Malanite is steel-grey in colour, opaque with metallic lustre andblack streaks and brittle with no magnetism. H_M=5.0, VHN_(20)=417kg/mm^2, cleavage {111}sometimes observed. The calculated density is 7.57g/cm^3. The reflective colour is white with alight green tint. Internal reflections are not observed. This mineral is isotropic, showing nobireflection or reflection pleochroism in air. By means of electron microprobe analysis, the em-pirical formula (based on 7 atoms) is expressed as (Cu_(0.93)Fe_(0.06))_(∑0.99)(Pt_(1.03)Ir_(0.66)Rh_(0.04)Pd_(0.03)Co_(0.20)Ni_(0.03))_(1.99)S_(4.03) or (Cu_(0.95)Fe_(0.07))_(∑1.02)(Pt_(1.37)Ir_(0.45)Co_(0.11)Rh_(0.08))_(∑2.01)S_(3.97). Five strongestlines (hkl, d, I) of X-ray powder diffraction data of malanite are 311,2.98(6); 400,2.48(5);333, 1.90(7); 440, 1.75(10); 731, 1.29(5). It was known on the basis of X-ray powder diffractiondata that malanite is cubic, and the space group is Fd3m with α=0.9940nm, V=0.9821(3)nm^3 and Z=4. The type material of malanite is deposited at the Geological Museum of China(GMC)s

Chengdeite-A New Mineral of Ordered Natural Iron-iridium Alloy

Chengdeite occurs in chromite orebodies in dunite as well as in placers in their neighbourhood. The mineral occurs as granular aggregates in association with inaglyite and in some cases occurs as graphic intergrowths with native iridium. It is opaque with a metallic lustre, colour steel-black, streak black,HM = 5.2, VHN50=452 kg/mm2, cleavage not observed, fracture not observed, strongly magnetic. Its reflection colour is bright white with a yellowish tint. It has no internal reflection, bireflectance or pleochrism, and shows isotropism.Thirteen chemical analyses were carried out by means of the electron microprobe. The mean percentages of the data obtained in the 13 analyses ares S 0.001, Fe 7.9, Ni 0.03, Co 0.03, Cu 0.83, As 0.02, Rh 0.19, Pd 0.00, Os 0.06, Ir 88.5, Ft 2.2 and Pb 0.00. The simplified formula is Ir3Fe, which requires Ir 91.17 and Fe 8.83, the total being 100.00 (% ).Five strongest lines of X-ray powder diffraction (hkl, d, I)are: 111, 2.18 (80);200, 1.89 (60); 220, 1.34 (70);311, 1.142 (100);222,1.094 (80).Through indexing of the X-ray powder diffraction data, the mineral has been determined to be cubic with Pm 3m, a = 0.3792(5)nm, V = 0.05453nm and Z = 1.

Development in selective flotation of galena from lead-zinc-iron sulfide ores in China

A new technique for the flotation separation of lead zinc iron sulfide ores has been developed and applied to several mills in China. It is characterized by the matching of relationships among pulp pH, pulp potential, flotation collector inside grinding mill. The flotation separation of galena and sphalerite has been accomplished without the addition of any conventional depressant of sphalerite such as zinc sulphate. Lime is used as a regulator and stabilizer of pulp pH and potential. Diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC), not xanthate, is determined as a collector for the selective flotation of galena from the Pb Zn Fe sulfide ores. The laboratory scale tests, the plant scale tests and the plant operations have all shown that the best separation results can be achieved at pH of 12.4～12.6, the pulp potential of 160～180 mV. The operation practice in the four plants has confirmed that compared with conventional flotation flowsheet, our new technology can greatly improve the flotation results, reduce the flotation time and the number of flotation cell, and increase the stability of operation and the adaptability to changes in ore properties. All these advantages have made this four plants more profitable.

Characteristics and origin of a new type of polyhalite potassium ore in the Lower Triassic Jialingjiang Formation, Puguang area, northeastern Sichuan Basin, SW China

A new type of polyhalite potassium ore(NTPPO) was found in the Lower Triassic Jialingjiang Formation, NE Sichuan Basin, SW China. It is water soluble, therefore can be exploited using the water-solution method, and is of great potential of economic value and research significance. Based on cores, thin sections, energy spectrum and SEM analyses, its microfeatures, macrofeatures and origin are discussed, and a genetic model is established to provide a scientific basis for future evaluation, prediction and exploration of potassium ore in the Sichuan Basin. It is proposed that the NTPPO was caused by storm activities:(1) the storm broke the original sedimentary polyhalite–gypsum beds, whose fragments were transported into the salt basin with high content of K+ and Mg2+;(2) in the basin, the polyhalite continued to be formed from gypsum by metasomatism with K-and Mg-rich brine;(3) during diagenesis, under high temperature and high pressure, K–Mg-rich brine from halite continued to replace anhydrite(or gypsum) to form polyhalite.

Discovery of a new type of auriferous ore deposit in Jiao-Lai Basin

An auriferous ore deposit of industrial scale was discovered by the authors in carbon-aceous rock series or the Jiao-Lai Basin on the North China Platform. The carbonaceousrock series is developed at the bottom of the Cretaceous Laiyang Group which is over 270mthick, and overlies unconformably the Archaean-Proterozoic metamorphic rocks. The