What controls trace element levels in ore sulfides? A laser-ICPMS perspective.

地下热液金和贱金属矿体被金属浓度升高的裙状体包围，主要是在微硫化物中，这是矿产勘探者用来扩大目标的一个标志。在这里，我们测试是否在最遥远的部分，这样的晕，如果是这样的，什么因素控制在一个给定的系统中开始检测到的金属。我们将制作出更好的模型来说明含金属沃茨如何与岩石反应，通过更有效的勘探，可能会节省数百万美元。由于CODES的ARC资助的核心计划，因此所需的超细采样和精确分析是可能的。

Sub-surface hydrothermal gold and base metal orebodies are surrounded by aprons of elevated metal concentrations, mainly within micro-sulfides, which is one sign mineral explorers use to widen their target. Here we test whether the hostrock contributes metal in the most distant parts of such halos, and if so, what factors control where hostrock metal begins to be detectable in a given system. We will make better models of how metalliferous waters react with rock, potentially translating into million dollar savings through more efficient exploration. The ultrafine sampling and precision analyses required for this are possible because of an ARC-funded core program at CODES.