Tellurum-bismuth mineralization in ores of the Maleevskoe pyrite deposit (Eastern Kazakhstan)

Abstract

As it is known, Rudny Altai is a classic province of sulfide deposits, most of which were formed in paleo-island-arc geodynamic settings. Pyrite ores have a complex and diverse chemical composition, including a wide range of impurity elements, among which the metalloid tellurium and the metal bismuth still remain poorly studied. Based on the above, we investigated tellurium-bismuth mineralization in the sulfide ores of the Maleevskoe deposit, confined to the Zyryanovsky cluster of Rudny Altai. Relevance of research is caused by the lack of information about the nature of the distribution and forms of occurrence of this type of rare minerals in the ores of pyrite deposits of Rudny Altai. The data obtained from this study will allow for more comprehensive processing and use of mineral resources. Aim of the study is to characterize the material composition of ores; identify the features of the development of tellurium-bismuth mineralization and determine the conditions for its formation; assess the prospects for associated mining and extraction of tellurium with bismuth from the ores of sulfide deposits of Rudny Altai. Object. Tellurium-bismuth mineralization of sulfide ores of the deposit. Methods. Petrographic, mineragraphic and mineralogical analyses, scanning electron microscopy in combination with X-ray microanalysis and Raman spectroscopy. Results. The ores revealed a variety of tellurium-bismuth mineralization, which is recorded as independent minerals, represented by sulfosalts, tellurides, oxides, and native forms of isolation. For the first time, such minerals as plumbotellurite PbTeO3, cervelleite Ag4TeS, xilingoite Pb3Bi2S6 and an unidentified mineral with the general formula PbAg2Te were discovered for these ores. Minerals of tellurium-bismuth composition in relation to the main ore minerals are characterized by later crystallization into the Ag-Te-Bi-sulfide association of the ore stage at a temperature of 280...150°С. Based on the data obtained, the authors predicted the prospects for tellurium and bismuth extraction from ores of deposits similar in material composition to the Maleevskoe deposit and confined to the ore cluster of the same name.