Forms of presence, interrelation and genetic significance of Al and Li impurities in quartz of gold deposits of the Darasunsky ore field (Eastern Transbaikalia, Russia)

Abstract

   Research subject. The distribution regularities of Al and Li impurities in gold-ore quartz.   Materials and methods. The quartz of the Darasun, Teremkinskoye and Talatuy gold deposits of the Darasun ore field was studied. The gross contents of Al and Li impurities in quartz were determined by the LA-ICP-MS method; substitutional Al impurity concentrations were studied by the EPR method. The forms of Al impurity in quartz were determined based on the results of studying its behavior during material recrystallization. The genetic significance of Al and Li impurities in quartz was estimated taking into account the genetic information obtained during the study of the distribution of substitutional Al and Ti impurity concentrations.   Results. It was found that Al is present in quartz in two main forms, i. e., as a substitutional Al impurity and Al complexes localized in the areas of high mineral defectiveness. Li+ ions are located in the structural channels of the mineral, serving as compensating ions for both Al impurity forms. The composition of Al complexes is assumed to include three Al3+ ions and one H+ or Li+ ion. Two stages of quartz recrystallization occurring at different temperatures of mineral formation were identified. The first, low-temperature stage leads to quartz enrichment with substitutional Al impurities. The second, high-temperature stage causes the decomposition of Al complexes. The recrystallization stages can be identified by the type of relationship between the gross concentrations of Al and Li. The increased content of Al impurity in ore quartz was found to be related to the presence of a large number of Al complexes. An assumption is made that these complexes formed during mineral crystallization from solutions with a high content of metal ions.   Conclusions. The results obtained indicate that high Al impurity concentrations can serve as a genetic sign of ore quartz. At the same time, the decomposition of Al complexes during quartz recrystallization should be taken into account. A method for estimating the initial concentration of Al complexes is proposed, which is a more reliable genetic indicator.