| Abstract: | There are quite a few tetrahedrite-group minerals in the Jinjitai gold deposit, western Sichuan, which occur in an interstratified fractured zone of Middle Devonian carbonate rock series. The gold ore consists of pyrite, chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite-group minerals, galena, sphalerite and gold-silver series minerals, with an element association of Au-Cu-Ag-Pb-As-Sb-Bi. Electron microprobe analyses of the tetrahedrite-group minerals gave the following results: copper 40.04 to 42.27% (average 40.04%), iron 1.24 to 7.78% (average 4.13%), zinc 0.39 to 7.06% (average 3.58%), arsenic 5.41 to 17.40% (average 8.84%), antimony 2.70 to 20.46% (average 15.87%), and silver 0.02 to 0.73% (average 0.28%). The mineral varieties include zinc-antimony-tetrahedrite, iron-antimony-tetrahedrite, iron-tennatite and zincotennatite. These data show that there is a complete isomorphous series between Sb and As. From above downwards tetrahedrite varies from zinc- and antimony-rich to iron- and arsenic-rich compositions. Their occurrence and zonal features are very important for exploration of the same type of gold deposits in western Sichuan. |
