Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Mineral and Geochemical Features of Sulfide in Jade Hydrothermal Field of Okinawa Trough

Version 1 : Received: 18 July 2023 / Approved: 18 July 2023 / Online: 19 July 2023 (09:14:57 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Wang, Y.; Zeng, Z. The Mineral and Geochemical Features of Sulfides in the Jade Hydrothermal Field of the Okinawa Trough in Off-Shore China. J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11, 1772. Wang, Y.; Zeng, Z. The Mineral and Geochemical Features of Sulfides in the Jade Hydrothermal Field of the Okinawa Trough in Off-Shore China. J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11, 1772.

Abstract

In this paper, mineralogical and elemental geochemical characteristics of massive sulfide samples collected from Jade hydrothermal field, located in the Izena depression in the central graben of Okinawa Trough, were analyzed by means of optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and electron probe. The results show that the sulfide in Jade hydrothermal area can be divided into Zn-Cu-Pb rich massive sulfide and Zn-Fe rich massive sulfide. The former is composed of sphalerite, galena, anglesite, chalcopyrite and pyrite, and its formation stage can be divided into pyrite stage, sphalerite-chalcopyrite stage, anglesite stage and colloidal pyrite stage. The latter is mainly composed of sphalerite, pyrite, marcasite and a small amount of galena, which can be divided into galena stage, pyrite stage, sphalerite stage, pyrite and marcasite stage. Cu and Zn in pyrite may exist in the form of microinclusions, while Ag and Pb may exist in pyrite in the form of fine galena inclusions containing Ag. Fe and Cu may enter sphalerite in the form of ion replacement. Zn may enter chalcopyrite in the form of ion replacement, and As and Pb may be inclusions in chalcopyrite as As-bearing galena inclusions. Consistent with the previous understanding, the metal elements in the hydrothermal liquid system in Jade hydrothermal field mostly migrate with the hydrothermal fluid as sulfur complexes, and when the hydrothermal fluid mixes with seawater, the physical and chemical conditions of the fluid change, resulting in sulfide mineral precipitation. However, the chemical structure of chalcopyrite is still controversial, which restricts the understanding of the substitution mechanism of trace elements during chalcopyrite precipitation.

Keywords

Massive sulfide; Mineralization stage; Jade hydrothermal field; Okinawa Trough

Subject

Environmental and Earth Sciences, Geochemistry and Petrology

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