Germanium-rich sphalerite in two Peruvian Mississippi Valley-type deposits

Diego Benites, Andrea Millán, Lisard Torró, Jean Vallance, Silvia Rosas, Oscar Laurent, Cyril Chelle-Michou, José María González Jiménez, Cristina Villanova-De-benavent, Joaquín A. Proenza, Joan Carles Melgarejo, Lluís Fontboté

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Germanium is a critical raw material in increasing demand. Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) deposits represent an important source of Ge. This research provides new textural and compositional data of sphalerite from the San Vicente and Shalipayco MVT deposits in Peru. In San Vicente, seven textural types of sphalerite, deposited during two steps of mineralization, were identified. Sphalerite crystallized during the first mineralization step exhibits overall values of Ge between 91 – 44 ppm (IQR) overlapping contents displayed by sphalerite from MVT deposits worldwide. Orange sphalerite, crystallized in a second and volumetrically restricted mineralization step, yielded higher Ge contents (up to 1861 ppm). In Shalipayco, five types of sphalerite were recognized, with a range of Ge contents varying between 101 and 425 ppm (IQR); yellow sphalerite crystallized towards the end of the mineralization sequence exhibits the highest Ge values (up to 1119 ppm). The incorporation of Ge into the sphalerite crystal lattice is the form of coupled substitution with Ag, Cu, and Tl.
Original languageSpanish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 16th SGA Biennial Meeting
Pages21-24
Number of pages4
Volume1
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2022

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