Microstructures and element geochemistry of anatase from the Laozuoshan gold skarn deposit, NE China
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: • Anatase from the Laozuoshan gold skarn was generated from Ti-bearing fluid or breakdown of Ti-rich minerals. • High W content was attributed to the W substitution for Ti in the anatase. • W-rich anatase could be an indicator mineral for gold skarn exploration. Rutile, anatase, and brookite are polymorphs of titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), and occur as accessory minerals in various lithologies. They provide important information for revealing magmatic–hydrothermal ore formation, yet the mineralogical characteristics and genesis of hydrothermal anatase is not well established. In this study, we focus on the texture and geochemical composition of anatase from the auriferous ore (quartz–ankerite–pyrrhotite–arsenopyrite vein) and barren rock (quartz–ankerite vein) from the Laozuoshan deposit. Five types of anatase were discovered, including (1) type-AI and −BI anatase in auriferous ore and barren rock, characterized by being homogeneous and isolated without mineral inclusions; (2) type-AII and −BII anatase in auriferous ore and barren rock, usually contains some biotite, ankerite, zircon or apatite inclusions. Some type-AII anatase grains in the auriferous ore show patchy zoning; (3) type-AIII anatase (only in auriferous ore) is characterized by well-developed sector or normal zoning. High W content is distributed in the patches and sector zones of type-AII and −AIII anatase, which could be attributed to the W substitution for Ti in the anatase. We suggest that F-rich ore fluids could facilitate the W incorporation into the anatase crystal, and W-rich anatase can serve as an indicator mineral for gold skarn exploration.
Source: Ore Geology Reviews
Authors: Jun Liu, Tie–Gang Li, Zhen–Yu Chen
Language: English
Subfield: Economics and Econometrics
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,310
Funders: Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Special Funds for the Basic Research and Development Program in the Central Non-profit Research Institutesof China, National Science and Technology Major Project, China Geological Survey, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences
OpenAlex ID: W4413214731