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Hydrothermal fluid source constrained by Co/Ni ratios in coexisting arsenopyrite and tourmaline: the auriferous lode of Passagem, Quadrilátero Ferrífero of Minas Gerais, Brazil

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Abstract

The auriferous lode of Passagem de Mariana is characterised by abundant tourmaline, which is intergrown with arsenopyrite. Spot measurements using laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry show that Co and Ni are the most abundant trace elements in the arsenopyrite (45–538 ppm Co, 246–828 ppm Ni), with Co/Ni ratios consistently <1. The coexisting tourmaline also has Co/Ni <1, with Co and Ni contents that are ~2 orders of magnitude lower than those in the arsenopyrite. The Co/Ni ratios of tourmaline and arsenopyrite are tightly distributed along a positive linear trend, the angular coefficient of which represents the Co/Ni of the hydrothermal fluid from which these minerals precipitated. The fluid Co/Ni ratio is close to the average Co/Ni value for the upper continental crust. In conjunction with the abundance of lode tourmaline and its B-isotope data (from the literature), the Co/Ni ratios of tourmaline and arsenopyrite fingerprint a continental evaporitic source of B.

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Acknowledgements

Dr Helene Brätz is gratefully acknowledged for assisting us in the LA–ICP–MS measurements and for evaluating the analytical data. Critical reviews by Dr A. Beran and Dr A. Ertl greatly contributed to improve the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mineral Deposits, Technische Universität Clausthal, Adolph-Roemer-Str. 2A, 38678, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany

    Alexandre Raphael Cabral

  2. Geodynamics and Geomaterials Research Division, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany

    Nikola Koglin

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  1. Alexandre Raphael Cabral
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  2. Nikola Koglin
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Correspondence to Alexandre Raphael Cabral.

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Editorial handling: A. Beran

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Cabral, A.R., Koglin, N. Hydrothermal fluid source constrained by Co/Ni ratios in coexisting arsenopyrite and tourmaline: the auriferous lode of Passagem, Quadrilátero Ferrífero of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Miner Petrol 104, 137–145 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00710-011-0183-5

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