Forms of Occurrence of Metals and Metalloids in Products of the Gas-Hydrothermal Activity of Mutnovsky Volcano

Abstract

New data on the occurrence forms of ore elements were obtained on the basis of the heavy concentrate analysis of material from the thermal sites of Mutnovsky volcano. During the hydrothermal reworking of volcanic rocks and with the participation of magmatic fluids and meteoric waters, metals and metalloids are transported to the surface and are concentrated as the main or impurity components of newly formed minerals. Sulfides of copper, zinc, mercury, silver, and barium sulfate are confidently diagnosed. They contain admixtures of Mn, Cd, Sr, I, Cl, Te, and Pb in addition to mineral-forming Zn, Cu, Hg, Ag, and Ba. Micron-sized phases with Ru, Os and Ir (laurite), and Pb (galena) as the main components and the intermetallic compounds (Fe–Ni), (Fe–Ir–Os), (Pb–Bi), and (Bi–Te), as well as native Au, were revealed. Most of the newly formed mineral individuals are associated with a mineral of the pyrite–marcasite group, which contains impurities of As, Cu, Ni, and Co. Platinoids Os, Ir, and Ru were discovered for the first time among the newly formed minerals within the East Kamchatka Volcanic Belt.