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Relationship between Se/S and sulfur isotope ratios of hydrothermal sulfide minerals

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Abstract

The pH and fO 2 dependences of the [Se2−]/[S2−] ratio in chloride solutions at 100°, 200° and 300°C are predicted thermodynamically. Under the high fO 2 conditions where sulfate species are dominant in solution, the [Se2−]/[S2−] ratio always increases with increasing pH and/or fO 2. Under the low fO 2 conditions where sulfide species are dominant in solution, the pH and fO 2 dependences of the [Se2−]/[S2−] ratio are seriously affected by the presence of native selenium. With native selenium present, the [Se2−]/[S2−] ratio decreases with increasing fO 2, but almost independent of pH in geologically important pH regions. When native selenium is absent, the [Se2−]/[S2−] ratio is solely a function of pH and independent of fO 2. Combining the above with the pH and fO 2 dependences of δ34S value of aqueous sulfur species, we discuss the possible influences of the pH and fO 2 of ore-forming solutions on the relationship between the Se/S ratio and δ34S value of hydrothermal sulfide minerals. The results are applied to some Japanese sulfide ore deposits.

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  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Okayama University, 700, Okayama, Japan

    M. Yamamoto

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  1. M. Yamamoto
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Yamamoto, M. Relationship between Se/S and sulfur isotope ratios of hydrothermal sulfide minerals. Mineral. Deposita 11, 197–209 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00204481

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00204481

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