Advances and Opportunities in Ore Mineralogy

摘要: The study of ore minerals is rapidly transforming due to an explosion new micro- and nano-analytical technologies. These advanced microbeam techniques can expose the physical chemical character at ever-better spatial resolution analytical precision. insights that be obtained from ten today’s most important, or emerging, methodologies are reviewed: laser-ablation inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry; focussed ion beam-scanning electron microscopy; high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission back-scatter diffraction; synchrotron X-ray fluorescence mapping; automated mineral analysis (Quantitative Evaluation Mineralogy via Scanning Electron Microscopy Mineral Liberation Analysis); nanoscale secondary atom probe tomography; radioisotope geochronology using minerals; and, non-traditional stable isotopes. Many these technical advances cut across conceptual boundaries between mineralogy geochemistry require in-depth knowledge material being analysed. technological accompanied by changing approaches mineralogy: increased focus on trace element distributions; challenges offered characterisation; recognition critical petrogenetic information in gangue minerals, thus need for a holistic approach characterization assemblages. Using original examples, with emphasis iron oxide-copper-gold deposits, we show how capabilities, particularly imaging mapping nanoscale, offer potential resolve outstanding questions mineralogy. Broad regional deposit-scale genetic models validated refuted careful smallest scales observation. As volume different observation expands, level complexity revealed will increase, turn generating additional research questions. Topics likely breakthrough over coming decades include, understanding atomic-scale distributions metals role nanoparticles, as well adapt, lattice-scale, physicochemical conditions. Most importantly, complementary use allows types levels quantification same materials correlated.