Trace Elements in Sulfide Minerals from the Tsuchikura Mine, Shiga Prefecture, with Special Reference to the Contents of Cobalt and Nickel

Abstract

Trace elements in sulfide minerals from the Tsuchikura mine were determined spectroscopically. Ore deposit of this mine is one of the cupriferous pyrite deposits occurring in the Paleozoic formations and consists of many ore bodies of various sizes. Samples for analysis were systematically collected from several representative ore bodies. It is found that the frequency distribution of the Co contents in sulfide minerals has two peaks at a range of 1000-2000 ppm and about 300 ppm, but the content of Co in a single ore body is nearly constant The Ni content of sulfide minerals ranges from 15 to 250 ppm with an average of 77 ppm and shows less-marked distribution as compared with Co Contents of the other trace elements in the sulfide ores and their correlation coefficient are shown in Tables 1 and 3 Some elements (As, Mo, Tl, Ag and otheis) detected in sulfide minerals from the Kuroko-type deposits were detected in the sulfide minerals from this mine as well. On the basis of these data and the geological evidences a possible syngenetic submarine exhalative or submarine hydrothermal origin of the Tsuchikura deposit is suggested