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Trace elements in hydrothermal quartz: Relationships to cathodoluminescent textures and insights into vein formation

January 1, 2008

High-resolution electron microprobe maps show the distribution of Ti, Al, Ca, K, and Fe among quartz growth zones revealed by scanning electron microscope-cathodoluminescence (SEM-CL) from 12 hydrothermal ore deposits formed between ???100 and e1750 ??C. The maps clearly show the relationships between trace elements and CL intensity in quartz. Among all samples, no single trace element consistently correlates with variations in CL intensity. However in vein quartz from five porphyry-Cu (Mo-Au) deposits, CL intensity always correlates positively with Ti concentrations, suggesting that Ti is a CL activator in quartz formed at >400 ??C. Ti concentrations in most rutile-bearing vein quartz from porphyry copper deposits indicate reasonable formation temperatures of

Publication Year 2008
Title Trace elements in hydrothermal quartz: Relationships to cathodoluminescent textures and insights into vein formation
DOI 10.1130/G24580A.1
Authors B.G. Rusk, H.A. Lowers, M.H. Reed
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Geology
Index ID 70000122
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
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