TY - JOUR A1 - Reynolds, Merilie A. A1 - Kamber, Balz S. A1 - McKenna, Cora A. A1 - Oelze, Marcus A1 - Gleeson, Sarah A. T1 - Repeat, fast, and high-resolution mapping of fine-scale trace element distribution in pyrite and marcasite by LA-Q-ICP-MS with the Aerosol Rapid Introduction System (ARIS) JF - American Mineralogist N2 - AbstractThe minor and trace element composition of minerals provides critical insights into a variety of geological processes. Multi-element mapping by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is an important technique applied for this purpose and although the method is rapidly advancing, there remains a fundamental compromise between spatial resolution, detection limit, and experiment duration when using sequential mass analyzers. To address the limitation of limited analyte selection for high spatial resolution maps imposed by the sequential nature of typical quadrupole (Q)-ICP-MS, we tested the Aerosol Rapid Introduction System (ARIS) for repeat mapping of the same area. The ARIS is a high-speed transfer tubing system that reduces aerosol washout times, permitting resolution of individual pulses at 40–60 Hz. Here, the ARIS was tested not for pulse resolution but with novel operating conditions optimized to perform fast, high spatial resolution mapping of minor and trace element distribution in pyrite and marcasite. For this purpose, ablation was conducted with a 5 µm beam aperture, a repetition rate of 50 Hz, and a continuous stage scan speed of 40 µm s−1. For each LA-Q-ICP-MS map, data were acquired for six elements with an acquisition time of 20 ms per element. This deliberately reduced the individual pulse resolution of the ARIS but instead exploited the spatial resolution and sensitivity gains afforded by the high-laser repetition rate combined with efficient aerosol transfer. The new method successfully mapped trace elements at single to double-digit parts per million levels, and the maps reveal fine-scale zoning of trace elements with an effective x and y resolution of 5 µm, while white light interferometry showed that for each experiment, only ca. 1 µm of the sample was removed. Repeated mapping of the same area showed excellent correspondence not only between element concentrations in successive experiments but also in the shape, dimension, and location of regions of interest defined by concentration criteria. The very good repeatability of the elemental maps indicates that for studies requiring more analytes, successive mapping of additional elements is possible. By contrast with conventional very small spot (i.e., 5 µm) analysis, fast repetition rate and stage scan speed mapping avoids down-hole fractionation effects and minimizes accidental analysis of buried invisible inclusions. Compared to conventional LA-ICP-MS mapping, the method reduces the experiment time by 4–8 times. KW - Geochemistry and Petrology KW - Geophysics PY - 2023 DO - https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2022-8168 SN - 0003-004X VL - 108 IS - 1 SP - 18 EP - 30 PB - Mineralogical Society of America AN - OPUS4-59038 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rieger, Philip A1 - Magnall, Joseph M. A1 - Gleeson, Sarah A. A1 - Oelze, Marcus T1 - Pyrite chemistry records a multistage ore forming system at the Proterozoic George Fisher massive sulfide Zn-Pb-Ag deposit, Mount Isa, Australia JF - Frontiers in Earth Science N2 - Trace element (TE) analysis of pyrite via LA-ICP-MS can be used to reconstruct the conditions of pyrite formation in complex mineral systems. The Carpentaria province in northern Australia is host to some of the world’s highest value Zn-Pb (+Ag, Cu) deposits. The genesis of many of these deposits is controversial, with competing models of single-vs. multi-stage ore formation. In this study, LA-ICP-MS data of paragenetically constrained pyrite from the George Fisher Zn-Pb-Ag deposit has been analysed to investigate the chemistry of different stages of ore formation. Pyrite from correlative unmineralized host rocks has also been analysed to investigate evidence of distal hydrothermal anomalism. All LA-ICP-MS data have been statistically evaluated (principal component analysis) and interpreted together with whole rock lithogeochemical data of the same samples. Pre-ore diagenetic pyrite is compositionally similar to other Proterozoic diagenetic pyrite, with some evidence of minor hydrothermal anomalism that with further analysis could help define distal alteration. Pyrite from the different ore stages are compositionally distinct, consistent with a multi-stage system. Ore stage 1 pyrite exceeds background contents of Co, Cu, Zn, As, Ag, Sb, Tl, and Pb and has elevated Co/Ni ratios, whereas only Ni and Co are above background abundances in ore stage 2 and 3 pyrite, of which only ore stage 3 pyrite has high Co/Ni ratios. Ore stage 1 pyrite has a similar composition to hydrothermal pyrite in the undeformed northern Carpentaria CD-type deposits and was likely syn-diagenesis. Ore stage 2 was syn-deformation, and resulted in replacement and recrystallization of pre-existing pyrite, and the expulsion of incompatible TEs. Ore stage 3 formed via a later Cu-Zn-Pb mineralizing event that resulted in a new geochemically distinct generation of Co-rich pyrite. Overall, this study demonstrates the value of paragenetically-constrained pyrite TE data for refining genetic models in complex sediment hosted mineral systems. KW - General Earth and Planetary Sciences PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-590407 DO - https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2023.892759 VL - 11 SP - 1 EP - 19 PB - Frontiers Media SA AN - OPUS4-59040 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -