Saintilan, N.J., Selby, D., Hughes, J.W., Schlatter, D., Kolb, J. and Boyce, A. (2020) Mineral separation protocol for accurate and precise rhenium-osmium (Re-Os) geochronology and sulphur isotope composition of individual sulphide species. MethodsX, 7, 100944. (doi: 10.1016/j.mex.2020.100944)
|
Text
218357.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. 541kB |
Abstract
A temporal framework for mineral deposits is essential when addressing the history of their formation and conceptualizing genetic models of their origin. This knowledge is critical to understand how crust-forming processes are related to metal accumulations at specific time and conditions of Earth evolution. To this end, high-precision absolute geochronology utilising the rhenium-osmium (Re-Os) radiometric system in specific sulphide minerals is becoming a method of choice. Here, we present a procedure to obtain mineral separates of individual sulphide species that may coexist within specific mineralized horizons in ore deposits. This protocol is based on preliminary petrographic and paragenetic investigations of sulphide and gangue minerals using reflected and transmitted light microscopy. Our approach emphasizes the key role of a stepwise use of a Frantz isodynamic separator to produce mineral separates of individual sulphide species that are subsequently processed for Re-Os and sulphur isotope geochemistry. • Detailed method and its graphical illustration modified from an original procedure introduced by [1], [2]. • Quality control and validation of monophasic mineral separates made by microscopic investigations and qualitative analysis of aliquots embedded in epoxy mounts. • The present method, which contributed to the successful results presented in the co-publication by Saintilan et al. (2020), demonstrates why other studies reporting Re-Os isotope data for mixtures of sulphide minerals should be considered with caution.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | N. J. Saintilan acknowledges the support of the Swiss National Science Foundation (Advanced Postdoc.Mobility Grant # P300P2_171496). |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Boyce, Professor Adrian |
| Authors: | Saintilan, N.J., Selby, D., Hughes, J.W., Schlatter, D., Kolb, J., and Boyce, A. |
| College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre |
| Journal Name: | MethodsX |
| Publisher: | Elsevier |
| ISSN: | 2215-0161 |
| ISSN (Online): | 2215-0161 |
| Published Online: | 03 June 2020 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2020 The Authors |
| First Published: | First published in MethodsX 7: 100944 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record
Altmetric
Altmetric