Distribution patterns of indium in ores from polymetallic and tin-polymetallic deposits of Eastern Transbaikalia, Russia

G. A. Yurgenson; B. N. Abramov

doi:10.24930/1681-9004-2026-26-2-434-448

Distribution patterns of indium in ores from polymetallic and tin-polymetallic deposits of Eastern Transbaikalia, Russia

G. A. Yurgenson, B. N. Abramov

https://doi.org/10.24930/1681-9004-2026-26-2-434-448

EDN: LLUHBL

Full Text:

PDF (Rus)

Generate QR code

Abstract

Research subject. The content of indium in the main mineral associations of tin-polymetallic and polymetallic lead–zinc deposits in Eastern Transbaikalia. Materials and methods. To determine the chemical composition of ore minerals, including indium content in polished sections, samples of sulfide ores containing indium were analyzed using ICP–MS, as well as polarization and electron microscopy. Results and conclusions. Indium content was found to be highly variable both among deposits and mineral assemblages, as well as within individual samples. The average indium content in the studied mineral associations of ores comprises (g/t): tin-polymetallic (Sherlovogorskoye, 244.5, and Khapcheranginskoye, 196.4, average – 234.97 with σ = 238.4) and lead-zinc polymetallic in ascending order of concentrations (Mikhaylovskoye, 71.68; Akatuyevskoe, 87.93; Vozdvizhenskoe, 149.43; Blagodatskoye, 225.4; Noyon-Tologoy, 287.43, average 186.42 with σ = 155.1). The highest average content of indium was detected in tin-polymetallic deposits. The average content across all 32 samples was 200.12 g/t with σ = 183.75. The main carrier of indium was found to be sphalerite, containing up to 0.53 wt % of indium in individual samples of tin-polymetallic deposits and up to 2.06 wt % in individual samples of the Blagodatskoye deposit. The entry of indium into the structure of sphalerite tends to correlate with the characteristics of iron content, and, consequently, with the ratio of zinc to iron; however, its maximum concentrations were observed in the low-iron sphalerite of the Blagodatskoye deposit. The conducted research confirmed and clarified the existing data obtained from the exploration of polymetallic and tin-polymetallic deposits in Eastern Transbaikalia.

Keywords

tin-polymetallic deposits, lead-zinc polymetallic deposits, indium, sphalerite, Eastern Transbaikalia, Russia

About the Authors

G. A. Yurgenson

Institute of Natural Resources, Ecology and Cryology, SB RAS
Russian Federation

16a Nedorozov st., Chita 672014

B. N. Abramov

Institute of Natural Resources, Ecology and Cryology, SB RAS
Russian Federation

16a Nedorozov st., Chita 672014

References

1. Chan Tuan Anh, Gaskov I.V., Chan Chong Hoa, Nevolko P.A., Pham Thi Zung, Pham Ngoc Kan. (2012) Mineralogical-geochemical features and conditions for the formation of polymetallic deposits in the Logam structure of Northeast Vietnam. Geol. Geofiz., 53(7), 817-833. (In Russ.)

2. Chumachenko N.M., Poletaev V.V., Svirsky M.A., Krivokobylsky A.S. (1973) The main geological-structural features of the lead-zinc deposits of Priargun’e. Rudnye mestorozhdeniya Zabaikal’ya i metody ikh poiskov. Zap. Zab. filiala Geogr. o-va SSSR, vyp. 93, 12-41. (In Russ.)

3. Dobrovolskaya M.G., Shadlun T.N. (1974) Mineral Associations and Conditions for the Formation of Lead-Zinc Ores. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 194 p. (In Russ.)

4. Gaskov I.V., Gushchina L.V. (2020) Physico-chemical conditions for the formation of elevated indium concentrations in tin and polymetallic ore deposits of Siberia and the Far East based on thermodynamic modeling data. Geokhimiya, 65(3), 258-276. (In Russ.)

5. Gaskov I.V., Distanov E.G., Kovalev K.R. (2005) Factors of concentration of trace elements in ores of pyrite deposits in southern Siberia. Geol. Geofiz., 46(3), 303-317. (In Russ.)

6. Gaskov I.V., Pavlov G.A., Vladimirov A.G., Gvozdyev V.I. (2014) Indium and other impurity elements in the ores of chalcopyrite-polymetallic and tin-sulfide deposits of Siberia and the Far East. Geologiya i mineral’no-syr’evye resursy Sibiri, (3), 67-71. (In Russ.)

7. Gaskov I.V., Vladimirov A.G., Khanchuk A.I., Pavlov G.A., Gvozdyev V.I. (2017) Features of indium distribution in ores of some polymetallic and tin-sulphide deposits of Siberia and the Far East of Russia. Geol. Rud. Mestorozhd., 59(1), 67-74. (In Russ.)

8. Ivanov V.V. (1996) Ecological Geochemistry of Elements. Vol. 3. Rare Earth Elements. Moscow, Nedra Publ., 53 p. (In Russ.)

9. Ivashchenko V.I. (2021) Features of indium distribution in sphalerites from the skarns of the Pitkyaranta ore district (South Karelia, Russia). Zap. RMO, 150(3), 50-66. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31857/S0869605521030047

10. Novoselov K.A., Belogub E.V., Blinov I.A. (2019) Te-canfieldite from the Lunnoe Au-U deposit (Aldan region, Republic of Yakutiya). Mineralogiya, 5(2), 49-56. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.35597/2313-545X-2019-5-2-49-56

11. Ontoev D.O. (1974) Stages of mineral formation and zoning of deposits in Transbaikalia. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 244 p. (In Russ.)

12. Ontoev D.O., Troneva I.V., Tsepin A.I. (1971) The first find of telluric canfieldite. Dokl. AN SSSR, 201(3), 693-696. (In Russ.)

13. Pavlov G.G., Vladimirov A.G., Gvozdev V.I., Korosteleva P.G., Semenyak B.I., Gonevchuk V.G., Tishin P.A. (2016) Indigenousity of tin-sulfide mineralization in tin ore deposits of the Far East of Russia. Dokl. AN, 471(1), 71-76. (In Russ.)

14. Sanin B.P., Zorina L.D. (1980) Formations of lead-zinc deposits in Eastern Transbaikalia. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 195 p. (In Russ.)

15. Seminsky Zh.V. (2018) Ore belts of the Baikal-Transbaikal region. Pt 2. Izv. Sibirskogo otdeleniya sektsii nauk o Zemle RAEN. Geologiya, razvedka i razrabotka mestorozhdenii poleznykh iskopaemykh, 41(2), 9-28. (In Russ.)

16. Smirnov S.S. (1961) Polymetallic deposits and metallogeny of Eastern Transbaikalia. Moscow, AN USSR, 508 p. (In Russ.)

17. Vikentyev I.V., Damdinov B.B., Minina O.R., Spirina A.V., Damdinova L.B. (2023) Classification of polymetallic ore formation processes and the transitional VMS-SEDEXMV type as exemplified by the giant Ozeroe deposit in Zabaikalsky Krai, Russia. Geol. Rud. Mestorozhd., 65(3), 201-236. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31857/S001677702303005X

18. Yurgenson G.A. (2006) Mineral raw materials of Transbaikal. Pt 1, book 1. Black and non-ferrous metals. Chita. Poisk Publ., 256 p. (In Russ.)

19. Yurgenson G.A. Mineral raw materials of Transbaikal. Pt 1, book 2. Rare elements. Chita, Poisk Publ., 2008. 240 p. (In Russ.)

Review

For citations:

Yurgenson G.A., Abramov B.N. Distribution patterns of indium in ores from polymetallic and tin-polymetallic deposits of Eastern Transbaikalia, Russia. LITHOSPHERE (Russia). 2026;26(2):434–448. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24930/1681-9004-2026-26-2-434-448. EDN: LLUHBL

JATS XML