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European Journal of Applied Sciences – Vol. 10, No. 6
Publication Date: December 25, 2022
DOI:10.14738/aivp.106.13599. Yin, J., He, D., Yin, Y., Shi, H., & Xiang, S. (2022). On Ore from the Dashuigou Tellurium Deposit, Tibet Plateau, Southwest China.
European Journal of Applied Sciences, 10(6). 458-472.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
On Ore from the Dashuigou Tellurium Deposit, Tibet Plateau,
Southwest China
Jianzhao Yin
Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Jilin University, Changchun 130061, China
Dongsheng He
Xingfa School of Mining Engineering and School of Resources &
Safety Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Yuhan Yin
Xuchang Electrical Vocational College, Xuchang 461000, China
Hongyun Shi
Orient Resources Ltd., Richmond, B.C., Canada V7E 1M8
Shoupu Xiang
Silvercorp Metals Inc., Suite 601-Building 1
China View Mansion, #A2 East GongTi Road, Chaoyang District
Beijing 100027, China
ABSTRACT
The Dashuigou independent tellurium deposit is the first and only tellurium deposit
discovered in the world so far. Studies have shown that tellurium will be the best
replacement for the next generation of green batteries. Therefore, a comprehensive
study of this unique deposit has both theoretical and practical significance. This
paper studies both the physical and chemical properties of the ore in the Dashuigou
independent tellurium deposit, and provides a theoretical basis for mining and ore
processing. The ore of the Dashuigou tellurium mine is composed of more than 30
kinds of minerals including carbonates, silicates, sulfides, oxides, tellurides, and
native element minerals. The ore contains Te between 0.01% and 34.58%. The ore
also contains beneficial elements such as Bi, Au, and Ag that can be comprehensively
utilized. The main types of ore are massive, veined, and disseminated.
Key words: ore; texture and structure; Dashuigou tellurium deposit; Tibet Plateau
INTRODUCTION
Tellurium (Te) is usually categorized as one of the scattered metals, semimetals, and/or
nonmetals that have similar geochemical characteristics with Clark values too low to enrich
into independent deposits, but that play very important roles across modern science, industry,
national defense, and the frontiers of technology. In the traditional theory of mineral deposits
and geochemistry, it is thought that Te cannot form independent deposits, but only exists as an
associated component in other metallic deposits. The abundance of Te in the Earth’s crust is
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Yin, J., He, D., Yin, Y., Shi, H., & Xiang, S. (2022). On Ore from the Dashuigou Tellurium Deposit, Tibet Plateau, Southwest China. European Journal
of Applied Sciences, 10(6). 458-472.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.106.13599
very low. According to Li [1]
, the average content of Te in the Earth’s crust is only 2.0 × 10–8 in
China, and an even lower 1.34 × 10–9 worldwide.
At present, the world’s supply of refined tellurium is mainly recovered from Te-bearing
minerals including pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena, pyrrhotite, volcanogenetic sulfur,
bismuthinite, arsenopyrite, and cassiterite, etc. Generally, only sulfide ores containing more
than 0.002% Te can be used. As a result, the amount of refined tellurium that can be recovered
is very limited. Most of the recoverable Te in the world is from copper deposits, and it is
estimated that only 0.065 kg of Te can be produced in the refining process of one ton of copper
[2-3]
.
REGIONAL GEOLOGY
The Dashuigou tellurium deposit is located in the transitional belt between the Yangtze
platform and Songpan-Ganzi folded belt as part of the Tibetan Plateau, and nestled in the
convergence between the Indian, Eurasian, and Pacific Plates. The crust-mantle structures and
properties in the region are the result of tectogenesis throughout various geological periods.
Geophysical data indicate that the upper mantle below the region uplifts obviously. As a result,
the area has characteristics of high heat flow. There is also a low-velocity, low resistivity zone
in the middle crust that is interpreted as a decollement. In summary, this region is both very
active geologically and a very important south-north trending tectonomagmatic-mineral belt [3-
5]
.
The strata, igneous rocks, and structures observed at the Dashuigou deposit trend south- northward. The strata are low-grade metamorphic rocks of the Silurian, Devonian, Permian
systems and middle-lower Triassic series. The well-developed igneous rocks in the region were
produced in different geological periods and include ultrabasic, basic, neutral, acidic, and
alkaline. Different types of mineral resources in the region are very rich; many of these are well
known, including Ti, V, Cu, Pb, Zn, SM, REE, coal, asbestos, and the Panzhihua vanadium titano- magnetite deposit [3-7]
.
MINE GEOLOLGY
The strata of the area are low-grade metamorphic rocks of the lower-middle Triassic age,
including marble, slate, and schist. The main wall-rocks of the ore bodies are schist and slate.
All the Triassic strata make up a NNE-trending dome. The geological and geochemical
characteristics in the area indicate that the protolith of the tellurium ore veins’ direct wall-rocks
is poorly differentiated, mantle-derived basalt [3-9]
.
Both faults and folds are well-developed in the area. The annular and linear structures together
make up special “Ø” pattern structures, which control the formation of different types of
endogenetic mineral deposits, including the Dashuigou tellurium deposit.
No intrusive rock emerges within a 5 km radius around the deposit. Only two small Permian
ultrabasic-basic rock bodies emerge within a 10 km range of the deposit. Large neutral, acidic,
and alkaline intrusive bodies exist beyond 10 km, which are unrelated to the deposit.
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European Journal of Applied Sciences (EJAS) Vol. 10, Issue 6, December-2022
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Quantitative chemical analyses of Te, Bi, Se, As, Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, and Zn were conducted on
various rock samples including granites, metamorphic rocks, altered rocks, and carbonate veins
of different geological periods. The main findings are summarized below [3-11]
.
The Te content in the granites is under 1 × 10–7, which is similar to its Clark value in the Earth’s
crust. Te in the metamorphic rocks is slightly higher than in the granites and varies slightly
between metamorphic rocks of different geological periods, while being relatively higher in the
Triassic metamorphic rocks. Of the metamorphic rocks from the same geological period, the Te
content in the slate and schist is higher than in the marble. Te content in rocks of the same
stratohorizon of the same geological period also varies; namely, it is higher in rocks within the
mining area than in those beyond the mining area. Te content is closely related to the intensity
of alterations, whereby the ore-forming elements are not derived from the country rocks, but
instead from the mantle.
The deposit is located at the northeastern end of the Triassic metamorphic dome. The ore
bodies are controlled by and fill a group of shear fractures. Nine tellurium ore veins have been
discovered, which strike from 350 to 10 degrees and dip at 55 to 70 degrees westward. Widths
of the ore bodies vary between 25 and 30 cm. The narrow ore bodies are in the shape of
lenticular veins and have sharp contact with the wall rocks.
The altered rocks occur in narrow bands ranging between several centimeters to one meter in
thickness. Altered zones beside the massive ore veins are narrower, at only several centimeters
wide. The dominant alterations include dolomitization, silicification, biotitization,
muscovitizaion, tourmalinization, sericitizaion, greisenization, and chloritization.
Approximately thirty minerals are identified in the ore, which include tetradymite, pyrrhotite,
pyrite, dolomite, quartz, chalcopyrite, tsumoite (BiTe), tellurobismuthite (Bi2Te3), galena,
magnetite, gold, silver, electrum, ilmenite, calcite, calaverite, siderite, mannesite, rutile,
muscovite, biotite, sericite, hornblende, chlorite, plagioclase, K-feldspar, tourmaline, hematite,
garnet, apatite, and epidote. The first five minerals are the most important and comprise 85%
of the ore [3-13]
, though tetradymite is so rare that many monographs on mineralogy do not have
any related data on it [14-16]
.
Two mineralization epochs and five stages exist in the deposit: the Pyrrhotite epoch
(177.7~165.1 Ma): including three mineralization stages: carbonate stage (I) → pyrrhotite
stage (II) → chalcopyrite stage (III) (from early to late); and the Tellurium epoch (91.71~80.19
Ma): including two mineralization stages, namely: tetradymite stage (I) → tsumoite ±
tellurobismuthite stage (II) [3-4 & 17-18]
.
MINERAL COMPONENT
As mentioned above, there are more than 30 minerals in the ore according to mineral
identification and confirmed by electronic probe inspection. These minerals are mainly
carbonates, silicates, various sulfides and tellurides, and a small amount of oxides. These
minerals constitute different types of ores in different proportions, forms, occurrences,
textures, and structures. They are briefly described as follows:
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Yin, J., He, D., Yin, Y., Shi, H., & Xiang, S. (2022). On Ore from the Dashuigou Tellurium Deposit, Tibet Plateau, Southwest China. European Journal
of Applied Sciences, 10(6). 458-472.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.106.13599
Carbonate
The carbonate minerals in the mining area are extremely developed, and are produced in large
quantities in both pyrrhotite and telluride veins. The carbonate minerals formed in the early
stage mostly appear in the form of coarse-grained veins. The carbonate minerals are also
important carriers of telluride minerals.
The carbonate minerals in the mining area are mainly dolomite, calcite, and siderite (Tables 1,
2 and Figure 1). Compared to the respective theoretical values of the chemical compositions of
these three minerals (Table 2), the dolomite in this mining area is poor in magnesium and rich
in iron but cannot reach the level of iron dolomite, so it can instead be called iron-bearing
dolomite.
Table 1. Electron probe analysis results of carbonate minerals from the mine (wt.%)
Figure 1. Siderite veinlets are interspersed in the fissures of the calcite veins (thin section (-)
×200)
C a M g F e M n S r B a C O 3
II-1 1 3 0.3 5 13.12 9.3 4 0.8 8 0.0 0 0.0 0 4 4.51 9 8.2 0 1.0 7 1.0 7 0.2 6 0.2 6 0.0 0 0.0 0 2.0 0
2 3 1.9 0 13.3 8 7.6 8 0.9 1 0.0 0 0.0 0 4 4.9 1 9 8.78 1.11 1.11 0.2 1 0.2 1 0.0 0 0.0 0 2.0 0
3 2 9.51 10.50 13.4 7 1.75 0.0 0 0.0 0 4 3.9 6 9 9.19 1.0 5 1.0 5 0.3 8 0.3 8 0.0 0 0.0 0 2.0 0
4 3 1.4 3 15.0 2 7.16 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 4 5.4 5 9 9.0 6 1.0 9 1.0 9 0.19 0.19 0.0 0 0.0 0 2.0 0
5 2 8.54 12.9 6 11.4 1 1.0 4 0.0 0 0.0 0 4 4.18 9 8.13 1.0 1 1.0 1 0.3 2 0.3 2 0.0 0 0.0 0 2.0 0
6 3 3.2 5 15.6 5 4.3 4 0.76 0.0 0 0.0 0 4 6.3 1 10 0.3 1 1.13 1.13 0.11 0.11 0.0 0 0.0 0 2.0 0
7 0.3 7 2 0.6 7 3 3.4 1 0.4 2 0.0 0 0.0 0 4 3.59 9 8.4 6 0.0 1 0.0 1 0.9 4 0.9 4 0.0 0 0.0 0 2.0 0
8 0.3 7 2 4.0 9 3 0.0 7 0.4 2 0.0 0 0.0 0 4 5.2 8 10 0.2 3 0.0 1 0.0 1 0.8 1 0.8 1 0.0 0 0.0 0 2.0 0
9 3 0.0 7 16.2 2 6.17 0.57 0.0 0 0.0 0 4 5.4 4 9 8.4 7 1.0 4 1.0 4 0.17 0.17 0.0 0 0.0 0 2.0 0
10 3 0.58 13.4 9 9.4 2 0.57 0.0 0 0.0 0 4 4.8 5 9 8.9 1 1.0 7 1.0 7 0.2 6 0.2 6 0.0 0 0.0 0 2.0 0
11 2 9.4 3 14.3 1 10.54 0.4 1 0.0 0 0.0 0 4 5.4 3 10 0.12 1.0 2 1.0 2 0.2 8 0.2 8 0.0 0 0.0 0 2.0 0
12 3.3 7 1.8 7 54.2 3 0.0 4 0.0 0 0.0 0 3 7.9 3 9 7.4 4 0.14 0.14 1.75 1.75 0.0 0 0.0 0 2.0 0
I-4 13 3 0.13 16.11 6.10 0.57 0.0 0 0.0 0 4 5.3 3 9 8.2 4 1.0 4 1.0 4 0.16 0.16 0.0 0 0.0 0 2.0 0
14 50.3 4 1.2 2 2.8 5 0.6 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 4 3.3 4 9 8.3 5 1.8 4 1.8 4 0.0 8 0.0 8 0.0 0 0.0 0 2.0 0
15 2 9.0 5 15.3 6 9.0 3 0.6 8 0.0 0 0.0 0 4 5.52 9 9.6 4 1.0 0 1.0 0 0.2 4 0.2 4 0.0 0 0.0 0 2.0 0
16 2 9.11 14.8 7 8.6 2 0.77 0.0 0 0.0 0 4 4.8 4 9 8.2 1 1.0 2 1.0 2 0.2 4 0.2 4 0.0 0 0.0 0 2.0 0
17 3 0.17 16.0 9 6.4 9 1.0 2 0.0 0 0.0 0 4 5.8 5 9 9.6 2 1.0 3 1.0 3 0.17 0.17 0.0 0 0.0 0 2.0 0
18 53.6 1 1.0 9 0.3 1 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 4 3.4 5 9 8.4 6 1.9 4 1.9 4 0.0 1 0.0 1 0.0 0 0.0 0 2.0 0
19 54.4 1 1.0 8 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 4 3.8 8 9 9.3 7 1.9 5 1.9 5 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 2.0 0
2 0 54.6 4 0.0 0 0.8 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 4 3.3 7 9 8.8 1 1.9 8 1.9 8 0.0 2 0.0 2 0.0 0 0.0 0 2.0 0
2 1 56.2 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 4 4.10 10 0.3 0 2.0 0 2.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 2.0 0
2 2 54.75 0.2 6 0.12 0.0 9 0.0 0 0.0 0 4 3.3 8 9 8.6 0 1.9 8 1.9 8 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 2.0 0
2 3 54.4 7 0.9 2 0.0 0 0.0 9 0.0 0 0.0 0 4 3.8 1 9 9.2 9 1.9 5 1.9 5 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 2.0 0
D1 2 4 55.0 0 0.3 2 0.0 8 0.0 1 0.0 0 0.0 0 4 3.57 9 8.9 8 1.9 8 1.9 8 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 2.0 0
I-8
D4
1
3
4
S rO B aO C O 2 total at o mic numb er FeO M nO
II-2
s amp le # t es t p o int C aO MgO
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Table 2. Theoretical values of chemical compositions of some carbonate minerals19
The calcite in the mining area is generally rich in magnesium with some being rich in iron, and
can be called magnesium-bearing calcite and iron-bearing calcite respectively.
The magnesite in the mining area also clearly exhibits iron-rich chemical characteristics, while
the siderite is slightly iron-poor but calcium-rich. Test points 7 and 8 in Tables 1 and 2 are
actually the isomorphic substitution series between MgCO3 and FeCO3.
On the frequency diagram of CaO, MgO, and FeO content (Figure 2), most carbonate samples
from the study area are concentrated in the dolomite and calcite range, with little siderite and
no magnesite. Figures 3 and 4 reflect the same results.
C aO MgO FeO C O 2
II-1 1
2
3
4 (Ca, Mg, Fe)(CO3)2
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12 (Fe1.75, Ca, Mn)(CO3)2 siderite 62.01 37.99
I-4 13 (Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn)(CO3)2 dolomite 30.41 21.86 47.73
14 (Ca1.84, Fe, Mg, Mn)(CO3)2 Fe-Mg calcite 56.03 43.97
15
16
17
18 (Ca1.94, Mg, Fe)(CO3)2
19 (Ca1.95, Mg)(CO3)2
20 (Ca1.98, Fe)(CO3)2 Fe calcite
21 (CaCO3 calcite
22 (Ca1.98, Mg)(CO3)2
23 (Ca1.95, Mg)(CO3)2
D1 24 (Ca1.98, Mg)(CO3)2
(Mg, Fe, Ca, Mn)(CO3)2
(Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn)(CO3)2
(Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn)(CO3)2
(Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn)(CO3)2
(Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn)(CO3)2
56.03 43.97
30.41 21.86 47.73
dolomite 30.41 21.86 47.73
dolomite
Mg calcite
Mg calcite
I-8
D4
1
3
4
o xid e theo ret ic al value 1 9
II-2
30.41 21.86 47.73
s amp le # t es t p o int c hemic a l f o rmula minera l
dolomite
Fe-rich magnesite 47.81 52.19
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Yin, J., He, D., Yin, Y., Shi, H., & Xiang, S. (2022). On Ore from the Dashuigou Tellurium Deposit, Tibet Plateau, Southwest China. European Journal
of Applied Sciences, 10(6). 458-472.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.106.13599
Figure 2. Histograms of CaO, MgO and FeO (%) of carbonate samples from the mine
Figure 3. CaO-MgO diagram of carbonate samples from the mine
Figure 4. Ca-Mg diagram of carbonate samples from the mine
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Silicate
Like carbonate minerals, silicate minerals are also one of the important gangue minerals. These
include muscovite, common amphibole, plagioclase, and chlorite and potassium feldspar (Table
3). Among them, amphibole and plagioclase formed earlier, followed by chlorite and potassium
feldspar, while muscovite including sericite formed later.
Table 3. Electron probe analysis results of part of the minerals from the mine (wt.%)
Oxide
Oxide minerals in the ore include rutile, ilmenite, quartz, magnetite, specularite, hematite, and
limonite (Table 3). Except for quartz which is produced in veins, the other oxides are mostly
irregular grains and flakes sporadically produced.
Sulfide
The sulfides in the ore are mainly pyrrhotite and pyrite formed in the early stage, with
chalcopyrite and a very small amount of galena formed in the later stage (Table 3). Among them,
chalcopyrite is mostly vein-like, with fine veins interspersed in the fissures of the pyrrhotite
veins. Very trace amounts of galena appear as millet grains under the microscope.
Telluride
The telluride in the ore is mainly tetradymite, which accounts for more than 90% of all
tellurides. The second is tsumoite, which occurs along the contact between tetradymite and
pyrrhotite (Figures 5 and 6).
s amp le # t es t p o int S iO 2 A l 2 O 3 C aO K 2 O N a 2 O MgO TiO 2 C r 2 O 3 M nO FeO total minera l
1 0.2 2 0.10 0.3 9 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 9 8.0 5 0.0 5 0.0 8 1.0 0 9 9.8 9
2 0.2 2 0.0 9 0.6 9 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 9 7.9 2 0.0 9 0.0 5 0.0 8 9 9.14
3 0.2 2 0.0 8 0.51 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 9 7.17 0.0 9 0.0 5 1.2 8 9 9.4 0
4 4 4.52 3 8.10 0.79 10.19 1.2 1 0.51 0.18 0.3 1 0.0 0 0.55 9 6.3 6
5 4 3.4 2 3 9.16 0.0 0 9.8 6 1.0 5 0.58 0.12 0.2 7 0.0 0 0.3 6 9 4.8 2
I-4 6 4 3.9 1 14.6 2 13.4 5 0.0 0 1.0 2 9.8 1 0.0 1 0.0 0 0.12 14.8 7 9 7.8 1 amp hib ole
7 6 2.4 5 2 3.79 6.14 0.0 0 6.75 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 9 0.0 0 0.4 9 9 9.71 plagio clase
8 0.13 0.0 0 0.0 2 0.0 0 0.0 0 1.8 0 53.3 2 0.0 4 0.9 3 4 3.3 4 9 9.58
9 0.13 0.0 0 0.12 0.0 0 0.0 0 1.8 0 52.2 0 0.0 4 0.9 3 4 3.2 1 9 8.4 3
10 3 8.6 1 15.9 4 13.0 1 0.13 1.3 8 8.8 5 0.3 7 0.0 4 0.16 13.6 7 9 2.16 amp hib ole
11 2 7.17 2 1.9 4 0.0 9 0.0 0 0.0 0 19.18 0.10 0.19 0.11 15.3 6 8 4.14 chlo rite
D4 12 4 6.9 3 3 8.2 8 0.0 4 6.6 7 0.9 1 0.2 2 0.2 6 0.0 8 0.0 0 0.57 9 3.9 6
13 4 9.2 6 3 6.9 3 0.0 2 6.53 0.0 0 0.16 0.70 0.16 0.0 0 0.0 0 9 3.76 K-feld s p ar
14 9 9.3 2 0.0 4 0.0 6 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.18 0.0 0 0.10 0.0 5 0.0 0 9 9.75 q uartz
D1 15 0.2 5 0.0 0 1.77 0.0 2 0.3 1 0.3 1 0.0 0 0.0 2 0.0 1 9 0.57 9 3.2 6 mag netite
s amp le # t es t p o int Te B i S F e C u A s N i Z n A u A g total minera l
1 0.0 2 0.12 3 5.0 0 2 9.6 6 3 4.72 0.0 0 0.0 2 0.0 2 0.0 5 0.0 9 9 9.70 chalco p yrite
2 0.0 0 0.2 1 3 7.57 6 1.3 3 0.0 7 0.0 2 0.10 0.0 2 0.0 0 0.0 0 9 9.3 2
3 0.14 0.17 3 8.2 4 6 0.73 0.0 1 0.0 0 0.10 0.0 3 0.0 5 0.0 4 9 9.51
D2
p yrrhotite
tutile
musco vite
Ilmenite
3
II-2
I-8
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Yin, J., He, D., Yin, Y., Shi, H., & Xiang, S. (2022). On Ore from the Dashuigou Tellurium Deposit, Tibet Plateau, Southwest China. European Journal
of Applied Sciences, 10(6). 458-472.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.106.13599
Figure 5. Lead grey-silvery colored tetradymite ± tsumoite (BiTe) ± tellurobismuthite (Bi2Te3)
fine veinlets in massive pyrrhotite (dark colored background) + dolomite (brownish white)
from the deposit (sample #: SD40, Ore body #I-1 in Drift 3)
Figure 6. The Kα X ray image indicating chemical composition distributions of telluride
including tetradymite and tsumoite (white): the denser the white spots, the higher the Te
content, the black colored is pyrrhotite from the deposit (×540)
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Native mineral
The natural element minerals or native minerals contained in the ore are predominantly series
of gold and silver minerals, including natural gold, kustelite, electrum, and natural silver.
In summary, the minerals that make up the Dashuigou independent tellurium deposit are:
tetradymite, pyrrhotite, pyrite, dolomite, quartz, calcite, chalcopyrite, galena, magnetite,
specularite, natural gold, natural silver, electrum, kustelite, ilmenite, calaverite, siderite,
magnesite, rutile, muscovite, biotite, sericite, amphibole, chlorite, plagioclase, potassium
feldspar, tourmaline, hematite, garnet, apatite, and epidote, etc. Among them, the first five are
the most common, accounting for more than 85% of the ore’s total constituent minerals. These
minerals appeared at different stages of the pyrrhotite thermal event and the telluride thermal
event, respectively, and formed different mineral symbiotic assemblages.
TEXTURE AND STRUCTURE
Texture
Euhedral-semihedral lamellar texture: mainly tetradymite appearing in the form of coarse
scales;
Euhedral granular texture: coarse-grained pentagonal dodecahedron pyrite in pyrrhotite or
dolomite and/or calcite veins. Calcite and dolomite are also euhedral crystals;
Heteromorphic granular texture: pyrrhotite occurs in heteromorphic granular aggregates,
as does most quartz;
Metasomatic texture: tetradymite replaced pyrrhotite and the latter appeared in telluride as
a pictographic residue (Figures 7 and 8). Early-formed minerals are often replaced by later- formed minerals and appear as metasomatic residues;
Figure 7. The metasomatic pictographic texture at the contact between tetradymite ± tsumoite
(white) and pyrrhotite (off-white) (the inconspicuous raised worms are chalcopyrite, and the
black ones are carbonate minerals. thin section (-) ×200)
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Yin, J., He, D., Yin, Y., Shi, H., & Xiang, S. (2022). On Ore from the Dashuigou Tellurium Deposit, Tibet Plateau, Southwest China. European Journal
of Applied Sciences, 10(6). 458-472.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.106.13599
Figure 8. The Kα X ray image showing the vermiform pyrrhotite metasomatic residue (black) in
tetradymite ± tsumoite (off-white) from the deposit (×120)
Reaction border texture: tetradymite undergoes a metasomatism reaction with pyrrhotite to
form a characteristic reaction edge structure (Figure 9);
Figure 9. The Kα X ray image showing the reaction edge texture of tsumoite (the white base in
the contact) (the dark gray on the right side of the contact is pyrrhotite, and the gray-white on
the left is tetradymite; thin section (-) ×450)
Solid solution separation texture: solid solution separation texture between chalcopyrite
and tetradymite is common (Figures 7).
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Structure
Massive structure: It is one of the most important types of ore structures in the mining area.
It is often composed of coarse flake-like tetradymite, which is dense and massive, and contains
very little other minerals. Ores with this structure tend to come from bonanza pockets;
Vein-like or veinlet-like structure: telluride vein and/or veinlet interspersed and cut
pyrrhotite veins, etc. (Figures 10 and 11);
Figure 10. The Kα X ray image showing tetradymite veinlet (white) in pyrrhotite (black) (thin
section (-) ×400)
Figure 11. The Kα X ray image showing tetradymite veinlet (white) in pyrrhotite (dark grey)
(thin section (-) ×540)
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Yin, J., He, D., Yin, Y., Shi, H., & Xiang, S. (2022). On Ore from the Dashuigou Tellurium Deposit, Tibet Plateau, Southwest China. European Journal
of Applied Sciences, 10(6). 458-472.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.106.13599
Reticulate structure: the telluride veins cut through, divide, and surround pyrrhotite in a very
fine network-like vein, forming a characteristic network-like structure (Figures 5 & 12);
Figure 12. The telluride reticulate veinlets (white) in pyrrhotite (grey)
Disseminated structure: telluride is distributed in pyrrhotite, carbonate, potassium feldspar,
and quartz veins/veinlets in a scattered, speckled and patchy pattern, forming disseminated
ores;
Breccia-like structure: telluride aggregates often develop around the breccia of the
surrounding wall rock or pyrrhotite, forming a breccia-like ore (Figures 7, 8 and 12);
Bird's eye structure: Pentagonal dodecahedral pyrite giant crystals are common in pyrrhotite
veins, forming a characteristic bird's eye structure.
ORE TYPE
According to the ore structure, the ore types are divided into massive, veinlet, reticulated vein,
and disseminated. Among them, massive ore accounts for a larger proportion and is the most
important, followed by disseminated ore. The above-mentioned ores are divided into several
sub-categories according to their main mineral compositions (Table 4).
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Table 4. Tellurium ore type and subtype of the mine
ORE COMPOSITION
The ore contains 0.01%-34.58% tellurium (Table 5). In addition, it also contains high Bi, Au, Ag,
etc., and has high comprehensive utilization value.
Table 5. Chemical compositions of the ore of the mine
o re typ e o re s ub - t yp e rep res ent at ive o re b o d y
telluride (>85%)-dolomite (<10%) # I-1, 2, 5, 9, and 10
telluride (>85%)-sulfide # I-1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10
telluride (50%-85%)-dolomite (10%-40%) all of the ore bodies
telluride (50%-85%)-sulfide (10%-40%) all ore bodies except # I-3
telluride (50%-85%)-quartz (10%-40%) individual ore bodies
dolomite (>40%)-telluride (<50%) # I-3
pyrrhotite (±pyrite) (>40%)-telluride (<50%) all ore bodies except # I-3
quartz (±mica) (>40%)-telluride (<50%) this type of ore is less
massive
vein
disseminated
1 2 3 4 5
S HM - 0 1 S HM - 0 2 S HM - 0 3 S HM - 0 4 S HM - 0 5
S iO 2 28.60 0.06 0.90 0.62 0.19
A l 2 O 3 23.08 0.32 0.57 0.05 0.15
F e 2 O 3 18.90 81.62 53.71 3.36 6.56
C aO 0.67 0.01 10.30 0.05 10.90
MgO 5.00 0.03 4.72 0.01 4.73
TiO 2 0.51 0.06 0.06 0.03 0.04
P 2 O 5 0.95 0.21 0.31 0.22 0.21
M nO 0.04 0.01 0.30 0.01 0.87
K 2 O 0.01 0.00 0.05 <0.001 0.02
N a 2 O 0.55 0.04 0.07 0.00 0.02
S 5.47 16.41 19.92 4.59 3.15
H 2 S 3.55 1.45 0.37 0.39 0.38
C O 2 1.35 0.09 17.10 0.19 17.90
B i 0.11 <.001 0.12 57.20 35.40
Te 586 10 0 656 345800 216600
S e <10 18 34 110 10 0
F 355 30 20 5 45
C l 1.5 × 10 2
778 620 28 10 2
C u 428 2180 114 0 88 237
P b 18 4 16 18 332 206
Z n 720 - - 288 25
B 8600 <1 <1 <1 <1
A u 0 0 0 2 77
A u 2 0 1 260 14 8
s eries #
s amp le #
%
×10 -6
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Yin, J., He, D., Yin, Y., Shi, H., & Xiang, S. (2022). On Ore from the Dashuigou Tellurium Deposit, Tibet Plateau, Southwest China. European Journal
of Applied Sciences, 10(6). 458-472.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.106.13599
According to Table 5, it can be seen that Te, Bi, and Ag have obvious positive correlations; Te
and Se, Au, and Cu have roughly the same trend of growth and decline.
It can be interpreted that Te, Bi, Ag minerals are products of the same paragenetic period, while
Se, Au, and Cu minerals are most likely products of the same paragenetic period. This is
consistent with the observation under the microscope that tetradymite, chalcopyrite, and gold- silver series minerals are all products of Yanshanian orogeny (91.71-80.19 Ma).
ORE PROPERTIES
All ore bodies in the mining area are deeply buried and have not been exposed to the surface
by erosion. In other words, the ore has not been modified by oxidation, maintaining the original
state of the primary sulfide ore.
DISCUSSION
Studying the physical and chemical properties of ore from a specific mineral deposit is one of
the most important foundations for mining and mineral processing.
The ore composition of the Dashuigou independent tellurium depositis very complex, and there
are more than 30 kinds of minerals, including various silicates, carbonates, sulfides, oxides,
tellurides, and other native element minerals.
Replacement, remnant, reaction border, and granular are the dominating textures of the ore.
Massive, (fine) vein/veinlet, and stockwork vein are the dominating structures of the deposit.
Ore types include massive, veined and reticulated veins, disseminated, etc. All ores are primary
sulfide ores.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the above discussion, it can be concluded that the ore type of the Dashuigou tellurium
deposit is mainly primary sulfide ore.
The texture and structure of the ore are relatively complex, the minerals contained in it are very
rich, and the comprehensive utilization is high. In addition to Te, Bi, Au and Ag can be
comprehensively recycled.
To a large extent, the ore’s texture and structure, in addition to its mineral and chemical
compositions, reflect the complexity of the mineralization process, the origin of the ore-forming
material, and much other valuable information.
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