Sea-floor massive sulphides from the Galápagos Rift Zone – mineralogy, geochemistry and economic importance

Authors

  • Krzysztof Szamałek 1.Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Petrology, University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 93, PL-02-089 Warszawa; 2. Institute of Ceramics and Building Materials, Postępu 9, PL-02-676 Warszawa
  • Agnieszka Marcinowska Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Petrology, University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 93, PL-02-089 Warszawa
  • Krzysztof Nejbert Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Petrology, University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 93, PL-02-089 Warszawa
  • Stanisław Speczik Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Petrology, University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 93, PL-02-089 Warszawa; 2. Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute, Rakowiecka 4, PL-00-975 Warszawa

Keywords:

Galápagos Rift Zone, sea-floor massive sulphides (SMS), mineralogy and geochemistry, noble metals, economic evaluation

Abstract

The largest reserves of the Earth’s mineral resources  are located on the ocean floor. Amongst these, hydrocarbon and metallic resources are of the greatest importance. In 2010, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) adopted rules for documenting new metal resources contained with polymetallic sea-floor  massive sulphides (SMS). Russia and China were the first countries to apply to the ISA to acquire the right to commence initial investigation and documentation in the Indian and Atlantic oceans. Apart from copper, cobalt and nickel, modern SMS ores contain inferred significant amounts of gold, silver and PGE. The  results  described here from Galápagos Rift samples indicate a high concentration of gold (up to 7.24 ppm) and platinum (up to 350 ppb), which are mainly concentrated in low temperature parts of the sulphide mounds. The high content of Au and Pt revealed by this study provides further motivation towards attempting the exploration of marine massive sulphides. This is particularly important in the light of the high prices of metal commodities, and especially the unprecedented price of gold. This paper is the first such detailed scientific account in the Polish scientific literature focusing on the genesis and economic significance of the modern sea-floor sulphides.

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Published

2011-11-03

Issue

Vol. 55 No. 3 (2011)

Section

Articles

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