Tellurium in natural and synthetic pyrite: Ore-formation and economic implication
Palaeontology
Final Report Abstract
Tellurium (Te) is an important semi-metal in the rapidly growing sector of strategic green energy technologies, where it is used, for example, in high efficiency thin film photovoltaic technologies. Currently, most Te is produced from anode slimes of copper (Cu) refineries, and skimmings of lead (Pb) refineries, as a by-product. This directly limits the Te supply to the amount of Cu and Pb ores that are processed; however, the Te demand is projected to significantly outpace that of Cu and Pb over the next decade. This demonstrates the importance of refining current deposit models by defining key natural processes controlling the distribution and enrichment of Te in the Earth’s crust. In addition, improved mineralogical and geochemical data on the occurrence of Te in high-grade ores is required to inform metallurgical extraction methods for a potential future direct recovery of Te. As the major objectives, the project aimed to tackle these research questions based on a combined natural and experimental approach. Thereby, the project focused on epithermal systems (Fiji, Greece, Slovakia) that occur in the uppermost crust in relation to volcanic activity, and which are prone to host economic amounts of Te. The experimental studies supplemented the natural approach to verify and quantify the observations made in nature in a controlled laboratory environment. The natural samples and experimental run products were carefully characterised for their mineralogical and chemical composition from the macro- to nano-scale and from the 2D and 3D perspective by cuttingedge analytical techniques embedded in an international research network. The analytical results were integrated into the geological context based on detailed field observations. The final project results demonstrate that fluid boiling is a key process controlling the distribution and localised enrichment of Te in ore-forming epithermal environments. In addition, the results point towards an important role of pyrite (FeS2) as an economic target for Te in high-grade epithermal ores alongside free tellurides. The data further shows that the highest Te contents were observed in arsenic-rich pyrite, where the Te distribution is not only controlled by the main ore-forming process, but also by later-stage Te redistribution on the micro- to nano-scale in individual pyrite crystals. Thus, the project provided fundamental new insights into the understanding of Te enrichment in epithermal ore deposits and its potential future recovery as a primary product, which will help to secure the future Te supply for green energy technologies.
Publications
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Epithermal pyrite as target for tellurium exploration in Vatukoula, Fiji. In: DMG virtual poster session, 30.11-03.12
Börner, F., Keith, M., Smith, D. J., Barry, T. L., Neumann, T. & Klemd, R.
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Fingerprinting fluid evolution by trace elements in epithermal pyrite, Vatukoula Au-Te deposit, Fiji. Ore Geology Reviews, 137, 104314.
Börner, Frederik; Keith, Manuel; Smith, Daniel J.; Barry, Tiffany L.; Neumann, Thomas & Klemd, Reiner
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In-situ trace element and S isotope systematics in porphyry-epithermal pyrite, Limnos Island, Greece. In: GeoKarlsruhe, 19.09-24.09., Karlsruhe, Germany
Börner, F., Keith, M., Bücker, J., Voudouris, P. C., Klemd, R., Haase, K. M. & Kutzschbach, M.
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Tellurium and related element fractionation in porphyry-epithermal systems, Limnos Island, Greece. In: Goldschmidt Conference, 04.-09.07., Lyon, France
Börner, F., Keith, M., Bücker, J., Voudouris, P. C., Klemd, R. & Haase, K. M.
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Extreme As partitioning into pyrite during hydrothermal siderite replacement in As poor fluids. In: GeoMinKöln, 11.09-15.09., Köln, Germany
Dunkel, F., Kutzschbach, M., Kusebauch, C., Schiperski, F., Börner, F. & Keith, M.
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From micro to nano, the fate of tellurium in pyrite – a HR-TEM and APT study. In: Goldschmidt Conference, 10.-15.07., Honolulu, Hawaii
Börner, M., Keith, M., Macauley, C., Felfer, P., Yokosawa, T., Apeleo Zubiri, B., Spieker, E. & Fougerouse, D.
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In-situ trace element and S isotope systematics in pyrite from three porphyry-epithermal prospects, Limnos Island, Greece. Frontiers in Earth Science, 10.
Börner, Frederik; Keith, Manuel; Bücker, Jonas L.; Voudouris, Panagiotis; Klemd, Reiner; Haase, Karsten; Kutzschbach, Martin & Schiperski, Ferry
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Three types of tellurium incorporation into one pyrite grain – a HR-TEM and APT study. In: General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association, 18.-22.07., Lyon, France
Börner, M., Keith, M., Macauley, C., Felfer, P., Yokosawa, T., Apeleo Zubiri, B., Spieker, E., Kutzschbach, M. & Fougerouse, D.
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Between defects and inclusions: The fate of tellurium in pyrite. Chemical Geology, 635, 121633.
Börner, Frederik; Keith, Manuel; Fougerouse, Denis; Macauley, Chandra; Felfer, Peter; Yokosawa, Tadahiro; Zubiri, Benjamin Apeleo & Spiecker, Erdmann
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From micro to nano - a HR-TEM and APT study on Te incorporation into pyrite. In: Mineral Deposits Studies Group (MDSG) Meeting, 04.- 06.01., Leicester, UK
Börner, F., Keith, M., Fougerouse, D., Macauley, C., Felfer, F. Yokosawa, T., Apeleo Zubiri, B. & Spieker, E.
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Arsenic-poor fluids promote strong As partitioning into pyrite. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 376, 37-53.
Kutzschbach, Martin; Dunkel, Frederik; Kusebauch, Christof; Schiperski, Ferry; Börner, Frederik; Drake, Henrik; Klimm, Kevin & Keith, Manuel
