Se and In minerals in the submarine oxidation zone of a massive sulfide orebody of the molodezhnoe copper–zinc massive sulfide deposit, Southern Urals

Abstract

For the first time, extremely high Se and In contents were determined for the pinches of massive sulfide orebodies that are composed of small-clastic layered sulfide sediments transformed during submarine supergenesis. Se (clausthalite and naumannite) and In (roquesite) minerals were found. Hydrothermal chalcopyrite, a significant amount of which is present in the clasts of paleohydrothermal black smoker chimneys, was the source of Se. Most of the amount of In was contributed during dissolution of clasts of hydrothermal sphalerite, which is unstable in the submarine oxidation zone in the presence of oxidized pyrite.