Gold nanoparticles in natural paleo fluids from Kola superdeep borehole

The Kola superdeep borehole (SG-3) is the result of a scientific drilling project (realized in 1970-1992) in the Pechengsky District, near the Russian border with Norway, on the Kola Peninsula. This borehole of 12,262 meters retains the deepest artificial point on Earth. This project is the first attempt to characterize Au nanoparticles in natural fluid inclusions inside quartz from this borehole using micro-beam scanning small-angle/wide angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) techniques combined with simultaneous X-ray fluorescence (XRF), anomalous SAXS (ASAXS) and X-ray near edge structure (XANES). These new data are indispensable for the knowledge of Au behavior in deep fluid systems and the mechanism of its accumulation in the Earth’s crust.

科拉超深钻孔（Kola superdeep borehole, SG-3）是1970年至1992年实施于科拉半岛（Kola Peninsula）佩琴加区（Pechengsky District）的科学钻探工程成果，该区域毗邻俄罗斯与挪威边境。该钻孔深度达12262米，至今仍是全球最深的人工钻探点位。本项目首次采用微束扫描小角/广角X射线散射（micro-beam scanning small-angle/wide angle X-ray scattering, SAXS/WAXS）技术，结合同步X射线荧光（X-ray fluorescence, XRF）、反常小角X射线散射（anomalous SAXS, ASAXS）以及X射线近边吸收结构（X-ray near edge structure, XANES），对该钻孔内石英中的天然流体包裹体（natural fluid inclusions）内的金纳米颗粒（Au nanoparticles）开展表征工作。此类全新实验数据对于厘清深部流体体系中金的地球化学行为，以及其在地壳（Earth’s crust）中的富集机制具有不可或缺的重要价值。