Molecular-scale speciation of germanium and copper within sphalerite from Central Tennessee mining district (TN), Red Dog mining district (AK), and Metaline mining district (WA)

Oxidation state and bonding environment of Ge and Cu in ZnS and Zn mineral concentrates from a variety of sources [Central Tennessee mining district (TN), Metaline mining district, (WA), and Red Dog mine (AK)] were determined by linear combination fits from x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) analysis. Sphalerites from the East Tennessee mining district contained Ge in concentrations that were too low to generate a X-ray absorption spectra with an edge step. When applicable, Ge content in quartz was determined using XAS edge steps.
Data and methods reported are part of a research study published here:
Hayes SM, McAleer RJ, Piatak NM, White SJO, Seal RR II (2023), A novel nondestructive workflow for examining germanium and co-substituents in ZnS. Front. Earth Sci. 11:939700. doi: 10.3389/feart.2023.939700