Synchrotron Data - Liu 8871 (May 2015) - Tracking ore fluid chemistry from micro-XANES mapping of minerals: oxidation state of arsenic in natural and synthesised apatite

Chemically zoned, arsenic-bearing apatite is found in some Australian ore deposits (e.g., giant iron oxide Cu-Au deposits in Mt Isa area). Tracing the origin of the zoning is fundamental to understanding how metals are transported and deposited. This propsoal plan to map the oxidation state of As in reacted apatite that formed during experiments
using fluids with varying As(III)/As(V) ratios. The proposed experiments will not only show if mineral replacement reactions can be used to track fluid oxidation state, but also help understand the chemical process of the formation of hydrothermal ore deposits.