Lead isotope results of acid leaching experiments on acid volcanics and black shales in an ore environment

Brian L. Gulson*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In the volcanogenic Woodlawn Cu-Pb-Zn deposit, where pyrite is the dominant sulphide phase in the ore and a ubiquitous mineral in the host volcanics and shales, leaching experiments using HNO3-HCl to overcome the ore/rock lead dominance, resulted in highly complex lead isotopic data, dependent mainly on the original lead concentration in the rock. for samples with higher (> 5ppm) lead concentrations, the acid leaches are less radiogenic than the rocks or residues whereas for samples with >5ppm lead, the acid leaches are more radiogenic than the rocks or residues. In those samples with > 15ppm lead, the data arrays are those expected for a dominance of ore/rock lead. In all except the very high lead samples (> 100ppm), lead is derived from sources other than sulphides. Furthermore, in only the highest lead sample is the acid leach isotopic value compatible with that of the ore lead. As found in previous leaching investigations, the dominant component of lead and uranium is extracted in the acid leach. Acid-leaching experiments of this type may have possible applications in prospecting for basemetal sulphides.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)239-245
Number of pages7
JournalGEOCHEMICAL JOURNAL
Volume11
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1977
Externally publishedYes

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