Geneva researchers decode gold transport in magma
Published: Monday, Dec 16th 2024, 13:50
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Researchers at the University of Geneva have deciphered the transport path of gold in magma in the laboratory. This contributes to the understanding of the formation of these metal deposits, as the university announced on Monday.
Sulphur plays a decisive role in these processes, as the study published in the journal "Nature Geoscience" shows.
When one tectonic plate submerges under another, magma is formed that is rich in volatile substances such as water, sulphur and chlorine. As this magma rises, so-called magmatic fluids are released, in which sulphur and chlorine bind to metals such as gold and copper and transport these metals towards the earth's surface.
Various forms of sulphur
However, sulphur occurs in various forms. The extreme conditions that are relevant for magma are difficult to recreate in the laboratory, the university wrote in the press release. The role of the different types of sulphur in metal transport is therefore still a much-discussed topic.
In an experiment, the researchers have now shown that the so-called bisulphidic form of sulphur is responsible for transporting most of the gold. While such experiments were typically carried out at temperatures of up to 700 degrees Celsius in the past, the researchers managed to increase the temperature to 875 degrees, the university emphasized. This is closer to natural conditions.
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