Ga, Ge, In and other trace elements in sphalerite from different geological deposit types, with reference to mineralisation events at Freiberg.

Sphalerite (ZnS) is an important source of a number of high-tech metals. However, while a large amount of analytical data on trace and minor element concentrations in sphalerite has been collected over the last decades, our understanding of the geological controls on their enrichment or depletion remains limited. No comprehensive meta-analysis of this data has ever been conducted. This talk presents the results of such a meta-analysis, based on an extensive collection of data from the scientific literature. Nine elements (Ag, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Ga, Ge, In and Mn) were considered. For five of these elements (Fe, Ga, Ge, In, Mn) significant differences were found between different geological types of deposits. The regularity of these differences suggests the operation of a single underlying control parameter – possibly formation temperature – with obvious implications for the identification of future sources of these elements.