Antimony is a common metalloid occurring in the form of Sb-sulfides and sulfosalts, in various base and noble metal deposits. It is also present in corresponding metallurgical products (concentrates) and, although antimony has been considered a penalty element in the past, recently it has gained interest due to its classification as a critical raw material (CRM) by the European Union (EU). In the frame of the present paper, representative ore samples from the main Sb-bearing deposits of Greece (Kilkis prefecture, Chalkidiki prefecture (Kassandra Mines), and Chios Isl.) have been investigated. According to optical microscopy and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) data, the Greek ores contain stibnite (Sb2 S3), boulangerite (Pb5 Sb4 S11), bournonite (PbCuSbS3), bertherite (FeSbS4), and valentinite (Sb2 O3). Bulk analyses by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) confirmed, for the first time published, the presence of a significant Hg content in the Kilkis Sb-ore. Furthermore, Kassandra Mines ores are found to contain remarkable amounts of Bi, As, Sn, Tl, and Se (excluding Ag, which is a bonus element). The above findings could contribute to potential future exploration and exploitation of Sb ores in Greece.

Tzamos, E., Gamaletsos, P., Grieco, G., Bussolesi, M., Xenidis, A., Zouboulis, A., et al. (2020). New Insights into the Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Sb Ores from Greece. MINERALS, 10(3), 236 [10.3390/min10030236].

New Insights into the Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Sb Ores from Greece

Micol Bussolesi;
2020

Abstract

Antimony is a common metalloid occurring in the form of Sb-sulfides and sulfosalts, in various base and noble metal deposits. It is also present in corresponding metallurgical products (concentrates) and, although antimony has been considered a penalty element in the past, recently it has gained interest due to its classification as a critical raw material (CRM) by the European Union (EU). In the frame of the present paper, representative ore samples from the main Sb-bearing deposits of Greece (Kilkis prefecture, Chalkidiki prefecture (Kassandra Mines), and Chios Isl.) have been investigated. According to optical microscopy and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) data, the Greek ores contain stibnite (Sb2 S3), boulangerite (Pb5 Sb4 S11), bournonite (PbCuSbS3), bertherite (FeSbS4), and valentinite (Sb2 O3). Bulk analyses by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) confirmed, for the first time published, the presence of a significant Hg content in the Kilkis Sb-ore. Furthermore, Kassandra Mines ores are found to contain remarkable amounts of Bi, As, Sn, Tl, and Se (excluding Ag, which is a bonus element). The above findings could contribute to potential future exploration and exploitation of Sb ores in Greece.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Antimony ore; Critical raw materials; Ore geochemistry; Ore mineralogy;
English
2020
10
3
236
236
open
Tzamos, E., Gamaletsos, P., Grieco, G., Bussolesi, M., Xenidis, A., Zouboulis, A., et al. (2020). New Insights into the Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Sb Ores from Greece. MINERALS, 10(3), 236 [10.3390/min10030236].
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Tzamos-2020-Minerals-VoR.pdf

accesso aperto

Descrizione: Article
Tipologia di allegato: Publisher’s Version (Version of Record, VoR)
Licenza: Creative Commons
Dimensione 6.61 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
6.61 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/415854
Citazioni
  • Scopus 8
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 7
Social impact