Ag‐rich Tetrahedrite in the El Zancudo Deposit, Colombia: Occurrence, Chemical Compositions and Genetic Temperatures

Abstract Chemical compositions of tetrahedrite—Ag‐rich tetrahedrite—freibergite solid solutions (Ag‐rich tetrahedritess) and homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions in quartz and carbonates of seventeen samples from nine veins in the El Zancudo deposit, Antioquia, Colombia, were investigated to reveal the origin of silver in Ag‐rich tetrahedritess, to derive their crystallization temperatures and to examine the relationship between chemical compositions of Ag‐rich tetrahedritess and their crystallization temperatures. The ores consist of arsenopyrite, pyrite, sphalerite, Ag‐rich tetrahedritess, galena, boulangerite, andorite, owyheeite, diaphorite, jamesonite, miargyrite, bournonite, chalcopyrite, and electrum. Ag‐rich tetrahedritess forms about 10 volume % of the total ores and is one of the most common and widely distributed sulfosalts in this deposit. Ag‐rich tetrahedritess is rich in Ag (1.13 to 31.02 wt%) and Sb (22.93 to 29.82 wt%), and poor in As (0.06 to 2.43 wt%), consistent with the reported incompatibilities of Ag and As in Ag‐rich tetrahedritess. The Zn/(Zn + Fe)‐, Ag/(Ag + Cu)‐ and Sb/(Sb + As + Bi)‐atomic ratios exhibit some variations among the veins. Ag‐rich tetrahedritess with higher Ag/(Ag + Cu) ratios coexist with diaphorite, whereas those with lower ratios are not associated with this sulfosalt. Ag‐rich tetrahedritess in the assemblages of Ag‐rich tetrahedritess+ sphalerite and of Ag‐rich tetrahedritess+ bournonite + galena shows no Zn ↔ Fe and Cu ↔ Ag variations between core and rim, respectively, negating the possibility of solid state reaction during cooling. Ag‐rich tetrahedritess is thus regarded as primary phase. Homogenization temperatures of primary fluid inclusions in quartz and carbonates co‐existing with Ag‐rich tetrahedritess define the mineralization temperatures of 134 to 263°C. Independent crystallization temperatures of Ag‐rich tetrahedrite estimated based on Zn/(Zn + Fe) and Ag/(Ag + Cu) ratios of the Ag‐rich tetrahedritess associated with silver minerals such as miargyrite, andorite and diaphorite using Sack's thermochemical database lie in a range between 170 and ∼250°C. Both results are thus in good agreement.