Application of LA-ICP-MS method in study of mineralogy of microfacies of massive sulfide deposits

The paper analyzes potential and limitations of laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) during study of mineralogy of sulfide facies and microfacies from massive sulfide deposits. Using point LA-ICP-MS analysis and LA-ICP-MS micromapping for the mineralogical and geochemical zoning of chimneys and mineralized biomorphs, we evaluate the formation conditions of mineral and trace element associations in sulfides for various types of massive sulfide deposits and substantiate hydrothermal-sedimentary models of chemical element differentiation. The analysis of pulse trends makes it possible to identify mineral microinclusions in sulfides. The higher Au and Ag contents of diagenetic pyrite distinguish pyrite-bearing and barren horizons. Using hematite pseudomorphs after sulfides as an example, it is shown that the ratios of element contents in Te-Bi, Bi-Ag, and Ag-Te diagrams in comparison with the stoichiometric compositions of known tellurides allow us to reveal the enrichment of this mineral in micro- and nanotellurides.