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Weissbergite (TlSbS2) and Avicennite (Tl2O3), Rare Thallium Minerals: First Findings in Yakutia

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Abstract

Rare thallium minerals, avicennite and weissbergite, were found for the first time within the karst zones of the Khokhoy field of the Verkhnyaya Amga gold area, South Yakutia, Russia. Weissbergite, TlSbS2, the second finding in Russia, occurs as grains in jasperoid fragments in the karst. Its chemical composition is, wt %: 50.3–55.8 Tl, 27.4–30.9 Sb, 14.1–16.9 S. The mineral is associated with native gold. Avicennite, Tl2O3 (first finding in Russia), has been found within karst cavities in the oxidized ores. The mineral is associated with rhythmic zoned particles of unindentified phases, presumably Tl antimonate and carbonate and occasionally, with adularia and goethite. The presence of various thallium minerals, as well as porous and mustard gold, should be taken into account when choosing the technology for gold recovery during operation of the Khokhoy occurrence.

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Funding

The study has been carried out according to the research plan of the Institute of Diamond and Precious Metal Geology, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (project no. 0381-2019-0004) and was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project no. 18-45-140045r_a).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Diamond and Precious Metal Geology Institute, Siberian Branch Russian Academy of Science, 677980, Yakutsk, Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia

    G. S. Anisimova, L. A. Kondratieva & V. N. Kardashevskaia

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  1. G. S. Anisimova
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  2. L. A. Kondratieva
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  3. V. N. Kardashevskaia
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Correspondence to G. S. Anisimova.

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Translated by I. Baksheev

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Anisimova, G.S., Kondratieva, L.A. & Kardashevskaia, V.N. Weissbergite (TlSbS2) and Avicennite (Tl2O3), Rare Thallium Minerals: First Findings in Yakutia. Geol. Ore Deposits 64, 424–431 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1075701522070030

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