Distribution of tellurium, selenium, cobalt and gold in sulfide minerals: A case study of the Jiguanzui porphyry-skarn Au-Cu deposit, Eastern China

• Tellurium is mainly hosted in pyrite as mineral inclusions, whereas Se is mainly hosted in chalcopyrite and bornite replacing S. • Positive correlations between Pb and Au suggest a Pb melts collecting Au model. • Among the sulfide minerals from the porphyry-skarn deposits within Mid-Lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt, Te is generally hosted in pyrite, Se is generally hosted in chalcopyrite, Co is hosted in pyrite and sphalerite, and Au is hosted in chalcopyrite. The Jiguanzui deposit is a representative porphyry-skarn Au-Cu deposit in the Mid-Lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt, Eastern China, characterized by significant critical metal (Te, Se, Co) association. Previous study focused on the Te and Se distribution in the ores and pyrite minerals on deposit scale, this study present trace element geochemistry of various sulfide minerals (chalcopyrite, bornite, sphalerite, molybdenite) through LA-ICP-MS analysis, aiming to reveal the distribution of Te, Se, Co, and Au among sulfide minerals in this deposit. Except molybdenite, which host high concentrations of Te and Se, pyrite and chalcopyrite generally have higher Te contents than bornite and sphalerite, whereas bornite and chalcopyrite exhibited relatively high Se concentrations. Cobalt and Au are dominantly hosted in the pyrite and chalcopyrite, respectively, although the highest Au concentration up to 14 ppm was analyzed in pyrite. Principal component analysis of trace element contents and time-resolved LA-ICP-MS signal depth profiles indicate that Te occurred as Te-Ag minerals and mineral inclusions within the sulfides, whereas Se and Co are incorporated into the lattices of sulfide minerals. Principal component analysis of trace element contents in various sulfides exhibit intimate Pb-Bi-(Cu)-Au associations, suggesting that Au is present as tiny mineral inclusions coexisting with either Cu-Bi sulfosalts or Pb sulfides or sulfosalts. This case study also highlights that Te and Se hosted in pyrite are not recoverable with current recycling technologies.