THE PARTITIONING OF FE, NI, CU, PT, AND AU BETWEEN SULFIDE, METAL, AND FLUID PHASES - A PILOT-STUDY

Abstract

This paper describes new experimental and analytical techniques to study element partitioning behavior between crystalline material and a late- to post-magmatic fluid phase. Samples of the fluid phase are isolated at experimental run conditions as synthetic fluid in quartz. Individual fluid inclusions are later analyzed for dissolved metals using Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE). Back reactions between fluid and solid phases during quenching are prevented because the fluid is isolated at the experimental pressure, temperature (P, T) conditions before quenching occurs. The technique is applied to study the partitioning of chalcophile elements (Fe, Ni, Cu, Pt and Au) between sulfide phases..