Yankuang ceshi (Jan 2021)
Thermal Infrared Spectra Characteristics of Rare Metal Minerals and Rock in the Keketuohai Deposit, Xijiang
Abstract
BACKGROUND At present, the application of new materials and new energy in various fields continues to deepen, and rare metal deposits have ushered in a worldwide upsurge of research and exploration. The Keketuohai rare metal deposit is the earliest developed deposit for rare metal mineral in China. However, the thermal infrared (TIR) characteristics of minerals and rocks from this deposit have not been studied, which restricts remote sensing geological survey and relevant studies. OBJECTIVES To analyze the characteristics of thermal infrared spectra of minerals and rock assemblages from the Keketuohai deposit, and provide the basic data for rare metal exploration. METHODS A portable thermal infrared spectrometer was used to measure the spectrum data of typical minerals and rock assemblages of Keketuohai No.3 vein. Data was analyzed using techtonics/structural geology (TSG) and related databases. RESULTS Typical rare metal minerals like spodumene, lepidolite, beryl and tourmaline can be separated with TIR. Compared with lepidolite, there was a new diagnosed peak for the TIR spectrum of lepidolite-bearing pegmatite. The spectrum peaks of spodumene-bearing pegmatite and tourmaline-bearing pegmatite were significantly shorter than those of spodumene and tourmaline. However, the spectrum peaks of beryl-bearing pegmatite were shorter than the peaks of beryl. CONCLUSIONS A database of thermal infrared spectroscopy characteristics of typical minerals and rocks in the Keketuohai has been established, and the thermal infrared spectroscopy characteristics of spodumene and lepidolite, ore-bearing pegmatites and surrounding rocks in rare metal deposits have been summarized in this study. Basic data support for the identification of rare metal minerals using thermal infrared spectroscopy and the exploration of granite pegmatite deposits has also been provided.
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