Geochemical exploration of blind sulfide-rich ore deposits: Sulphur gas geochemical detection

Qiang WANG, Zhizhong CHENG, Tingjie YAN, Chenggui LIN, Zezhong DU, Huixiang YUAN, Xiaolei LI

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Earth Science Frontiers ›› 2025, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (1) : 302-321. DOI: 10.13745/j.esf.sf.2024.10.31

Geochemical exploration of blind sulfide-rich ore deposits: Sulphur gas geochemical detection

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Abstract

Sulfur gas geochemical detection has long been applied in mineral exploration. However, this method has not been widely used due to the high activity and reactivity of sulfur gases, low reproducibility of test results, and high cost. Today, as mineral exploration shifts from near-surface, easy-to-discover ore deposits to deep concealed ones, and with the successful development of portable, economical, efficient, real-time gas detection systems, a new opportunity arises to improve and promote this method. This paper reviews research progress, challenges, and future development directions regarding to concealed sulfide-rich deposits. Equilibrium thermodynamic models, simulation experiments on weathering and oxidation of sulfide minerals, and field studies suggest that gas geochemical anomalies of concealed sulfide-rich ore deposits are influenced by their mineral compositions, cover characteristics, geochemical landscapes, and physicochemical characteristics of sulfur gases. In regolith-covered terrains, portable multi-component gas analyzers can be used to obtain on-site, real-time measurements of soil gases including sulfur gases; more importantly, sulfur gas anomalies in soils tend to appear directly above the blind deposits if the blind deposits are covered by regolith directly. In bedrock outcrops, sulfur gases can be measured by rock thermal desorption; and the spatial relationship between the blind deposits and sulfur gas anomalies is primarily influenced by the development of permeable channels such as faults and fractures. Case studies indicate the sulfur gas geochemical detection is effective for mineral exploration in semi-arid and arid terrains and has great potential for mineral exploration in semi-humid and humid terrains. Future research directions should focus on three aspects: the formation and evolutionary process of sulfur gases in surface environment to ascertain the dominant controlling factors; the effectiveness of geochemical detection of sulphur-containing gases under different geochemical landscapes, especially in semi-humid and humid terrains; and the miniaturization and intelligent upgrading of portable soil gas detection equipment.

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geochemical exploration / covered terrain / blind deposits / soil gas / sulfur gases

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Qiang WANG , Zhizhong CHENG , Tingjie YAN , et al . Geochemical exploration of blind sulfide-rich ore deposits: Sulphur gas geochemical detection. Earth Science Frontiers. 2025, 32(1): 302-321 https://doi.org/10.13745/j.esf.sf.2024.10.31

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