Аннотация:Fluid inclusions in the Arapucandere epithermal sulphide-precious metal deposit contains Ag-Ag nanoparticles. During late-stage growth of large quartz crystals numerous episodes of hydrothermal fluids were trapped and indicate boiling or trapping of low salinity vapor/fluid with nanoparticles. These have been visually identified
and have been observed in SEM-BSE images. These fluid inclusions have been analysed by LAICP (ToF) MS giving a complete compositional analysis of the fluids. This provides isotopic data on all the elements that are present. In this instance, the
analyses of Ag107, Ag109 and Au197 of the nanoparticles are sufficiently robust to record
differences in the fluid during crystal growth. In areas where fluid inclusions show evidence of boiling Ag107 is significantly greater than Ag109, but where boiling is not observed the isotopes are approximately equal, also Ag/ u is much lower in the former fluid inclusions. These observations are consistent with experimental data on Ag-isotope fractionation. Ag107 and Au are enhanced in the vapor phase while Ag109 is enhanced in the liquid. The link between the composition of nanoparticles and fluid processes may provide an explanation for Au-Ag variation in gold deposits.