CATHODOLUMINESCENCE (CL) OF QUARTZ AND ITS APPLICATION TO HYDROTHERMAL ORE DEPOSITS

Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth=s crust occurring in large amounts not only in crystalline rocks but also in various hydrothermal ore deposits. The great interest concerning luminescence studies of quartz is based on the fact, that information not available by other analytical methods can be obtained. The close relationship between crystal-chemical properties and luminescence characteristics is the basis to reveal different growth generations, internal structures or distribution of trace elements within quartz. The defects causing the different CL emissions in quartz often reflect the specific physico-chemical conditions of crystal growth and therefore, can be used as a signature of genetic conditions of mineral formation. In different types of ore deposits attempts have been made to combine fluid inclusion studies with careful luminescence examinations to characterize the spatial and temporal variations in hydrothermal fluid temperature and chemistry via fluid inclusion studies. Additional results can be obtained by combining CL microscopy and spectroscopy with other analytical methods with high spatial resolution such as microprobe, PIXE, laser ablation ICP-MS or laser ablation isotope studies. Results are presented from the polymetallic Pb-Zn deposit Freiberg, Germany; from the Noranda, Ben Nevis and Matagami volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) districts, Abitibi greenstone belt, and the Muruntau gold deposit, Uzbekistan.