THE Au-Ag-Hg SYSTEM OF INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS IN THE KONEVINSKOYE GOLD ORE DEPOSIT (THE EAST SAYAN)
Au-Ag-Hg intermetallic compounds have been found in the quartz-carbonate-tetrahedrite vein in the western part of Konevinskoye gold ore deposit located inside the Sailagsky granite-granodiorite massif. Ores are formed by fahlerz: hakite, zinc-tetrahedrite, zinc-argentotetrahedrite, ferrotennantite-tetrahedrite, with rare inclusions of pyrite, chalcopyrite and Au-Ag-Hg system minerals. Morphology of grains indicates the co-crystallization of ore-forming minerals (fahlerz and Au-Ag-Hg intermetallides). Correlation links between the main mineral-forming components of Au-Ag-Hg intermetallides indicate the replacement of Au by Cu and Hg in the minerals structures. There was detected the gap of miscibility between Hg and precious metals at the level of 10-12 wt % Hg; it divides the fields of compositions of the Hg-bearing gold and Au-Ag-Hg intermetallides. Among these intermetallides, several mineral types are distinguished: gold-bearing luanheite, b-amalgamides of gold and silver. Among minerals united under name «mercurian gold» conventionally are distinguished the gold-mercurian silver and the silver-mercurian gold. Find of mercury-bearing minerals in ores of Konevinskoye deposit testifies for influence of the deep substance. Thus, it may be concluded that this deposit represents the upper horizon of a gold-copper-molybdenum porphyry ore-magmatic system.