TEM study of geogas-transported nanoparticles from the Fankou lead-zinc deposit, Guangdong Province, South China

Eighty samples of geogas nanoparticles in Quaternary sediments overlying Fankou lead-zinc deposit in Guangdong Province and 65 samples in a district that was considered to have concealed deposits were captured by nickel grids for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurement. Category, size, shape, chemical composition, and structure of geogas nanoparticles from these two kinds of samples were analyzed. The observations indicated that the geogas matter was present in the form of single particles with a size range from 10 nm to 300 nm, and aggregations with globular, catenarian, or irregular shape. The main components of geogas nanoparticles from the ore district were Pb, Zn, S, and Cu. The Pb concentrations in some nanoparticles ranged up to 67.1%. The maximum Cu concentration was 86.9% showing a good correspondence with the ore bodies. Components of geogas nanoparticles in this exploratory [prospective] district were mainly Pb (64.1%), Zn (67.4%) and S, suggesting that they originated from concealed lead-zinc deposits. Additionally, we found SiO2, TiO2, and CaCO3 particles in our samples. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.