Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Trace element diffusion and incorporation in quartz during heating experiments

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Heating of quartz crystals in order to study melt and high-temperature fluid inclusions is a common practice to constrain major physical and chemical parameters of magmatic and hydrothermal processes. Diffusion and modification of trace element content in quartz and its hosted melt inclusions have been investigated through step-heating experiments of both matrix-free quartz crystals and quartz crystals associated with sulfides and other minerals using a Linkam TS1500 stage. Magmatic and hydrothermal quartz were successively analyzed after each heating step for Cu, Al, and Ti using electron probe micro-analyzer. After the last heating step, quartz crystals and their hosted melt inclusions were analyzed by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and compared to unheated samples. Heated samples reveal modification of Cu, Li, Na, and B contents in quartz and modification of Cu, Li, Ag, and K concentrations in melt inclusions. Our results show that different mechanisms of Cu, Li, and Na incorporation occur in magmatic and hydrothermal quartz. Heated magmatic quartz records only small, up to a few ppm, enrichment in Cu and Na, mostly substituting for Li. By contrast, heated hydrothermal quartz shows enrichment up to several hundreds of ppm in Cu, Li, and Na, which substitute for originally present H. This study reveals that the composition of both quartz and its hosted melt inclusions may be significantly modified upon heating experiments, leading to erroneous quantification of elemental concentrations. In addition, each quartz crystal also becomes significantly enriched in Cu in the sub-surface layer during heating. We propose that sub-surface Cu enrichment is a direct indication of Cu diffusion in quartz externally sourced from both the surrounding sulfides as well as the copper pins belonging to the heating device. Our study shows that the chemical compositions of both heated quartz and its hosted inclusions must be interpreted with great caution to avoid misleading geological interpretations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allan MM, Yardley BWD (2007) Tracking meteoric infiltration into a magmatic-hydrothermal system: a cathodoluminescence, oxygen isotope and trace element study of quartz from Mt. Leyshon, Australia. Chem Geol 240:343–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baumgartner R, Fontboté L, Vennemann T (2008) Mineral zoning and geochemistry of epithermal polymetallic Zn–Pb–Ag–Cu–Bi mineralization at Cerro de Pasco, Peru. Econ Geol 103:493–537

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campos E, Touret JLR, Nikogosian I, (2006) Magmatic fluid inclusions from the Zaldívar deposit, northern Chile. The role of early metal-bearing fluids in a porphyry copper system. Resour Geol 56:1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cherniak DJ, Watson EB, Wark DA (2007) Ti diffusion in quartz. Chem Geol 236:65–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Currie LA (1968) Limits for qualitative detection and quantitative determination. Application to radiochemistry. Anal Chem 40:586–593

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davidson P, Kamenetsky VS (2007) Primary aqueous fluids in rhyolitic magmas: melt inclusion evidence for pre- and post-trapping exsolution. Chem Geol 237:372–383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dolino G (1990) The α-inc-β transitions of quartz: a century of research on displacive phase transitions. Phase Transit 21:59–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Esposito R, Klebesz R, Bartoli O, Klyukin Y, Moncada D, Doherty A, Bodnar R, (2012) Application of the Linkam TS1400XY heating stage to melt inclusion studies. Open Geosci 4:208–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farver JR, (2010) Oxygen and hydrogen diffusion in minerals. Rev Miner Geochem 72:447–507

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freer R, Dennis PF (1982) Oxygen diffusion studies 1. A preliminary microprobe investigation of oxygen diffusion in some rock forming minerals. Miner Mag 45:147–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frischat GH (1970) Sodium diffusion in natural quartz crystals. J Am Ceram Soc 53:357–357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Götze J (2009) Chemistry, textures and physical properties of quartz–geological interpretation and technical application. Miner Mag 73:645–671

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grant NE, McIntosh KR, (2009) Passivation of a (100) silicon surface by silicon dioxide grown in nitric acid. IEEE Electron Device Lett 30:922–924

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guillong M, Heinrich CA, (2007) LA-ICP-MS analysis of inclusions: improved ablation and detection. European Current Research On Fluid Inclusions (ECROFI-XIX), Bern, p 82

    Google Scholar 

  • Guillong M, Meier DL, Allan MM, Heinrich CA, Yardley BWD (2008) SILLS. a Matlab-based program for the reduction of Laser Ablation ICP-MS data of homogeneous materials and inclusions. In: Sylvester P (ed) Laser-ablation-ICPMS in the earth sciences: current practices and outstanding issues. Mineralogical Association of Canada, Vancouver, pp 328–333

    Google Scholar 

  • Günther D, Frischknecht R, Heinrich CA, Kahlert HJ (1997) Capabilities of an Argon Fluoride 193 nm excimer laser for laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry microanalysis of geological materials. J Anal At Spectrom 12:939–944

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Günther D, Audétat A, Frischknecht R, Heinrich CA (1998) Quantitative analysis of major, minor and trace elements in fluid inclusions using laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. J Anal At Spectrom 13:263–270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halter WE, Pettke T, Heinrich CA, Roten-Rutishauser B (2002) Major to trace element analysis of melt inclusions by laser-ablation ICP-MS: methods of quantification. Chem Geol 183:63–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris AC, Kamenetsky VS, White NC, van Achterbergh E, Ryan CG (2003) Melt inclusions in veins: linking magmas and porphyry Cu deposits. Science 302:2109–2111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heaney PJ, (1994) Structure and chemistry of the low-pressure silica polymorphs. Rev Miner Geochem 29:1–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Heinrich CA, Pettke T, Halter WE, Aigner-Torres M, Audétat A, Günther D, Hattendorf B, Bleiner D, Guillong M, Horn I (2003) Quantitative multi-element analysis of minerals, fluid and melt inclusions by laser-ablation inductively-coupled-plasma mass-spectrometry. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 67:3473–3496

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang R, Audétat A (2012) The titanium-in-quartz (TitaniQ) thermobarometer: a critical examination and re-calibration. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 84:75–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ihinger PD, Zink SI (2000) Determination of relative growth rates of natural quartz crystals. Nature 404:865–869

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jourdan AL, Vennemann TW, Mullis J, Ramseyer K, Spiers CJ (2009) Evidence of growth and sector zoning in hydrothermal quartz from Alpine veins. Eur J Miner 21:219–231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kamenetsky VS, Danyushevsky LV (2005) Metals in quartz-hosted melt inclusions: natural facts and experimental artefacts. Am Miner 90:1674–1678

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koděra P, Heinrich CA, Wälle M, Lexa J (2014) Magmatic salt melt and vapor: extreme fluids forming porphyry gold deposits in shallow subvolcanic settings. Geology 42:495–498

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kronenberg AK, Kirby SH (1987) Ionic conductivity of quartz: DC time dependence and transition in charge carriers. Am Mineral 72:739–747

    Google Scholar 

  • Laffey S, Hendrickson M, Vig JR, (1994) Polishing and etching langasite and quartz crystals. In: Frequency Control Symposium, 1994. 48th., Proceedings of the 1994 IEEE International, pp 245–250

  • Lakshtanov DL, Sinogeikin SV, Bass JD (2007) High-temperature phase transitions and elasticity of silica polymorphs. Phys Chem Miner 34:11–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Landtwing MR, Pettke T, (2005) Relationships between SEM-cathodoluminescence response and trace-element composition of hydrothermal vein quartz. Am Miner 90:122–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lerchbaumer L, Audétat A (2012) High Cu concentrations in vapor type fluid inclusions: an artifact? Geochim Cosmochim Acta 88:255–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Audétat A, Lerchbaumer L, Xiong XL (2009) Rapid Na, Cu exchange between synthetic fluid inclusions and external aqueous solutions: evidence from LA-ICP-MS analysis. Geofluids 9:321–329

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McBrayer JD, Swanson RM, Sigmon TW (1986) Diffusion of metals in silicon dioxide. J Electrochem Soc 133:1242–1246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mercer CN, Reed MH, Mercer CM, (2015) Time scales of porphyry cu deposit formation: insights from titanium diffusion in quartz. Econ Geol 110:587–602

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milne EL, Gibbs P (1964) Ag ion migration in α-quartz. ‎J Appl Phys 35:2364–2367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miyoshi N, Yamaguchi Y, Makino K (2005) Successive zoning of Al and H in hydrothermal vein quartz. Am Miner 90:310–315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mortley WS (1969) Diffusion paths in quartz. Nature 221:359–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Müller A, Koch-Müller M (2009) Hydrogen speciation and trace element contents of igneous, hydrothermal and metamorphic quartz from Norway. Miner Mag 73:569–583

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pinilla C, Davis SA, Scott TB, Allan NL, Blundy JD, (2012) Interfacial storage of noble gases and other trace elements in magmatic systems. ‎Earth Planet Sci Lett 319:287–294

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poignon C, Jeandel G, Morlot G (1996) Study of ionic impurity mobility in quartz crystals by impedance and thermionic current measurements. ‎J Appl Phys 80:6192–6197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qin Z, Lu F, Anderson AT (1992) Diffusive reequilibration of melt and fluid inclusions. Am Miner 77:565–576

    Google Scholar 

  • Raghavan G, Chiang C, Anders PB, Tzeng SM, Villasol R, Bai G, Fraser DB (1995) Diffusion of copper through dielectric films under bias temperature stress. Thin Solid Films 262:168–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rémond G, Nockolds C, Phillips M, Roques-Carmes C (2002) Implications of polishing techniques in quantitative X-ray microanalysis. J Res Natl Inst Stand Technol 107:639–662

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rottier B, Kouzmanov K, Wälle M, Bendezú R, Fontboté L (2016a) Sulfide replacement processes revealed by textural an LA-ICP-MS trace element analyses: example from the early mineralization stages at Cerro de Pasco, Peru. Econ Geol 111:1347–1367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rottier B, Kouzmanov K, Bouvier AS, Baumgartner L, Wälle M, Rezeau H, Bendezú R, Fontboté L (2016b) Heterogeneous melt and hypersaline liquid inclusions in shallow porphyry type mineralization as markers of the magmatic-hydrothermal transition (Cerro de Pasco district, Peru). Chem Geol 447:93–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rusk BG, Lowers HA, Reed MH (2008) Trace elements in hydrothermal quartz: relationships to cathodoluminescence textures and insights into vein formation. Geology 36:547–550

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rybach L, Laves F (1967) Sodium diffusion experiments in quartz crystals. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 31:539–545

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider CA, Rasband WS, Eliceiri KW (2012) NIH image to ImageJ: 25 years of image analysis. Nat Methods 9:671–675

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seo JH, Heinrich CA (2013) Selective copper diffusion into quartz-hosted vapor inclusions: evidence from other host minerals, driving forces, and consequences for Cu–Au ore formation. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 113:60–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stefanova E, Driesner T, Zajacz Z, Heinrich CA, Petrov P, Vasilev Z (2014) Melt and fluid inclusions in hydrothermal veins: the magmatic to hydrothermal evolution of the Elatsite porphyry Cu–Au Deposit, Bulgaria. Econ Geol 109:1359–1381

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Student JJ, Bodnar RJ (2004) Silicate melt inclusions in porphyry copper deposits: Identification and homogenization behavior. Can Miner 42:1583–1599

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tellier CR (1982) Some results on chemical etching of AT-cut quartz wafers in ammonium bifluoride solutions. J Mater Sci 17:1348–1354

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas JB, Cherniak DJ, Watson EB (2008) Lattice diffusion and solubility of argon in forsterite, enstatite, quartz and corundum. Chem Geol 253:1–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas JB, Watson EB, Spear FS, Shemella PT, Nayak SK, Lanzirotti A (2010) TitaniQ under pressure: the effect of pressure and temperature on the solubility of Ti in quartz. Contrib Miner Petrol 160:743–759

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ulrich T, Günther D, Heinrich CA (2002) The evolution of a porphyry Cu-Au deposit, based on LA-ICP-MS analysis of fluid inclusions: Bajo de la Alumbrera, Argentina. Econ Geol 97:1888–1920

    Google Scholar 

  • Verhoogen J, (1952) Ionic diffusion and electrical conductivity in quartz. Am Miner 37:637–655

    Google Scholar 

  • Vig JR, Lebus JW, Filler RL, (1977) Chemically polished quartz. In: Proceedings of IEEE 31st annual symposium on frequency control, pp 131–143

  • Wark DA, Watson EB (2006) TitaniQ: a titanium-in-quartz geothermometer. Contrib Miner Petrol 152:743–754

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watson EB, Cherniak DJ, Thomas JB, Hanchar JM, Wirth R (2016) Crystal surface integrity and diffusion measurements on earth and planetary materials. Earth Planet Sci Lett 450:346–354

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weil JA (1984) A review of electron spin spectroscopy and its application to the study of paramagnetic defects in crystalline quartz. Phys Chem Miner 10:149–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White S (1970) Ionic diffusion in quartz. Nature 225:375–376

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zajacz Z, Hanley JJ, Heinrich CA, Halter WE, Guillong M (2009) Diffusive reequilibration of quartz-hosted silicate melt and fluid inclusions: are all metal concentrations unmodified? Geochim Cosmochim Acta 73:3013–3027

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zelený M, Hegedüs J, Foster AS, Drabold DA, Elliott SR, Nieminen RM, (2012) Ab initio study of Cu diffusion in α-cristobalite. ‎New J Phys 14:1130–1139

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang XG, (2001) Etching of oxides: in electrochemistry of silicon and its oxide, 1st edn. Springer, US, pp 131–165

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, (2010) Diffusion in minerals and melts: theoretical background. Rev Miner Geochem 72:5–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The present investigation was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (FN 200020_160071; 200020_155928; 200020_168996). We gratefully acknowledge Jean-Marie Boccard for his precious experience with sample preparation and Aaron Lee Hantsche for his help. We are grateful to Daniele Cherniak and Andreas Audétat for their constructive comments and to Hans Keppler for his editorial work.

Author information

Author notes

  1. M. Wälle

    Present address: Memorial University of Newfoundland, CREAIT, CRC and CFI Services (CCCS), Bruneau Centre for Research and Innovation, St. John’s, NL, A1C 5S7, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Geneva, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland

    B. Rottier, H. Rezeau, V. Casanova, K. Kouzmanov, R. Moritz & L. Fontboté

  2. Institute of Geochemistry and Petrology, ETH Zürich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland

    K. Schlöglova & M. Wälle

Authors
  1. B. Rottier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. Rezeau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. V. Casanova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. K. Kouzmanov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R. Moritz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. K. Schlöglova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. M. Wälle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. L. Fontboté
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. Rottier.

Additional information

Communicated by Hans Keppler.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (XLSX 85 KB)

Supplementary material 2 (PDF 11774 KB)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rottier, B., Rezeau, H., Casanova, V. et al. Trace element diffusion and incorporation in quartz during heating experiments. Contrib Mineral Petrol 172, 23 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-017-1350-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-017-1350-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation