Pb-Zn Deposits and Associated Critical Metals

Dear Colleagues,

Pb-Zn deposits and the critical metals within them are critical for the functioning of human society. Pb-Zn deposits are heterogeneously distributed worldwide with varying deposit types, deposit scales and ore grades, and the types and contents of critical metals found in them differ as well. Pb-Zn deposit types include volcanic-hosted massive sulphide (VHMS/VMS), the magmatic–hydrothermal-associated skarn and/or epithermal type, sediment-hosted types (e.g., clastic-hosted sedimentary exhalative, SEDEX; carbonate-hosted Mississippi Valley type, MVT; sandstone-hosted type, SST; and shale-hosted type) and the vein type. Pb-Zn deposits also host economically valuable critical metals. For example, magmatic–hydrothermal-associated skarn and/or epithermal Pb-Zn deposits provide In and Cd, whereas sediment-hosted Pb-Zn deposits provide Ge, Cd, Ga and Tl. Although extensive studies have been carried out on these deposits, several important mechanisms remain unelucidated, including those underlying the detailed ore-forming process, the enrichment of Pb-Zn and associated critical metals and their genetic relationship and the occurrence of critical metals. To better understand the origin of Pb-Zn deposits and their affiliated critical metals, this Special Issue will report new advances in ore deposit geology, mineralogy, geochemistry, geochronology, ore prospecting, computational simulation, big data and deep learning. Papers detailing new analytical methods and experimental studies are also welcome. This Special Issue will present new studies spanning from the regional to mineral scale and from a variety of fields, from geology and geochemistry to ore prospecting, and from computational simulation to big data and deep learning, using novel advanced analytical techniques. It aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of Pb-Zn deposits and their associated critical metals.

Prof. Dr. Jia-Xi Zhou
Prof. Dr. Changqing Zhang
Prof. Dr. Tao Ren
Dr. Yue Wu
Guest Editors

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