Chalcopyrite is the main Cu mineral in mafic-hosted marine hydrothermal systems. Its trace element budget and that of its alteration products may hold valuable information on formation, remobilisation and alteration processes of the hydrothermal system. In this study, we analysed chalcopyrite from five inactive seafloor massive sulfide (SMS) sites from the TAG hydrothermal field on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) for 24 elements. Twelve of them are discussed in detail. In general, trace element concentrations range between sub-parts per million (ppm) to several hundreds of ppm. The elements Se and Co are incorporated into the lattice at high temperatures of > 300 °C, whereas As, Ge, Ga substitute into the structure at intermediate to low temperatures. Other elements, e.g. Zn, are either accommodated into the mineral lattice or form inclusions, whereas V and Mn, which originate from seawater, get adsorbed onto the mineral surface. Idaite, chalcocite, and covellite exhibit similar trace element patterns to those of the precursor chalcopyrite. However, the secondary copper minerals show enrichment of Ag and Mo. Factors controlling the incorporation are predominantly related to changes in physicochemical conditions with the host rock composition playing only a minor role.

黄铜矿是镁铁质海洋热液系统中的主要铜矿物。其微量元素预算及其蚀变产物可能包含有关热液系统形成、再迁移和蚀变过程的宝贵信息。在这项研究中，我们通过电子探针显微分析 (EPMA) 和激光烧蚀电感耦合等离子体质谱 (LA-ICP-MS) 分析了来自大西洋中脊 TAG 热液场的五个非活动海底块状硫化物 (SMS) 位点的黄铜矿24 个元素。其中十二个被详细讨论。一般来说，微量元素的浓度范围在百万分之几 (ppm) 到数百 ppm 之间。元素 Se 和 Co 在 > 300 °C 的高温下结合到晶格中，而 As、Ge、Ga 在中低温下取代到结构中。其他元素，例如 Zn，要么被吸收到矿物晶格中，要么形成夹杂物，而源自海水的 V 和 Mn，则被吸附到矿物表面。Idaite、辉铜矿和铜蓝表现出与前体黄铜矿相似的微量元素模式。然而，次生铜矿物显示出富集 Ag 和 Mo。控制掺入的因素主要与物理化学条件的变化有关，而母岩成分仅起次要作用。和铜蓝表现出与前体黄铜矿相似的微量元素模式。然而，次生铜矿物显示出富集 Ag 和 Mo。控制掺入的因素主要与物理化学条件的变化有关，而母岩成分仅起次要作用。和铜蓝表现出与前体黄铜矿相似的微量元素模式。然而，次生铜矿物显示出富集 Ag 和 Mo。控制掺入的因素主要与物理化学条件的变化有关，而母岩成分仅起次要作用。