Factor analysis characterization of minor element contents in sulfides from Pb–Zn–Cu–Ag hydrothermal vein deposits in Portugal

We studied minor element contents in galena, sphalerite and chalcopyrite from Pb–Zn–Cu–Ag hydrothermal vein deposits in Portugal and applied factor analysis to describe the dispersion and modes of association of these elements in the host minerals. For this purpose, a large suite of minor elements was analyzed through electronic microprobe (EPMA-WDS) in the aforementioned minerals, and then the data were processed and compiled through the use of appropriate statistical software. analysis (FA) was conducted in an adequate way as described in the paper, and then applied to the minor element data. This allowed us to distinguish between deposits, groups of deposits and deposit districts. Also clues about different mineral generations were obtained by this method, namely different generations of galena in some deposits, relating to earlier and later stages of crystal growth, which are often not microscopically identifiable. FA allowed us to characterize the deposit districts by principal factors describing the galenas, the sphalerites and the chalcopyrites, providing a new insight into the studied Portuguese deposits. Our study shows that factor analysis applied to minor elements in sulfides is a powerful tool in discriminating deposits and metallogenic regions.