Mineral Chemistry of Talc from Different Origins in the Dongyang Talc Deposit

Mineral chemistry of talc from the Dongyang talc deposits was studied to characterize the differences between dolomite-origin talc (talc I) and tremolite-origin talc (talc II). Average iron and aluminum contents are higher in talc II, 2.18 wt% FeO and 0.31 wt% O), than in talc I, 1.48 wt% FeO and 0.08 wt% O). Consistently lower Mg/(Mg+Fe+Mn) ratios and higher AI concentrations with uniform values of talc II compared to talc I seem to reflect the compositional differences of the original materials, tremolite and dolomite, respectively. Relative enrichment of Al as well as Fe in talc II compared to tremolite can be attributed to their immobile behaviors during alteration process and the rapid diffusion of hydrothermal fluids, which can accelerate instantaneous nucleation with immaturity growth of talc II. Increase in the concentrations of talc II can lower the ore grade by increasing concentrations of impure components such as AI and Fe, and by abundant presence of tremolite as well.