Trace‑Element Mapping Deciphers Quartz Genesis in Magmatic Ore Deposits

Researchers Marko Bermanec, Nils B. Gies, Thomas Pettke, and Jörg Hermann published a study on hydrothermal quartz using three complementary analytical techniques—SEM charge contrast maps, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‑ICP‑MS)—to map trace elements within individual crystals from magmatic–hydrothermal ore deposits¹.

The team focused on five key trace elements that can be incorporated into quartz as it crystallizes: lithium (Li), boron (B), aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), and hydroxyl (OH) defects. By measuring how these elements vary across crystal growth zones they identified distinct zonation patterns linked to changes in temperature and pressure during crystallization. The methodology combined high‑resolution imaging with chemical analysis, allowing the researchers to correlate physical features such as inclusions or zoning with elemental concentrations at micrometer scales.

OH defect mapping helped refine the thermal history of each crystal. These insights provide a powerful tool for prospecting ores because the same trace‑element signatures can now be used to infer deposit genesis without requiring extensive drilling or sampling.

Published in volume 38 of the European Journal of Mineralogy, pages 397–417, the paper appears under DOI ²] and was released in 2026. It builds on previous work that has examined quartz from various geological settings but uniquely integrates three analytical modalities to produce a comprehensive picture of trace‑element behavior.

In sum, Bermanec et al.’s work demonstrates that combining SEM charge contrast maps, FTIR spectroscopy, and LA‑ICP‑MS profiling can unlock detailed histories of hydrothermal quartz formation—information vital for both scientific inquiry and practical ore prospecting.