US EPA

4849612 

Journal Article 

The geochemical behavior of molybdnum and mineralization 

Sun WeiDong; Li CongYing; Ling MingXing; Ding Xing; Yang XiaoYong; Liang HuaYing; Zhang Hong; Fan WeiMing 

2015 

SCIENCE PRESS 

BEIJING 

31 

7 

1807-1817 

WOS:000358550700001 

Molybdenum is a rare element with very low abundance in the silicate Earth. It is a moderately incompatible element. Therefore, Mo cannot be enriched to minable grade through simple magmatism processes. Our studies show that one of the most important ways that enriches Mo is oxidation and reduction during chemical weathering. Molybdenum can be easily oxidized to form water solvable MoO4- in surface environment, especially after the second major elevation of atmospheric oxygen at similar to 550Myr ago, transported to oceans and lakes, and then retained by anoxic sediments, in the form of thio molybdates. Subsequent partial melting of metamorphosed Mo enriched sediments further enriches Mo, which may form Mo-rich magmas. Porphyry-Cu-Mo deposits in the American continents in the East Pacific is accompanied by slab melting. Direct partial melting of high grade metamorphosed Mo-rich sediments may form pure Mo porphyry with slightly lower oxygen fugacities. High chemical weathering rates, large catchment areas and closed or semi-closed water bodies are favorable places for Mo enrichment, which may form large Mo ore fields through later events. 

Molybdenum; Mo ore; Chemical weathering; Mo-rich sediments; Oxygen fugacity