Solubility of minor elements in tetrahedrite and tennantite

Natural tetrahedrite (Cu3SbS4) and tennantite (Cu3AsS4) are minerals known to contain minor to significant amounts of many metals. One of the more important of these is silver. Often the silver content is sufficent high for economic exploitation of the two minerals. The purpose of the present study is to determine the solubility of a number of metals in the crystal structure of the two minerals and determine the relationships between dissolved amounts of metals and size of cell parameter. At present the solubility at 450oC of the following elements is explored: Ag, Fe, Zn, Sn, Ge and Hg.