Characteristics and resource potential of vein quartz-type high-purity quartz raw materials in Daozegou and Guocainongba areas of Jiajika rare metal mining field

A significant scale of quartz veins is widely distributed in Jiajika rare metal mining field. The geological characteristics of quartz veins were investigated in Daozhegou area in the northern mining field and Guocainongba area in the southern mining field. The mineralogical characteristics of the quartz veins, the distribution and composition of fluid inclusions, and the content of impurity elements were analyzed by methods such as optical microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS), chemical analysis via inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), micro-area analysis with laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) microarea, and laser Raman microscopy, to evaluate the potential of these quartz veins as a source of high-purity quartz for vein quartz-type raw materials. The results indicate that the vein quartz in both regions predominantly exhibits a milky white to translucent appearance with a strong greasy luster and underdeveloped fractures. The content of 15 impurity elements, including Al, Ti, and Li, is relatively low, ranging from 26.02×10^-6 to 152.66×10^-6, with SiO₂ average content reaching 99.993% and 4N3 level. Fluid inclusions are domicated by primary in dusions, distributed in clusters or bands, and are mainly composed of H₂O and CO₂. These characteristics demonstrate that the vein quartz possesses the qualities of high-grade raw material for high-purity quartz. The mining field possesses the geological conditions for the formation of vein-type high-purity quartz deposits, warranting further resource evaluation and geological exploration. This research could provide basis for high-purity quartz exploration in Jiajika rare metal mining field.