Trace element chemistry of carbonates from the Peloritani Mountains (Sicily)

Data on the abundances of major and trace elements in carbonates are of great importance in formulating theories about the presence of noble-metals in geological processes. Because of the widespread geochemical interest in concentration of Ag, Au, Pt in regionally metamorphosed areas, data on the abundances of major and trace elements in carbonates frorn eleven localities of the Peloritani Mountains were investigated by AAS and traditional ore microscopy. Investigations revealed the presence of noticeable amounts of Ag and Au, hence confirming the results of preceeding researches on the existence of a diffuse and possibly extensive mineralization of the « Carlin type » in the crystalline rocks of the basement pre-Hercynian in age, overthrust on Devonian terraines. The unexpected detection of Pt and Pd, whose abundance are two to tenfold higher than ones reported for Ag and Au, suggests to search for an independent origin of the Pt-Pd and Au-Ag series of elements, which may account for this unusual finding. Messina - KEY WORDS: Peloritani Mountains, Sicily. Trace elements. Carbonates. Messina