Abstract Geology researchers commonly confront critical research questions that require microscopic and sub-microscopic level observations (e.g., distribution of chemical elements of economic interest, nature of mineralising fluid) in order to explain the macroscale phenomena related to the characterisation of and controls on ore mineralisation. The emergence and technological evolution of fourth generation synchrotron radiation light sources render these facilities as important, but still largely under-utilised tools for advancing the frontiers of ore related research. To this end, the present contribution seeks to critically review and highlight the power and affordances of synchrotron X-ray techniques specifically to the fields of fundamental- and applied ore geology. The review introduces a range of commonly applied synchrotron X-ray techniques, before comprehensively highlighting past applications of synchrotron X-rays to a range of commodities and ore deposits types. A synthesis of this information highlights the historical importance of synchrotron X-ray techniques towards (1) understanding ore textures and chemical relationships at high (µm) spatial resolutions; (2) understanding coordination chemistry of metals in aqueous fluids at geologically relevant P-T conditions; (3) in situ evaluation of the chemistry and speciation of fluid inclusions; (4) evaluating the coordination environment of deleterious and economic trace metal substitutions in major mineral structures; and (5) understanding the biogeochemical behaviour and transformations of metals in the low temperature (supergene) mineralising environment. These applications as well as recommendations for future work are described in the hope that a greater diversity of ore geology researchers will incorporate synchrotron X-ray tools into their existing suite of analytical and experimental techniques.

中文翻译：

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揭示矿床：同步加速器 X 射线辐射在矿石地质研究中的应用综述

摘要 地质研究人员通常面临需要微观和亚微观水平观察（例如，具有经济意义的化学元素的分布、矿化流体的性质）的关键研究问题，以解释与矿石成矿特征和控制相关的宏观现象。 . 第四代同步辐射光源的出现和技术发展使这些设施成为重要的工具，但在推进矿石相关研究的前沿方面仍然未被充分利用。为此，目前的贡献旨在批判性地审查和强调同步加速器 X 射线技术的力量和可供性，特别是在基础和应用矿石地质领域。该评论介绍了一系列常用的同步加速器 X 射线技术，然后全面强调了同步加速器 X 射线过去在一系列商品和矿床类型中的应用。这些信息的综合突显了同步加速器 X 射线技术对 (1) 以高 (µm) 空间分辨率理解矿石质地和化学关系的历史重要性；(2) 在地质相关的 PT 条件下了解金属在水性流体中的配位化学；(3) 流体包裹体化学和形态的原位评价；(4) 评价主要矿物结构中有害和经济的微量金属替代物的配位环境；(5) 了解低温（表生）矿化环境中金属的生物地球化学行为和转化。描述了这些应用以及对未来工作的建议，希望更多种类的矿石地质研究人员将同步加速器 X 射线工具纳入他们现有的分析和实验技术套件中。