A 2D and 3D nanostructural study of naturally deformed pyrite: assessing the links between trace element mobility and defect structures

The links between deformation-induced micro- and nanostructures and trace element mobility in sulphide minerals have recently become a popular subject of research in the Earth sciences due to its connections with metallic ore paragenesis. It has been shown that plastic deformation in pyrite creates diffusion pathways in the form of low-angle grain boundaries that act as traps for base- and precious-metals. However, the plastic behavior of pyrite...