A dataset of global zinc-bearing mineral deposits has been developed that complements previous such datasets (Franklin et al., 2005; Meinert et al., 2005; Mosier et al., 2009a,b; Taylor et al. 2009). The new dataset provides information on name, location, type, metal endowment, host rocks, associated igneous rocks, regional and proximal alteration assemblages (including, where possible, spatial and temporal zonation), Fe-S-O mineralogy, the presence of sulfate minerals, and sulfur and lead isotope data. In particular, unlike previous datasets, the age information provides the uncertainties of age determinations along with information on the assumptions and analytical methods used to determine the age. The dataset is meant to be used in conjunction with previous datasets and will be updated. Analysis of trends and relationships within the datasets are ongoing and will be published separately.

Sphalerite is the main Zn ore mineral and is the primary source of Cd, Ge and In and a minor source of Ga. Owing to a shift from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources, these four minor elements have progressively become more important to the economy. Despite this, resources of Cd, Ga, Ge and In are rarely reported as these metals are not considered material to the economics of resource development. As a result, the distribution of these elements between and within deposits is poorly known, and national and international resources are largely unreported. Following previous studies, we have compiled analytical data for Cd, Ga, Ge and In from sphalerite and used global and local ore geochemical datasets to assess geochemical controls on the concentration of these elements in Zn deposits. Our results are similar to previous studies and suggest that lower-temperature deposits are enriched in Ge whereas higher-temperature deposits are enriched in In. However, modelling of hydrothermal geochemistry indicates other factors are important in concentrating these metals. In particular, the oxidation state of the fluid (oxidised versus reduced) and the depositional mechanisms also have a strong influence in Ga, Ge and In enrichment. Reduction of oxidised fluids is particularly effective in depositing Ge, whereas cooling very effectively deposits In and, in some cases, Ge. As a consequence, some higher-temperature deposits (e.g. high sulfidation epithermal and some volcanic-hosted massive sulfide) deposits can be Ge-enriched, and some lower-temperature deposits (e.g. siliciclastic-carbonate shale-hosted deposits) can be enriched in In. Using the existing ore geochemical data and calculated characteristic Ge/Zn and In/Zn ratios, indicative estimates have been made on the endowment of Australian Zn deposits of Ge and In. These estimates highlight the potential of the North Australian Zinc Belt for Ge and for VHMS deposits for In. Although there is a large amount of uncertainty in the estimates, they are indicative of the potential for these metals in Australia. This dataset accompanies a paper published in the Australian Journal of Earth Sciences (AJES) https://doi.org/10.1080/08120099.2024.2423772