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1.
Gold anomalies in drainage sediments are often erratic, reflecting both the nugget effect and hydraulic effects whereby gold is concentrated at favorable sites along a stream. This study investigates these factors in a stream in northeastern Thailand.Bulk sediment samples, consisting of approximately 40 kg of −12 mm material, were collected from bar and pavement sites along an 8 km study reach. Samples were wet sieved into eight size fractions. The five fractions between 425 μm and 53 μm were then processed to obtain heavy mineral concentrates (SG > 3.3). Gold content of all size and density fractions finer than 425 μm was determined by fire assay-atomic absorption.Concentrations of Au in the heavy mineral concentrates typically range from 10,000 to 50,000 ppb (maximum 198,000 ppb), whereas the corresponding light mineral fractions and the −53 μm fraction generally contain <5 ppb gold. Within the heavy mineral fractions concentrations of Au generally increase downstream away from their supposed source and are higher at pavement than at point bar sites. Variations in abundance of gold between point bar sites can be related to stream characteristics (such as width, velocity and bed roughness) that are indicative of changing energy conditions and of the ability of the stream to winnow light minerals from its bed.The estimated median number of gold particles in the heavy mineral concentrates increase from less than one in the 212–425 μm fraction to about three in the 53–106 μm size range. However, because of dilution by the light mineral and −53 μm fractions, the probability of a 30 g analytical sub-sample containing a particle of gold is so low that in thirteen out of sixteen −149 μm sediment samples no gold was detected. Insofar as this results from dilution by large quantities of −53 μm sediment, failure of conventional sieved sediment samples to reliably detect the anomaly is probably a consequence of increased erosion caused by deforestation and land usage.Heavy mineral concentrates from pavement and other high energy sites are more reliable than conventional sediment samples for detecting gold anomalies of the Huai Hin Laep type. A low sample density is adequate but, because anomaly contrast may increase downstream, careful interpretation is required. 相似文献
2.
Samples were collected near known gold mineralization from anomalous and background soils developed on glacial till in British Columbia and Ontario, and in residual soils in Nevada, Utah and the Yukon Territory. After wet sieving to five size fractions finer than 2000 mm, and separation of heavy minerals (S.G. > 3.3) for the − 212 + 106 μm and − 106 + 53 μm fractions, gold concentrations in each fraction were determined by fire assay-atomic absorption.In all cases more than 60% of the gold resides in the − 53 μm fraction. For the residual soils most of the remaining gold is associated with the light mineral fractions and only a negligible proportion resides in the heavy minerals. Estimates of the numbers of gold particles and subsampling variability suggest that gold, in both heavy and light mineral fractions, is largely present as inclusions of fine gold. For exploration purposes, optimum sample representativity would be obtained with the − 53 μm fraction. However, because this fraction is a major component of the soils, use of a coarser size fraction (e.g., − 212 μm) will only slightly reduce sample representativity. Also, because most of the gold is associated with the − 53 μm and light mineral fractions, use of heavy mineral concentrates offers no significant advantage and in some cases would result in anomalous conditions being overlooked. 相似文献
3.
The distribution of gold in a short 120 m reach of an upland stream in Scotland has been investigated using an established freeze-core sampling method that avoids problems of elutriation. Thirty cores were taken from six sites chosen to represent the variety of geomorphological settings. Bed sediments varied between sites(24.3>D50>9.2 mm). Gold distribution is described in terms of concentration, mass and number of grains. Data are erratic in coarse fractions (>500 μm) because of the low number of individual gold grains and the high frequency of barren samples. The < 63 μm fraction gave the most consistent results, especially for gold loads (g · kg −1) reflecting the high number of individual grains. The distribution of gold is discussed in relation to the geomorphological controls and sediment transport processes that lead to enrichment and dilution of gold deposits. The sampling method is shown to provide a practical approach for obtaining representative and quantitative data on fine-grained gold distributions. 相似文献
4.
The results described relate to an investigation into the nature of Au dispersion in glacial till, undertaken to identify optimum search techniques for use in exploration for Au mineralization.The diversity of Au mineralization, in terms of the host rock lithologies, mineralogy and grain size of the Au, would be expected to give rise to differences in the secondary response in the associated overburden. Common exploration procedures involve the analyses of the heavy-mineral fraction or a particular size fraction of the tills. However, having regard to the expected variable response of Au in associated glacial till, attributed to variations in primary mineralization, effective exploration requires that the methodology employed is capable of locating all types of Au mineralization.Bulk till samples were collected from various sites associated with the Owl Creek deposit near Timmins and the Hemlo deposits. Grain size analyses were carried out on the till samples and on the heavy-mineral concentrates. The concentration of the Au in the various fractions was determined by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis.Preliminary results allow a number of provisional conclusions to be drawn:
- 1. (1) Grain size analysis of the −2 mm fraction of tills indicates that the silt and clay fraction constitutes 20–50%, whereas, in contrast, the equivalent heavy-mineral concentrates are dominantly composed of the coarser −500 + 63 μm material.
- 2. (2) The amount of Au present in the heavy-mineral concentrates of tills represents only a minor proportion of the total Au in the original till samples. In addition, the proportion of the total Au recovered in the heavy-mineral concentrate varies from 4 to 15%. Both factors indicate that caution is necessary in interpreting the significance of heavy-mineral Au data.
- 3. (3) Examination of the size distribution of Au within the heavy-mineral concentrate indicates that the majority of the Au is contained in the −125 μm fraction.
- 4. (4) The concentration factor (the original sample weight divided by the heavy-mineral concentrate weight) varies up to 7-fold between samples due presumably to the differing proportions of heavy minerals. Hence, in Au deposits of equivalent economic significance this gives rise to varying Au concentrations in heavy-mineral concentrates according to the quantity of heavy minerals present. Significant interpretation can only be achieved by re-expressing the Au contents of heavy-mineral concentrates in terms of the absolute amount of Au in heavy-mineral concentrates.
- 5. (5) A comparison of the heavy-mineral concentrates produced by different laboratories indicates marked differences in the weight of the heavy-mineral concentrate, the Au concentration of the heavy-mineral concentrate, the total weight of Au in the heavy-mineral concentrate and the size distribution of the Au in the heavy-mineral concentrate.
- 6. (6) Analysis of the −63 μm silt and clay size fraction indicates anomalous Au contents within this fraction of the tills collected from Owl Creek and Hemlo, extending over 500 m down-ice from mineralization at Hemlo.
- 7. (7) Analysis of the −63 μm silt and clay size fraction is suitable for the detection of fine-grained Au deposits that are not amenable to detection on the basis of heavy-mineral concentrate analyses.
- 8. (8) The analysis of the silt and clay fraction reduces the sample representativity problems associated with analyzing coarser fractions.
- 9. (9) A comparison of the Au distribution in heavy-mineral concentrates and the −63 μm fraction of till down-ice from the Owl Creek deposit indicates broadly similar dispersion patterns.
5.
Several pilot studies were made in a PGE-mineralized area of central Madagascar in order to compare Pt,Pd halos in heavy mineral concentrates and to select the most suitable stream-sediment fractions, sampling densities and anomaly thresholds for regional PGE surveys. Results show low anomaly thresholds for Pt (30 ppb) and Pd (20 ppb) in the −63 μm fractions of the active sediment, with restricted halos of nearly 300 m for Pt and nearly 500 m for Pd. Using a slightly coarser fraction (−125 μm) increases the anomaly contrast. The Pt anomalies in heavy mineral pan concentrates are considerably enhanced (400–1,000 ppb) but occur further downstream in residual terraces. A regular increase in the weight of the heavy mineral concentrate for a given volume of sediment is noticed downstream. A simple weight correction of the raw Pt grade in the heavy mineral concentrate gives a better definition of the mineralized source upstream. Assessment of the corrected heavy mineral concentrate Pt anomalies together with Pt,Pd anomalies in the finest stream-sediment fraction produces the optimum definition of the target. Optical determination and scanning electron microscope studies of the PGM show sperrylite to be the major Pt-bearing mineral in the stream sediment, whereas the Pd mineralogy remains unresolved. Pt dispersion appears to be a predominantly mechanical process and Pd dispersion a chemical process with deposition controlled mainly by MnO scavenging. 相似文献
6.
Heavy mineral concentrates (SG 3.3) from the Huai Hin Laep, a tributary of the Huai Kho Lo River in northern Thailand, contain strongly anomalous concentrations of gold. In contrast, the gold content of the associated < 149 μm and <53 μm fractions of the sediment is generally less than the 5 ppb detection limit obtained by a conventional fire assay-atomic absorption spectrometry method. To test for the presence of a gold anomaly at concentrations < 5 ppb, we have used an aqua-regia digestion followed by an Amberlite XAD-8 column preconcentration technique that, when used with a spectrometer that enables full display of the analytical spectrum to optimize baseline analysis, gives a detection limit of 0.1 ppb Au.Gold content of the < 53 μm sediment fraction ranges from 1.0 to 3.1 ppb compared to concentrations that typically range from 1000 to more than 100,000 ppb in the heavy mineral concentrates. However, despite gold concentrations in the sediment being several orders of magnitude lower than those in the heavy mineral concentrates, the downstream dispersion patterns are similar, with gold concentrations increasing at high energy sites and downstream away from the assumed source. These results identify the presence of a greatly diluted gold anomaly in the < 53 μm fraction of the sediments and suggest that transport and deposition of this fine grained gold is controlled by the same sedimentological factors that control the behavior of gold in the sand-size range, between 53 μm and 425 μm. Most important from an exploration standpoint, is that by using a sufficiently sensitive analytical method, meaningful gold dispersion patterns can be recognized at concentrations below 5 ppb. 相似文献
7.
Geochemical patterns for elements, such as Sn, W and Au, present in drainage sediments as resistate heavy minerals are often erratic and difficult to interpret. To investigate the source of these problems and develop methods of eliminating them we have compared the behavior of Sn, present as cassiterite, and associated pathfinder elements downstream from a small primary Sn deposit in Perak, Peninsular Malaysia.Dispersion trains for the pathfinder elements are characterized by smooth decay patterns and differences in concentrations between high- and low-energy environments, characterized by coarse-and medium-grained sands respectively, are not significant. In contrast, Sn (and magnetite) concentrations are extremely erratic with significantly higher concentrations in high- compared to low-energy environments. As a result the dispersion train for Sn exhibits no regular decay pattern away from its source. These findings suggest that the action of the stream is analogous to that of sluice box, with light minerals being winnowed away and cassiterite, together with magnetite, accumulating. For all but the finest sizes this process, which is most efficient in high-energy environments, causes considerable local variability in Sn content of the sediments. However, because the hydraulic behavior of cassiterite and magnetite is similar, but magnetite is not associated with the primary mineralization, the Sn/magnetite ratio can be used to eliminate Sn anomalies resulting from local variations in hydraulic conditions.The concept of hydraulic equivalence of cassiterite and magnetite was extended to examining the relationship between Sn and different size fractions of the light minerals that constitute the bulk of most sediments. Greatest contrast is obtained when the Sn content of the −270 mesh (−53 μm) fraction is re-expressed as its hydraulic equivalent concentration in −65 + 100 mesh (−212 + 150 μm) material.For exploration purposes it is concluded that: (1) providing cassiterite is present in the fine size fractions, sampling of this material will reduce hydraulic effects, thereby reducing data variability, and can also increase the length of the anomalous dispersion train; and (2) hydraulic effects can also be reduced by re-expressing Sn concentrations as ratios to magnetite (provided this is not associated with the primary Sn mineralization) or a hydraulically equivalent size fraction of the light minerals that constitute the bulk of the sediment. Similar principles probably apply to the interpretation of geochemical data for other elements dispersed in drainage sediments as heavy minerals; this warrants further investigation. 相似文献
8.
Steven D. Bussey Paul M. Taufen Bart J. Suchomel Malcolm Ward 《Journal of Geochemical Exploration》1993,47(1-3)
The Bell Springs deposit is a bulk-tonnage, low-grade gold deposit, formed in a hot-spring environment, that is hosted by middle Miocene weakly peralkaline, high-silica rhyolite ash flows and rheomorphic tuffs. Ore grade mineralization over about 460 × 460 m was controlled by northeast- and northwest-trending structures. Sixty-nine soil samples collected along a traverse across the Bell Springs deposit, screened into six mesh size fractions, +10, −10+35, −35+80, −80+120, −120+200, and −200, were treated by low-detection-limit acid digestion/organic extraction procedures, and analyzed by ICP or graphite furnace techniques for Au, Ag, As, Bi, Cd, Cu, Ga, Hg, Mo, Pb, Sb, Se, Te, Tl, and Zn. Twenty-five stream-sediment samples were collected from a drainage crossing mineralization and from a nearby tributary. Sediment size fractions of −200 mesh and −10+200 mesh were analyzed by the same procedures used for soils. In addition, analyses of bulk leachable gold via cyanide leach method (BLEG) was done on bulk −10 mesh sediments.Anomalous Au, Ag, As, Sb, and Mo in all soil size fractions revealed the underlying ore. Areas with anomalous Sb and As were about three times larger than areas with anomalous Au and Ag. Analyses of fine-fractions of stream sediments provided the best-defined Au anomalies in drainages. A multi-element factor calculated by multiplying Au, As, Sb, and Mo reinforced anomalous Au in drainages and correlated well with Bell Springs mineralization. 相似文献
9.
Orientation studies were carried out by the BRGM mission in Saudi Arabia between 1982–1986 to investigate the dispersion of gold in soils and wadi sediments and to define the optimum sample medium around eight prospects in the central Arabian pediplain. A comparison of gold distribution in several sieved fractions with various pedologic horizons shows that the distribution of gold changes abruptly from the coarser sizes near the source to the finest sizes 150 m downstream.The coarse fraction recommended by previous workers is not representative and yields erratic results in the specific environment of the pediplain. Gold is enriched and more homogeneously distributed in the minus 80 μm fraction of the skeletal soils and wadi sediments.Regional geochemical survey can be effective using a sensitive analytical method for gold and the minus 80 μm fraction of the brown gravelly sediment with a minimum density of 2 samples per km2. Geochemical halos in the 30–50 ppb range indicate gold mineralization 500 to 1000 m upstream, depending on relief.In a first follow-up stage, continued use of the same size of the upper argillaceous layer with a regular reg sampling grid gives more contrasted and more extensive anomalies than using a coarse material. These anomalies may be slightly offset by the present arid erosion. A second follow-up stage is then recommended at a closer grid and sampling the brown blocky layer below the surficial reg pavement. Again, the use of the finest fraction at this exploration stage has given the best probability of finding a blind gold target.Optical determination of gold on a nonmagnetic fraction of heavy panconcentrate is not recommended, because nugget growth is practically absent in the present arid conditions and flour-sized gold particles are lost in desliming samples. 相似文献
10.
Mark E. Hodson 《Chemical Geology》2002,190(1-4):91-112
Far-from-equilibrium batch dissolution experiments were carried out on the 2000–500, 500–250, 250–53 and 53–2 μm size fractions of the mineral component of the B horizon of a granitic iron humus podzol after removal of organic matter and secondary precipitates. The different size fractions were mineralogically and chemically similar, the main minerals present being quartz, alkali and plagioclase feldspar, biotite and chlorite. Specific surface area increased with decreasing grain size. The measured element release rates decreased in the order 53–2>>>2000–500>500–250>250–53 μm. Surface area normalised element release rates from the 2000–500, 500–250 and 250–53 μm size fractions (0.6–77×10−14 mol/m2/s) were intermediate between literature reported surface area normalised dissolution rates for monomineralic powders of feldspar (0.1–0.01×10−14 mol/m2/s) and sheet silicates (100×10−14 mol/m2/s) dissolving under similar conditions. Element release rates from the 53–2 μm fraction (400–3000×10−14 mol/m2/s) were a factor of 4–30 larger than literature reported values for sheet silicates. The large element release rate of the 53–2 μm fraction means that, despite the small mass fraction of 53–2 μm sized particles present in the soil, dissolution of this fraction is the most important for element release into the soil. A theoretical model predicted similar (within a factor of <2) bulk element release rates for all the mineral powders if observed thicknesses of sheet silicate grains were used as input parameters. Decreasing element release rates with decreasing grain size were only predicted if the thickness of sheet silicates in the powders was held constant. A significantly larger release rate for the 53–2 μm fraction relative to the other size fractions was only predicted if either surface roughness was set several orders of magnitude higher for sheet silicates and several orders of magnitude lower for quartz and feldspars in the 53–2 μm fraction compared to the other size fractions or if the sheet silicate thickness input in the 53–2 μm fraction was set unrealistically low. It is therefore hypothesised that the reason for the unpredicted large release rate from the 52–3 μm size fraction is due to one or more of the following reasons: (1) the greater reactivity of the smaller particles due to surface free energy effects, (2) the lack of proportionality between the BET surface area used to normalise the release rates and the actual reactive surface area of the grains and, (3) the presence of traces quantities of reactive minerals which were undetected in the 53–2 μm fraction but were entirely absent in the coarser fractions. 相似文献
11.
Surface sediment samples were collected from the Squamish River Delta, British Columbia, in order to determine the role of sediment surface area in the preservation of organic matter (OM) in a paralic sedimentary environment. The Squamish Delta is an actively prograding delta, located at the head of Howe Sound.Bulk total organic carbon (TOC) values across the Squamish Delta are low, ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 wt.%. The carbon/total nitrogen ratio (Corg/N) ranges from 6 to 17, which is attributed to changes in OM type and facies variations. The <25-μm fraction has TOC concentrations up to 2.0 wt.%, and a Corg/N ratio that ranges from 14 to 16. The 53–106-μm fraction has higher TOC concentrations and Corg/N ratios relative to the 25–53-μm fraction. The Corg/N ratio ranges from 9 to 18 in the 53–106-μm fraction and 5.5–10.5 in the 25–53-μm fraction. Surface area values for bulk sediments are low (0.5–3.0 m2/g) due to the large proportion of silt size material. Good correlation between surface area and TOC in bulk samples suggests that OM is adsorbed to mineral surfaces. Similar relationships between surface area and TOC were observed in size-fractionated samples. Mineralogy and elemental composition did not correlate with TOC concentration.The relationships between surface area, TOC and total nitrogen (TN) can be linked to the hydrodynamic and sedimentological conditions of the Squamish Delta. As a result, the Squamish Delta is a useful modern analogue for the formation of petroleum source rocks in ancient deltaic environments, where TOC concentrations are often significantly lower than those in source rocks formed in other geological settings. 相似文献
12.
Radiocaesium (137Cs) dispersion and Cs+ fixation were studied in the sediments collected from the lagoon systems of “Ria de Aveiro”. The Cs+ sorption was tested for the fine mica grains and for the < 2 μm clay fractions extracted from silty clays. The Cs+ exchange is found strongly onto mica-rich fractions than smectite-rich fractions. The distribution coefficient increases if the silty material is constituted by rich-mica clay fractions or if the non-clay minerals are removed from the silty-clay material. The samples studied behave as multisite ion exchange, where Cs+ engages in ion-exchange reactions with hydrated cations on planar sites on expansible layer silicates. Higher concentrations of the 137Cs were found associated with mica-rich silty clays. The 137Cs ranges from 3.2 to 3.9 Bq kg− 1 in the < 38 μm fractions and from 2.9 to 3.3 Bq kg− 1 in the < 64 μm fractions. 相似文献
13.
Distribution of copper, zinc, lead and cadmium concentrations in stream sediments from the Mapocho River in Santiago, Chile 总被引：17，自引：0，他引：17
The Mapocho river, which crosses downtown Santiago, is one of the most important rivers in contact with a population of about six million inhabitants. Anthropogenic activities, industrialization, farming activities, transport, urbanization, animal and human excretions, domestic wastes and copper mining have affected the river, contaminating it and its sediments with heavy metals. Concentration and distribution of Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd were studied with the purpose of determining their bioavailability and their relation with the characteristics of the sediments. Freshly deposited seasonal sediments were collected from 0–8 cm depths from 6 locations (S1 to S6) along the 30-km long channel length, in the four seasons of year on the following dates: May 2001 (D1, autumn); August 2001 (D2, winter); October 2001 (D3, spring) and January 2002 (D4, summer). The dried samples were sifted to obtain the < 63-μm sediment fraction, since it has been shown that large amounts of heavy metals are bound in the fine-grained fraction of the sediment. Cu and Zn were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and Pb and Cd by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry. The highest concentrations of Cu (2850 μg g− 1) were found in the northern part of the river (S1, average D1–D4), near the mountains and a copper mine, and then decreased downstream to 209 μg g− 1 (S6). Total Zn showed an irregular variation, with higher values at S1 (1290 μg g− 1) and high values in some winter sampling (1384 μg g− 1 S4, S5–D2). Pb showed different trends, increasing from S1 to S6 (17 to 61 μg g− 1), with the highest values in the summer samples (83 μg g− 1, S4–S6, D4), and total Cd increased slightly from mean values of 0.2 and 0.5 μg g− 1. Partition into five fractions was made using Tessier's analytical sequential extraction technique; the residue was treated with aqua regia for recovery studies, although this step is not part of the Tessier procedure. The results show that Cu, Zn and Pb in the sediments were dependent on the sampling places along the river, and variation in two years was low (D1–D4). The highest values of total organic matter, carbonate and conductivity were found in S6, which has the smallest size particles, while at S1 the sediments were predominantly sand and contain larger amounts of silica. Cu associated with carbonate decreased gradually from 58% (1771 μg g− 1, S1) to 16% (32 μg g− 1, S6); Cu bonded to reducible fraction was almost constant (33% to 37%), and Cu associated with oxidizable fraction increased from 7% (S1) to 34% (S6), but copper content was lower (214 to 68 μg g− 1). Zn had a similar fractionation profile. However, Pb bound to oxidizable fraction did not show significant percent variation along the river (20% to 19%), but the amount bounded was 4 to 12 μg g− 1. The residual fraction increased from 24% to 41% (5 to 25 μg g− 1, S1 to S6). The distribution of Cd in the sediment was almost independent of the sampling stations and was bound to carbonate, reducible and residual fraction in similar proportion. Cu and Zn at S1 were mainly bound to carbonates and reducible phases with 91% and 73% (2779 and 965 μg g− 1, respectively), and with a change in the pH and/or the redox potential of the sediment–water system, these contaminants could easily enter the food chain. In S6 the amount of Cu and Zn in these phases was 50% and 53% (100 to 313 μg g− 1, respectively). 相似文献
14.
The interaction of organic compounds with the mineral phase is considered as one stabilization mechanism for organic carbon (OC) in soils. The objective of this study is to assess the role of mineral surfaces for the long-term stabilization of OC in arable soils, with special emphasis on iron oxides. Soil samples were taken from two contrasting treatment types, i.e. fertilized plots and C-depleted plots, in long-term agroecosystem experiments. The soil organic carbon pool of the C-depleted plots is considered to show a lower contribution of labile compounds and consequently to be relatively enriched in refractory compounds compared with the fertilized counterparts. In fractions <6 μm, OC was studied in relation to total mineral surface area, surface area contributed by oxides and silicates, and the content and type of iron oxides (dithionite and oxalate extractable iron, Fed and Feo). In two sandy soils, OC contents were linearly related to total mineral surface area and the content of the two iron oxide fractions (Fed and Feo). The surface area developed by the silicates was low and thus the surface area contribution from oxides was dominant in fractions <6 μm. In contrast to the sandy soils, in a loamy soil OC was not correlated with surface area or the iron oxide content. However, the different soils agreed with respect to the behavior of C in density fractions: losses of OC occurred mainly from the light fraction (2 g cm−3), whereas C in the heavy fraction (>2 g cm−3) proved to be stable. For the sandy soils, mineral surface area appears to control the storage of OC in fine fractions. Given the dominant surface area contribution from oxides, OC storage here primarily depends on the oxides. The C-depleted plots in particular show that surface area controls the accumulation of refractory C. The interaction of organic compounds with the mineral phase, mainly with the surface of oxides, seems to be a major mechanism for the long-term stabilization of OC in these sandy soils. An interaction with minerals seems to be important for stabilizing OC also in the loamy soil, although this is not reflected by a proportional relation between OC and surface area across the fractions. 相似文献
15.
Visible gold in arsenian pyrite at the Shuiyindong Carlin-type gold deposit, Guizhou, China: Implications for the environment and processes of ore formation 总被引：13，自引：0，他引：13
Wenchao Su Bin Xia Hongtao Zhang Xingchun Zhang Ruizhong Hu 《Ore Geology Reviews》2008,33(3-4):667-679
Carlin-type gold deposits are best known for the scarcity of visible gold in their ores. It has long been recognized that the majority of gold is “invisible”, such that it cannot be resolved by conventional microscopy, and resides in arsenian pyrite. Shuiyindong differs in that sub-μm to μm-sized native gold is present in arsenian pyrite veinlets and disseminations. It is also the largest (55 tonnes) and highest grade (7 to 18 ppm), stratabound, Carlin-type gold deposit in Guizhou, China and has produced 5 tonnes of gold from sulfide refractory ores extracted by underground mining methods. In this study, an electron microprobe analyzer (EMPA) was used to map the spatial distribution of “invisible” gold and sub-μm to μm-size visible gold particles in arsenian pyrite in high-grade ore samples from the Shuiyindong. The samples studied are hosted in Permian bioclastic ferroan limestone of the Longtan Formation and exhibit evidence of decarbonation, silicification and sulfidation. Arsenian pyrite with detectable Au (> 400 to 3800 ppm) is disseminated in altered limestone and was deposited in two stages separated by an episode of corrosion in a veinlet.The results show that there are two populations of native gold in arsenian pyrite. One is comprised of sub-μm size gold particles (0.1 to 0.2 μm) that are occasionally present in the gold-bearing arsenian pyrite disseminated in the host rocks. This arsenian pyrite is interpreted to have been formed by sulfidation of ferroan calcite and dolomite. Another is comprised of coarser (1 to 6 μm) native gold grains present in the arsenian pyrite veinlet, either on the first stage where it has been corroded or on the second stage. The lack of fluid inclusion or other evidence of boiling and the low iron content of fluid inclusions in quartz, suggest the veinlet formed by sulfidation of another fluid containing Fe. The Fe-bearing fluid may be a depleted ore fluid that gained Fe by dissolution of ferroan limestone after H2S had been consumed. The association of the largest visible gold grains with an episode of corrosion suggests that fluids episodically became undersaturated with arsenian pyrite while remaining saturated with gold (e.g., pH decrease or an increase in the oxidation state). This may have resulted from incursion of relatively acidic or oxidized fluids that were able to dissolve arsenian pyrite and remain saturated with gold. In this case, sulfidation of iron from the host rock, was the most important depositional mechanism for Au-bearing arsenian pyrite with, or without, grains of native gold. 相似文献
16.
Kamlesh Verma Sanjeeb Bhattacharya P. Biswas Prakash K. Shrivastava Mayuri Pandey N. C. Pant IODP Expedition Scientific Party 《International Journal of Earth Sciences》2014,103(8):2315-2326
Core U1359 collected from the continental rise off Wilkes Land, east Antarctica, is analyzed for the clay mineralogy and carbon content. The temporal variation of the clay mineralogical data shows a dominance of illite with chlorite, smectite and kaolinite in decreasing concentration. Clay mineral illite is negatively correlated with smectite which shows enrichment during 6.2–6.8, 5.5–5.8, 4.5 and 2.5 Ma. The mineralogical analyses on the silt size fraction (2–53 μm) of some selected samples were also carried out. The combined result of both the size fractions shows the presence of chlorite and illite in both size fractions, smectite and kaolinite only in clay size fraction (<2 μm) and similarity in the crystallinity and chemistry of illite in both fractions. Similar nature of illite in both fractions suggests negligible role of sorting probably due to the deposition from the waxing ice sheet. During times of ice growth, nearby cratonic east Antarctica shield provided biotite-rich sediments to the depositional site. On the other hand, the presence of smectite, only in the clay size fraction, suggests the effective role of sorting probably due to the deposition from distal source in ice retreat condition. During times of ice retreat, smectite-rich sediment derived from Ross Orogen is transported to the core site through surface or bottom water currents. Poor crystallinity of illite due to degradation further corroborates the ice retreat condition. The ice sheet proximal sediments of U1359 show that in the eastern part of Wilkes Land, the ‘warming’ was initiated during late Miocene. 相似文献
17.
The Owl Creek Gold Mine is located in Hoyle Township, approximately 18 km northeast of Timmins, Ontario, Canada. The open-pit mine exposes a sequence of altered and mineralized mafic tholeiitic volcanics bounded to the north and south by greywacke and argillite. Gold occurs in the free state in quartz veins, often with graphite, and as fine gold on surfaces of, and within fractures in, pyrite.The study was designed to determine the distribution and distance of transport of Au in overburden down-ice from subcropping Au mineralization. This required an understanding of the glacial history of the area.The Quaternary stratigraphy at Owl Creek was studied and sampled by means of 17 sonic and 15 reverse-circulation overburden drill holes near the open pit, and several overburden exposures in the open-pit walls. Nonmagnetic heavy-mineral concentrates (specific gravity >3.3) were made from the <2000 μm (−10 mesh) fraction of all overburden samples from the drill hole and section sampling. The heavy-mineral concentrates were analyzed for Au by neutron activation. A till pebble lithology study was done on the >2000 μm (−10 mesh) fraction of the sonic drill core.Our stratigraphic studies indicate that there were three major Wisconsinan (Weichselian) ice advances and one minor, late readvance in the Timmins area. The transport and deposition of sediments comprising the “Oldest”, “Older”, Matheson and Cochrane stratigraphic “packages” (oldest to youngest) are related to three ice advances and one readvance which moved towards 240° ± 10°, 150° ± 5°, 170° ± 5° and 130° ± 5°, respectively.Geochemically anomalous levels of Au in the overburden define two dispersal trains down-ice of the Owl Creek Gold Mine. One, in the “Older” lodgement till, is 400–500 m long. The other in Matheson ablation and waterlain tills, is approximately 700 m long.The till pebble lithology study showed that pebble counting can be used to approximate bedrock contacts, but may not necessarily identify the source rock type of the matrix. 相似文献
18.
A.H. Englert R.T. Rodrigues J. Rubio 《International Journal of Mineral Processing》2009,90(1-4):27-34
Experimental studies concerning the dissolved air flotation (DAF) of fine (dp < 100 μm) quartz particles, using two different flotation cells (setups), are presented. Pure and well characterised quartz samples were treated with a commercial amine as collector prior to flotation and bubbles were characterised by the LTM-BSizer technique. Bubble size distribution showed 71% (by volume) and 94% (by number) of the bubbles having sizes (db) lower than 100 μm (i.e. microbubbles). The Sauter and arithmetic mean diameters were 79 μm and 56 μm, respectively, for the bubbles generated at 300 kPa (gauge) saturation pressure (after 30 minute saturation time). Quartz particle size distribution (obtained by laser diffraction) showed a volume-moment diameter of 13 μm. The Rosin–Rammler–Bennett, Gates–Gaudin–Schumann and log-normal distribution functions were well fitted (R2 > 0.96) to the bubble size distribution and quartz particle size distribution data. Values of total quartz recovery ranging from 6% to 53% (by mass) were obtained for the DAF experiments under different collector concentrations (up to 2 mg g− 1), with an optimal collector concentration found at 1 mg g− 1. These results are significant considering that 27% (by volume) of the quartz particles are ultrafine (dp < 5 μm), demonstrating the widely-known efficiency of DAF to remove small particles when applied in the field of water and wastewater treatment. The true flotation behaviour, as a function of particle diameter (dp), exhibits a local minimum when particles are approximately 3–5 μm in size. The results contribute to the discussion in the literature about the existence of such a minimum, which is generally interpreted as a change in the mechanism of particle collection from convection (collision) to diffusion at lower particle sizes. 相似文献
19.
Mineralogical and geochemical data from shallow overburden surveys are examined to ascertain parameters which govern the distribution of gold in overburden in a 2400-km2 area of southwestern Gaspésie, Quebec, Canada.The area is a deeply dissected plateau underlain by faulted and gently folded Siluro-Devonian strata. Complex geomorphic and glacial histories are reflected in the non-glacial character of the landscape, the preservation of very old erosional landforms and extensive variation in the composition and distribution of overburden.Total sample analysis and heavy-mineral studies show that the composition of overburden changes across the area in approximate correspondence with changes in underlying bedrock. Three broad zones related to bedrock and overburden types are delimited. Gold analyses of <250 μm overburden are insensitive to regional variations, with only 15 samples out of 300 registering above the detection limit of 2 ppb. Better contrasts of gold concentrations are obtained from chemical analyses of nonmagnetic heavy-mineral concentrates (NM HMC). Although sample density is low, NM HMC data show anomalies which can be related to particular bedrock and structural settings. Particulate gold was not observed in any of the NM HMC. Gold is associated with secondary iron-oxide phases replacing primary sulphide minerals. High concentrations of gold in NM HMC of overburden collected north of the mouth of the Assemetquagan River support the hypothesis of a local source to the north or northwest for the alluvial gold in the lower 2 km segment of the river.Dilution by far-travelled, shield-derived heavy minerals is by far the most important cause of regional mineral variation. Conversion of gold concentrations in NM HMC to concentrations in total size fraction eliminates some of the erratic behavior of NM HMC data caused by variations in heavy-mineral abundance and corrects for the dilution effect where the proportion of heavy minerals in the far-travelled component of overburden is much greater than in the local component. These calculations suggest a contribution of gold to the background in the fine sand fraction of overburden of 0.07 ppb. Where the diluting component is local, conversion of NM HMC data to total size fraction may or may not correct for differences in heavy-mineral contributions of underlying bedrock, depending on local conditions. Where dilution by far-travelled components is excessive, NM HMC analyses are inadequate to reflect conditions in underlying bedrock. 相似文献
20.
Heavy metals distribution in core sediments, different size fractions of bed sediments (>212 urn, 90-212 jam, 63–90 urn, 53–63 urn, < 53 urn), and suspended sediments (>30 urn, 20–30 m, 10–20 urn, 2–10 urn, <2 m) have been discussed. Pb, Zn, and Cr have been accumulating in recent years in the sediments. Si, Al, Fe, Ca, and Mg dominate the bed and suspended sediment composition. Metals show increasing concentrations in finer sediments. Applying multivariate analysis to sediment composition, metals have been grouped into different factors depending upon their source of origin. Chemical fractionation studies on suspended and bed sediments show Fe, Zn, Cu, and Pb are associated with the residual fraction and Mn with the exchangeable fraction. 相似文献