Application of microchemical characterization of placer gold grains to exploration for epithermal gold mineralization in regions of poor exposure

Chapman, Robert J.; Mortensen, James K.

doi:10.1016/j.gexplo.2005.12.004

Cited by 63 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Such compositions are broadly consistent with those of alluvial, unrefined gold from placer deposits (e.g. Chapman and Mortensen, 2006;Hough et al, 2009). The only problematic datum is the slightly elevated copper content in the microbeads from El Chorro, since copper values higher than 1% are exceptional in placer gold, with higher values generally indicative of primary smelted gold.…”

Section: Composition and Originssupporting

confidence: 72%

Metallic encounters in Cuba: The technology, exchange and meaning of metals before and after Columbus

Martinón‐Torres¹,

Rojas²,

Samper³

et al. 2012

Journal of Anthropological Archaeology

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a b s t r a c tMetals held important symbolic and political values for the indigenous communities of the Caribbean islands. However, metal objects are not abundant in indigenous archaeological sites, and their study has hitherto been very limited. This paper presents the results of the first analytical programme focused on metal artifacts recovered in a range of Taíno sites in Cuba, chronologically covering the periods before and after contact with Europeans. Our aims were: (a) to identify metallurgical traditions related to a diversity of cultural or learning backgrounds; (b) to investigate the origins of different metal artifacts found in Cuba, as a proxy to reconstruct patterns of exchange and interaction among indigenous communities and between these and Europeans; and (c) to approach the meaning and symbolism of different metals by considering their contexts of appropriation and use. The techniques employed included optical microscopy, SEM-EDS, pXRF and PIXE. The results allow a diachronic picture of the procurement, transformation, use and symbolism of metals in Cuba with broader implications for Caribbean archaeology. We reveal culture-specific Taíno choices in their interaction with materials and value systems from continental America and Europe. We also discuss the selective appropriation, recontextualization and meaning of different metals in the indigenous cultures.Crown

show abstract

Section: Composition and Originssupporting

confidence: 72%

Metallic encounters in Cuba: The technology, exchange and meaning of metals before and after Columbus

Martinón‐Torres¹,

Rojas²,

Samper³

et al. 2012

Journal of Anthropological Archaeology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…9. XY scatter plot of Cu vs fineness of grains from four gold districts Batouri, SE, Cameroon (this study); Celopech, Bulgaria (Bonev et al, 2002); Kazikkaya-Turkey lode gold (Weisser, 1988) and Hunker dome lode (Chapman and Mortensen, 2006). The gold grains from Batouri are characterized by very low copper and fineness values that cluster between 850 and 900 in the core and 920 to 1000 in the rims and along fissures.…”

Section: Gold Microchemical Signaturementioning

confidence: 73%

“…6). The rims show a lower (Weisser, 1988) and Hunker dome lode (Chapman and Mortensen, 2006). Gold grains from Batouri are characterized by low Ag and high gold contents.…”

Section: Gold Grain Morphology and Microchemistrymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…gold grains, alloyed elements and grain morphology (e.g. Chapman et al, 2000aChapman et al, ,b, 2009Chapman et al, , 2010Chapman and Mortensen, 2006;Moles et al, 2013). The suitability of the microchemical technique lies in the fact that the core composition of particulate gold in soils and stream sediments reflects the composition of the gold in the lode sources or bedrock.…”

Section: Gold Microchemical Signaturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The ternary plot in Fig. 10 was proposed by Townley et al (2003) and subsequently used by Chapman and Mortensen (2006) and Moles et al (2013) to try to invoke the nature of the source of detrital gold grains. Obviously this technique is limited by the paucity of data on pluton-related gold mineralization and the fact that the fields are not mutually exclusive and therefore not necessarily generic.…”

Section: Gold Microchemical Signaturementioning

confidence: 99%

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Gold grade variation and particle microchemistry in exploration pits of the Batouri gold district, SE Cameroon

Vishiti

Suh

Lehmann

et al. 2015

Journal of African Earth Sciences

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Mineral chemistry, bulk rock geochemistry, and S‐isotope signature of lode‐gold mineralization in the Bétaré Oya gold district, south‐east Cameroon

et al. 2017

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Lode‐gold mineralization in the Bétaré Oya gold district is related to a series of quartz–sulphide veins that define a steeply dipping NNE–SSW‐trending brittle–ductile shear zone. The veins transect metasedimentary sequences in the vicinity of small granitic intrusions. Quartz veins range from barren (massive quartz) to mineralized with textures that vary from foliated, sheared, vuggy, fractured, and sugary to brecciated with inclusions of altered wall rock. They contain gold, pyrite, and galena in addition to chalcopyrite and both hypogene and supergene haematite and covellite. Parameters that consistently define primary gold mineralization in the area include silicification, sulphidation, sericitization, K‐feldspar alteration, haematitization, and carbonatization. Gold grains recovered from heavy mineral concentrate and grains that occur as inclusions in pyrite were characterized by microchemical methods. The gold grains are zoned and exhibit a simple internal structure of partly deformed and leached rims and high‐purity intragranular veinlets. Gold is alloyed with Ag; gold fineness varies between 859 and 877 in the core and from 958 to 997 in the leached rims. Inclusions of gold in pyrite cluster between 875 and 900. Pyrite has up to 0.59 wt% Au, and other trace elements occur in low quantities but for Pb (0.13 wt%), Ag (1.36 wt%), and Sb (1.63 wt%). The bulk trace element signature of the veins is characterized by Au, Ag, As, Bi, Ba, Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb, Sb, Sr, V, W, Zn, and Zr. This depicts a geochemical association of Au ± Cu ± Bi ± As ± Pb. The occurrence of Au as well as elevated Pb and Zn could suggest a granitic source for the ore‐bearing fluid. The auriferous quartz veins are characterized by a widespread in δ34S from 2.8 to 14.9‰ pointing to multiple sources of sulphur in the system, perhaps a mixture of sulphur from the metasedimentary and the granitic rocks.

show abstract

Application of microchemical characterization of placer gold grains to exploration for epithermal gold mineralization in regions of poor exposure

Cited by 63 publications

References 29 publications

Metallic encounters in Cuba: The technology, exchange and meaning of metals before and after Columbus

Metallic encounters in Cuba: The technology, exchange and meaning of metals before and after Columbus

Gold grade variation and particle microchemistry in exploration pits of the Batouri gold district, SE Cameroon

Mineral chemistry, bulk rock geochemistry, and S‐isotope signature of lode‐gold mineralization in the Bétaré Oya gold district, south‐east Cameroon

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