Geochemical and pathfinder elements assessment in some mineralised regolith profiles in Bole-Nangodi gold belt in north-eastern Ghana

Bayari, Eric E.; Foli, Gordon; Gawu, Simon K. Y.

doi:10.1007/s12665-019-8265-5

Cited by 12 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…Quantitative interpretation of x-ray diffraction (XRD) data [4] have long been applied to distinguish between mineral assemblages, and to define chemical and mineralogical compositions [5]. Previous XRD studies of Au and associated minerals have mostly been performed to determine the grain size morphology and crystallinity [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization and identification of Au pathfinder minerals from an artisanal mine site using X-ray diffraction

2021

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Gold-associated pathfinder minerals have been investigated by identifying host minerals of Au for samples collected from an artisanal mining site near a potential gold mine (Kubi Gold Project) in Dunkwa-On-Offin in the central region of Ghana. We find that for each composition of Au powder (impure) and the residual black hematite/magnetite sand that remains after gold panning, there is a unique set of associated diverse indicator minerals. These indicator minerals are identified as SiO2 (quartz), Fe3O4 (magnetite) and Fe2O3 (hematite), while contributions from pyrite, arsenopyrites, iridosmine, scheelite, tetradymite, garnet, gypsum and other sulfate materials are insignificant. This constitutes a confirmative identification of Au pathfinding minerals in this particular mineralogical area. The findings suggest that X-ray diffraction could also be applied in other mineralogical sites to aid in identifying indicator minerals of Au and the location of ore bodies at reduced environmental and exploration costs.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization and identification of Au pathfinder minerals from an artisanal mine site using X-ray diffraction

2021

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“…These identified elemental species Si, Ag, Fe, Al, N, O, Hg, and Ti can act as pathfinder elements in the host minerals of the Kubi Au ore and can lead to exploration success in this mining area. Despite similarities in geology, mineralogy, and the structural setting of the Kubi Gold project with that of Northern belts of Ghana, there exist differences in pathfinder elements due to weathering, erosion, chemical, and landscape processes leading to differences in regolith (loose materials covering solid rock material) [46,47]. In the Kubi Gold area, the association of Ti and Fe with Au is unique and differs from what exists in northern Ghana.…”

Section: Edx Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bayari et al [46] used X-ray florescence spectroscopy, XRD, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to identify pathfinder elements and their associated pathfinder minerals in the mineralized regolith profiles at the Bole-Nangoli gold belt in north-eastern Ghana. Moreover, Nude et al [47] used a multivariate statistical approach to identify pathfinder elements for gold from the north-west of Ghana.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite increasing knowledge that indicator minerals can host numerous elements, most geologists in the study area have mainly concentrated on host minerals for Au such as arsenopyrite, pyrite, garnet and quartz that occur in orogenic and sediment hosted disseminated gold deposits known as Carlin type [45]. Bayari et al [46] used X-ray florescence spectroscopy, XRD and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to identify pathfinder elements and their associated pathfinder minerals found in the mineralized regolith profiles at the Bole-Nangoli gold belt in the north-eastern Ghana. Also, Nude et.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Elucidating Pathfinding Elements from the Kubi Gold Mine in Ghana

et al. 2021

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X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) are applied to investigate the properties of fine-grained concentrates on artisanal, small-scale gold mining samples from the Kubi Gold Project of the Asante Gold Corporation near Dunwka-on-Offin in the Central Region of Ghana. Both techniques show that the Au-containing residual sediments are dominated by the host elements Fe, Ag, Al, N, O, Si, Hg, and Ti that either form alloys with gold or with inherent elements in the sediments. For comparison, a bulk nugget sample mainly consisting of Au forms an electrum, i.e., a solid solution with Ag. Untreated (impure) sediments, fine-grained Au concentrate, coarse-grained Au concentrate, and processed ore (Au bulk/nugget) samples were found to contain clusters of O, C, N, and Ag, with Au concentrations significantly lower than that of the related elements. This finding can be attributed to primary geochemical dispersion, which evolved from the crystallization of magma and hydrothermal liquids as well as the migration of metasomatic elements and the rapid rate of chemical weathering of lateralization in secondary processes. The results indicate that Si and Ag are strongly concomitant with Au because of their eutectic characteristics, while N, C, and O follow alongside because of their affinity to Si. These non-noble elements thus act as pathfinders for Au ores in the exploration area. This paper further discusses relationships between gold and sediments of auriferous lodes as key to determining indicator minerals of gold in mining sites.

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“…For example, mercury has been recognized as an indicator element for both noble, and base metal deposits (Plouffe, 2001). In addition, As, Mo, Ag, Sn, Sb, Te, W and Bi are also found to act as pathfinder elements for gold (Bayari et al 2019). Though the use of As, Sb and Bi in stream sediments as pathfinder elements for base metal mineralization is well known, the influence of groundwater pH on the hydromorphic dispersion patterns of As, Sb and Bi, required to be considered during data interpretation (Hale, 1981).…”

Section: Pathfinder Elementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indicator Minerals, Pathfinder Elements, and Portable Analytical Instruments in Mineral Exploration Studies

Balaram¹,

Sawant²

2022

Preprint

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Until recently, the classic approach to mineral exploration studies is to bring the field samples/drill cores collected during field studies to the laboratory followed by laborious analysis procedures to generate the analytical data. This is very expensive, time consuming and difficult for exploring vast areas. But rapid technological advances in field portable analytical instruments such as portable ultraviolet–visible and near-infrared spectrophotometers, gamma ray spectrometer, pXRF, pXRD, pLIBS, and µRaman spectrometer have changed this scenario completely and increased their on-site applications in mineral exploration studies. These instruments are currently providing direct, rapid, on-site, real-time, non-destructive, cost-effective identification, and determination of target elements, indicator minerals and pathfinder elements in rock, soil, and sediment samples. These portable analytical instruments are currently helping to obtain accurate chemical and mineralogical information directly in field with minimal or no sample preparation, and providing decision-making support during field work as well as during drilling operations in several successful mineral exploration programs. In this article, the developments in these portable devices, and their contributions in the platinum group elements (PGE), rare earth elements (REE), gold, base metals, and lithium exploration studies both on land and on ocean bed have been summarized with examples.

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Geochemical and pathfinder elements assessment in some mineralised regolith profiles in Bole-Nangodi gold belt in north-eastern Ghana

Cited by 12 publications

References 33 publications

Characterization and identification of Au pathfinder minerals from an artisanal mine site using X-ray diffraction

Characterization and identification of Au pathfinder minerals from an artisanal mine site using X-ray diffraction

Elucidating Pathfinding Elements from the Kubi Gold Mine in Ghana

Indicator Minerals, Pathfinder Elements, and Portable Analytical Instruments in Mineral Exploration Studies

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