Geochemical Styudy of Gold and Arsenic Mineralization of the Carlin-Type Gold Deposits,Qinling Region,China

Element geochemistry of gold arsenic and mineralogical features of their sulfides in the Carlin-type gold depostis of the Qinling region are discussed in this paper.The initial contents of ore-forming elements such as glod and arsenic are high the ore-bearing rock series in the Qinling region.Furthermore,both the metals are concentrated mainly in the diagenetic pyrite.Study on the mineralogy of arsenic-bearing sulfide minerals in the ores demonstrated that there is a poistive correlation between gold and arsenic in the sulfide minerals.Available evidence suggests that gold in the As-bearing sulfide minerals in likely to be presented as a charge species(Au ),and it is most possible for it to replace the exxcess arsenic at the site of iron and war probably deposited together with arsenic as solid in the sulfide minerals. Pyrite is composed of(Aux^3 ,Fe1-2^2 )([AsS]x^3-[S2]1-x^2-),and arenopyrite of (Aux^3 ,Fe1-x^3 )([AsS]x^3-[AsS2]1-x^3-).The occurrence of glod in the As-sulfied minerals from the Carlin-type gold depostis in the Qinling region has been confirmed by electron probe and transmission electron microscopic studies.The results show that gold was probably depostied together with arsenicas coupled solid solutions in sulfide minerals in the early stage of mineralization.Metallogenic chemical reactions concerning gold deposition in the Carlin-type As-rich gold deposits would involve oxidation of glod and concurrent reduction of arsenic.Later,the deposited gold as solid was remobilized and redistributed as exsolutions,as a result of increasing hydrothermal alteration and crystallization,and decreasing resistance to refractoriness of the host minerals.Gold occurs as sub-microscopic grains(ranging from 0.04tp 0.16μm in diameter)of native gold along micro factures in and crystalline grains of the sulfiedes.     

Supergene Geochemistry of Gold and Oxidation Zone of the Sain Us Gold Deposit in the Inner Mongolian Arid Region

The Sain Us gold deposit is a typical auriferous sulphide quartz vein deposit in the InnerMongolian arid steppe climatic region. The oxidation zone has been controlled by the arid cli-mate since the beginning of the Holocene. Gold supergene evolution is characterized by enlarge-ment of gold grains, complication of the gold form, raising of the gold grade and increase of thegold fineness; besides, gold and silver have two enrichment peaks at the same depth, which is insharp contrast to the unimodal enrichment of gold and silver and the occurrence of gold aboveand silver below in a humid climatic region. Sun pumping is the main cause for the bimodalenrichment of gold and silver. Illite 2 M_1 is one of the main causes for the upper enrichment peakof gold and silver.     

The Machanism of Bacterial Oxidation of Sulphides

The bacteria used in the experiment are Thiobacillus Ferrooxidans separated from acidic mine water in sulphide deposits. The chemoautotrophic bacteria can act directly on sulphides and accelerate the oxidation of sulphides. The experiment shows that the bacteria, as an important microbial factor of gold's supergenous enrichment within the oxidized zones of sulphide deposits, are helpful to dissolve gold and silver in ferric sulphate. In the bacterial oxidation process, the precipitation of goethite is concerned both with the lower activity of ferric ions and with the existence of carbonates in solution. Meanwhile, the acid-resisting and oxidizing ability of the bacteria will certainly lead up to a microbial way of treating the acidic mine water.     

Mineralogy and Mode of Occurrence of Gold, Silver and Bismuth of the Caijiaying Lead-Zine-Silver Deposit, Hebei Province

The deposit under study is a hydrothermal filling-metasomatic vein type lead-zinc-silver deposit, in whichgold and silver can be recovered as by-products. These metals mainly occur as microgranular native gold,electrum, stephanite, acanthite, pyraragyrite, freibergite, and native silver. Gold minerals tend to be associatedwith galenobismutite, native bismuth and unnamed Bi_2Te. They are either enclosed in pyrite, marmatite,iron-bearing sphalerite and galens or fill the microfissures of these minerals. Silver minerals usually occur incleavages or fissures of galena, marmatite and pyrite, but are not associated with gold and bismuth minerals.Gold and silver mineralizations occurred later than lead and zinc, while the silver mineralization was precededby that of gold.     

Occurrence modes of silver in the Ni-Mo-PGE polymetallic layer of the Lower Cambrian black shales in Zunyi,Guizhou Province,South China

The Ni-Mo-PGE polymetallic mineralization of the Lower Cambrian black shales locate in Zunyi, South China and contain abundant noble metals such as Ag, Au and PGE, and especially Ag with average concentration of 64×10-6. The occurrence modes of Ag have been investigated using methods of selective chemical dissolution and transmission electron microscopy. The results demonstrate that the occurrence modes of Ag are complex and diversiform. It might be associated with clay minerals, organic matter, sulfides and also occurred as native silver and sulfides with nanometer in size. Combined with results of previous studies, we suggest that the sulfides, clay minerals and organic matter which hosted in the Ni-Mo-PGE polymetallic ores of black shales can play the roles of important reduction and adsorption geochemical barriers for the enrichment and distribution of silver. This study further implies that the selective chemical dissolution and transmission electron microscopy may pave the way to study the occurrence modes of other noble metals in black shales.     

Thermodynamic Modelling of Ore-Forming Mechanism of the Changkeng Gold-Silver Deposits in Guangdong Province

The Changkeng gold-silver deposits consist of a sediment-hosted, disseminated gold deposit and a replacement-type silver deposit. The mineralizations of gold and silver are zoned and closely related to the silicification of carbonate and clastic rocks, so that siliceous ores dominate in the deposit. The mineralizing temperature ranges mainly from 300 to 170℃, and K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and Cl- are the major ions in the ore-forming fluid. Calculations of distribution of metal complexes show that gold is mainly transported by hydrosulphide complexes, but chloride complexes of silver, iron, lead, and zinc, which are transformed into hydroxyl and hydrosulphide complexes under neutral to weak-alkaline circumstances in the late stage, predominate in the ore-forming solutions. Water-rock interaction is confirmed to be the effective mechanism for the formation of silver ores by computer modelling of reaction of hydrothermal solution with carbonate rocks. The solubility analyses demonstrate that the precipitation     

Experimental Study on the Leaching of Gold from Greenstone

Experiments were conducted on the leaching of gold from greenstone by chloride solution under the temperature of 200—550℃ and the pressure of 60 MPa. During part of the experiments, the oxygen fugacity was controlled. The results show that the leaching rate of gold is related to temperature, composition of the solution, pH and oxygen fugacity. In the experiment with oxidative acidic solution, the leaching rate was up to 50％ or more. It is known that the leaching of gold is restricted by the reaction in which the gold is dissolved from the rock to form gold chloride complex. Therefore, the authors hold that the acidic chloride solution derived from granite magma has caused the remobilization-migration of gold from greenstone and its enrichment into ore.     

Study on Mineralization Age of Xiaoban Gold Deposit, Fujian Province

The Xiaoban gold deposit is a large-size deposit recently found in middle area of Fujian Province. It belongs to magmatic hydrothermal type occurred in Mayuan Group metamorphic rocks of Middle Proterozoic and is controlled by low angle fault (detachment) structures. The contents of Au in Mayuan Group metamorphic rocks, Caledonian-Indosinian deformed granite and early Yanshanian granite are higher with Au enrichment coefficient of 2.06-5.68, 5.11 and 6.67 than those in other geological bodies. And the higher enrichment coefficients (>2) of Ag, S, Sn and Te are similar to those of gold ore. Meanwhile, the distribution of Au in Mayuan Group metamorphic rocks and early Yanshanian granite with a low D-value (0.58 and 0.67) is favorable to gold mineralization. REE characteristics of gold ore, ratios of (LREE/HREE), (La/Sm)n, (Yb/Lu)n, (La/Tb)n and (Sm/Nd)n are similar to Mayuan Group metamorphic rocks, only non or little normal Eu abnormal of ore is dissimilar to metamorphic rocks. The δ(34S) of the gold ore, with a high homogenization, is (-4.7×10-3)-(-2.7×10-3). The study of inclusion indicates 180-249 ℃ of mineralization temperature, 3.69 %-11.81 % of salinities and 0.869-0.991 g/cm3 of densities of mineralization fluid. Based on hydrogen and oxygen isotope (δ(18O)=11.0×10-3-11.7×10-3, δ(D)=(-48×10-3)-(-62×10-3)) and initial w(87Sr)/w(86Sr) =0.715,combining to the analysis of geological history, regional metamorphism and magamtic activity, the authors confirm that the source for the ore fluid was mainly from magmatic, partly from metamorphic water, and with a little influence of meteoric water. Isotopic dating made on Rb-Sr isochron age of 182 Ma, by using alteration minerals of gold-ores from the deposit, indicates that the mineralization occurs in early Yanshanian epoch. This is close to the age of 187 Ma of the Anchun magmatite with a similar alteration and gold mineralization to the Xiaoban gold deposit. The age of early Yanshanian epoch of the Xiaoban gold is indentical with the characteristics of southern China gold metallogenic belt and the geotectonic evolution of the transition from paleo-Asian system and paleo-Tethyan system to paleo-Pacific active continental margin in eastern Asia.     

Distribution Characteristics of Gold and Other Trace Elements in the Proterozoic Lengjiaxi Group,Northeastern Hunan Province

Systematic geochemical studies of the Proterozoic Lengjiaxi Group in northeastern Hunan Province suggest that the Lengjiaxi Group is a Au-As-Sb-W association-type Au-bearing turbidite formation.The contents of Au,As,Sb,W,Cr,Mn,Pb and Zn in the turbidite formation are more than two times as high as the average contents of trace elements in the upper continental crust.The low abundance of Ag and the close correlation between Au and As are two important characteristic features.In the Au-bearing turbidite formation the enrichment of gold is due to the extensive occurrence of Au-bearing pyrites.Higher contents of Au,W,Sb and Ag in the greywacke indicate that they also exist in the form of heavy minerals.Au,Ag,As,Sb,W and REE in the Au-bearing turbidite formation have a close genetic relation with the chemistry of the gold deposits.     

An Interesting Element Association of Au—Sb—As—W and Its Geochemical Interpretation—A Review

The occurrences and characteristics of the association of Au-Sb-As-W are summarized.An interpretation of the association is given according to the fact that the content of reduced sulfur in the ore-forming solution is much high relative to Cl in this kind of ore deposits especially for the Au-Sb-As with W,using the data on their complexes and solubility,The high dfineness of gold and the separation of gold from the base metals Cu,Pb,Zn,and sometimes from Ag in this kind of ore deposits are also interpreted.     

Mineralogy of gold in the Elshitsa massive sulphide deposit, Sredna Gora zone, Bulgaria

The Elshitsa volcanic hosted massive sulphide deposit occurs in the central part of the Srena Gora metallogenic zone in Bulgaria. The gold-bearing massive sulphide mineralization is considered to be the product of an island arc volcano-plutonic process and hydrothermal activity that took place during the Late Cretaceous. In addition to the major gold-hosted opaque minerals such as pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena there are minor phases of tennantite, goldfieldite, Se-bearing aikinite, native silver and bornite in the massive sulphide lenses and stringer zones. Most of the sulphide minerals are Se-bearing. All of the six mineral assemblages that were deposited during the pyrite and copper-pyrite stages of mineralization are gold-bearing. The gold tenor as a rule is less than 1 g/t. Native gold and electrum occur as blebs or intergranular particles in the sulphide minerals. Gold in the early massive pyrite is of submicroscopic type (< 0,1 μm) and of colloidal ori-gin. Pyrite deformation and recrystallization in the temperature range 250°–160 °C has led to Au and Ag migration to cracks and grain boundaries of the sulphide minerals. As a result of these process the native gold and electrum grain size increases from submicroscopic (< 0,1 μm) in the early colloform pyrite to microscopic (0,1–100 μm) and macroscopic (> 100 μm) in the late gold-sulphide assemblages. The electrum fineness in 41 individually studied grains varies between 780 and 992‰ with a mean of 895‰. Native silver was found in association with bornite. Cu, Te, Sb and Bi are the most common trace-elements in gold and electrum. The Cu-Zn-Pb association is most important as a Au-Ag-carrier. A model for gold behaviour during sulphide deformation is proposed involving coarsening of gold grain size from the earlier to the later sulphide mineral assemblages. Received: 4 December 1995 / Accepted: 23 September 1996     

Noble-metal mineralization in the Semenov-2 hydrothermal field (13°31′N), mid-atlantic ridge

The porous fine-grained to microcrystalline copper-zinc ore of the Semenov-2 hydrothermal field, a site in the Semenov hydrothermal cluster discovered in 2007 (13°31′N, MAR), is anomalously enriched in Au (22–188 ppm) and Ag (127–1787 ppm). Chalcopyrite, isocubanite, würtzite, and opal are major minerals; sphalerite, marcasite, pyrite, and covellite are auxiliary; and galena, pyrrhotite, native gold, silver telluride, barite, and aragonite are sporadic. Gold containing 0.31 to 23.07 wt % Ag occurs as up to 9-μm-sized subhedral, dendritelike, and elongated grains mostly hosted in opal and less frequently in sphalerite and in pores within isocubanite-chalcopyrite aggregate. An elongated grain (2 × 4 μm in size) of the Ag-Te phase was found in a pore. So far only basalts have been dredged from the Semenov-2 field, but anomalous gold and silver concentrations suggest the influence of ultramafic rocks; the latter were found 1.5 km westward, in the Semenov-1 hydrothermal field. Mineral assemblage and morphology of gold particles indicate its primary origin in contrast to the hydrothermal fields hosted in basalts, where gold is a product of remobilization. Zonal gold grains, found on oceanic floor for the first time, are characterized by low Ag content in the cores and high Ag content in the outer rims, reflecting variation in formation conditions.     

Gold Enrichment in the Supergene Zone of a Southern Urals Pyrite Deposit,Russia

The Gay deposit, situated in the Orenburg region, is identified with one of Russia's principal occurrences of pyrite (pyrite deposits are an important source of Russia's gold). It belongs to the west subzone of the Magnitogorsk synclinorium and occurs in Devonian rhyolite-basaltic volcanic rocks. The deposit comprises five large pyrite-chalcopyrite, pyrite-chalcopyrite- sphalerite, and pyrite orebodies. The supergene zone extends to 120-240 m below surface and consists of the following three subhorizontal zones (from bottom to top): the secondary sulfide enrichment, the leaching, and the oxidation zone (where ores are enriched in gold).

There are two levels of secondary gold enrichment in the weathering profile. The lower level, located in the leaching zone, corresponds with the level of water table fluctuations. The rich, flat-lying horizon (1.5-10.0 m) is composed of bedded, friable native sulfur-quartz ores; it contains 19.0-52.2 ppm Au and up to 389 ppm Ag. Native gold and silver halides (chlorargyrite, iodargyrite, and embolite) are the principal precious-metal minerals. Electrum, native silver, acanthite, and uytenbogaardtite constitute the minor ones. The upper level of the enrichment is located in the lower part of gossan. This bonanza is composed of hematite-quartz ochres. Gold concentration is 13.5 to 21.2 ppm. Native gold of high fineness and silver halides apparently are associated here with poorly crystallized iron oxides. The formation of supergene gold enrichments may result partly from residual concentration and partly from mobilization and reprecipitation of the precious metal. Rich horizons form by repeated gold redeposition in accordance with weathering and a gradual erosion surface lowering. The lower bonanza forms at first in the process of oxidation involving pyrite and native sulfur. Gold may be transported by complexes with metastable sulfur oxy-anions: sulfites, thiosulfates, or polythionates. The upper enriched horizon forms in the course of further evolution of the weathering profile in the stage of hematite recrystallizaiton and its transformation into goethite.     

Physicochemical factors of formation of Au-As,Au-Sb,and Ag-Sb deposits

The physicochemical formation conditions of Au-As, Au-Sb, and Ag-Sb ores characterized by similar paragenetic mineral assemblages and sets of major ore elements but differing in their proportions have been studied. The composition of the solutions filling fluid inclusions in minerals of Au-Sb deposits, combined with mineralogical and geochemical data, indicates that these deposits were formed from a near-neutral to alkalescent chloride-sulfide (<5 wt % NaCl) solution. Au-As and Au-Sb deposits were formed from fluids of the same type, consisting of a predominately CO₂-CH₄ gas phase with N₂ and a low-saline chloride-sulfide solution, where Au and Ag were predominantly transported as dihydrosulfide species and Sb as sulfide and hydroxy complexes. Superimposed minerals of the sulfide-sulfosalt stage that precipitated from chloride-rich solutions (up to 30 wt % NaCl equiv), which contained Ca and Fe chlorides in addition to NaCl, are identified at some Au-Sb deposits. These solutions are similar in composition to the ore-forming fluids of Ag-Sb deposits. Chloride complexes are dominant Au and Ag species in acid chloride-rich solutions of Ag-Sb deposits (up to 38 wt % NaCl equiv), while chloride and hydroxy complexes are characteristic of Sb. These solutions are distinguished by high concentrations of Ag, Sb, Cu, Fe, Mn, Bi, Pb, and Zn. The mineralogical and geochemical specialization of Ag-Sb ore is caused by chemical features of highly concentrated chloride solutions enriched in Ag, Sb, and Cu and by a relatively low Au content within the pH interval 3.5–4.0 (10^?6 m). The factors controlling formation of Au-As deposits are a high capacity of a low-chloride sulfide solution with respect to metals and a high Au concentration therein (two orders higher than that of solutions of Ag-Sb deposits). The enrichment of the pyrite-arsenopyrite paragenetic assemblage in gold is a result of juxtaposed stability fields of native gold, arsenopyrite, and pyrite and their mass deposition with a decrease in temperature from 400 to 300°C. The main cause of the specific mineralogy and geochemistry of Au-Sb deposits is a high metal capacity of a near-neutral low-chloride sulfide fluid with respect to Sb, Au, and Ag, but a low Ag content. The mineralogical and fluid inclusion data combined with computer thermodynamic simulation allowed us to establish the factors of ore formation at P-T-X parameters close to natural conditions and made it possible to characterize the joint deposition of gold and silver in quantitative terms.     

Genesis of gold and silver sulfides at the Ulakhan deposit (northeastern Russia)

Geology and mineralogy of the Ulakhan Au-Ag epithermal deposit (northeastern Russia, Magadan Region) are considered. A four-stage scheme of mineral formation sequence is proposed. Concentrations of Au and Ag in minerals of early and late parageneses were determined. It has been established that uytenbogaardtite is associated with native gold and hypergenesis stage minerals — goethite, hydrogoethite, or limonite replacing pyrite. The compositions of uytenbogaardtite (Ag₃AuS₂), acanthite (Ag₂S), and native gold were studied. The composition of the Ulakhan uytenbogaardtite is compared with those of Au and Ag sulfides from other deposits. Thermodynamic calculations in the system H₂O–Fe–Au–Ag–S–C–Na–Cl were carried out, which simulate the interaction of native gold and silver with O₂- and CO₂-saturated surface waters (carbonaceous, sulfide-carbonaceous, and chloride-sodium-carbonaceous) in the presence and absence of acanthite and pyrite at 25 °C and 1 bar. In closed pyrite-including systems, native silver and kustelite are replaced by acanthite; electrum, by uytenbogaardtite, acanthite, and pure gold; and native gold with a fineness of 700–900‰, by pure gold and uytenbogaardtite. Under the interaction with surface waters in the presence of Ag₂S and pyrite, Au-Ag alloys form equilibrium assemblages with petrovskaite or uytenbogaardtite and pure gold. The calculation results confirmed that Au and Ag sulfides can form after native gold in systems involving sulfide-carbon dioxide solutions (H₂Saq > 10^–4 m). The modeling results support the possible formation of uytenbogaardtite and petrovskaite with the participation of native gold in the hypergenesis zone of epithermal Au-Ag deposits during the oxidation of Au(Ag)-containing pyrite, acanthite, or other sulfides.     

额济纳旗老硐沟氧化-淋滤型金矿床成矿特征

内蒙古额济纳旗老硐沟金矿原生矿化与闪长玢岩脉和似斑状花岗闪长岩株有关.金-多金属矿脉产于蓟县系平头山群白云石大理岩中,主要受近E-W向和NWW向断裂控制.氧化-淋滤型金矿床的形成,乃是原生低品位金矿化和次生淋滤富集两个过程的结果.在目前采深50m的淋滤带中,金多富集在距地表10~30m范围内.氧化矿石的矿物组合为臭葱石+砷菱铅矾+褐铁矿+针铁矿+砷钙锌石+羟砷锌石+自然金+自然银+石英+蛋白石.     

皖南地区区域地球化学特征及成矿潜力的地球化学预测

根据皖南地区1:20万区域化探资料,计算了区内元素的背景值、区域浓集系数、总体变化系数等参数,阐明了区内元素含量空间分布与成矿元素共生组合特征。使用区域浓集系数及变化系数两个参数,对皖南地区32种元素的成矿潜力进行排序,在目前安徽省地质勘查主攻矿种中,皖南地区的成矿潜力依次为金(银)-钨-钼-铜-铀-锌-铅。同时根据地球化学块体理论和方法,预测了区内金、银资源量,分别为金474t、银16117t,显示出较大的找矿潜力。     

小秦岭东桐峪金矿床黄铁矿LA-ICP-MS微量元素特征及其成矿意义

位于华北克拉通南缘的小秦岭地区是我国仅次于胶东的大型金矿床集中区,但金矿床的成矿物质来源及成因问题一直存在较大争议.以华北南缘小秦岭矿集区东桐峪金矿床中的黄铁矿作为研究对象,在黄铁矿显微结构研究的基础上利用LA-ICP-MS对黄铁矿的微量元素进行原位分析,为进一步认识东桐峪金矿床及区内其他同类型矿床的成因提供新的资料和制约.东桐峪金矿床的黄铁矿从早到晚依次划分为3个世代(PyⅠ、PyⅡ和PyⅢ).PyⅠ主要形成于粗粒黄铁矿-石英阶段,颗粒粗大且自形程度高,呈星点状或斑点状赋存于乳白色石英脉中.PyⅡ主要形成于石英-中细粒黄铁矿阶段,呈半自形-他形结构且裂隙发育,常被晚期石英、多金属硫化物、自然金等矿物充填.PyⅢ主要形成于多金属硫化物阶段,常呈他形粒状结构与黄铜矿、方铅矿及闪锌矿等硫化物密切共生.LA-ICP-MS分析结果显示,PyⅠ中As平均含量为16.63×10-6,Au、Ag和Te含量较低且常位于检测限以下;相较而言,PyⅡ中As含量稍低,而Au、Ag和Te含量略高(其中Au含量为0.10×10-6~0.59×10-6);PyⅢ中Au、Ag和Te含量差异较大且显著升高,其中Au、Te含量最高可达35.58×10-6和79.79×10-6,而As含量较低且大部分数值低于检测限;不同世代黄铁矿的Co/Ni比值基本上都大于1,且PyⅢ的Co、Ni含量和Co/Ni比值明显低于PyⅡ和PyⅠ.以上结果表明,东桐峪金矿床的载金矿物黄铁矿中As的含量很低,金的富集与As无关;不同世代的黄铁矿中Au、Ag和Te之间存在显著且稳定的线性正相关关系,暗示金矿化与Te关系密切.另外,第3世代黄铁矿(PyⅢ)中Au、Ag及Te存在显著富集,指示Te(而不是As)在金和银的迁移、搬运、富集、沉淀等过程中具有重要作用.华北克拉通南缘小秦岭地区晚中生代大规模的金成矿作用及金矿床中普遍存在Te-Au-Ag矿物,且黄铁矿中As含量低、Te含量高等特征,暗示该区金矿床的成矿物质/成矿流体可能来自深部岩浆的脱挥发分或地幔脱气作用,而与区域变质作用的关系不大.      

Formation of gold–silver sulfides and native gold in Fe–Ag–Au–S system

We carried out experiments on crystallization of Fe-containing melts FeS₂Ag_0.1–0.1xAu_0.1x (x = 0.05, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8) with Ag/Au weight ratios from 10 to 0.1. Mixtures prepared from elements in corresponding proportions were heated in evacuated quartz ampoules to 1050 ºC and kept at this temperature for 12 h; then they were cooled to 150 ºC, annealed for 30 days, and cooled to room temperature. The solid-phase products were studied by optical and electron microscopy and X-ray spectroscopy. The crystallization products were mainly from iron sulfides: monoclinic pyrrhotite (Fe_0.47S_0.53 or Fe₇S₈) and pyrite (Fe_0.99S_2.01). Gold–silver sulfides (low-temperature modifications) are present in all synthesized samples. Depending on Ag/Au, the following sulfides are produced: acanthite (Ag/Au = 10), solid solutions Ag_2–xAu_xS (Ag/Au = 10, 2), uytenbogaardtite (Ag/Au = 2, 0.75), and petrovskaite (Ag/Au = 0.75, 0.12). They contain iron impurities (up to 3.3 wt.%). Xenomorphic micro- (<1–5 μm) and macrograins (5–50 μm) of Au–Ag sulfides are localized in pyrite or between the grains of pyrite and pyrrhotite. High-fineness gold was detected in the samples with initial ratio Ag/Au ≤ 2. It is present as fine and large rounded microinclusions or as intergrowths with Au–Ag sulfides in pyrite or, more seldom, at the boundary of pyrite and pyrrhotite grains. This gold contains up to 5.7 wt.% Fe. Based on the sample textures and phase relations, a sequence of their crystallization was determined. At ~1050 ºC, there are probably iron sulfide melt L₁ (Fe,S ? Ag,Au), gold–silver sulfide melt L₂ (Au,Ag,S ? Fe), and liquid sulfur L_S. On cooling, melt L₁ produces pyrrhotite; further cooling leads to the crystallization of high-fineness gold (macrograins from L₁ and micrograins from L₂) and Au–Ag sulfides (micrograins from L₁ and macrograins from L₂). Pyrite crystallizes after gold–silver sulfides by the peritectic reaction FeS + L_S = FeS₂ at ~743 ºC. Elemental sulfur is the last to crystallize. Gold–silver sulfides are stable and dominate over native gold and silver, especially in pyrite-containing ores with high Ag/Au ratios.