Gold nugget morphology and geochemical environments of nugget formation,southern New Zealand

Gold nuggets (centimetre scale) have formed in a supergene alteration zone on hydrothermal gold deposits, and occur intergrown with quartz and iron oxyhydroxide pseudomorphs after sulphide minerals, and along fractures in quartz and host rocks. The supergene alteration was driven by groundwater-driven water-rock interaction near to a regional unconformity beneath fluvial sediments, and involved clay alteration and oxidation that extended up to 50 m below the unconformity. Oxidation of pyrite and arsenopyrite produced temporary thiosulphate ligands that mobilised microparticulate gold encapsulated in the sulphide minerals. The nuggets have some crystalline form, and internally they consist of anhedral grains, elongated gold plates, and intimate intergrowths of gold and iron oxyhydroxide. Nugget surfaces have further micron scale overgrowths of microparticulate gold, gold plates, and gold crystals. Nuggets were eroded and recycled into nearby proximal Miocene quartz pebble conglomerates, where they concentrated in placers near the basal unconformity. Later recycling transferred gold into Pleistocene fluvial channels. Gold dissolution and redeposition as plates and crystals occurred on the exterior surfaces of placer gold particles, with little change in mass. All groundwater maintained high pH throughout the geological history because there was sufficient calcite in the basement rocks to neutralise any acid generated by pyrite oxidation. Hence, gold mobility in sediments was driven by thiosulphate complexes as for the in situ nuggets, albeit with lower dissolved sulphur concentrations. Despite aridification of the climate in the late Cenozoic, with resulting localised high dissolved chloride concentrations, chloride complexation did not contribute to gold mobility.     

黑龙江省北部风化壳的形成及其对砂金成矿的作用

黑龙江省北部风化壳的形成及其对砂金成矿的作用宋长春张宝林（中国科学院长春地理研究所，长春１３００２１）关键词风化壳砂金次生长大储集体黑龙江省北部地区第三纪准平原化过程形成了广布的风化壳，在部分区段风化壳中储集有大量的金质，表现出明显的金及伴生元素地球...     

Gold behavior during endogenic and supergene alterations of sulfides in magnesian skarns

The paper presents materials on the genesis of gold deposits of the magnesian-skarn association. It is demonstrated that sulfides are precipitated at these deposits late in the course of the mineral-forming process and often contain visible and fine gold. Post-sulfide mineral-forming processes resulted in the widespread development of hydroxisulfides: tochilinite and valleriite in high-Mg rocks and borate ores affected by serpentinization, brucitizatin, and szaibelyitization. The newly formed hydrosulfides inherit gold from the replaced sulfides. The endogenic or supergene decomposition of tochilinite and valleriite in endogenic and supergene environments stimulates the dissolution of the fine-grained gold and its remobilization, first, by hydrothermal solutions and, subsequently, by meteoric waters. The possibility is discussed of the later regeneration of gold as a consequence of electrochemical processes or at geochemical barriers. The deposition of “newly formed” gold in weathering crusts and placers is discussed, along with the significance of this process for assaying the potential of the weathering crusts and placers. It is emphasized that a significant role in this process is played by cryogenic processes, which can increase gold concentrations in naturally occurring solutions and facilitate its later regeneration. The data presented in this paper are compared with data on gold and PGE deposits of other genetic types, which are hosted in ultramafic rocks and carbonatites, i.e., rocks petrochemically similar to magnesian skarns. It is demonstrated that the occurrence of hydroxisulfides in the ores is a significant geochemical and technological problem during the exploration for sulfide ores and their mining and processing. The magnesian skarn ores of the deposits discussed in this publication were determined to be a significant source of both primary and placer gold and, perhaps, PGE also. The materials presented in the paper characterize the behavior of gold in the endogenic and supergene processes at magnesian skarn deposits.     

Morphology and Chemistry of Placer Gold from Attappadi Valley, Southern India

We report the morphological, textural and chemical characteristics of gold grains in stream gravels from the Siruvani River in Attappadi Valley, southern India. The placer gold deposits contain both primary grains with jagged grain contours and secondary grains with smooth grain margins. The primary and secondary gold grains are also distinguished by marked contrast in microtextures with the latter displaying a range of corrosion textures including striations, etch pits and chemical corrosion cavities that coalesce to form honey-comb patterns. Some of these cavities are filled with fine clay derived from lateritic weathering front. While the primary grains are characterized by high silver content (up to 35.77 wt.%) with marginal overgrowths of high purity gold, the secondary grains show exceedingly high fineness (1000 Au/Au+Ag) levels (up to 984) with no marked compositional variation indicating selective extraction of Ag and/or reprecipitation of Au. From morphological and chemical characteristics, we propose that the high purity gold grains were not derived directly from primary sources, but underwent chemical refinement in the weathering front before they were transferred to the fluvial systems. Our findings have important implications for gold exploration in the Attappadi Valley.     

Scope of bacterial concentration of gold in technogenic placers of upper priamurye

At present, there is a reliable proof that microorganisms in rocks and soils can accumulate and crystallize gold. Earlier the authors have shown the mechanisms of biogenic mineralization of gold; however, a question consistently arose about the scope of the possible concentration of noble metals by the biomass of microorganisms. This work presents an estimate of the scope of gold concentration by the bacterial biomass in placer deposits based on the calculation of the number and the biomass of heterotrophic aerobic bacteria in soil and above-ore horizons and the determination of their activity of interaction with gold. The investigations were performed in Upper Priamurye by the example of the Aprelsk technogenic placer and, for comparison, in the oxidation zone of the Snezhinka ore occurrence.     

Supergene geochemistry and crystal morphology of gold in a semiarid weathering environment: application to gold exploration

Oxidation of sulfide- and carbonate-rich vein gold deposits under semiarid conditions can be represented as a three-stage process, each creating supergene environments conducive to dissolution and reprecipitation of gold-silver alloys. The three-stage weathering process of sulfide-carbonate gold veins is depth-dependent, and develops from the relatively young, lowermost weathering horizon just below the water table, through an intermediate weathering horizon in the oxidation zone above the water table, and culminating in the oxide-rich upper saprolite and oxisol.Neoformed gold crystals in the weathering profile have distinct composition and morphologic characteristics from the hypogene gold crystals associated with the sulfide- and carbonate-rich ores. Two distinct types of secondary gold are present in the weathering profile: (1) gold crystals associated with sulfates and arsenates; and (2) gold crystals associated with iron and aluminum oxides/hydroxides, or with kaolinite. The distinct crystal morphologies and mineralogical associations of primary and secondary gold are useful in prospecting for gold deposits in weathered terrains.     

滇中富碱斑岩风化剖面中重金属元素地球化学特征和环境风险评价

中国西南地区发育大规模富碱斑岩带,通常具有重金属高背景值的特征,岩石风化是重金属的重要来源,土壤重金属污染是全球性关注的热点问题。在云南水热条件充足、成土作用强烈的条件下,为了查清富碱斑岩成土过程中重金属元素地球化学行为特征以及可能带来的一系列生态环境问题。本文选择滇中姚安富碱斑岩岩石风化剖面为研究对象,采用电感耦合等离子体质谱/发射光谱法（ICP-MS/OES）、原子荧光光谱法（AFS）、X射线荧光光谱法（XRF）、容量法等方法测定岩石和土壤样品中As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Hg、Ni、Pb、Zn、Al2O3、TFe2O3、CaO、Na2O、K2O、MgO、SiO2、有机碳等主微量元素含量和pH值,利用多元统计学方法和质量迁移系数研究风化剖面中重金属元素分布特征、迁移富集规律及影响因素,探讨富碱斑岩风化成土过程中重金属地球化学特征,揭示重金属元素迁移富集机制及可能带来的生态环境问题。结果表明：①富碱斑岩各风化层元素分布特征继承了基岩的特征,在风化成土过程中,As、Cr、Cu、Hg和Cd、Pb、Zn具有相似的地球化学行为,相对于Ti,重金属迁移能力强弱顺序为：Cd＞Zn＞Pb＞Hg＞Cu＞As＞Ni＞Cr;②Cu、Cr、Ni、Hg受其自身化学性质和脱硅富铝铁作用的影响,随风化最终富集于黏土矿物与Al、Fe氧化物/氢氧化物中,As与Fe、Al结合成难溶性的化合物而显著富集,土壤层迁移系数均值为7.64,Cd、Pb、Zn在酸性和强淋溶条件下显著地淋失迁移,土壤层迁移系数均值分别为−0.67、−0.45、−0.59。与大部分铅锌矿区相似,As受富铝铁作用影响原地次生富集,Cd、Pb、Zn受自身活泼的化学性质和pH影响大量淋失;③研究区土壤生态环境可能存在As、Pb污染的风险,Pb的大量淋失可能随地表径流迁入蜻岭河,应加强对富碱斑岩上覆土壤中As、Pb和流经富碱斑岩区河流中Pb、Zn的监测。     

藏北羌塘小盆湖-拉雄错砂金矿带地质特征

以小盆湖砂金矿床为典型的一系列砂金矿床、矿点在藏北羌塘中部构成一个呈东西向的砂金矿带,笔者1999年首次将其命名为"藏北羌塘小盆湖-拉雄错砂金矿带"。通过对小盆湖砂金矿床基岩地质、地貌、第四纪地质、矿床类型、成因类型、矿体特征、砂金特征的全面介绍及与该带其它砂金矿床、矿点的对比,结合区域地质背景,认为前泥盆系阿木岗群和石炭系中的火山岩层位是主要矿源层。此后若干不同时期的沉积不整合界面,都表征着其下古风化壳、其上底部碎屑岩的含金物聚源区可以直接或经改造就近形成金矿矿床。羌塘中央隆起带及其两侧和东西方向石炭系分布区具有广阔的金矿找矿前景。     

内蒙古虎拉林地区砂金与岩金的关系

虎拉林地区砂、岩金矿的空间位置关系十分密切。在虎拉林河上中下游及虎拉林岩金矿分别采取样品，结果表明虎拉林河砂金粒度大，分选较差，磨圆度差；砂金形态总体上以粒状为主；溶蚀系数均值小于1。微量元素含量特征表明砂金的主要物质来源是近源，与岩金矿关系密切且具有继承性。虎拉林岩金矿床的矿石中自然金颗粒粗大，矿体的上部遭到剥蚀，虎拉林河砂金主要来源于虎拉林岩金矿床，砂金可作为岩金的找矿标志。自然金化学-结晶温度图表明砂金的原生Au源为中低温热液矿床。     

Crystal features of supergene gold at Hannan South,Western Australia

Deep weathering of basalt-hosted sulphidic gold mineralisation has resulted in remobilisation of the gold and the formation of a supergene deposit. The deposit occurs beneath an ephemeral lake system and is at least partially saturated by highly saline groundwater. A general downward movement of an iron redox front associated with the weathering has controlled the distribution of the gold and its morphology. It is unusual in that the high fineness gold crystals formed are coarse and well-preserved. Small octahedra, up to 50 μm, are the most abundant form of gold crystals but large, up to 3 mm, octahedral plates are common. Crystal morphology variations described here suggest that the gold is initially precipitated as euhedral octahedra and plates. Subsequent dissolution and recrystallisation associated with fluctuations in the chemical environment above the redox front has led to the development of the more common irregular dendritic or wire gold forms observed in other supergene deposits.     

内蒙古呼伦贝尔盟北部砂金矿成矿规律

呼伦贝尔盟北部地区由于新构造运动含金地质体长期风化剥蚀，促使金的活化。河流及其2－3级支流发育，流域广，水流充足，有利于砂金矿的迁移、富集。现代的乐山丘陵、宽阔沟谷有利于砂金的保存。该区已发现数十个砂金矿，多为河谷型，主要含金层为含粘土砂层或砂砾层。砂金富集与河谷地貌关系密切，河床弯曲的凸岸、变异部位、关门咀、迎门山等地貌是砂金富集有利部位。该区金直接来源于加里东和华力西花岗岩。结合金的来源、矿床的分布特征和富集规律，指出了该区今后砂金找矿方向。     

哈萨克斯坦阿尔泰戈尔诺耶古近纪砂金矿地质特征及成矿规律

阿尔泰造山带砂金矿资源丰富,前人对河流中的砂金矿进行了详细研究,而对山间盆地中赋存的砂金矿研究较少.本文对哈萨克斯坦阿尔泰造山带南缘最东侧的戈尔诺耶古近纪含砂金盆地进行了初步研究,通过地质、自然重砂测量圈定了砂金异常,经浅井和砂钻等工程深部查证,结果显示砂金主要赋存在古近纪粗粒的石英砾石层中,砂金形态以片状为主,是以微...     

Delayed accumulation of placers during exhumation of orogenic gold in southern New Zealand

The giant gold placer system on the Otago Schist of southern New Zealand was derived from Mesozoic orogenic gold deposits in the underlying schist basement. The core of the schist basement was exhumed in the middle Cretaceous, coeval with the accumulation of the oldest preserved nonmarine sedimentary rocks in the area (ca 112 Ma). Those sedimentary rocks contain quartz clasts, with distinctive ductile deformation textures, that were derived from structural zones in, or adjacent to, major orogenic gold deposits. Quartz textures in these structural zones are readily distinguishable from the rest of the schist belt, and hence provide a fingerprint for erosion of gold. The earliest sedimentary rocks on the margins of the gold-bearing schist belt are immature, and were derived from unoxidised outcrops in areas of high relief. Gold was not liberated from unoxidised basement rocks during erosion, and was removed from the system without placer concentration. Placer concentration did not begin until about 20 million years later, when oxidative alteration of gold deposits had facilitated gold grain size enhancement from micron scale (primary) to millimetre scale (secondary). Subsequent erosion and recycling of gold in the early Cenozoic, and again in the late Cenozoic, caused additional concentration of gold in progressively younger deposits. The Klondike giant placer goldfield of Canada had a similar geological history to the Otago placer field, and Klondike placer accumulation occurred in the late Cenozoic, at least 70 million years after Mesozoic exhumation of orogenic gold. The giant placer deposit on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada in California occurs in Eocene and younger sedimentary rocks, at least 40 million years younger than the timing of major exhumation of the source rocks. Circum-Pacific giant gold placers formed under entirely different tectonic regimes from the emplacement of their source orogenic deposits, and these giant placer deposits do not form in foreland basins associated with convergent orogens. Formation of giant placers requires less active erosion and more subdued topography than the collisional orogenic activity that accompanied emplacement of source gold deposits in basement rocks, as well as oxidative alteration of the primary deposits to liberate gold from sulfide minerals and enhance secondary gold grain size.     

中国铂族金属矿床找矿方向初探

根据 2 0世纪 90年代铂族金属矿床勘查的新发现 ,提出铂族金属矿床成因分类 ,探讨中国铂族金属找矿方向 ,提出“以绿找铂”、“以黄找铂”和“以黑找铂”的找矿原则 ,即在蛇绿混杂岩或基性—超基性岩分布区寻找基性—超基性岩浆岩型、岩浆热液型铂族金属矿以及与之有关的砂铂矿床 ,在金矿田中寻找伴生铂族金属矿床 ,在黑色页岩分布区寻找黑色页岩型铂族金属矿床。     

Gold resource potential of the eastern Siberian Platform: Placers and their feeding sources

The data on typomorphism of placer gold and its localization in the eastern Siberian Platform have been integrated for the first time. The alluvial, pseudolode, and eolian morphology of gold determines the origin of placers, which is explained not only by hydrodynamic but also by eolian processes. The recent and older alluvial (Au-bearing reservoir rocks in the second case), as well as eolian (unconventional type), genetic types of placers are recognized in the given territory. Precambrian and Mesozoic stages of ore formation are distinguished by the set of typomorphic attributes of placer gold (chemical composition, microinclusions, internal structure, etc.). On the basis of distinguishing features of placer gold, Precambrian lode deposits of great depth spatially related to outcrops of the basement have been forecasted for the first time and classified into low-sulfide gold-quartz, Au-bearing banded iron formation, Au-Cu porphyry, and Au-PGE types. The inferred shallow-seated gold-silver and gold-sulfide-quartz disseminated deposits occur locally and are related to the Mesozoic tectonomagmatic reactivation. The elaborated methods and approaches to the study of placer gold typomorphism in the eastern Siberian Platform also could be helpful in providing insights into placer origin, and forecasting and prospecting gold deposits on the East European Platform, which is close to the Siberian Platform in geological evolution.     

从陕、甘、川三省接壤地区砂金矿矿质来源看在该区寻找岩金矿的可能性

本区6个砂金富集区与6个岩金集中区的空间分布完全相吻合;新构造运动频繁,地质环境动荡,金的次生富集作用效果较差;一部分砂金金粒与石英、蚀变岩石等脉石连生在一起;一部分砂金金粒的成色偏低;有的砂金矿体中部分砾石含金,有的高达3×10^-6~10×10^-6.据此认为研究区内砂金物质来源是以高含金地质体——岩金矿床(点)补给为主,低含金地质体补给为辅.碧口群、志留系、泥盆系作为矿源层,构造条件、岩浆活动均有利于本区岩金矿的形成,而且在矿源层的出露区已有近百处岩金矿床点分布.研究区化探异常、重砂异常30多处且分布较密集,异常峰值较高.研究认为本区确已具备形成更多更大的岩金矿床的地质条件,为此笔者提出勉县-平武找矿远景区.     

Geomorphological-sedimentological studies of landform types and modern placer deposits in the savanna (Southern Malawi)

Semi-arid climatic conditions were responsible for the evolution of the vast savanna that stretches across central Africa and for the evolution of placers in this area that carry gemstones, rare earth element minerals and zircon- and titanium-bearing minerals. In combination with a polystage peneplanation, chemical weathering contributed to the emplacement of four different types of placer deposits during the Cenozoic in Malawi. Eight landform types have been defined by their geomorphological form, geometry, grain size parameters, stratification, fabric and rock contacts. Each type describes the landscape of the savanna and can be related to the emplacement of placer types within this morphoclimatic zone. Residual to eluvial placers, represented geomorphologically by landform type V, came into existence under strong chemical weathering during a period of alternating peneplanation and valley incision into soil and saprolite. Gentle valley-side slopes or elongated interfluves have a low gradient favorable for the formation and preservation of eluvial to colluvial placers (landform type Ic). Fluvial placers become economic only on outwash plains of tributaries near the confluence with their trunk rivers, beyond the point of inflection (landform types III, II). In the lower reaches of fluvial drainage systems around shallow lakes, fluvio-deltaic placers evolved during periods of rapid uplift and regression of the lake (landform type IV). Other landform types established throughout this study are cast in the role of ‘ore guides’ or, alternatively, have a negative impact on the likelihood of placer formation. The key associations of landforms discussed in this paper may be used as a geomorphological-sedimentological tool in search of modern continental placer deposits in areas where semi-arid climatic conditions occur(red) during the Cenozoic.     

Dissolution kinetics and the weathering of mafic minerals

Fayalite, hypersthene, basalt, and obsidian were dissolved in buffered solutions (25°C; pH 4.5 and 5.5) under air, N₂ or O₂ atmospheres, in order to follow the kinetics of dissolution. Each dissolved more rapidly at lower pH values, dissolving most rapidly in the initial few days, followed by slower dissolution for periods up to six months. Dissolution was more rapid when air was excluded. In oxygen atmospheres an Fe(OH)₃ precipitate armors mineral surfaces, thus inhibiting further dissolution, and further affects the solution by scavenging dissolved silica and cations. Dissolution reactions include initial exchange between cations and H⁺, incongruent dissolution of silicate structures, oxidation of Fe²⁺ in solution, precipitation of Fe(OH)₃, and scavenging of dissolved silica and cations by Fe(OH)₃. Dissolution kinetics may explain weathering of mafic rocks and minerals at the Earth's surface, the formation of Fe-oxide coatings on mineral grains, weathering of submarine mafic rocks and intrastratal solution of mafic minerals in buried sandstones. Early Precambrian weathering would have been more rapid before the appearance of large amounts of oxygen in the atmosphere, and continental denudation rates may have been higher than at present because of this effect and the predominance of mafic igneous rocks at an early stage of continent formation and growth.     

中国金矿矿产预测评价模型及资源潜力分析

在全国金矿资源潜力评价基础上,将全国金矿矿产评价模型总结为12类：与中深成侵入岩有关的热液型、破碎蚀变岩型、斑岩型、矽卡岩型、海相火山岩型、陆相火山岩型、微细浸染型、变碎屑岩地层中热液型、绿岩建造型、砂金型、风化壳型和砾岩型。其中,以与中深成侵入岩有关的热液型、破碎蚀变岩型、微细浸染型为主,其预测资源量约占总预测资源量的38%,21%和14%。根据资源量的空间分布及成矿地质背景划分了55个金矿成矿区带,通过对不同成矿区带对预测资源量、累计查明资源储量统计分析,金矿主要集中分布于胶东、华北地台南缘、西秦岭、东秦岭、辽东、滇黔桂、哀牢山成矿带等。根据金矿的成矿地质背景,结合金矿资源潜力及近年来金矿勘查进展,对下一步的工作部署提出参考建议。     

Unravelling the formation histories of placer gold and platinum-group mineral particles from Corrego Bom Successo,Brazil: A window into noble metal cycling

Gold and platinum-group-metals (PGM) are cycled through Earth’s environments by interwoven geological, physical, chemical and biological processes leading to the trans/neoformation of metallic particles in placers. The placer deposit at Corrego Bom Successo (CBS, Brazil) is one of the few localities worldwide containing secondary gold- and PGM-particles. Placer gold consists of detrital particles from nearby hydrothermal deposits that were transformed in the surface environment. Processes that have affected these particles include short-distance transport, chemical de-alloying of the primary gold‑silver, and (bio)geochemical dissolution/re-precipitation of gold leading to the formation of pure, secondary gold and the dispersion of gold nanoparticles. The latter processes are likely mediated by non-living organic matter (OM) and bacterial biofilms residing on the particles. The biofilms are largely composed of metallophillic β- and γ-Proteobacteria. Abundant mobile gold and platinum nanoparticles were detected in surface waters, suggesting similar mobilities of these metals. Earlier hydrothermal processes have led to the formation of coarsely-crystalline, arborescent dendritic potarite (PdHg). On potarite surfaces, biogeochemical processes have then led to the formation of platinum- and palladium-rich micro-crystalline layers, which make up the botryoidal platinum‑palladium aggregates. Subsequently potarite was dissolved from the core of many aggregates leaving voids now often filled by secondary anatase (TiO₂) containing biophilic elements. The presence of fungal structures associated with the anatase suggests that fungi may have contributed to its formation. For the first time a primary magmatic PGM-particle comprising a mono-crystalline platinum‑palladium-alloy with platinum‑iridium‑osmium inclusions was described from this locality, finally defining a possible primary source for the PGM mineralisation. In conclusion, the formation of modern-day placer gold- and PGM-particles at CBS began 100s of millions of years ago by magmatic and hydrothermal processes. These provided the metal sources for more recent biogeochemical cycling of PGEs and gold that led to the trans/neoformation of gold- and PGM-particles.