Experimental Study of Gold and Platinum Solubility in a Complex Fluid under Hydrothermal Conditions

Abstract: The solubility of gold was studied in water and aqueous NaCl (1– 5 m) solutions under oxygen and sulfur buffered conditions between 300–500C at a constant pressure 1 kb. Two buffer assemblages HMP and PPM were used. Analysis of the scatter in measured values in log m_Au–m_NaCl–T frame fixed linear dependence between log m_Au and T at any studied iso‐pleth (m_NaCl) in the form of log m_Au = a. T(C) + b. Coefficients of the equation were calculated for water and NaCl (1, 3, 5 m) solutions. The maximum solubility characterizes the NaCl‐free system in the presence of HMP. In the case, Au solubility increases from (log m_Au) –6. 72 to –5. 04 at 300 and 500C, respectively. In the presence of PPM, maximum of Au solubility was obtained for the 5 mNaCl solution. In a similar manner solubility rises from –6. 54 to –5. 77 at 300 and 500C, accordingly. In studied f_O2/f_S2 area the behavior of Au solubility testified that: (i) – a composite interaction between chloride and hydrosulfide speciation of gold affects its total solubility; (ii) – in addition of NaCl up to about 1. 5 m the solubility decreases, more pronounced in the presence of HMP; (iii) – the contribution of chloride in total Au solubility is more for PPM despite of lower f_O2value, than for HMP. The solubility of platinum was studied in the Pt–Cl–S–H₂O system between 300 and 500C, 1 kb. PPM solid buffer controlled oxidation state, pH and sulfur activity of solutions (H₂O, 1 mNaCl and 0. 1 mHCl). Under the conditions, PtS precipitated from the solutions with increasing temperature and acidity. The PtS solubility in the 0. 1 m_HCl solutions lowers slightly in the range of 300–500C from –5. 30 to –5. 60 (in log m_Pt) that is typical to the hydrosulfide species. It was deduced that reducing media, regulated by the PPM assemblage, suppress activity of chloride species of Pt. More oxidizing conditions were modeled in runs using mixtures of Mn(II), Mn(III) and Mn(IV) oxides to buffer the aqueous‐chloride solutions between 300 and 500C, 1 kb. It was found that MnO tends to oxidize at T below 400C forming intermediate Mn‐hydroxides (β–MnOOH, Mn (OH)₂ and Mn₂(OH)₃Cl). These phases are metastable and transfer to Mn₃O₄ with increasing duration. Generation of the Mn‐hydroxides leads to a change of physical‐chemical parameters of the solutions, such as water activity, pH and Eh. The last results in abrupt increase in the noble metals dissolution. At stable existence of only Mn₃O₄, the solubility of both Pt and Au lowers to equilibrium values. Essential catalysis effect of Pt on intensity and rate of Mn(II) oxidation was found. The dominant role of chloride of Pt and Au was defined under most oxidized conditions, specified by Mn₂O₃–MnO₂ buffer. So at 400C, dissolved Au (log m_Au) increases from –4. 40 in water to –1. 00 in 0. 1 m_HCl, and ones of Pt (log m_Pt) from –4. 80 to –2. 90 accordingly. Thus, mixing of hydrosulfide and chloride solutions, as well as transformation of the systems to the stable state act upon total solubility of the noble metals.     

Influence of the Load Wavelength on the Permeability of a Viscosity Interface in the Mantle

Assuming a radially stratified Newtonian mantle in a steady-state approximation, we demonstrate that the permeability of a viscosity interface at 660-km depth strongly depends on the wavelength of buoyancy forces driving the flow. The flow induced by long-wavelength loads penetrates through the boundary freely even if the viscosity increases by two orders. In contrast, the boundary is practically impermeable for short-wavelength loads located in the upper mantle. Thus, a stepwise increase of viscosity is a significant obstacle for small descending features in the upper mantle, but huge upper mantle downwellings, or upwellings formed in the-lower mantle can overcome it easily. This indicates that certain care is necessary in interpreting the seismic structure of the mantle by means of flow models. The global tomographic image includes only the first few degrees of the harmonic series and, consequently, its interpretation in terms of a present-day flow field results in a predominantly whole-mantle circulation even for extreme viscosity contrasts.     

Modelling Seismic Waves Around Underground Openings in Fractured Rock

—?The potential for large excavation-induced seismic events may be recognised, even if the timing of an event may be inherently unpredictable. In this case, modelling the wave propagation from a potential event could allow the dynamic motions around an excavation to be projected, and for areas of danger to be anticipated. However, the above and other potential applications require accurate models of wave interaction with the openings, as well as with the fractured rock which surrounds such excavations. This paper considers real recorded waveforms and how well these waveforms are modelled by explicit mechanical models of the source, the medium and the excavation. Models of experiments at three different scales of the problem are presented: small and large amplitude waveforms recorded around a deep-level mining tunnel in a synthetic rockburst experiment; waveforms from laboratory experiments of waves through plates of steel representing fractures; waveforms from active pulses in an acoustic emission experiment in a small volume of fractured rock at the surface of an underground excavation. The results show that elastic wave propagation around an excavation was a first approximation for small amplitude waves, but was less successful for modelling large amplitude waves and more fractured rock. Fractures in the models were represented explicitly with displacement discontinuities. Waveforms through known fracture geometries were particularly well-reproduced, and indicate the importance of fracture stiffness, the in situ stress state, and stress-dependence of the fractures in such models. Overall, the models are sufficiently successful at representing recorded behaviour, to be encouraging for the goal of representing accurate wave motions around excavations.     

On the effective temperature of large sunspot umbra using CrH sextets electronic state molecular lines

A high-resolution spectrum clearly shows the presence of A ⁶Σ⁺–X ⁶Σ⁺(0,0;0,1;1,0;2,0;2,1) and (2,2) bands system of CrH molecular lines in the spectral range 10,000 cm⁻¹ to 14,050 cm⁻¹. At least 3928 lines of the six bands, accounting for 57% of the lines registered in the laboratory can be identified with certainty in the sunspot spectrum. Most of the lines are found blended with TiO, CaH, MgH and other atomic species. These molecular lines are typically much more temperature sensitive than atomic lines, which make them ideal, complementary tool for studying cool stellar atmospheres as well as the internal structure of sunspots. Equivalent width for an adequate number of well identified molecular lines of these bands using the Gaussian-profile approximation method versus rotational quantum number J has been used to determine the effective rotational temperature of the CrH molecule. The range of effective rotational temperature value obtained from these bands is 1766 K to 2442 K. This range agrees well with the effective rotational temperatures derived for other molecules in sunspot umbrae.     

The geology and mineralisation at the Golden Pride gold deposit,Nzega Greenstone Belt,Tanzania

The Golden Pride gold deposit (∼3 Moz) is located in the central part of the Nzega Greenstone Belt at the southern margin of the Lake Victoria Goldfields in Tanzania. It represents an inferred Late Archaean, orogenic gold deposit and is hosted in intensely deformed meta-sedimentary rocks in the hanging wall of the approximately E–W striking Golden Pride Shear Zone. The hanging-wall sequence also includes felsic (quartz porphyritic) to mafic (lamprophyric) intrusions, as well as banded iron formations. Hydrothermal alteration phases associated with mineralisation are dominated by sericite and chlorite. Two main ore types can be distinguished, chlorite and silica ore, both occupying dilational sites and structural intersections in the hanging wall of the main shear zone. Sulphide minerals in both ore types include pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, pyrite and accessory sphalerite, galena, sulphosalts and Ni–Co–Bi sulphides. Gold and tellurides are late in the paragenetic sequence and associated with a secondary phase of pyrrhotite deposition. Sulphur isotope compositions range from −6 to 7 per mil and are interpreted to reflect contributions from two distinct sources to the mineralising fluids in the Golden Pride gold deposit. A redox change, potentially induced by the intrusion of mafic melts, together with structural elements in the hanging wall of the Golden Pride Shear Zone, are interpreted to be the main controls on gold mineralisation in this deposit.     

The microstructure of minerals in coarse-grained Ca-Al-rich inclusions from the Allende meteorite

The microstructure and microchemistry of minerals in Ca-Al-rich, coarse-grained inclusions (CAI) from the Allende meteorite have been investigated with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Spinels contain only low to moderate dislocation densities and are characterized by a ubiquitous, fine black spotty texture believed to originate from a slightly non-stoichiometric composition. Ti-Al-pyroxenes are relatively featureless, but contain veins of secondary phases apparently deposited in unhealed cracks. Chromite has been identified in the veins, suggesting transport of oxidized iron during alteration. Melilites exhibit the greatest variety of microstructures and are the most heavily altered phase in CAI. High dislocation densities are common and crystals exhibit considerable internal strain, indicating that they have not been annealed. Alteration occurs both as veins along cracks and in fronts extending across several grains. Plagioclase is commonly twinned, but dislocations are rare. The size and morphology of antiphase domains suggest a high temperature of formation with significant low-temperature annealing. Submicron pyroxene precipitates are a ubiquitous and unusual feature of Allende plagioclase whose properties are most consistent with prolonged slow cooling and equilibration after plagioclase crystallization. The precipitates appear to be sufficiently abundant to contain the majority of Mg present in plagioclase but do not easily account for Na and Ti abundances. Wollastonite needles from a cavity in a “fluffy” Type A inclusion exhibit the growth habits and relatively perfect external surfaces indicative of direct condensation from a vapor. Alteration products are predominantly crystalline and alteration of melilite appears to have proceeded primarily by solid-state diffusion at a temperature of approximately 920°K. Overall, the TEM observations suggest that CAI formed under near equilibrium conditions characterized by slow cooling and that solid-state bulk diffusion was the major process affecting their post-crystallization history.     

Anthropogenic influences on hydrocarbon contents of sediments deposited in eastern Lake Ontario since 1800

 The amounts and types of extractable hydrocarbon components in sediment cores from the Rochester Basin of eastern Lake Ontario provide a record of environmental changes that have accompanied the settlement and population growth of the surrounding land areas. Sediments deposited prior to the mid-1800s contain low concentrations of hydrocarbons that are dominated by land-plant wax components. Concentrations begin to rise in the late 1800s as erosion of soil and nutrients from watershed areas accelerated. This pattern continues into modern times. Episodes of enhanced aquatic productivity are sometimes recorded in twentieth-century sediments by the dominance of algal hydrocarbons, but land-plant components typically predominate. Petroleum residues begin to appear in sediments deposited in the late 1800's but remain minor constituents of the hydrocarbon contents of modern sediments in the Rochester Basin. Received: 21 March 1995 · Accepted: 11 August 1995