On the stability of gold-silver alloys in the weathering environment

Thermodynamic analysis of the stability conditions for gold-silver solid solutions reveals that the silver component is unstable with respect to chlorargyrite and silver sulfate in most weathering environments. As a consequence supergene (secondary) gold and gold found in modern river placers (detrital and authigenic) tends to be pure. Impure, detrital placer gold is subject to natural purification processes as evidenced by silver depleted, spongey grain margins. In contrast, under hydrothermal conditions the silver content of primary gold can be controlled by equilibrium reactions with argentite.