Gold speciation and mobility near the Igarape Bahia deposit, Para State, Brazil

M. L. Machesky, A. W. Rose, W. O. Andrade, L. Bliss, T. Kato

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Detailed geochemical surveys were conducted near the Igarape Bahia lateritic gold deposit in 1990-91 to extend and verify a preliminary survey made in 1988. Water and vegetation samples were analyzed for gold to determine the utility of these media for geochemical exploration purposes. It was shown that routine hydrogeochemical and vegetation sampling are not reliable indicators of gold mineralization. Much of the total gold in the surficial soils (to 3m depth) is extractable with 30% hydrogen peroxide and this fraction is believed to represent gold associated with organic matter. The organically-associated gold may be mobile during the lateritic weathering process and could help account for lateral dispersion and enrichment of gold in certain horizons which are characteristic of many lateritic gold deposits. -from Authors

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)53-60
Number of pages8
JournalChronique de la Recherche Miniere
Volume510
StatePublished - 1993
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Environmental Science
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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