Characterization and identification of Au pathfinder minerals from an artisanal mine site using X-ray diffraction

• Published in: Journal of materials science 2021-04, Vol.56 (12), p.7659-7669
• Main Authors: Nzulu, Gabriel, Eklund, Per, Magnuson, Martin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Classical Mechanics; Crystallography and Scattering Methods; Diffraction; Gold; Gold mines & mining; Gypsum; Hematite; Iron oxides; Magnetite; magntite; Materials Science; Metals & Corrosion; Mineral industry; Mineralogy; Minerals; mining; Mining industry; Polymer Sciences; Pyrite; quartz; Scheelite; Silicon dioxide; Solid Mechanics; X-ray diffraction; X-rays
• ISSN: 0022-2461; 1573-4803; 1573-4803
• DOI: 10.1007/s10853-020-05681-5

Gold-associated pathfinder minerals have been investigated by identifying host minerals of Au for samples collected from an artisanal mining site near a potential gold mine (Kubi Gold Project) in Dunkwa-On-Offin in the central region of Ghana. We find that for each composition of Au powder (impure) and the residual black hematite/magnetite sand that remains after gold panning, there is a unique set of associated diverse indicator minerals. These indicator minerals are identified as SiO 2 (quartz), Fe 3 O 4 (magnetite) and Fe 2 O 3 (hematite), while contributions from pyrite, arsenopyrites, iridosmine, scheelite, tetradymite, garnet, gypsum and other sulfate materials are insignificant. This constitutes a confirmative identification of Au pathfinding minerals in this particular mineralogical area. The findings suggest that X-ray diffraction could also be applied in other mineralogical sites to aid in identifying indicator minerals of Au and the location of ore bodies at reduced environmental and exploration costs.