Abstract
The reactions of An(3+) with green rust, stibnite, pyrite, and chalcopyrite were investigated in the laboratory and the size of the gold clusters formed was measured using extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The individual clusters produced were between approximately 29 Angstrom and 77 Angstrom in diameter and may occur individually or as composite clusters from hundreds to thousands of angstroms in size. This work shows that it is possible to form "invisible" gold through reduction of An(3+) by green rust phases and the surfaces of sulfide minerals.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 725-739 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | American Mineralogist |
| Volume | 88 |
| Issue number | 5-6 |
| Publication status | Published - 2003 |
Keywords
- INVISIBLE GOLD
- CHLORIDE SOLUTIONS
- WESTERN-AUSTRALIA
- LOW-TEMPERATURES
- NATURAL-WATERS
- ORE-DEPOSITS
- MINERALIZATION
- EXAFS
- ADSORPTION
- SPECIATION