Page 19 - Handbook of Gold Exploration and Evaluation

2 Handbook of gold exploration and evaluation

Table 1.1 Goldschmidt's geochemical classification of the elements

Siderophile Chalcophile Lithophile Atmophile
Fe Co Ni Cu Ag (au)* Li Na K Rb Cs H N (C) (O)
Ru Rh Pb Zn Cd Hg Be Mg Ca Sr Ba (F) (Cl) (Br) (I)
Re Os Ir Pt Au Ga In Tl B Al Sc Y Rare earths Inert gases
Mo Ge Sn C P (Ge) (Sn) Pb (C) Si Ti Zr Hf Th
(Pb) (As) (W) As Sb Bi (P) V Nb Ta
S Se Te O Cr W U
(Fe) (Mo) (Re) (Fe) Mn
F Cl Br I
(H) (Tl) (Ga) (Ge) (N)

* Parentheses around a symbol indicate that the element belongs primarily in another group, but
has some characteristics that relate it to this group.

Table 1.2 Common element associations in some different deposit types (McQueen,
1997)
Element association Deposit type

Au-As-Sb (CO 2 -Si) Mesothermal. slate-hosted quartz-gold veins (e.g.
Bendigo, Central Victoria).
Au-As-W-Ag-Sb-Te- Archaean greenstone-hosted lode gold deposits
Cu-Pb-Mo (CO 2 -S) (e.g. Kalgoorlie, Eastern Goldfields WA).
Ag-Au-As-Sb-Te Hg-Mn Epithermal gold-silver veins in volcanic host rocks
(S-Si) (e.g. Golden Cross, NZ, Gidginburg, NSW).
Au-As-Hg-Fe Sb-Te Tl Carlin-type disseminated pyrite-arsenopyrite
(Si-S) gold-bearing systems.
Sb-Au (Si-S) Quartz-stibnite veins in metasediments (e.g.
Costerfield, Vic., Hillgrove NSW).
Au-Fe-As-Cu Zn (S-Si) Quartz-sulfide veins containing Au associated
with pyrite and arsenopyrite.
Hg-Cu-Au-S As-Bi-Co Associated with ultrabasic rocks.
Cu-U-Au-Ag-REE (S-F) Hydrothermal hematitic breccia complexes (e.g.
Olympic Dam, SA).
Pb-Zn-Ag Cd-Cu (S) Structurally controlled lead-silver veins and
hydrothermal replacement bodies (Northhampton
WA).
Fe-Pb-Zn-Cu-Ag Hg-Sb-Au Stratabound volcanic-hosted massive sulfide
(S) deposits (e.g. Woodlawn, NSW, Roseberry, Que
River, Tas.).
Fe-Pb-Zn-Ag, Mn-Ba- Shale-hosted stratiform lead-zinc deposits (e.g.
Tl Cu-As-Sb (S) McArthur River, NT).
Fe-Pb-Zn-Ag-Cu (S) Turbidite-hosted sulfide vein systems (e.g. Cobar
Fe-Cu-Au Pb-Zn (S) deposits, NSW).