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M. Taylor-MS Thesis.pdf (1.93 MB)

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GOLD FROM THE TYPE 4 ORE OF ROUND MOUNTAIN, NEVADA: A TEXTURAL AND MINERALOGICAL STUDY OF MACROCRYSTALLINE GOLD VS. DISSEMINATED GOLD

Taylor, Mackenzie C
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4112-2210
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1512407677037903

Abstract Details

2017, Master of Science, Miami University, Geology and Environmental Earth Science.
New knowledge regarding epithermal gold from Round Mountain Gold Mine (RMGM) aims to add to what is known about gold mineralization and ore formation. The Type 4 gold ore at RMGM is unusual in that it contains both disseminated gold (nm-µm) and macrocrystalline gold. Unmodified samples of macrocrystalline gold and disseminated gold within bulk ore were acquired from the Type 4 and determined to be texturally and mineralogically distinct. Detailed investigation using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), coupled with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDXS), concluded that gold mineralization began as two-dimensional nucleation following nanoparticle aggregation. The dominant mechanism for mineralization then shifted to adhesive growth, as gold in solution reached levels greater than supersaturation. Results further indicate that two distinct sequences for gold mineralization occurred where only macrocrystalline gold contained paragenetic apatite, goethite, and gold telluride, and pyrite and chlorite were associated strictly with bulk ore. Several of these minerals, especially pyrite, goethite, and chlorite may have significant implications for extraction efficiency using conventional cyanide heap leach. U-Pb dating of apatite was also conducted in attempts to further constrain the deposit’s complex mineralization history, but was found to be inaccurate in determining an age date due to insufficient samples.
Mark P.S. Krekeler (Advisor)
John Rakovan (Committee Member)
Claire McLeod (Committee Member)
74 p.
Earth; Geochemistry; Geology; Mineralogy; Mining; Petrology
gold; Round Mountain; Toquima; low sulfidation epithermal deposit; epithermal; mineralization; deposit; scanning electron microscopy; gold nanoparticles; SEM; microscopy; mineralization sequence; ore formation; paragenesis; macrocrystalline gold

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Taylor, M. C. (2017). GOLD FROM THE TYPE 4 ORE OF ROUND MOUNTAIN, NEVADA: A TEXTURAL AND MINERALOGICAL STUDY OF MACROCRYSTALLINE GOLD VS. DISSEMINATED GOLD [Master's thesis, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1512407677037903

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Taylor, Mackenzie. GOLD FROM THE TYPE 4 ORE OF ROUND MOUNTAIN, NEVADA: A TEXTURAL AND MINERALOGICAL STUDY OF MACROCRYSTALLINE GOLD VS. DISSEMINATED GOLD. 2017. Miami University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1512407677037903.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Taylor, Mackenzie. "GOLD FROM THE TYPE 4 ORE OF ROUND MOUNTAIN, NEVADA: A TEXTURAL AND MINERALOGICAL STUDY OF MACROCRYSTALLINE GOLD VS. DISSEMINATED GOLD." Master's thesis, Miami University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1512407677037903

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Miami University and OhioLINK.