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Blakemore Masters Thesis.pdf (26.43 MB)

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Insights into the History of Pyrite Mineralization at the Round Mountain Gold Mine, Nevada: A Detailed Microanalytical Study of the Type 2 Ore

Daniel, Blakemore
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6637-6081
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami15962291791253

Abstract Details

2020, Master of Science, Miami University, Geology and Environmental Earth Science.
The Round Mountain gold mine located in northern Nye county Nevada is one of the most economically important low-sulfidation, volcanic-hosted epithermal type gold-silver deposits in North America. The association of gold with pyrite is well established in Carlin type and in other epithermal type deposits, however no comprehensive characterization on the distribution and/or abundance of disseminated gold at the Round Mountain deposit exists. This study presents the first detailed microgeochemical characterization of pyrite from the Type 2 ore unit using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Elemental EDS maps revealed heterogeneous arsenic (As) zonation throughout all sampled pyrites, with arsenic enriched in the rims of many grains. While there is complexity to apparent pyrite growth zones, trace elemental mapping via LA-ICP-MS corroborated the EDS As zonation patterns, and revealed a spatial correlation with gold, with gold concentrations up to 66.2 ppm. Additionally, all pyrites studied appear to have porous and inclusion rich microtextures, consistent with boiling. This study reports the first documented occurrence of gold-bearing arsenian pyrite at the Round Mountain gold mine and could have implications for gold recovery in heap leaching and the exploration of future ore.
Mark Krekeler (Advisor)
Claire McLeod (Advisor)
John Rakovan (Committee Member)
69 p.
Geology
Round Mountain Gold Mine; Low-sulfidation epithermal gold deposits; Gold-bearing arsenian pyrite; disseminated gold; LA-ICP-MS; SEM-EDS; Elemental Mapping

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Daniel, B. (2020). Insights into the History of Pyrite Mineralization at the Round Mountain Gold Mine, Nevada: A Detailed Microanalytical Study of the Type 2 Ore [Master's thesis, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami15962291791253

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Daniel, Blakemore. Insights into the History of Pyrite Mineralization at the Round Mountain Gold Mine, Nevada: A Detailed Microanalytical Study of the Type 2 Ore. 2020. Miami University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami15962291791253.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Daniel, Blakemore. "Insights into the History of Pyrite Mineralization at the Round Mountain Gold Mine, Nevada: A Detailed Microanalytical Study of the Type 2 Ore." Master's thesis, Miami University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami15962291791253

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2020, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Miami University and OhioLINK.