Concepts for geochemical gold exploration based on the abundance and distribution of ultrafine gold

Conventionally, geochemical exploration for gold is based on the assumptions that (1) gold is chemically inert in surficial environments; (2) gold occurs mainly in discrete grains; and (3) gold is transferred by mechanical means to form clastic dispersion halos and dispersion trains. Consequently, the commonly adopted methodology has been (1) to determine gold in heavy mineral concentrates; (2) to use large samples in order to improve the reproducibility of gold analyses; (3) to use high detection limits and thresholds; and (4) to determine total gold contents and pathfinder elements in the samples. However, these methods are not always successful in locating gold deposits, and they have limited application in the search for buried or blind deposits.

In China, studies of the distribution and migration of particulate and ultrafine gold indicated that (1) gold is active and mobile in surficial environments; (2) gold occurs not only as discrete grains, but also as ultrafine particles and other complex forms; and (3) regional low-concentration gold anomalies as well as local anomalies over buried gold deposits originate from ultrafine gold and other complex forms of gold. The methodology developed in China for regional and local geochemical gold exploration is based on this experience. Results of investigations around two gold deposits in China are presented.