Distribution of gold and silver content in copper-pyrite ores of the Gadabay deposit

Abstract

The gold content in copper-pyrite ores of the Gadabay deposit is considered. The purpose of the research presented in the basis of the article, was to find out the features of the gold content of copper-pyrite deposits in the Lok-Karabakh metallic zone, using the example of the Gadabay deposit, for the development of examples and the forecasting of new sites and objects. Gadabay Field is located in the axial part of the Shamkir uplift. of the Lok-Garabakh structural-formational zone of the Lesser Caucasus. The character of gold and silver distribution in the ores of the Gadabay deposit was studied by atomic-adsorption methods. It was found that in different types of ores and monomineral fractions of basic sulfide minerals (pyrite, chalcopyrite, and sphalerite), noble metals (Au, Ag) are distributed unevenly. Thus, the average content of gold and silver is 0.8 and 13.6 g/t, and in pyrite-chalco- pyrite-sphalerite mineral associations, the average content of gold and silver is 2.3 and 36.2 g/t. In monomineral fractions of sulfide minerals, the highest gold content is observed in chalcopyrite, where the average content is 3.8 g/t. As a result of mineralogical studies, it was established that in the ores of this deposit, gold is in free and associated form. Native gold is located inside sulfide minerals (pyrite, chalcopyrite) and often in association with them. As a result of rational analysis, it was established that the predominant amount of gold is in the free state (44.0%) and in intergrowths with late sulfide minerals (pyrite, chalcopyrite) (45.3%). The predominant amount of native gold is found in intergrowths with basic sulfide minerals.