Could anyone advise me which is the most well-known classification of gold ore? I just want classification of gold ore and not classification of gold deposit.
Thanks a lot.
Dear Mr. Maqadze,
you explicitly declined to know the classification of gold deposits but want to know how you can classify gold ore.
You can make a desctinction which is intergranular between between hard rock ore (gold ore minerals are intergrown with the gangue minerals) and soft rock ore (gold ore minerals are part of a loose modern placer mineral association or heavy mineral suite with no joint surface of minerals). The other one is intragranular. Visible gold can be spotted as a distinct mineral , whereas invisible gold is accommodated in the structure of certain host minerals such as pyrite or arsenopyrit, as inclusion or part of the lattice).
Best regards
H.G.Dill
In addition, the size of the gold particles is a vital part of describing the gold ore. Unfortunately there is no clear agreement on how fine is 'fine gold and indeed it differs enormously over time, place and person. I have attempted to create a simple definition that standardises the definition of 'fine gold' here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314237371_Fine_Gold_Recovery_-_Alternatives_to_Mercury_and_Cyanide_Purpose_of_study/figures
Best regards
Robin Grayson
Manchester
Article Fine Gold Recovery – Alternatives to Mercury and Cyanide Pur...
Technical Report Reclamation of Mine Regions at Bisgod: Approaches and Challenges
In addition to the above I would add the gold in laterite (weathered deposit). Originally microscopic gold in arsenopyrite, but now weathered and the gold is now in small specks within orange-color laterite after arsenopyrite disintegrated.
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