Supergene mobility of noble metal elements in black rock series

In order to discuss the supergene mobility of noble metal elements in black rock series, measurements have been conducted with ICP-MS method for the contents of Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt, Au and Ag in the primary jordisite-rich black shale ore, in the supergene leached jordisite-rich black shale ore, in the pyrite-rich black shale ore and in the water of pit, well and stream of the mining area near Zhongnan Village, Zunyi District of Guizhou Province. The temperature, pH, electric conductivity, dissolved oxygen of the water were also measured. The pit water is acidic with high electrical conductivity and low dissolved oxygen. The total content of platinum group elements in the primary pyrite-rich black shale ore is only 1/13 of that in the primary jordisite-rich black shale ore. The Ag content in the former is only a half of that in the latter while the Au contents in the two kinds of ores are almost the same. Being leached under supergene condition, the contents of most of the noble metal elements except Au in the jordisite-rich black shale ore greatly decrease; the leaching rates of Rh, Pd, Pt, the total platinum group elements and Ag reach as high as 66.72%～74.79%, revealing that under supergene condition, platinum group elements and Ag can migrate along with water; the ratios of Ag/Au, Pd/Ru, Pt/Ir and(Pt+Pd)/(Ru+Rh+Ir) are remarkably decreased, displaying that Pt and Pd relative to Ru, Rh and Ir, Ag relative to Au bear more active mobility. The noble metal elements in the black rock series near Zhongnan Village might be mobilized and migrate under the procession of "cold water" rich in SO4]2- with pH value being about 2.4 at a temperature below 50 ℃.

Supergene mobility of noble metal elements in black rock series

In order to discuss the supergene mobility of noble metal elements in black rock series, measurements have been conducted with ICP-MS method for the contents of Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt, Au and Ag in the primary jordisite-rich black shale ore, in the supergene leached jordisite-rich black shale ore, in the pyrite-rich black shale ore and in the water of pit, well and stream of the mining area near Zhongnan Village, Zunyi District of Guizhou Province. The temperature, pH, electric conductivity, dissolved oxygen of the water were also measured. The pit water is acidic with high electrical conductivity and low dissolved oxygen. The total content of platinum group elements in the primary pyrite-rich black shale ore is only 1/13 of that in the primary jordisite-rich black shale ore. The Ag content in the former is only a half of that in the latter while the Au contents in the two kinds of ores are almost the same. Being leached under supergene condition, the contents of most of the noble metal elements except Au in the jordisite-rich black shale ore greatly decrease; the leaching rates of Rh, Pd, Pt, the total platinum group elements and Ag reach as high as 66.72%～74.79%, revealing that under supergene condition, platinum group elements and Ag can migrate along with water; the ratios of Ag/Au, Pd/Ru, Pt/Ir and(Pt+Pd)/(Ru+Rh+Ir) are remarkably decreased, displaying that Pt and Pd relative to Ru, Rh and Ir, Ag relative to Au bear more active mobility. The noble metal elements in the black rock series near Zhongnan Village might be mobilized and migrate under the procession of "cold water" rich in SO4]2- with pH value being about 2.4 at a temperature below 50 ℃.