Morphological, Textural and Compositional Characterization of Gold Particles in the Marine Placers of the Mejías and Jiguaní Beaches (N-E Cuba).
Authors
Alberto R. Vila-Sánchez
Departamento de Geología, Instituto Superior Minero Metalúrgico de Moa.
Roberto Díaz-Martínez
Departamento de Geología, Instituto Superior Minero Metalúrgico de Moa
Joaquín A. Proenza
Departamento de Cristallografia, Mineralogia i Dipòsits Minerals. Facultat de Geologia, Universitat de Barcelona.
Joan Carles Melgarejo
Departamento de Cristallografia, Mineralogia i Dipòsits Minerals. Facultat de Geologia, Universitat de Barcelona.
Keywords:
Partícula de oro, morfología, textura y composición química, placer marino, Cuba
Abstract
The main morphology and textural features and chemical composition of the gold particles in lateral marines placers from Mejías and Jiguaní beaches are presented. The particles of gold studied in both deposits are very fine, and show predominant rod shape. In occasions, the particles appear very flat, forming species of thin sheets or flakes. The particles exhibit complex internal textures, with concave and convex boundaries, as well as rotten grains. The particles are composed by sub-grains of different composition. Several sub-grains display electrum, native gold and mercurial gold in both placers and alloys of Au-Cu (tetra-auricupride) in the Jiguaní Placer. Usually, these sub-grains have alteration rims, consisting in a gold enrichment at the expense of silver.
