Kyoto University (京都大学) / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第17583号 / 工博第3742号 / 新制||工||1570(附属図書館) / 30349 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科材料化学専攻 / (主査)教授 平尾 一之, 教授 田中 勝久, 教授 三浦 清貴 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当

M.Sc. / A prominent zone of deformation, identified as a possible hydrothermal fluid pathway, has recently been discovered by the author in the 64 SW4 21Line workings at Kopanang Gold Mine. The zone is between 3m and 16m wide, has a NE SW trend and dips steeply (65°-70۫°) towards the SE. Very little to no displacement seems to occur along this zone of alteration that is marked by intensive albite veining; the surrounding host rocks are also intensively altered (albitized). Albitization resulted from sodium metasomatism, during which Na was exchanged for K, and was accompanied by quartz dissolution which resulted in vug formation. This alteration event is also characterized by REE enrichment, which was found to be most intense in carbonate (ankerite) rich albitized vein fill material. A study of fluid inclusions indicates that the main hydrothermal fluid was of relatively low salinity (14.46 to 19.84 wt% NaCl ), having homogenization temperatures between 59.6 and 117°C. From these measurements it was concluded that a likely emplacement temperature for the studied feature would be in the order of 200°C-300°C at a pressure of roughly 0.5 to 1Kbar. A marked increase of Au grades is observed where the Vaal Reef, the most important economical reef horizon exploited at the mine, is affected by deformation, veining, and associated alteration. In light of the above observations it appears only reasonable to expect that this zone of deformation and hydrothermal alteration could either be the direct cause of, or at least have a prominent influence on the high gold values occurring in the area. A causal link between high Au grades, deformation and hydrothermal fluid flow would have obvious economic implications. The study therefore strives to characterise the extent and style of deformation, constrain the effects of hydrothermal alteration and nature of hydrothermal fluids associated with the structure, and assess its importance for Au mineralization

M.Sc. (Chemistry) / Loading gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) on mesoporous materials via different methods has been reported in the literature. However, the immobilisation of the dendrimer-encapsulated Au NPs on materials is still considered amongst the hot topics in chemistry. This study describes the synthesis, characterisation as well as catalytic evaluation of unsupported and supported Au NPs....

No description available.

Epithermal gold deposits are the product of large-scale hydrothermal systems in tectonically active regions. They form at shallow crustal levels where the physico-chemical conditions change abruptly. Two major groups of epithermal gold deposits can be distinguished based on their genetic connection with: A) Copper-molybdenum porphyry systems and B) Geothermal systems related to volcanic centres and calderas. Epithermal gold deposits connected with geothermal systems encompass three major types: adularia-sericite, acid-sulphate and disseminated replacement (the Carlin-type). Their essential ingredients are: high heat source which leads to convection of groundwater in the upper crust; source of hydrothermal fluid, metals and reduced sulphur; and high-permeability structures which allow fluid convection and metal deposition. Mixing of these ingredients leads to the formation of epithermal gold deposits throughout crustal history, without any restriction on age. The ores were deposited from near-neutral (adularia-sericite type and some of the Carlin-type) to acidic (acid-sulphate type and porphyry-related epithermal gold deposits), low-salinity, high C0₂ and high H₂S fluids, which were predominantly meteoritic in origin. The transport capability of deep fluids in epithermal hydrothermal systems may be shown to be dependent largely on their H₂S content and, through a series of fluid mineral equilibria, on temperature and on C0₂ content. The most common mechanisms of ore deposition are boiling (phase separation), mixing of fluids of different temperatures and salinities, reaction between them and wall rocks, dilution and cooling. An understanding of genetic models for epithermal gold deposits provides the basis for the selection of favourable areas for regional to prospect-scale exploration.

In this thesis, the aim was to develop resins which are platinum and gold specific to be utilized for the early removal of these metals from the industrial feed. Efforts were therefore directed towards the synthesis of silica based resins with active centra which were designed for platinum and gold specificity respectively. The large chlorometallate ions in the feed stream were characterized in terms of physical parameters relevant to phase distribution namely distortability (RD), charge density, softness (σ) etc. Matching cations for each of the types were investigated. In order to attempt the design of platinum specific resins different structural amines were used to aminate the silicone precursor and subsequently to fix these onto the silica framework. Two different solvents i.e. alcohol and dmf were used for this process, resulting in two sets of resins with different properties. For gold specific resins, various polyethers were attached to a different type of silicone precursor, which was attached to the silica framework. The design was based on previous experience with these ions with reference to their behaviour towards different types of cations. The platinum species PtCl6 2- and PtCl4 2-, the gold species AuCl4 -, as well as the most important contaminants in the feed stream were typified bearing in mind size, charge, charge density and distortability. Different types of cationic centra having differences in charge density, stereochemical crowding and extent of hydrophobicity were synthesized and tested both as solvent extractants (where possible) and silica based resins. The results indicated that partly screened secondary ammonium cationic resin species, which could be regarded as “intermediate”, proved to be satisfactory both in their high percentage extraction for PtCl4 2- and rejection of contaminants like chlororhodates, chloroiridates(III) and FeCl4 -. It was, however, necessary to work at a redox potential where iridium(IV) in the form of IrCl6 2- is absent. Various 2-aminoalkane resins were prepared with variation in the length of alkane group and synthesized in the two different solvents. The latter resulted in two sets of resins with different compactness also having significantly different properties with reference to platinum specificity, HCl effect and stripping potential. The 2- aminobutane and 2-aminoheptane resins both proved to be very satisfactory platinum specific resins with respect to selectivity, platinum capacity and stripping potential. The various physical parameters could be utilized to accommodate the chemical behaviour. To obtain gold specific resins, experiments were performed with resins having oxygen-donor atoms which can readily be protonated to form onium type cations for example amides and ether oxygen atoms. In the case of the latter, various polyethers with a different number of ether groups (polyether groups linked by ethylene and propylene groups) and variations of hydrophobicity (by substitution) have also been studied. Linked to the polyether groups were alkane and aryl groups. Those having 8 to 10 ether groups and aromatic tail ends proved to be moderately successful in terms of gold capacity and sharp breakthrough curves of their columns, however, platinum could not be very effectively rejected.

The recovery of placer gold from 20 mesh to 150 mesh in common sluicebox configurations was investigated. Two types of riffles, 1-10H expanded metal (1.5"x.75"x.25") and 1.25" angle iron riffles (dredge riffles), were used in conjunction with 3/8" thick "Nomad" matting for 25 tests. The effects of variations in upper feed size, water flow rate, sluice gradient, and solids feed rate on the recovery of placer gold particles are documented. The gold and test gravel were obtained from the Teck Corporation sluicing operation on Sulphur Creek, Yukon Territory during July, 1985. Approximately nine troy ounces of placer gold and fifteen tons of gravel were transported to Vancouver.B.C. A test sluice facility was constructed in Coquitlam,B.C. to simulate operating conditions in a typical Yukon placer operation. The sluicebox was 12" wide and 8' long with clear plexiglass sidewalls. Screened gravel of either 3/4" or 1/4" upper feed size was fed to this sluice from a hopper at rates of up to 1260 lb/min. The water pumping capacity was a maximum of 400 USGPM. Between 75 and 90 grams of each of three sizes of placer gold (-20+28#, -35+48#, -65+100# ) were premixed with the gravel for most tests. The final test used 25 grams of -100+150 mesh gold. Sluicing, when properly controlled, was found to be a highly effective means of concentrating placer gold as small as 150 mesh. Expanded metal riffles were far superior to dredge riffles in concentrating gold of this size range. Recovery of the -65+100# size fraction frequently exceeded 90% when using expanded metal riffles. Visual observation of eddies formed downstream of the riffles showed that scour depth between riffles was the one characteristic of the slurry flow that gave the best indication of the resulting gold recovery. For expanded metal, scour depths between 1/2 and 3/4 of the riffle depth were found the most effective. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Mining Engineering, Keevil Institute of / Graduate

Ph.D. (Chemistry) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

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A method is described which enables the user to determine the rheological parameters of a fast settling slurry using conventional viscometric measuring equipment. The effect of concentration, temperature and pH on these parameters is investigated. The results agree with those obtained by previous workers using different viscometers. However, this method allows a more detailed characterization of all the properties. A literature survey was carried out and two semi-empirical correlations were found, which allow the effect of either concentration, temperature or pH on the rheological parameters to be investigated.