published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

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Thesis (M. S.)--Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009. / Committee Chair: Mostafa A. El-Sayed; Committee Member: Adegboyega K. Oyelere; Committee Member: Bridgette Barry; Committee Member: Joseph W. Perry; Committee Member: Mark R. Prausnitz.

The object of geophysical surveys in mineral exploration has traditionally been to detect subsurface geological features, which may reflect the presence of mineralization in depth and, if possible, to measure the dimensions of the causative body. Geophysical methods may also be used to locate extensions to known mineralization and for determining the size, depth and internal characteristics of an orebody. Marked improvements in geological concepts of ore genesis have led to a better appreciation, amongst geologists, of mineralized environments, and this has had an effect on the use of geophysics in recent years. Geophysical surveys are being increasingly used as an aid in environmental reconstructions and the results of regional surveys may be used to provide an indirect guide to ore. One of the main applications of geophysics lies in areas where the orebodies and associated structures are not exposed, as most geophysical measurements are more expensive than surface geological or geochemical surveys.

The Wolf and Capoose prospects represent two distinctly different types of precious metal deposits in volcanic rocks of the Stikinia terrane, central British Columbia. At the Wolf prospect, auriferous and argeniferous metallic minerals are in bladed quartz-carbonate veins and heterolithic breccias within Lutetian calc-alkaline rhyolite of the Ootsa Lake Group. Electrum, native silver, and silver sulphosalts occur as inclusions in and adjacent to pyrite in five silicic zones which have eight recognisable phases of veining and brecciation and are bordered by argillic and sericitic altered rhyolite. Fluid inclusions define growth zones in precious metal-bearing quartz-carbonate veins and precious metal-poor drusy quartz veins. The inclusions are primary, two-phase, liquid-rich, low salinity, and low C0₂. Homogenization temperatures of quartz-carbonate veins are 270°C and 170°C and in the late drusy quartz veins, 250°C. Oxygen and hydrogen isotope compositions of vein quartz, rhyolite, and alkali feldspar phenocrysts indicate that depositional fluids were ¹⁸0 depleted by 4 to 9 0/00. Ootsa Lake Group rocks at Wolf are formed by explosive eruptions and flows, related to a ring fault. Flat-lying rhyolite tuffs and flows are intruded by cogenetic stocks and dykes in a caldera collapse setting. Precious metal deposition occurred as one event related to quartz-carbonate veins. Later drusy quartz veins precipitated from a different fluid. Primary fluid inclusion homogenization temperatures show that fluids which deposited quartz-carbonate were boiling and existed under both hydrostatic and near lithostatic pressures at depths of about 100 m. Oxygen and hydrogen isotope compositions indicate a high degree of isotopic exchange between rhyolite and large volumes of low ¹⁸0 content meteoric fluids. The fluids evolved to a non-boiling, lower salinity, extremely ¹⁸0 depleted, precious metal-poor variety which precipitated late drusy quartz veins. Geological setting, vein and breccia textures, alteration, metal distribution and depositional fluid evolution at Wolf resemble a low sulphur, epithermal hot spring or silicified stockwork deposit. At the Capoose prospect, auriferous and argeniferous metallic minerals occur as inclusions within disseminated galena and sphalerite in calc-alkaline Maastrichtian rhyolite sills intrusive into Lower and Middle Jurassic Hazelton Group volcanic and sedimentary rocks. Flow-banded, spherulitic rhyolite sills are preserved within a minor horst. Spessartines in the sills are similar in composition to plutonic garnets with less than 5% change in end member composition from rim to core. They occur adjacent to disseminated, aggregate and vein galena, sphalerite, pyrite, arsenopyrite and chalcopyrite. Sulphide and spessartine accummulations are commonly surrounded by muscovite and quartz coronas. Sulphide poor quartz and calcite veining is in hornfelsed Hazelton Group rocks peripheral to the sills. Phyllic alteration is restricted to the sills and overprints mineralized zones. Primary two-phase, liquid-rich, low salinity, low C0₂ fluid inclusions from late silicate veins homogenize from 285°C to 335°C. Rhyolite sills are not depleted in ¹⁸0 whereas sericite, quartz and calcite are. Spessartine in rhyolite sills at Capoose crystallized as late phenocrysts stabilized by high manganese content. They provided a nucleus for sulphide deposition shortly after sill emplacement in groundwater saturated, permeable Hazelton Group rocks. Cooling, crystallization and fracture development in the sills initiated hydrothermal circulation and phyllic alteration with late quartz and calcite veins related to collapse of the hydrothermal system. Lead-zinc mineralization occurred as two events, with only one related to precious metal and copper deposition. Oxygen isotope compositions of quartz-garnet mineral separate pairs indicate crystallization of garnets and sulphides from magmatic fluids at temperatures from 528°C to 725°C. Sericite, quartz and calcite precipitated from meteoric fluids. In summary, hydrothermal fluids at the Capoose prospect evolved from early, high temperature magmatic fluids to late lower temperature, low salinity, meteoric fluids. The geological setting, silicate and sulphide mineralogy, alteration, metal distribution and depositional fluid compositions at Capoose resemble a low-grade, epigenetic, intrusion-related, porphyry-style deposit. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate

Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The objective of this work was to achieve a completely automated fire assay system for the analysis of process control samples on a flotation plant in less than 120 minutes. With this in mind, a systems engineering approach was undertaken. The physical and chemical characteristics of the technology for each subsystem were investigated in turn and the critical factors that influenced accuracy, precision and analysis time were identified and optimised. Some of the key developments achieved during this work were: · Existing technology for the sampling, filtering, drying and grinding of flotation plant samples were evaluated and where necessary, modified for this application. · The fusion system was totally re-designed with a bottom-loading configuration called FIFA (Fast In-line Fire Assay) to make automation with a central robot possible. With the fast fusing flux developed, a quantitative collection of the platinum group elements with a fifteen-minute fusion was achieved compared to an hour for the classical method. · A robust automated separator system was developed to isolate the lead collector from the fusion in the molten state thereby separating it quantitatively from the slag. This allowed the automation of the entire fire assay process. · Methods to prepare lead standards for calibration were developed. These were used to optimise analytical protocols for the analysis of platinum group elements in lead using a spark optical emission spectrometer. This made it possible to accurately determine the quantities of platinum group elements in lead samples prepared by the automated fire assay system. · A fully automated system was developed that could meet the accuracy and precision requirements for the analysis of tailings and feed grade samples in concentrator slurry streams in less than one hour compared with the 24-72 hours required when using classical methods. The new fire assay technology including flux, FIFA system, oxygen lance and separator were all patented along with the automation vendor. This technology has made the first fully automated fire assay system a reality. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hoofoogmerk van die studie was om ‘n totale geoutomatiseerde vuuressaieering stelsel te ontwerp vir die ontleding van prosesbeheermonsters van ‘n flotasieaanleg in ‘n bestek van 120 minute. Gedurende die ontwerp is ‘n ingeneursstelselbenadering gebruik. Die fisiese en chemiese kenmerke van elke deel van die tegnologie is eers afsonderlik en dan as ‘n geheel ondersoek. Die bepalende faktore wat akkuraatheid, presisie en ontledingstyd beinvloed het was geidentifiseer en geoptimeer. Die hoofpunte van die werk behels onder andere die volgende: · Bestaande tegnologie vir monsterneming, filtrasie, droging en vermaling van flotasiemonsters was ondersoek en is, waar nodig, aangepas vir die finale stelsel. · Die smeltingsisteem was in geheel herontwerp om monsters van onder in die FIFA (Fast In-line Fire Assay) sisteem te laai en sodoende die outomatisering met ‘n sentrale robot te vergemaklik. ‘n Vinnig smeltende vloeimiddel was ontwikkel wat ‘n kwantitatiewe versameling van die platinum groep elemente binne ‘n tydsduur van vyftien minute moontlik gemaak het, in vergelyke met die oorspronklike duur van die klassieke smelt metode van een uur. · ‘n Outomatiese skeier was ontwikkel waarmee die gesmelte loodversamelaar geskei kon word van die slakfase. Met die nuwe stelsel kon die hele vuuressaieerproses outomaties verloop. · Metodes is ontwikkel om loodstandaarde vir kalibrasie doeleindes te berei. Die standaarde is op hulle beurt weer gebruik om ‘n ontleding protokol daar te stel vir die analiese van die platinum groep elemente in lood, met behulp van ‘n vonkontlading-optiese-uitstraling-spektrometriese instrument. Ten einde was dit moontlik om outomaties klein hoeveelhede van die platinum groep elemente in monsters akkuraat te bepaal, na voorbereiding met behulp van die geoutomatiseerde vuuressaieering stelsel. · Die volle geoutimatiseerde stelsel was ontwikkel wat aan die akkurate en noukeurige vereistes voldoen het vir die ontleding van flotasie-uitskot-envoergraad monsters van die konsentraataanleg binne die bestek van ‘n uur. Die nuwe vuuressaieer tegnologie, insluitend die vinnig smeltende vloeimiddel, FIFA en skeier stelsels, asook die suurstof lanset is gepatenteer met die vervaardiger. Die studie het gelei tot die eerste volle geoutomatiseerde vuuressaieering stelsel wat tans gebruik word in die industrie.

This paper examines the role that gold and other precious metals play in portfolio construction as hedges and safe havens in comparison with the Volatility Index (VIX), a derivative of market volatility. Gold has long been considered to be among the best assets for reducing portfolio volatility due to its lack of correlation with the overall market. However, the major finding of this paper is that while gold and the other precious metals do serve in this role to varying extents, the VIX performs this function far better. Both econometric and portfolio analyses reveal that the VIX improves overall portfolio performance to a greater extent, and most importantly serves as an effective safe haven relative to the market.

O processo de irradiação de gemas com raios gama de forma a melhorar as cores é bem aceito na indústria e comércio de jóias. Essas gemas são processadas em irradiadores industriais que são otimizados para outros fins. Para tal, utilizam principalmente aparatos para irradiação dessas pedras no fundo das suas piscinas de armazenamento das fontes, com um aproveitamento menor que o desejado, principalmente pela variação das taxas de dose encontrada nesses dispositivos. O desenvolvimento de um projeto de concepção, que estabelece os princípios físicos de funcionamento e formas de construção do novo tipo de equipamento, foi realizado nesse trabalho. O dispositivo sugerido baseia-se no princípio de rotação e translação circular de cestos em órbitas externa e interna a um porta-fontes cilíndrico, como um sistema planetário. O dispositivo foi idealizado para expor as gemas à irradiação no fundo da piscina, onde estão as fontes. Assim, essas fontes ficam permanentemente blindadas pela lâmina d'água. O irradiador é classificado como categoria III pela AIEA. Para verificar a viabilidade física do princípio básico, ou seja, o uso de cestos cilíndricos rotativos, foram realizados ensaios no Irradiador Multipropósito do CTR, no IPEN, além de simulações correlacionadas usando o aplicativo CADGAMMA adaptado para simular a irradiação submersa. A construção do irradiador definitivo leva ao aumento da qualidade da irradiação das pedras, com maior controle sobre as doses no produto. O custo operacional é significativamente reduzido pois o dispositivo foi otimizado para o beneficiamento pretendido. / The gemstones gamma irradiation process to enhance the color is widely accepted for the jewelry industry. These gems are processed in conventional industrial gamma irradiation plant which are optimized for other purposes, using underwater irradiation devices with high rejection rate due to it's poor dose uniformity. A new conception design, which states the working principles and manufacturing ways of the device, was developed in this work. The suggested device's design is based on the rotation of cylindrical baskets and their translation in circular paths inside and outside a cylindrical source rack as a planetary system. The device is meant to perform the irradiation in the bottom of the source storage pool, where the sources remain always shielded by the water layer. The irradiator matches the Category III IAEA classification. To verify the physical viability of the basic principle, tests with rotating cylindrical baskets were performed in the Multipurpose Irradiator raised in the CTR, IPEN. Also, simulations using the CADGAMMA software, adapted to simulate underwater irradiations were performed. With the definitive irradiator, the irradiation quality will be enhanced with better dose control and the production costs will be significantly lower than market prices due to the intended treatment device's optimization.

O processo de irradiação de gemas com raios gama de forma a melhorar as cores é bem aceito na indústria e comércio de jóias. Essas gemas são processadas em irradiadores industriais que são otimizados para outros fins. Para tal, utilizam principalmente aparatos para irradiação dessas pedras no fundo das suas piscinas de armazenamento das fontes, com um aproveitamento menor que o desejado, principalmente pela variação das taxas de dose encontrada nesses dispositivos. O desenvolvimento de um projeto de concepção, que estabelece os princípios físicos de funcionamento e formas de construção do novo tipo de equipamento, foi realizado nesse trabalho. O dispositivo sugerido baseia-se no princípio de rotação e translação circular de cestos em órbitas externa e interna a um porta-fontes cilíndrico, como um sistema planetário. O dispositivo foi idealizado para expor as gemas à irradiação no fundo da piscina, onde estão as fontes. Assim, essas fontes ficam permanentemente blindadas pela lâmina d'água. O irradiador é classificado como categoria III pela AIEA. Para verificar a viabilidade física do princípio básico, ou seja, o uso de cestos cilíndricos rotativos, foram realizados ensaios no Irradiador Multipropósito do CTR, no IPEN, além de simulações correlacionadas usando o aplicativo CADGAMMA adaptado para simular a irradiação submersa. A construção do irradiador definitivo leva ao aumento da qualidade da irradiação das pedras, com maior controle sobre as doses no produto. O custo operacional é significativamente reduzido pois o dispositivo foi otimizado para o beneficiamento pretendido. / The gemstones gamma irradiation process to enhance the color is widely accepted for the jewelry industry. These gems are processed in conventional industrial gamma irradiation plant which are optimized for other purposes, using underwater irradiation devices with high rejection rate due to it's poor dose uniformity. A new conception design, which states the working principles and manufacturing ways of the device, was developed in this work. The suggested device's design is based on the rotation of cylindrical baskets and their translation in circular paths inside and outside a cylindrical source rack as a planetary system. The device is meant to perform the irradiation in the bottom of the source storage pool, where the sources remain always shielded by the water layer. The irradiator matches the Category III IAEA classification. To verify the physical viability of the basic principle, tests with rotating cylindrical baskets were performed in the Multipurpose Irradiator raised in the CTR, IPEN. Also, simulations using the CADGAMMA software, adapted to simulate underwater irradiations were performed. With the definitive irradiator, the irradiation quality will be enhanced with better dose control and the production costs will be significantly lower than market prices due to the intended treatment device's optimization.

The main intention of this thesis is the analysis of the factors that influence the precious metals market according to the selected methodology. The secondary intention is the consideration of the posibility to include the commodities traded on the precious metals market in the portfolio of investments. The introductory chapter deals with the listing of the commodities, the most important commodity exchanges and derivatives. The second chapter individually describes the precious metals. The first subsection of the second chapter analyzes the supply and demand for the individual metals. The following subsections focus on the factors that influence the price of the precious metals in history and in present time. The analytical part, which concludes this chapter includes the calculations of correlation coefficients, average growth coefficient and standard deviation of the factors that influence the precious metals. The last chapter of this thesis is dedicated to diamonds and is divided to two major subsections. The first subsection describes the history of the most significant diamonds, the characteristics of diamonds, the types of the deposits and the major producers of diamonds. The second subsection analyzes the prices of natural and synthetic diamonds and the development of profit of the selected company in terms of time. The last chapter deals with investments in diamonds.