Lyell Collection
Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis
Lyell Centre  |   Lyell Collection  |   Subscriptions   |   Geological Society  |   Email alerts  |   Online bookshop  |   Help

Keywords:
Author:
Advanced search>>
This Article
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by van Moort, J.C.
Right arrow Articles by Pwa, A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
GeoRef
Right arrow GeoRef Citation
Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis; 2005; v. 5; issue.3; p. 267-277;
DOI: 10.1144/1467-7873/03-067
© 2005 Geological Society of London

Original Article

The use of quartz concentrate (acid-insoluble residue) as a sample medium in lithogeochemistry and regolith exploration studies: development of a method

J.C. van Moort1 & Aung Pwa2

1 School of Earth Sciences, University of Tasmania, GPO Box 252-79, Hobart, TAS 7004, Australia(e-mail: jcvanmoort@trump.net.au)
2 82 Fitzwilliam Road, Toongabbie NSW 2146, Australia (e-mail: apwa2001@yahoo.com)

Quartz concentrates provide a general sample medium with low background concentration of minor and trace elements. They can be obtained from most rock types by hot nitric acid or aqua regia leach, sometimes supplemented by sulphuric acid leach. The concentrates consist of a mixture of primary quartz, secondary quartz resulting from wallrock alteration and insoluble minerals such as sericite and alkali feldspar. Multi-element analysis enables detection of even the weakest mineralization and wallrock alteration, as expressed mainly by Ba, Ca, Ge, K, Li, Mn, Na, Rb and Sr, in addition to Au, Pb, and Zn. Both wallrock alteration patterns and secondary dispersion trails remain preserved in the quartz concentrates, even in deeply weathered terrain. Results of 14 case histories of various types of gold and base metal deposits are compared.

Key Words: quartz concentrate • acid-insoluble residue • wallrock alteration • secondary dispersion • lithogeochemistry • regolith