Abstract
In-situ analyses of Au in arsenian pyrite, a Au-carrier common in certain ores refractory to direct cyanidation, are feasible by proton and ion microprobe. These in-situ microbeam analysis techniques provide a better geochemical understanding of the distribution of Au in ore than traditional bulk chemical analyses. The practical minimum detection level (MDL) by particle induced X-ray excitation (PIXE) or proton microprobe (Micro-PIXE) is 21–26 ppmw for a beam density of 22–24 pA/μm 2. A lower MDL of ∼400 ppbw was obtained by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) or ion microprobe. Results of analysis of the same grains by both methods are not readily comparable because of the inhomogeneous distribution of Au in arsenian pyrite and the different volumes analyzed (∼5000 μm 3 for PIXE vs ∼2400 μm 3 for SIMS). In addition, the geometry of the volume analyzed by each technique is different: a parallelepiped by Micro-PIXE and a thin disc by SIMS.
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