The chemical characterisation of auriferous vein quartz, Beaconsfield gold mine, Tasmania

Abstract

The quartz veins of the Tasmania Reef (Beaconsfield) gold deposit are of hypothermal origin. The auriferous parts of the reef are characterised by microcrystalline quartz with on average 21 ppm As, 3 ppm Ge and 14 ppm Li in contrast with the barren parts of the reef which contain on average <2 ppm As, <1 ppm Ge and <3 ppm Li. Further statistical analysis indicates that screening small quartz samples (400 mg) for specific values of their Al–Ge–Li–Na–Rb–Ca–Cl content is a useful indicator of gold mineralisation in quartz.