Gold Bearing Oar

[Rickrofe]

I have been prospecting a patch of the Adelaide Hills and came across a quartz reef that is white with dark blue transparent colour in it. Then I took 12 inches of the top of the protruding part of the reef and found lots of mineral decomposition and dark reddish staining. I assumed it was decomposing pyrites and/or copper, given the Callington copper mine is near by. I have since processed some samples and found it contains gold....

I was hoping some of you more experienced prospecting experts or geologists might help me to identify the character of the ores' composition. I have taken a photo of the sample I crushed and posted below.

I'd like to figure out what processes are at work that have created this type of rock, any questions or feedback most welcome...

Cheers

Rick

 

[Hunting the yellow]

the red is iron pyrites oxidizing and dissolving chemically over time the black bits look like slate to me and the cavity's could of been sulphide minerals

here's some links http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987111000430

http://www.indiana.edu/~sierra/papers/2003/Patterson.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ore_genesis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metasomatism

 

[20x]

nice photo's mate

 

[Rickrofe]

Thanks to all those that pointed out the incorrect spelling of ore (oar). I have applied to undertake an 'ore' spelling course next week, I think it will be a worthwhile qualification for a budding prospector who is ore-inspired.... Cheers Rick

 

[Westaus]

That would be awe-inspired

Got to love English. Nice photos and looks promising to me. There is certainly a lot going on and that is what you want with gold, I am led to believe.

 

[GFC07]

Ore I might just be making a mountain out of a molehill, some of people can be pretty gold, but leads be honest, they do tend to aggregate a situation

terrible pun even if i do say so myself after 9 vb

 

[Guest]

The ore shows lots of evidence of sulphides and iron mineralisation. Looks like pretty typical copper and/or gold bearing ore from a secondary enrichment zone. Lots of sampling needed to see if it's worth digging it out. The first commandment says sample, sample , sample.

 

[Rickrofe]

Hi Puddler, thanks for the advice, as always appreciated....

The ore shows lots of evidence of sulphides and iron mineralisation. Looks like pretty typical copper and/or gold bearing ore from a secondary enrichment zone. Lots of sampling needed to see if it's worth digging it out. The first commandment says sample, sample , sample.

 

[Rickrofe]

the red is iron pyrites oxidizing and dissolving chemically over time the black bits look like slate to me and the cavity's could of been sulphide minerals

here's some links http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987111000430

http://www.indiana.edu/~sierra/papers/2003/Patterson.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ore_genesis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metasomatism

Lots of resources to follow up here, thanks for taking the time to respond....