Abstract

This study aimed to conduct a geochemical exploration for gold (Au) and associated elements from the granitoids rocks, to an attempt to outline the areas of abnormal concentration of gold and other elements such as As, Sn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Bi, Li, Be, Y, Nb, La, Ce, Mo, Fe₂O₃ and TiO₂. The geochemical anomalies areas were identified by using rock and Heavy Mineral geochemical methods. A total of 57 rock geochemical samples were collected from the granite, pegmatite, rhyolite dyke, quartz veins and ultration zone from the study area; and 37 Heavy Mineral (HM) geochemical panned concentrate samples were collected from the hillside sediments along the main valley and tributary from 30 cm depth and then sieved to <1 mm grain size in the field. The geochemical samples caver about 18 km² from the Northern part of Wadi El Marsad. Geochemical exploration for the abnormal concentration of gold and associated elements are used to identified the geochemical anomalies areas. The geochemical samples were chemically analyzed for their element components using Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry method (ICP-AES) and graphite furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) method was used for the analysis of gold.. The results of geochemical analysis indicated the presence of gold in the study area; this result was considered abnormal for rock samples, while the gold was associated with vein, pegmatite and quartz veins. The presence of HM in the samples served as good indicators of gold in the area due to the detritus of gold-traces bearing rocks in the area. The Pearson’s correlation coefficients for the rock geochemical samples shows strong positive correlation was recorded for Au with As (r = 0.72), Cu (r = 0.78), Bi (r = 0.76), Y (r = 0.97), Nb (r = 0.94) and Ce (r = 0.50), respectively. The positive correlations for these metals revealed that the hydrothermal alterations affects the association of the metals in ultration zone, quartz veins and pegmatite dyke. The combination of both rock and HM concentrate samples showed three anomalous areas of gold. The interpretation of geochemical data for multi-elements of the rock samples shortlisted six geochemical anomalous areas and high concentration of Fe₂O₃, TiO₂, As, Sn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Bi, Li, Be, Y, Nb, La, Ce and Mo. The HM samples indicated mineral concentration in the sulfide vein and pegmatite dyke at the sampled points; these elements are usually associated with sulfide minerals.

Keywords:

Geochemical exploration, gold, rock and heavy mineral samples, WadiAl Marsad, Jordan,

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