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Elemental mapping of some collected gold samples from Al-Amar gold mine in Saudi Arabia

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A Correction to this article was published on 21 January 2021

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Abstract

The mining waste in Al-Amar gold mine is 150 kg a year due to leakage in the extraction process. Studying the textures of gold deposits can be helpful to improve the process of gold extraction. The present work aimed to study the texture, structure, and composition of gold deposits that have different textures and structures using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and Micro X-ray Fluorescence (µXRF). The ore minerals at different gold deposits were determined and these are pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, and silica. The contents of Si and Zn in some specific areas are highly indicated to silica and sphalerite minerals, respectively. Additionally, the high contents of Fe and S, as well as some Cu, confirm the presence of pyrite and chalcopyrite minerals. The µXRF technique was used for elemental mapping of S, Si, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Au. The spectral interference between Zn-Kβ and Au-Lα was found at different pixels and the Au-Lβ was free from interference and used for following the gold in the samples under investigation. The positive correlation between the Au and the elements Zn, Fe, Pb, and Si indicates the existence of the Au element in different minerals as an invisible specks.

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Acknowledgements

Dr. O. H. Abd-Elkader would like to extend his sincere appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University for its funding of this research through the research Group projects no RGP- 306.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Taif University, P. O. Box 11099, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia

    Abdallah A. Shaltout

  2. Spectroscopy Department, Physics Division, National Research Centre, El Behooth St., Dokki, Cairo, 12622, Egypt

    Abdallah A. Shaltout

  3. Central of Metallurgical R & D Institute, P. O. Box 87, Helwan, Cairo, Egypt

    Mohamed H. Mahamoud

  4. Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Taif University, P. O. Box 11099, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia

    Mohamed H. Mahamoud

  5. Physics & Astronomy Department, Science College, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia

    Omar H. Abd-Elkader

  6. Physics Division, Electron Microscope & Thin Films Department, National Research Centre, El Behooth St., Giza, 12622, Egypt

    Omar H. Abd-Elkader

  7. Botany & Microbiology Department, Science College, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia

    M. A. Yassin

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  1. Abdallah A. Shaltout
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  2. Mohamed H. Mahamoud
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  3. Omar H. Abd-Elkader
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  4. M. A. Yassin
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Correspondence to Abdallah A. Shaltout.

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Shaltout, A.A., Mahamoud, M.H., Abd-Elkader, O.H. et al. Elemental mapping of some collected gold samples from Al-Amar gold mine in Saudi Arabia. Environ Earth Sci 79, 527 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-020-09271-1

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