PROCESS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF GOLD IN ROCKS AND ORES, AND APPARATUSTHEREFOR

摘要

ABSTRACTA process for the determination of gold present inminerals is described whereby a carrier gas containing a lowconcentration of mercury is passed through ground ore or rocksamples of known weight. The amount of mercury absorbed bythe sample is directly proportional to the gold which has beenexposed by grinding the sample. The mercury content of thecarrier gas is determined before it passes through the ore,and after the contact with the ore has been completed. Thedifference in the mercury content allows the determination ofthe total gold content of the ore or rock sample.In the preferred embodiment of this process an atomicabsorption spectrophotometer utilizing a mercury lamp andquartz windowed absorption cells, is incorporated in theapparatus devised to carry out the process.The process and apparatus can be used for rapid andhighly sensitive determinations of gold in rocks and mineralsat remote locations, when used as a portable unit. Theprocess and apparatus can also be used for monitoring eithercontinuously or in a batch mode, the gold content of oreduring milling or extractive process steps.