Pathfinder elements and indicator minerals of Au from the Kubi Gold Ore Deposits in Ghana

Abstract The Au mineralization in the Kubi Gold Mining area in Ghana originates from the garnet mineral to ~85% and the rest from magnetite, pyrrhotite, free gold within quartz, calcite, arsenopyrite, and other sulfide groups of minerals which potentially act as possible indicator minerals of Au. For the present work, we collected samples from drill holes at different depths from the alluvia zone (0-45 m) to the ore zone (75-100 m). The distributions of minerals in the rocks were investigated along the drill hole cross sections. X-ray diffraction shows that the samples contain garnet, pyrite, periclase, and quartz as the main indicator minerals. From energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fe, Mg, Al, S, O, Mn, Na, Au, Cu, Si, and K are identified as corresponding pathfinder elements. The results indicate that the Au mineralization in the Kubi Mine area is controlled by garnet, pyrite, goethite, and kaolinite that grades up to the surface oxides with hematite and limonite alterations.