Curtin University Homepage
  • Library
  • Help
    • Admin

    espace - Curtin’s institutional repository

    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item

    An experimental method for gold partitioning between two immiscible fluids: Brine and n-dodecane

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Authors
    Crede, L.
    Rempel, Kirsten
    Hu, S.
    Evans, Katy
    Date
    2018
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Crede, L. and Rempel, K. and Hu, S. and Evans, K. 2018. An experimental method for gold partitioning between two immiscible fluids: Brine and n-dodecane. Chemical Geology. 501: pp. 35-50.
    Source Title
    Chemical Geology
    DOI
    10.1016/j.chemgeo.2018.09.034
    ISSN
    0009-2541
    School
    School of Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS)
    Funding and Sponsorship
    http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP140103995
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/73401
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    Organic matter can be found in many different types of ore deposits, but its role in ore-forming processes is not yet fully understood. Here, we present an experimental method that can be used to determine the partition coefficient (DAuorg/aq: partition coefficient of Au between an hydrocarbon and an aqueous fluid) of gold between two immiscible liquids, and thus whether liquid hydrocarbon fluids such as petroleum can act as ore fluids and transport gold or other metals of interest. To investigate liquid hydrocarbons in the presence of an aqueous liquid doped with gold, we modified the HFS-340Z hydrothermal flow system (Coretest Systems, Inc.) to enable sampling at hydrothermal P-T conditions (=150 °C and ~5 bar) of each of two density-stratified immiscible liquids. A saline aqueous solution (10 wt% NaCl) was doped with gold and heated with n-dodecane (CH3(CH2)10CH3) to 105 °C and 150 °C. Each brine sample was directly followed by an organic sample until three samples of each liquid were taken. Aqua regia was added to the brine samples to stabilize the gold before ICP-MS analyses. Each organic sample was digested chemically with a mixture of ultra-pure nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide to generate carbon free solutions prior to ICP-MS analysis. This procedure generates reproducible partition coefficients for gold, or presumably any other metal, between hydrocarbon and aqueous liquids, if passivation procedures of the HFS-340Z hydrothermal flow system are strictly followed and error sources are monitored rigorously. The preferred DAuorg/aq between n-dodecane and the brine is 0.05 ± 0.04.

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • Gold partitioning between 1-dodecanethiol and brine at elevated temperatures: Implications of Au transport in hydrocarbons for oil-brine ore systems
      Crede, L.; Evans, Katy; Rempel, Kirsten; Grice, Kliti; Sugiyama, I. (2019)
      Gold is can be associated with hydrocarbons in hydrothermal gold deposits, but the near-absence of experimental data on gold-hydrocarbon interactions at hydrothermal conditions prevents a quantitative interpretation of ...
    • Fluid migration and hydrocarbon charge history of the vulcan sub-basin
      Lisk, Mark (2012)
      A comprehensive examination of the hydrocarbon charge and formation water history of the central Vulcan Sub-basin, Timor Sea has been completed and a model developed to describe the evolution of the region’s petroleum ...
    • Crude oils as ore fluids: An experimental in-situ XAS study of gold partitioning between brine and organic fluid from 25 to 250°C
      Crede, L.; Liu, W.; Evans, Katy; Rempel, Kirsten; Testemale, D.; Brugger, J. (2019)
      Organic matter can be associated with mineralization in hydrothermal ore deposits. One hypothesis is that this organic matter represents remnants of organic fluids (crude oils) that were competing with aqueous fluids for ...
    Advanced search

    Browse

    Communities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument TypeThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument Type

    My Account

    Admin

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Follow Curtin

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 

    CRICOS Provider Code: 00301JABN: 99 143 842 569TEQSA: PRV12158

    Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy statement | Accessibility

    Curtin would like to pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which the Perth campus is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.