A survey and review of approaches related to geology and geochemistry of unusual gold mineralization

Geology (from Ancient Greek γῆ (gê) 'earth', and λoγία (-logía) 'study of, discourse') is a branch of natural science concerned with the Earth and other astronomical objects, the rocks of which they are composed, and the processes by which they change over time.[۳] Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Earth sciences, including hydrology. It is integrated with Earth system science and planetary science. Geology describes the structure of the Earth on and beneath its surface and the processes that have shaped that structure. Geologists study the mineralogical composition of rocks in order to get insight into their history of formation. Geology determines the relative ages of rocks found at a given location; geochemistry (a branch of geology) determines their absolute ages. Geochemistry is the science that uses the tools and principles of chemistry to explain the mechanisms behind major geological systems such as the Earth's crust and its oceans. The realm of geochemistry extends beyond the Earth, encompassing the entire Solar System, and has made important contributions to the understanding of a number of processes including mantle convection, the formation of planets and the origins of granite and basalt. It is an integrated field of chemistry and geology. Gold (Au) is a transition metal between Ag and Rg in the chemical series of the Periodic Table. Its atomic number is ۷۹, and atomic mass ۱۹۶.۹۶۶۵۵ (۲) g/mol, and has only one stable isotope number ۱۹۷. The gold isotype ۱۹۸Au (half-life ۲.۷ days) is used in some cancer treatments. The metal has been known and prized as an object of beauty and for its unique properties of chemical stability, Electrical conductivity, malleability and ductility (trivalent and univalent) since Mankind's earliest awakenings. Mineralization is the process by which chemicals present in organic matter are decomposed or oxidized into easily available forms to plants. Transformation of organic molecules in soil is mainly driven by its microbiota such as fungi and bacteria along with earthworms. Gold mineralization is represented by four paragenetic stages consisting of milky quartz-K-feldspar (I), light grey quartz-pyrite (II), light grey quartz-polymetallic sulfides (III), and quartz-calcite (IV). In this article, we review the geological and geochemical approaches to unusual gold mineralization.

Keywords:

Geology , Geochemistry , Unusual Gold mineralization