Synchrotron Data - Hough 2178 (Apr 2010) - Invisible gold in Carlin Trend refractory pyrite and matrix

The world-class Carlin-type gold deposits of northern Nevada provide nine percent of global gold production but the gold geochemistry is still poorly understood. The gold at Carlin is thought to be hosted by disseminated pyrite grains as a trace constituent but it is unknown as to whether the rock matrix also host ore stage gold and trace element associations? Is there any zonation or large scale element associations at the thin section scale? These are key questions that can reveal the compositional evolution of the Carlin-type ore-stage hydrothermal fluid that led to the formation of this giant gold system.