Ore Mineralogical and Geochemical Studies on El-Daghbag-I Gold Deposit, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt ()
ABSTRACT
El-Daghbag-I
gold mineralization is a part of El-Daghbag gold deposit, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt. It is
represented by several NW-trending quartz veins cutting across highly sheared
granodiorite rocks along NW-trending shear zone. The recorded ore mineral
assemblage is magnetite, ilmenite, native gold, pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite
and galena. Bornite, covellite and goethite are the secondary ore minerals. Statistical parameters,
Clark of Concentration, linear productivity, contrast coefficient, zonality
index and zoning coefficient were calculated to investigate the geochemical association
and whether there are factors
controlling distribution of its members. The geochemical primary distribution
patterns of gold and the elements properly forming the mineralization revealed
that the gold associated elements are (Cu,
As, Zn, Ni, Co, Ag and Pb). These elements occur as proper ore sulfide-minerals. The recorded lateral zoning
sequence of deposition along the NW-SE extension of the main quartz vein is (Ag-Co-Ni-Cr-Cu-As-Zn-Pb). The lateral zoning sequence along the SW-NE trend
crossing the quartz vein exhibits variable depositional sequence is (Ag-Co-Cr-Ni-Cu-As-Pb-Zn). With regard to position of the ore metals in the general sequence of zoning,
the gold potential of the central and southeastern parts, due to its probable
accumulation at deeper levels of the mineralization, are expected to be
promising. Drilling is recommended for studying the vertical zoning of these
elements to reveal the site of gold accumulation.