Physico-Chemical Modeling of the Sulfo-Arsenide System of Gold Bearing Ore Deposits

Abstract

The existence of gold-arsenic mineralization, the presence of enhanced concentrations of gold in arsenopyrite, especially in its fine grain varieties showing positive gold-arsenic ratios in gold-quartz and gold-pyritic ores indicate the important role of As in hydrothermal gold transport. The most accessible approach to the investigation of these complicated systems is provided by physico-chemical modeling. In the present work the isobaric isothermal potentials (DG°f 298) of thioarsenides, the most important group of arsenic compounds in the solution, have been determined and refined on the basis of the creation of physico-chemical models using the data on the As sulfide solubility in the As – S – O – H system. The data obtained were reconciled with the thermodynamic data available by solving the reverse thermodynamic problem. Numerical physico-chemical modeling has been carried out for a series of tests in both pure water and hydrogen sulfide solutions (0.0032 - 0.011m) with the initial pH values from 1.14 to 8.4 in the 25-250°C temperature range under saturated water steam pressure. The computer-calculated constants are included in the modeling of tests on orpiment dissolution in sulfide-sodium solutions. The As2S3ryst solubility in the 25-250°C temperature range has first been obtained. A specific feature of the process is a sharp increase in dissolved arsenic total concentration as the pH value of the hydrothermal phase rises from 4 to 6-7. Concentration increases and gradient decreases with temperature rise. The predominant forms are represented by thioarsenites. Just as in acidic, so in weakly and moderately alkaline solutions the orpiment solubility is caused by the concentration combination of thioarsenous acid H3AsS3 and its oligomers H4As2S50 and H2As2S40. At a temperature of over 200-250°C these concentrations can be compared only with that of the AsOH (HS)2o complex of mixed composition.