Combined study of Au-bearing arsenopyrite of orogenic gold deposits (NE Asia): High resolution 3D X-ray computed tomography, LA-ICP-MS, and EMPA data

• High-resolution X-ray microtomography (HRXCT) reliably identified dense mineral phases. • HRXCT study is most effective when it is used together with SEM, EMPA, LA-ICP-MS. • HRXCT allow to estimate amount of gold grains in rocks and evaluate the gold content. • HRXCT provide data on the distribution pattern of gold inclusions. The distribution of gold in small acicular arsenopyrite of a pyrite-arsenopyrite association from Suzdal (Eastern Kazakhstan), Olympiada (Yenisei Ridge, Russia) and large pseudorhombic arsenopyrite crystals from Bazovskoe (Yakutia, Russia) orogenic-type deposits were investigated. On orogenic gold deposits in NE Asia, occurring mainly in black shales, two productive stages of ore deposition are distinguished, which correspond to two morphological varieties of arsenopyrite. At the early stage, fine-grained acicular-prismatic arsenopyrite with invisible gold was deposited; at the late stage, tabular arsenopyrite in association with free visible gold was formed. The samples of gold-bearing arsenopyrite were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy, Electron Microprobe Analyses, Atomic Absorption and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry in combination with High Resolution 3D X-ray Computed Tomography (HRXCT). HRXCT does not destroy the studied mineral during the investigation. That technique permits to do an estimation of the amount of gold inclusions in minerals or host rocks and draw reasonable conclusions about the gold content of the ores, to study in detail the distribution patterns of metal inclusions (associated with certain minerals, cracks, crystal growth faces, etc.) and to determine the form of the gold. It can be used to understanding of the genesis of productive mineral associations, and to developing optimal technological schemes for gold extraction.