G. Meyer et al., Gold-silver mineralization in submarine hydrothermal sulphides: INAA results after ten years of intense prospecting, J RAD NUCL, 244(3), 2000, pp. 583-587
During the last twenty years, IFREMER has organized many diving cruises to
collect geological, mineralogical and geochemical data on submarine hydroth
ermal mineralization. Gold and chalcophile trace elements have been determi
ned by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) in Pierre Sue Labora
tory. Particularly for gold and silver determination, but also for In, As,
Sb, Se, INAA is the most sensitive instrumental procedure. Typically, the E
ast-Pacific Rise (EPR) deposits are gold-goer compared with the Mid-Atlanti
c Ridge (MAR) and the Lau Basin deposits. Our INAA data plotted in a Au-Ag
diagram support the difference between back-are basin mineralization and sp
reading oceanic ridges. The most interesting samples for gold prospecting h
ave been discovered in the Logatchev hydrothermal field at 14 degrees 45' N
on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge: they shaw an exceptionally high mean content of
gold, about 9 ppm, with a maximum of 56 ppm for one sample which contains
significant amounts of native gold and electrum. It is the first conclusive
evidence of a primary gold-copper association in seafloor sulphides. This
may be compared with fossil hydrothermal deposits from the Oman ophiolitic
complex.