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The Distribution of Gold in the Silt Fraction of Some Soil Profiles and its Genetical Significance
Author(s) -
Yassoglou N. J.,
Nobeli Catherine
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1968.03615995003200050034x
Subject(s) - silt , weathering , mineralogy , soil test , geology , fraction (chemistry) , soil science , neutron activation analysis , soil water , environmental chemistry , environmental science , chemistry , geochemistry , geomorphology , radiochemistry , organic chemistry
The distribution of gold in the silt fraction of 13 soil profiles was studied. The element was determined by neutron activation analysis. Activation analysis can be successfully employed for the determination of gold in soil materials, where it is usually found in extremely small quantities ranging from 3 to 120 parts per billion (ppb). It was found that silt and clay contain much higher amounts of gold than does sand. Parent materials which have undergone one cycle of soil formation seem to contain gold in the silt in the resistant metallic form. In other cases, the elements is associated with easily weatherable minerals and it is progressively lost from the silt fraction during processes of soil genesis. Gold could be used as an index of soil weathering, either as a resistant or as a removable constituent of the silt, depending on the composition and the origin of the parent material of the soil. It can also be used as an index of the lithological continuity of soil profiles.