Algares

Comparison of AAS (hot HCL) and ICP (hot HCL) results

In general, elements shows comparable results from AAS and ICP.
It would have made no difference in choice of either analytical instruments.
Scatter plots

Scatter plots of most elements shows linear associations for aqua regia decomposition
and hot hydrochloric acid decomposition. On the other hand plots of elements
concentration from either hydrochloric acid or aqua regia and hydroxyl amine are
yielding different results. examples below

As
400
350

As Ar

300
250
200

As

150
100
50
0
0

100

200

300
As hcl

400

500

As
12
10

As OHNH

8
6
4

Series1

2
0
-2 0

10

15

20

25

-4
As hcl

Ni Ar vs OHNH
7
6

Ni OHNH

5
4
3

Ni

2
1
0
-1 0

10

20

30

-2
Ni Ar

40

50

Ar

Ni hcl vs Ar
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

Ni

10

20

30
hcl

40

50

Correlation matrix
Aqua regia decomposition

Correlation matrix
HCL decomposition

As
1.00
0.54
-0.24
0.45
-0.10
-0.44
0.78
0.78
0.13

Cd

As
Cd
Cr
Cu
Mn
Ni
Pb
Sb
Zn

As
1.00
0.49
-0.24
0.39
-0.07
-0.41
0.75
0.63
0.13

Cd

As
Cd
Cr
Cu
Mn
Ni
Pb
Sb
Zn

1.00
-0.24
0.52
0.12
-0.47
0.67
0.57
0.43

1.00
-0.20
0.50
0.18
-0.40
0.60
0.54
0.44

Cr

1.00
-0.12
0.51
0.61
-0.23
-0.25
0.64

Cr

1.00
0.08
0.43
0.57
-0.25
-0.32
0.60

Cu

1.00
-0.08
-0.63
0.50
0.41
0.20

Cu

1.00
-0.05
-0.53
0.47
0.35
0.21

Mn

1.00
0.27
-0.02
-0.11
0.73

Mn

1.00
0.26
-0.03
0.00
0.73

Ni

1.00
-0.51
-0.47
0.11

Ni

1.00
-0.51
-0.49
0.14

Pb

1.00
0.92
0.31

Pb

1.00
0.88
0.28

Sb

1.00
0.23

Sb

1.00
0.24

Zn

1.00

Zn

1.00

Fe

Fe
Co

0.75
-0.19

0.61
0.14

-0.09
0.65

0.66
-0.16

-0.02
0.72

-0.44
0.67

0.91
-0.30

0.75
-0.30

Correlation matrix for aqua regia and hcl decompositions indicate how elements are
correlated, iron highly correlated with lead and followed by lead, antimony and arsenic
correlation.
Cr, Ni and Co have high correlation factor and Zn , Mn also shows a relation.

Profiles over sample lines

Pb hcl 00 vs Pb hcl

Pb concentration

6000
5000
4000
Pb

3000

Pb

2000
1000
19

17

15

13

11

0
No of samples

from the graph above it can be observed that lead concentration is increasing from sample
10 until it reaches a peak in sample 12 but still high up to sample 14. These high lead
zone is bounded by low concentration of lead .

0.34
0.64

1.
-0.

Pb conc along the profile

6000

Pb conc

5000
4000
Pb hcl

3000

Pb OHNH

2000
1000
21

19

17

15

13

11

0
No of samples

Cu hcl vs Cu OHNH
400
Cu Concentration

350
300
250

Cu

200
150

Cu

100
50
21

19

17

15

13

11

0
No of samples

Cu extraction by hot HCL yield high amount of copper while extraction by weak acid
hydroxyl amine does not yield high copper, although it still gives difference
concentration of copper over the profile(contrast enhancement).

50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

Ni Ar

21

19

17

15

13

11

Ni OHNH

Ni conc

Ni conc along the profile

No of samples

Ni conc over a profile

50

Ni conc

40
30

Ni hcl
Ni Ar

20
10

21

19

17

15

13

11

0
No of samples

Ni concentrations seems to be high in first few samples then goes very low over some
samples rising again towards last samples.
It can be said nickel concentration maybe related to its abundance in ultramafic to mafic
rocks. Where it shows low concentration signifies other rock types.

Zn conc over a profile

4000
3500
Zn conc

3000
2500

Zn Ar

2000

Zn OHNH

1500
1000
500
21

19

17

15

13

11

0
No of samples

elements conc over a profile

As

5000

Cd

4000

Cr
Cu

3000

Mn

2000

Ni

No of samples

21

19

17

15

13

11

-1000

Sb
7

0
5

Pb
3

1000
1

Elements conc

6000

Zn

The soil samples were analysed by PIMA to identify some minerals that may not be easy
to identify by other methods
PIMA results
Sample TSA_Mineral1 TSA_Group1
221NULL
NULL
202Phengite
Al(OH)-1
203Phengite
Al(OH)-1
204Illite
Al(OH)-1
205Muscovite
Al(OH)-1
206Illite
Al(OH)-1
207Ankerite
Carbonates
208Phengite
Al(OH)-1
209Kaolinite
Kandites
210Kaolinite
Kandites
211Talc
Mg(OH)-1
212Kaolinite
Kandites
213Phengite
Al(OH)-1
214Kaolinite
Kandites
215Phengite
Al(OH)-1
216Muscovite
Al(OH)-1
217Muscovite
Al(OH)-1
218Illite
Al(OH)-1
219Muscovite
Al(OH)-1
220Phengite
Al(OH)-1
201Illite
Al(OH)-1

The minerals identified by PIMA are hydrothermal alteration minerals. These minerals
formed by alteration of micas and feldspars.

Geological boundaries
The high concentration of nickel, Chromium and Cobalt outlines ultramafic to mafic
rocks where this elements are abundant. These is evident in about first eight samples and
towards the end of the profile.
Lead is normally high in felsic rocks therefore its high concentration in the middle of the
profile may indicate another rock type.

Mineral association of economic interests

The elements concentration over a profile especially Pb, Cu and Zn shows anomalous
concentration which are not exactly in the same location but this maybe due to their
different mobilities in the environment. Pb which is considered immobile is nearer to Cu
and highly mobile Zn is further away from Pb.

Conclusions and Recommendations

It seems that hydrothermal fluids that migrates through fractures may have leached
metals like Pb, Zn and Cu from the rocks they passed and country rocks. These metals are
reprecipitated as metal sulphides but due to long exposure and weathering sulphides are
slowly turned into limonites.
PIMA results shows hydrothermal alteration zoning over the profile.
Detailed work should be done on the area to establish if there may be epithermal gold as
pathfinder elements antimony and arsenic seems to be high. Through investigation to
establish if metal sulphides are occurring as small pockets or they are massive.