الرحمن الله بسم الرحيم

AVAILABLE RESOURCES IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE AREA

Prof. Dr Ahmed A. Melegy

Head of Geological Sciences Deprt.

Natinal Research Centre

•A worm welcome to the Golden Triangle project activities focuses on the

benefits of research, development and

innovation for Available resources in the golden triangle area to build a

“special economic zone” for the development of

mining resources and the generation of industrial

activities. Therefore, participating NCR is

important.

WHY PARTICIPATION OF NRC IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE PROJECT ACTIVITIES IS VITAL ?

National Research committed support in finding innovative solutions to the challenges.

NRC Possesses an impressive scientific & technological infrastructure and man power resources of 4847 research staff.

NRC Consists of 14 divisions and 111 departments covering the major areas of industry, health, environment, agriculture, basic sciences, engineering and mineral resources.

PARTICIPATION OF NRC IS VITAL

NRCInorganic Chemical Industries and Mineral Resources Research division

Testing the chemical, physical, and mechanical properties for ceramic and building materials, glass and glass ceramics, inorganic chemicals, Mineral Resources, granites, gold, gypsum, activation of clay minerals, environmental geology

Outlines:Golden Triangle activities focuses on

Calculating geochemical mass balance and Constructing of geochemical maps to set up geochemical database for environmental and resource management

Using row material for remediation Exploration for New Gold

Ornamental Stones

The golden triangle area

Safaga-Alqusser-Qena.

The project area is about 6000 square km .

This project will help to develop Upper Egypt through establishing a new industrial, agricultural, commercial and tourist region.

The research will capitalize on the natural resources and mineral wealth in the region between Qena, Quseir and Safaga,

Environmental Geology for environmental and resource management

Calculating Geochemical Mass Balance

Mass Balance

Wi is the input of the element “i” due to the total (chemical + mechanical) weathering of bedrock ,Pi is the input of chemical element “i” by atmospheric deposition ,Ai is anthropogenic input of element “i ,”

Ri is the output of element “i” via runoff from drainage basin ,Mi is output of element “i” by mechanical erosion of weathered material ,

Bi is output of element “i” fixed in biomass by harvesting crops and lumbering timber, and ∑i is the net accumulation or depletion of the element “i” in the weathered layer

Calculating Mechanical Erosion of Regolith

The mechanical erosion of regolith, Mrglth, and the total weathering of bedrock, Wrock, can be calculated from equations (6.1) to (6.4) written for sodium and silicon (Paces, 1985, 1986a). The assumption of the calculation is that Na and Si are in a steady state (? Na = ? Si =0). Then

Mrglth = {[(PNa + ANa – RNa – BNa) / XNa,rock]

- [(PSi + ASi – RSi – BSi) / XSi,rock]} /

[(XNa,rglth /XNa,rock) – (XSi,rglth / XSi,rock)] (6.6)

An equation of mass balance of element “i” in a drainage basin is

Wi + Pi + Ai –Ri –Mi –Bi = ∑i (6.1)

Mrglth = Mi / Xi,rglth (6.4)

Fig. 33 Sketch of major inputs and outputs of chemical element "i" in a small

Bahtim Catchment; Fpi – input of dry deposition of particulates, Fwi – input of

weathering soil, Ffi – input of fertilizers, Fri – input of irrigation water, Fdi –

output of drain water, Fbi – output of biological uptake.

Bahtim Catchment

Fbi

Ffi

Fri

Fpi

Fwi

Fdi

where inputs are

Fpi – flux of element i from dry deposition of particulates,

Fwi – flux of element i from rock weathering,

Ffi– flux of element i from anthropogenic fertilizers and

Fri-flux of element i from irrigation water.

Outputs are Fdi – flux of element i from drain water and

Fbi – flux of element i from biological uptake.

The mechanism of the mass balance in the studied catchment (∑i) is given herein by the sum

of inputs minus the sum of their outputs as described by the mass balance equation (Melegy,

2003).

(Fpi + Fwi + Ffi + Fri) – (Fdi + Fbi) = ∑i

where inputs are Fpi – flux of element i from dry deposition of particulates, Fwi – flux of element i from rock weathering, Ffi– flux of

element i from anthropogenic fertilizers and Fri-flux of element i from irrigation water. Outputs are Fdi – flux of element i from drain water

and Fbi – flux of element i from biological uptake.

Geochemical mass balance

Environmental geochemical

Mapping and Environmental risk assessment

The following sixteen PAHs have often been targeted for measurementin environmental samples; 2-ring: naphthalene (Nap); 3-ring:acenaphthylene (Acy), acenaphthene (Ace), fluorene (Fle),phenanthrene (Phe), anthracene (Ant); 4-ring: fluoranthene(Fla), pyrene (Pyr), benz[a]anthracene (BaA), chrysene (Chry);5-ring: benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF), benzo[k]fluoranthene (BkF),benzo[a]pyrene (BaP); 6-ring: indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene (IP),dibenz[a,h]anthracene (DbahA), and benzo[ghi]perylene (BghiP).

Isopleth maps of (a) The concentrations of total PAHs TPAHS, (b) Phe, (c) anthracene Ant, (d) fluoranthene Flua, (e) pyrene Pyr, (f) benz[a]anthracene BaA, (g) chrysene Chry, (h) BbF, (i) BkF, (j) indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene IP, (k) benzo[ghi]perylene BghiP for soils and sediments of the El-Tabbin area.

Remediation

GOLD – BEARING SULPHIDES ASSOCIATED WITH THE GRANITIC WALL ROCK ALTERATIONS AT

THE FAWAKHIR AREA, CENTRAL EASTERN DESERT, EGYPT.

The gold mineralization occurs in two distinct zones (4 km apart ) at the NW (Fawakhir occurrence) and SW (El Sid deposit) contacts of the Fawakhir granitoid pluton with the ultramafic - mafic rocks.

Introduction

Since the Ancient Times ( Pharaonic, Roman ) as well as the Recent Times until 1958, gold was exploited only from major quartz veins. The previous works were mainly interested in the study of the gold deposits and the gold-bearing sulphides which are mainly confined to the main gold-mineralized quartz veins lode only , without any investigation on the associated granitic wall rock alterations. So, the main aim of the future research deals with the investigations of the gold - bearing sulphides which are associating the granitic wall rock alterations.

Field observations of the granitic wall rock alterations inside the gold mines sector

Figure shows the granitic wall rock alterations:

A- Distant view of the fresh host granitoids (G) at El

Sid- Fawakhir gold mines .B- Near view showing gradational contact between the wall rock alterations (W.R) and the fresh granitoids

C- Near view showing the wall rock alterations stained with brownish iron oxides at the mine adit .

D- Close up view showing thin quartz veinlets and stockworks (silicification)

Petrography and opaques of the phyllic alterationPetrography and opaques of the

phyllic alteration :

A- Highly sericitized orthoclase and chloritized biotite associating quartz and pyrite. C.N. , 4X. ; B- Assemblage of quartz and sericite associating pyrite pseudomorphs after a basal section of hornblende. C.N. , 4X. ; C- Subhedral pyrite crystal embayed by sericite and very few epidote. C. N. , 4X. ; D- Microveinlet filled by hypidiomorphic crystal aggregates of pyrite. RPL, .5X. ; E- Disseminated hypidiomorphic crystal aggregates of pyrite. RPL, 5X. ; F- Disseminated subidiomorphic isolated pyrite crystal pseudomorphs after a basal section of hornblende. RPL, 10X.

SEM-EDX analysis of gold (Au). Phyllic alteration .

Fig.6.7. SEM-EDX analysis of gold (Au). Note, gold occurs as irregular grain which replaces pyrite (Py) along its

fractured margins .

Phyllic alteration.

Au content up to 92.77%

Ag content up to 5.00%

Au

Py

Opaque mineralogy of the propylitic alterationFig. 6.9. Opaque mineralogy of the

propylitic alteration :A- Microveinlet filled by hypidiomorphic pyrite crystals. RPL, 10X. ; B- Disseminated subidiomrphic pyrite (Py) corroded by arsenopyrite (Aspy). Arsenopyrite rhombs corroded by sphalerite (gray) and chalcopyrite (yellow). RPL, 20X. ; C- Disseminated hypidiomorphic aggregates of pyrite (Py) corroded by arsenopyrite (Aspy). Pyrite and arsenopyrite are later corroded by sphalerite (grey). RPL, 40 X. ; D- Disseminated arsenopyrite exhibits idiomorphic rectangular and rhomb crystals. RPL, 10X. ; E- Disseminated subidiomorphic and hypidiomorphic arsenopyrite crystal aggregates. Arsenopyrite is later corroded by chalcopyrite (yellow). RPL, 20X. ; F- Disseminated hypidiomorphic pyrrhotite crystal aggregates which are later corroded by the gangue minerals. RPL, 10X.

SEM-EDX analysis of gold (Au). Propylitic alteration.

Fig.6.19. SEM-EDX analysis of gold (Au). Note, gold and galena (Gn) form microveinlets filling the microfractures of pyrite

(Py).

Propylitic alteration.

Au content up to 80.39% Au

GnPy

Petrography and opaques of the silicification (quartz veinlets and stockworks)

Fig. 6. 21. Petrography and opaques of the silicification (quartz veinlets

and stockworks) :A- Quartz exhibits two generations associating opaques and very few calcite. C.N., 4X. ; B- Opaques are corroded and embayed by two generations of quartz crystal aggregates. C.N., 4X. ; C- Disseminated hypidiomorphic pyrite (Py) corroded by arsenopyrite (Aspy). RPL, 10X. ; D- Disseminated idiomorphic pyrite cubes and hypidiomorphic crystal aggregates corroded by sphalerite (grey). RPL, 10X. ; E- Disseminated idiomorphic arsenopyrite crystal aggregates. RPL, 10X. ; F- Disseminated subidiomorphic arsenopyrite crystal aggregates corroded by

chalcopyrite (yellow). RPL, 40X.

SEM-EDX analysis of gold (Au). Quartz stockworks.

Fig. 6.26. SEM-EDX analysis of gold (Au). Note, gold forms microveinlets filling the microfractures of the arsenopyrite (Aspy). Gold corrodes and replaces the arsenopyrite crystals along their fractured margins .

Quartz stockworks.

Au content up to 73.99%

Ag content up to 9.55% Aspy

Au

The wall rock alterations may be used as a guide in prospecting for mineralization all over the world.

The host granitoid rocks around the gold - mineralized quartz veins at the Fawakhir area.

The detailed petrographical and opaque mineralogical investigations by SEM-EDX analyses indicate that the sulphides are mainly represented by pyrite, arsenopyrite, sphalerite, galena and chalcopyrite.

Ornamental stonesserpentinites,  granite, granodiorite and siliceous sandstone, red-and-white limestone breccia, rock gypsum, marble, and pyroxenite 

Monitoring of annual mass balance in the studied catchments for understanding ecosystem complexity .

Constructing of geochemical maps would be helpful in preventing harmful changes in the golden triangle area and to set up geochemical database for environmental and resource management . It is recommended to assess and exploit the gold from the granitic wall rock alterations at the El Sid and Fawakhir gold mines as well as the similar localities in in the golden triangle area .

The golden triangle area  is characterized by wide occurrence of ornamental stones that have ornamental applications have attractive colors and patterns .

Conclusions