Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of the H-Pit of the Chatree Gold Deposit, Central Thailand: A Case Study for Assessment of Acid Rock Drainage and Heavy Metal Sources
H-pit is one of the significant ore lenses of the Chatree mine in Thailand. Au-Ag mineralization mainly occurs as veins, stockworks, and minor breccias hosted by volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks. Disseminated pyrites are commonly present near mineralized veins in the hanging wall zone. This study a...
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/11/1446 |
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| author | Sirawit Kaewpaluk Abhisit Salam Thitiphan Assawincharoenkij Takayuki Manaka Sopit Poompuang Surachat Munsamai |
| author_facet | Sirawit Kaewpaluk Abhisit Salam Thitiphan Assawincharoenkij Takayuki Manaka Sopit Poompuang Surachat Munsamai |
| author_sort | Sirawit Kaewpaluk |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | H-pit is one of the significant ore lenses of the Chatree mine in Thailand. Au-Ag mineralization mainly occurs as veins, stockworks, and minor breccias hosted by volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks. Disseminated pyrites are commonly present near mineralized veins in the hanging wall zone. This study aims to assess the acid rock drainage (ARD) potential and heavy metal content from the H-pit area. The results indicate that hanging wall rock is a potential acid-forming (PAF) material related to disseminated pyrite formed by hydrothermal alteration. In contrast, the footwall and ore zone materials are classified as non-acid forming (NAF). Because the ore zone has calcite in the veins, it may help buffer the material’s acidity. The results of heavy metal analysis reveal that the ore zone has significantly higher contents of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn than those in the hanging wall and footwall zones. Moreover, the hanging wall and footwall materials have exceeding values for As, Cd, and Zn compared to those in typical igneous rocks. These heavy metals are interpreted to be sourced from (1) the primary composition in base metal sulfides (e.g., Cu, Pb, and Zn), (2) the substitution of trace elements in sulfides (e.g., As and Cd), and (3) the substitution of trace elements in calcite (e.g., Mn), as evidenced in the EPMA results. In conclusion, the hanging wall rocks in this study containing high sulfur in proximity to the ore zone are a PAF material with heavy metal contaminant sources, whereas the footwall and ore zone materials have a lower potential to be such sources at the Chatree mine. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:07:35Z |
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| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:07:35Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Minerals |
| spelling | doaj.art-0a50fcf44f0e4a62a3664a9f2b4e21bb2023-11-24T09:18:27ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2022-11-011211144610.3390/min12111446Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of the H-Pit of the Chatree Gold Deposit, Central Thailand: A Case Study for Assessment of Acid Rock Drainage and Heavy Metal SourcesSirawit Kaewpaluk0Abhisit Salam1Thitiphan Assawincharoenkij2Takayuki Manaka3Sopit Poompuang4Surachat Munsamai5Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, ThailandDepartment of Geology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, ThailandDepartment of Geology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, ThailandInstitute for Geo-Resources and Environment, Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba 305-8567, Ibaraki, JapanDepartment of Geology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, ThailandAkara Resources Public Company Limited, Phichit 66230, ThailandH-pit is one of the significant ore lenses of the Chatree mine in Thailand. Au-Ag mineralization mainly occurs as veins, stockworks, and minor breccias hosted by volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks. Disseminated pyrites are commonly present near mineralized veins in the hanging wall zone. This study aims to assess the acid rock drainage (ARD) potential and heavy metal content from the H-pit area. The results indicate that hanging wall rock is a potential acid-forming (PAF) material related to disseminated pyrite formed by hydrothermal alteration. In contrast, the footwall and ore zone materials are classified as non-acid forming (NAF). Because the ore zone has calcite in the veins, it may help buffer the material’s acidity. The results of heavy metal analysis reveal that the ore zone has significantly higher contents of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn than those in the hanging wall and footwall zones. Moreover, the hanging wall and footwall materials have exceeding values for As, Cd, and Zn compared to those in typical igneous rocks. These heavy metals are interpreted to be sourced from (1) the primary composition in base metal sulfides (e.g., Cu, Pb, and Zn), (2) the substitution of trace elements in sulfides (e.g., As and Cd), and (3) the substitution of trace elements in calcite (e.g., Mn), as evidenced in the EPMA results. In conclusion, the hanging wall rocks in this study containing high sulfur in proximity to the ore zone are a PAF material with heavy metal contaminant sources, whereas the footwall and ore zone materials have a lower potential to be such sources at the Chatree mine.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/11/1446low-sulfidation epithermalAu-Ag mineralizationsulfide mineralsacid rock drainageheavy metalsenvironmental impact |
| spellingShingle | Sirawit Kaewpaluk Abhisit Salam Thitiphan Assawincharoenkij Takayuki Manaka Sopit Poompuang Surachat Munsamai Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of the H-Pit of the Chatree Gold Deposit, Central Thailand: A Case Study for Assessment of Acid Rock Drainage and Heavy Metal Sources Minerals low-sulfidation epithermal Au-Ag mineralization sulfide minerals acid rock drainage heavy metals environmental impact |
| title | Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of the H-Pit of the Chatree Gold Deposit, Central Thailand: A Case Study for Assessment of Acid Rock Drainage and Heavy Metal Sources |
| title_full | Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of the H-Pit of the Chatree Gold Deposit, Central Thailand: A Case Study for Assessment of Acid Rock Drainage and Heavy Metal Sources |
| title_fullStr | Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of the H-Pit of the Chatree Gold Deposit, Central Thailand: A Case Study for Assessment of Acid Rock Drainage and Heavy Metal Sources |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of the H-Pit of the Chatree Gold Deposit, Central Thailand: A Case Study for Assessment of Acid Rock Drainage and Heavy Metal Sources |
| title_short | Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of the H-Pit of the Chatree Gold Deposit, Central Thailand: A Case Study for Assessment of Acid Rock Drainage and Heavy Metal Sources |
| title_sort | mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of the h pit of the chatree gold deposit central thailand a case study for assessment of acid rock drainage and heavy metal sources |
| topic | low-sulfidation epithermal Au-Ag mineralization sulfide minerals acid rock drainage heavy metals environmental impact |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/11/1446 |
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