Gold in biogenic apatites of the Baltic-Ladoga phosphorite basin

The distribution of gold in biogenic apatites from the Ordovician deposits in the northwest of the East Euro-pean Platform shows that the maximum concentration of gold in apatites is found within the Ladoga-Baltic suture zone. Gold mineralization has a superimposed character, which is confirmed by the dependence of the gold content on the size of apatite particles and a number of isotope geochemical systematics in biogenic apatites. Gold is present in the form of high fineness particles to 20 mu m in size on the surface of biogenic apatite fragments (phosphate brachiopod shells and conodont elements) and is easily extracted. In 10 % of samples of biogenic apatites, the total content of rare earth elements is more than 1 wt.%.

Automated summary

The distribution of gold in biogenic apatites from the Ordovician deposits in the northwest of the East European Platform is concentrated within the Ladoga-Baltic suture zone. Gold is present in high fineness particles on the surface of biogenic apatite fragments and can be easily extracted. Additionally, some samples show a total content of rare earth elements exceeding 1 wt.%.