The stability of gold polysulfide complexes in aqueous sulfide solutions: 100 to 150°C and 100 bars

M. E. Berndt; T. Buttram; D. Earley; W. E. Seyfried

doi:10.1016/0016-7037(94)90490-1

The stability of gold polysulfide complexes in aqueous sulfide solutions: 100 to 150°C and 100 bars

M. E. Berndt, T. Buttram, D. Earley, W. E. Seyfried

Earth and Environmental Sciences-Twin Cities

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Abstract

Gold solubility was measured in sulfur-saturated aqueous solutions containing small amounts of dissolved NaHS and NaOH or HCl at 100-150°C and 100 bars. Addition of NaOH and HCl to sulfur-saturated solutions creates systematic variation in pH and f_o₂ and changes the relative abundances of dissolved sulfur species. Strong correlations between gold solubility and the abundances of aqueous polysulfide species suggest that Au-polysulfides (AuS_nS^- where n = 2-7) are the dominant Au-bearing complexes in sulfur-saturated solutions. A preliminary assessment of our data suggests that Au-polysulfide species likely dominate the transport and deposition of Au at temperatures from 100-150°C in a broad region surrounding the sulfur saturation field in pH-f_o₂-f_s₂ space. Although Au(HS)^-₂ complexes clearly dominate gold solubility in sulfide solutions significantly undersaturated with respect to sulfur, our results suggest that the highest gold solubilities should occur in solutions coexisting with elemental sulfur.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	587-594
Number of pages	8
Journal	Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Volume	58
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(94)90490-1
State	Published - Jan 1994

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title = "The stability of gold polysulfide complexes in aqueous sulfide solutions: 100 to 150°C and 100 bars",

abstract = "Gold solubility was measured in sulfur-saturated aqueous solutions containing small amounts of dissolved NaHS and NaOH or HCl at 100-150°C and 100 bars. Addition of NaOH and HCl to sulfur-saturated solutions creates systematic variation in pH and fo2 and changes the relative abundances of dissolved sulfur species. Strong correlations between gold solubility and the abundances of aqueous polysulfide species suggest that Au-polysulfides (AuSnS- where n = 2-7) are the dominant Au-bearing complexes in sulfur-saturated solutions. A preliminary assessment of our data suggests that Au-polysulfide species likely dominate the transport and deposition of Au at temperatures from 100-150°C in a broad region surrounding the sulfur saturation field in pH-fo2-fs2 space. Although Au(HS)-2 complexes clearly dominate gold solubility in sulfide solutions significantly undersaturated with respect to sulfur, our results suggest that the highest gold solubilities should occur in solutions coexisting with elemental sulfur.",

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T1 - The stability of gold polysulfide complexes in aqueous sulfide solutions

T2 - 100 to 150°C and 100 bars

AU - Berndt, M. E.

AU - Buttram, T.

AU - Earley, D.

AU - Seyfried, W. E.

PY - 1994/1

Y1 - 1994/1

N2 - Gold solubility was measured in sulfur-saturated aqueous solutions containing small amounts of dissolved NaHS and NaOH or HCl at 100-150°C and 100 bars. Addition of NaOH and HCl to sulfur-saturated solutions creates systematic variation in pH and fo2 and changes the relative abundances of dissolved sulfur species. Strong correlations between gold solubility and the abundances of aqueous polysulfide species suggest that Au-polysulfides (AuSnS- where n = 2-7) are the dominant Au-bearing complexes in sulfur-saturated solutions. A preliminary assessment of our data suggests that Au-polysulfide species likely dominate the transport and deposition of Au at temperatures from 100-150°C in a broad region surrounding the sulfur saturation field in pH-fo2-fs2 space. Although Au(HS)-2 complexes clearly dominate gold solubility in sulfide solutions significantly undersaturated with respect to sulfur, our results suggest that the highest gold solubilities should occur in solutions coexisting with elemental sulfur.

AB - Gold solubility was measured in sulfur-saturated aqueous solutions containing small amounts of dissolved NaHS and NaOH or HCl at 100-150°C and 100 bars. Addition of NaOH and HCl to sulfur-saturated solutions creates systematic variation in pH and fo2 and changes the relative abundances of dissolved sulfur species. Strong correlations between gold solubility and the abundances of aqueous polysulfide species suggest that Au-polysulfides (AuSnS- where n = 2-7) are the dominant Au-bearing complexes in sulfur-saturated solutions. A preliminary assessment of our data suggests that Au-polysulfide species likely dominate the transport and deposition of Au at temperatures from 100-150°C in a broad region surrounding the sulfur saturation field in pH-fo2-fs2 space. Although Au(HS)-2 complexes clearly dominate gold solubility in sulfide solutions significantly undersaturated with respect to sulfur, our results suggest that the highest gold solubilities should occur in solutions coexisting with elemental sulfur.

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The stability of gold polysulfide complexes in aqueous sulfide solutions: 100 to 150°C and 100 bars

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