Detrital gold as an indicator mineral

Abstract Detrital gold fulfils the criteria of chemical inertia and physical durability required by indicator minerals but it has not found wide application in this role because may be formed different deposit types. This problem is soluble, generic compositional features hydrothermal differ according to mineralization environment. The distribution as a minor component where other commodities are principal exploration target extends potential an methodology based on detrital beyond search for itself. Here we highlight how distinctive signatures derived from alloy composition deposit- specific suites mineral inclusions could contribute Cu–Au porphyries, redox-controlled uranium ultramafic-hosted PGE mineralization. Future refinement approach will focus establishing spatial elements at trace levels within particle sections using ToF-LA-ICP-MS Exploratory Data Analysis resulting datasets. its infancy, aims develop classification algorithm useful researchers irrespective their previous experience. A pilot study shown that random forests provide best origins.