Molecular recognition by gold, silver and copper nanoparticles

The intrinsic physical properties of the noble metal nanoparticles,which are highly sensitive to the nature of their local molecular environment,make such systems ideal for the detection of molecular recognition events.The current review describes the state of the art concerning molecular recognition of Noble metal nanoparticles.In the first part the preparation of such nanoparticles is discussed along with methods of capping and stabilization.A brief discussion of the three common methods of functionalization:Electrostatic adsorption;Chemisorption;Affinity-based coordination is given.In the second section a discussion of the optical and electrical properties of nanoparticles is given to aid the reader in understanding the use of such properties in molecular recognition.In the main section the various types of capping agents for molecular recognition;nucleic acid coatings,protein coatings and molecules from the family of supramolecular chemistry are described along with their numerous applications.Emphasis for the nucleic acids is on complementary oligonucleotide and aptamer recognition.For the proteins the recognition properties of antibodies form the core of the section.With respect to the supramolecular systems the cyclodextrins,calix[n]arenes,dendrimers,crown ethers and the cucurbitales are treated in depth.Finally a short section deals with the possible toxicity of the nanoparticles,a concern in public health.

Recovery of Gold and Silver and Removal of Copper, Zinc and Lead Ions in Pregnant and Barren Cyanide Solutions

Over the past decade the concern about toxic metals in freshwater has increased. Environmental laws such as the Clean Water Act have forced industries that produce metal containing wastewater to treat their wastewater prior to discharge. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of a novel method for the minimization of heavy metals in the wastewater from the mining industry. A very promising electrochemical treatment technique that does not require chemical additions is electrocoagulation (EC) and sulphide precipitation. The present study has been done for the recovery of gold and silver contained in pregnant solution from the cyanidation process using the electrocoagulation technology with iron electrodes;that is a developed alternative technology for the Merril-Crowe process. The average gold and silver content in pregnant solution was 4.27 and 283 ppm respectively and the recoveries were 92% for gold and 95% for silver, with optimum operating parameters of pH 10, residence time of 20 minutes and addition of sodium chloride of 4 gr/L. The results of precipitation process show that the elimination of lead, zinc, cooper and iron ions from the barren solution was successful, with optimum operating parameters of pH 3 and residence time of 15 minutes, and the recoveries were 99% of these ions. Finally the characterization of the solid products of gold and silver formed during the EC process with Scanning Electronic Microscope was performed. Results suggest that magnetite particles and amorphous iron oxyhydroxides (lepidocrocite) were present.

LEACH OUT GOLD AND SILVER FROM SULFIDE CONCENTRATE CONTAINING COPPER WITH CYANIDE AND AMMONIA SOLUTIONS

A cyanidation leaching process for a sulfide concentrate containing gold and silver with ammonia and other complexes was investigated,and its potential in decrease of cyanide consumption was examined.The equilibria behaviors of copper and other metal ions in the CN-NH,-H_(2)0 system and the CN—NH,—EDTA-HjO system were analyzed by a microcomputer program.Experiments revealed that the leaching yield of gold in ammonia-cyanide solutions was raised from 86%to 99%from addition of EDTA in a certain concentration and its cooperative action with ammonia on the cyanidation of gold.Meanwhile,the leaching yield of silver was significantly increased from about 20%to 55%and the consumption of cyanide was decreased.

Improvement of hybridization signals of gold label silver stain gene detection

The factors that influence the colorimetric gene detection of gold label silver stain and improve the detection signals were studied. The influence of amino DNA probes and thiol DNA modified gold nanoparticles was investigated based on a sandwich hybridization system. An increase in amino probe concentration brought about an increase in hybridization signal which reached a threshold corresponding to the saturated concentration of amino probes bounded onto a glass slide surface. Since the steric hindrance effect of nanoparticles was dominant over the influence of a surface area, the bigger gold nanoparticles led to weaker hybridization signals. The hybridization efficiency enhanced significantly with the increase of the thiol DNA modified nanoparticle concentrations. Experimental results showed that 125 μmol/L of the amino DNA probe concentration, 15 nm of the gold nanoparticle diameter, and 4.07 nmol/L of the thiol DNA modified gold nanoparticle concentration were optimal for the detection system. The hybridization signals can be improved remarkably by choosing optimal hybridization conditions.

Ordovician Intrusive-related Gold-Copper Mineralization in West-Central New South Wales, Australia

Three major types of Ordovician intrusive-related gold-copper deposits are recognized in central-west New South Wales, Australia: porphyry, skarn and high sulphidation epithermal deposits. These deposits are mainly distributed within two Ordovician volcano-intrusive belts of the Lachlan Fold Belt: the Orange-Wellington Belt and the Parkes-Narromine Belt. Available isotopic age data suggest that mineralization of the three types of deposits is essentially coeval with the Ordovician intrusive rocks (480-430 Ma).Porphyry gold-copper deposits can be further divided into two groups. The first group is associated with monzonite showing shoshonitic features, represented by Cadia and Goonumbla. The second group is associated with diorite and dacite, including the Copper Hill and Cargo gold-copper deposits. Gold skarn is associated with Late Ordovician (430-439 Ma) monzonitic intrusive complexes in the Junction Reefs area (Sheahan-Grants, Frenchmans, and Cor-nishmens), Endeavour 6, 7 and 44, Big and Little Cadia. The epithermal gold deposits with high sulphidation including Gidginbung (Temora) and Peak Hill mainly occur within Ordovician andesite and volcaniclastic rocks, and are associated with advanced argillic alteration. Available isotopic age data indicate that both alteration and mineralization of the porphyry, skarn and epithermal gold-copper deposits are broadly coeval with the Late Ordovician shoshonitic magmatism, which is thought to result from the melting of sub-continental lithosphere caused by Palaeozoic subduction events.The Ordovician intrusive-related gold-copper deposits are restricted to two longitudinal parallel volcano-intrusive belts, rarely extending outside them. Diagonal intra-belt trends of mineralization are common, particularly at the intersections of longitudinal and transverse (oblique) fault/fracture zones based on the authors' review of available geological data. The locations of these gold-copper deposits are obviously influenced by transverse (oblique) fault/fracture zones that are oriented northwest, eastwest and northeast. The conjunctions of these fault/fractures zones are thought to be zones of structural weakness, and appear to be the favourable locus for the Ordovician intrusive-related gold-copper deposits. Differences in structural patterns, intrusive, wall rock types, and depths of ore formation may contribute to the differences among the deposits.

Rock-forming mechanism of Qingshanjiao intrusion in Dongguashan copper(gold) deposit, Tongling area, Anhui province, China

Dongguashan deposit is a large porphyry-skarn copper（gold） deposit in Tongling ore district. The Qingshanjiao intermediate acid intrusion of Yanshanian had a direct genetic relationship with mineralization. The magma origin, rock-forming dynamic background and rock-forming process were studied, and the rock-forming mechanism of Qingshanjiao intrusion was discussed, based on geological characteristics, detailed observation of petrography and systematic investigation of petrochemistry, trace elements and REE geochemistry characteristics of Qingshanjiao intrusion. The results show that Qingshanjiao rock body belongs to high-K calc-alkaline series with higher LREE elements, Th, Rb and Sr abundance, but depleted in HREE elements, Ba, Nb and Ta. The primary magma originated from the mantle-crust mixtures which were caused by basaltic magma of mantle mixing with syenite magma of partial melting of the lower crust, and the formation environment of Qingshanjiao intrusion was emplaced in the transitional environment from compression to extension. The Harker diagram and hybrid structures of plagioclase and potassium feldspar indicate that the fractional crystallization occurred in the process of magmatic evolution. The petrochemistry, trace elements and REE geochemistry characteristics indicate that the magma was contaminated by crustal material during the rock-forming. These results suggested that the Qingshanjiao intrusion was formed by fractional crystallization and assimilation and hybridization of mantle-crust magma in the transitional environment from compression to extensional.

REDBED RELATED GOLD DEPOSIT, LUBIN-SIEROSZOWICE COPPER DISTRICT, SW POLAND

Underground prospecting within the L ubin- Sieroszowice mining area which took place during last5 years,led to a discovery of a new type of Au,Pt and Pd mineralisation located 0 - 0 .5 m below the copper- silver orebody in the south- western part of the Polish Permian Basin.The gold- bearing zone lies mainly in the Weissliegendessandstone (L ower Permian) , butlocally transgresses the stratigraphic sequence into the overlying kupferschieferand Wer- ra limestone(Zechstein) .Gold deposit lies in a secondary red- coloured variety of the above mentioned sedimentary strata.The oxidation in the underlying sandstone is reflected by red spots and dots containing fine grains of hematite dispersed in a carbonate- clay matrix.The secondary oxidation is peneconcordant in relation to the reducing facies which contains cop- per sulphides and to the Rote Faule,thatis early diagenetic.Between redbeds(gold bearing zone) and black,reduced sediments (Kupferschiefer) ,a transition zone has been recognized. This transition zone is characterized by the low grade of copper mineralisation.Thickness of the gold depositvaries from few centimetresto1.5 metres with an average of about0 .2 5 me- tres.The highestthickness of Au- depositis observed in placeswhere oxide fronttransgress- es the copper- silver deposit.Gold content ranges from 0 .5 up to 10 6 ppm with an average grade of(0 .717- 3.491)× 10 -6depending on the counting block.Gold- bearing horizon is peneconcordantand is characterized by the presence of high fineness native gold,electrum, hematite,and minor pyrite,chalcopyrite,digenite,chalcocite,covellite,rammelsbergite, clausthalite and

Silver sulfide leaching with a copper-thiosulfate solution in the absence of ammonia

Leaching from silver sulfide.using a copper-thiosulfate solution in the absence of ammonia was investigated. It is found that silver sulfide could be effectively dissolved in the copper-thiosulfate system without ammonia. The effects of thiosulfate concentration, cop- per-to-thiosulfate ratio, agitation vigorousness, pH values, and dissolved gases on the leaching of silver sulfide with the copper-thiosulfate solution were studied. A maximum extraction of 95.1% was achieved with the 0.12 mol/L thiosulfate and the 0.048 rnol/L copper sulfate. It is shown that copper-to-thiosulfate ratio is an important factor in silver sulfide dissolution and oxygen is not needed to leach silver sulfide, which leads to the instability of the leaching system at high copper-to-thiosulfate ratio. On the other hand, the silver extraction is not affected by the pulp pH values.

Characterization of the Nanoscale Microstructure of an Immersion Silver on Sputtered Copper

Silver has grown its attraction of the scientists in microelectronic field recently.Electrochemical deposition of silver onto copper substrates by immersion method has been one of the keen topics. In this study, ethanol was used as the plating solution in which some chemicals were added. The silver deposits were characterized by a field emission scanning electron microscopy （FESEM）, an atom force microscope （AFM）, a transmission electron microscope （TEM） and a selected area electron diffraction （SAED）. It was found that silver immersion using ethanol-based bath has good coverage feature. The highlands of the copper substrate are coated by silver particles whose sizes are around 12 nm, but those sizes at low-lying lands are a little smaller.

Genetic Types and Metallogenic Model for the Polymetallic Copper–Gold Deposits in the Tongling Ore District, Anhui Province, Eastern China

The Tongling ore district is one of the most economically important ore areas in the Middle–Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt, eastern China. It contains hundreds of polymetallic copper–gold deposits and occurrences. Those deposits are mainly clustered(from west to east) within the Tongguanshan, Shizishan, Xinqiao, Fenghuangshan, and Shatanjiao orefields. Until recently, the majority of these deposits were thought to be skarn-or porphyry–skarn-type deposits; however there have been recent discoveries of numerous vein-type Au, Ag, and Pb-Zn deposits that do not fall into either of these categories. This indicates that there is some uncertainty over this classification. Here, we present the results of several systematic geological studies of representative deposits in the Tongling ore district. From investigation of the ore-controlling structures, lithology of the host rock, mineral assemblages, and the characteristics of the mineralization and alteration within these deposits, three genetic types of deposits(skarn-, porphyry-, and vein-type deposits) have been identified. The spatial and temporal relationships between the orebodies and Yanshanian intrusions combined with the sources of the ore-forming fluids and metals, as well as the geodynamic setting of this ore district, indicate that all three deposit types are genetically related each other and constitute a magmatic–hydrothermal system. This study outlines a model that relates the polymetallic copper–gold porphyry-, skarn-, and vein-type deposits within the Tongling ore district. This model provides a theoretical basis to guide exploration for deep-seated and concealed porphyry-type Cu(–Mo, –Au) deposits as well as shallow vein-type Au, Ag, and Pb–Zn deposits in this area and elsewhere.

Geological and Geochemical Characteristics and Genesis of the Shaxi Porphyry Copper (Gold) Deposits, Anhui Province

The Shaxi porphyry copper (gold) deposits are a typical example of porphyry copper deposits associated with diorite in eastern China. Quartz diorite, which hosts the deposits, has a Rb-Sr isochron age of 127.9 ± 1.6 Ma. Geochemically, the rock is rich in alkalis (especially sodium), light rare earth elements (LREE) and large-ion lithophile elements (LILE), and has a relatively low initial strontium isotopic ratio (Isr=0.7058); thus it is the product of differentiation of crust-mantle mixing source magma. The model of alteration and mineralization zoning is similar to the Hollister (1974) diorite model. The ore fluids have a relatively high salinity and contain significant amounts of CO2, Ca2+, Na+ and ***CI?. The homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions for the main mineralization stage range from 280 to 420°C, the δ18O values of the ore fluids vary from 3.51 to 5.52 %, the δD values are in the range between ?82.4 and ?59.8 %, the δ34S values of sulphides vary from ?0.3 to 2.49 %, and the δ13C values of CO2 in inclusions range between ?2.66 and ?6.53 %. Isotope data indicate that the hydrothermal ore fluids and ore substances of the Shaxi porphyry copper (gold) deposits were mainly derived from magmatic systems.

Enrichment of Platinum-group Elements(PGE) and Re-Os Isotopic Tracing for Porphyry Copper(Gold) Deposits

Platinum-group elements （PGE） in PGE-rich porphyry copper （gold） deposits are mainly Pt and Pd, whereas the concentrations of other PGE （Ru, Rh, Os, Ir） are significantly low. Moreover, Pt and Pd mainly exist in sulfides in the forms of crystal lattice or tiny platinum-group mineral （PGM） inclusions. The present data show that there is a positive relationship between Pt and Pd concentrations and Cu （Au） in porphyry copper （gold） deposits. The comparison of chondrite-normalized PGE distribution patterns between the ore-bearing porphyry intrusions and ore-barren porphyry intrusions in arc setting, 187^Os/188^Os, 87^Sr/86^Sr and S isotopes for porphyry copper （gold） deposits shows that PGEs were mainly derived from the mantle, and fluids from subduction zones devoted trivial PGE to the magma. The porphyry copper （gold） deposits associated with subducted events are most probably enriched in PGE, whereas those related to crustal thickening, lithospheric delamination or underplating rarely concentrate PGE. The osmium isotopic compositions in porphyry copper （gold） deposits reveal that （187^Os/188^Os）i values are highly variable and not lower than those of primitive upper mantle （PUM） and mantle peridotite, however, osmium concentrations are commonly lower than mantle peridotite, suggesting that parental magmas of some porphyry intrusions had experienced crustal contamination during magma evolution. Experimental investigations have proved that PGE exist in the forms of Cl^- and HS^- complexes during transportation and migration of the oreforming fluids. This paper summarizes previous studies including crucial controlling factors and mechanisms for PGE enrichment, and points out that the mantle-derived magmas parental to porphyry intrusions are the prerequisite for PGE enrichment in porphyry copper （gold） deposits. Favorable physical and chemical conditions （including salinity, temperature, pressure, pH, and oxygen fugacity） in hydrothermal fluids crucially control the PGE enrichment, and sulfur concentrations of melts play important roles in this process as well.

Selective extraction of gold(Ⅲ) from hydrochloric acid-chlorine gas leach solutions of copper anode slime by tri-butyl phosphate(TBP)

The oxidative leaching causes to dissolve various impurities such as Fe, Cu, Pd, Se in copper anode slime. Organicextractant tri-butyl phosphate (TBP) was used to purify leach solution. Several parameters, such as TBP, HCl and chloride inorganicsalt concentrations were chosen in order to determine efficient state for impurities separation. Standard solvent extraction tests forextraction and separation of Au, Pd, Pt, Fe, Cu and Se were conducted with equal volume of aqueous and organic phases in batchexperiments. The effect of hydrochloric acid, organic phase and metals initial concentration were examined at ambient temperature. Itwas found that 0.25 mol/L TBP in the presence of 2.5 mol/L hydrochloric acid can cause high extraction of gold. Meanwhile, in theseconditions the extraction of other impurities is negligible. After extraction, pregnant organic phase was scrubbed by distilled waterand some impurities were removed. Finally, gold was stripped by sodium thiosulfate solution. The stripping solution does not haveany impurities. By adding H2SO4 to stripping solution containing Na2S2O2, SO2 gas is released and Au3+ ions could be reduced.

Characterization of an iron oxy/hydroxide(gossan type) bearing refractory gold and silver ore by diagnostic leaching

A detailed characterization of an iron oxy/hydroxide(gossan type) bearing refractory gold/silver ore was performed with a new diagnostic approach for the development of a pretreatment process prior to cyanide leaching. Gold was observed to be present as native and electrum(6-24 μm in size) and associated with limonite, goethite and lepidocrocite within calcite and quartz matrix. Mineral liberation analysis(MLA) showed that electrum is found as free grains and in association with beudantite, limonite/goethite and quartz. Silver was mainly present as acanthite(Ag2S) and electrum and as inclusions within beudantite phase in the ore. The cyanide leaching tests showed that the extractions of gold and silver from the ore(d80: 50 μm) were limited to 76% and 23%, respectively, over a leaching period of 24 h. Diagnostic leaching tests coupled with the detailed mineralogical analysis of the ore suggest that the refractory gold and silver are mainly associated within iron oxide mineral phases such as limonite/goethite and jarosite-beudantite, which can be decomposed in alkaline solutions. Based on these characterizations, alkaline pretreatment of ore in potassium hydroxide solution was performed prior to cyanidation, which improved significantly the extraction of silver and gold up to 87% Ag and 90% Au. These findings suggest that alkaline leaching can be used as a new diagnostic approach to characterize the refractoriness of iron oxy/hydroxide bearing gold/silver ore and as a pretreatment method to overcome the refractoriness.

Antibacterial Action and Physicochemical Properties of Stabilized Silver and Gold Nanostructures on the Surface of Disperse Silica

This work is devoted to the synthesis and stabilization of nanosized Ag/SiO2 and Au/SiO2 disperse materials and investigation their morphology, optical and antimicrobial properties. First, Ag and Au nanoparticles (NPs) were produced in colloids via chemical (Ag) or photochemical (Au) reduction of appropriate ions. To prevent the oxidation of Ag NPs in colloid solution, external binary stabilizing agents PVP and SDS were used. Then, Ag and Au NPs (0.01-0.05% wt) were adsorbed from their colloid solutions on high disperse silica surface (Ssp=260m2/g) and samples prepared were dried. Materials obtained were studied by UV-vis, XRD, and TEM methods. Ag and Au NPs adsorbed on silica demonstrated a fair crystallinity in XRD. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band positions inherent to Ag and Au NPs on silica surface as well as the intensities of optical spectra were stable during 7 month and more. Obtained Ag NPs in colloids and Ag/SiO2 composites demonstrated excellent antimicrobial activity against a series of the microorganisms (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aurous, and Candida albicans). Au/SiO2 samples did not reveal any bactericide properties relative to the test microorganisms grown. The mechanisms of Ag(Au) NPs interaction with silica surface were analyzed.

Influence of copper minerals on cyanide leaching of gold

The paper thermodynamically examined the behavior of various copper minerals in cyanide solu tions and investigated the influence of copper minerals on cyanide leaching of gold. In elucidating the influence of copper minerals on cyanide leaching of gold, copper minerals were classified into two types according to their solubility in cyanide solutions by proposing two concepts, cyaniding easily soluble copper (E Cu ) and cyaniding insoluble copper. The former involves copper occurrence in metal, oxides and secondary sulfides, and the latter refers mainly to primary sulfides. Experimental results show that not all the total copper in an ore affected cyanide leaching of gold, while cyaniding easily soluble copper turns out to be the decisive factor that interferes with gold cyanidation by causing decrease in gold cyanidation recovery and increase in cyanide consumption. When cyaniding easily soluble copper content ( w E(Cu) ) lies in the range of 0 0.25%, it linearly affects gold cyanidation recovery ( R ) as well as cyanide consumption ( m c). The regression equations have been worked out to be R (%)=94.177 5-142.735 7 w E(Cu) with a correlation coefficient of -0.902 and m c=5.590 7+33.572 9 w E(Cu) with a correlation coefficient of 0.945, respectively.

Isotope Tracing and Prospecting Assessment of Gold-Silver Deposits in Zhejiang Province

Three different types of gold and silver deposits in Zhejiang Province(Huangshan gold deposit, Zhilingtou gold-silver deposit and Haoshi silver deposit) showmarked differences in lead and strontium isotopic composition, suggesting three differentsources and geneses of these deposits. The Huangshan gold deposit features low initial Srisotope ratios and low μ values or low content of radiogenic Pb and its ore-forming materialscame primarily from the upper mantle; the Zhilingtou gold-silver deposit shows high initial Srisotope ratios and high μ values or high content of radiogenic Pb and the ore-forming materialswere derived mainly from the upper crust; and the Haoshi silver deposit has its Pb and Srisotope ratios between the above two cases with the ore-forming materials stemming from boththe mantle and the crust. The characteristic Pb isotopic composition may serve as an indicatorfor prospecting for different types of ore deposits.

Metallogeny of Shoshonite-Hosted Copper-Gold Deposits in Middle-South Parts of Tancheng-Lujiang Deep Fault Zone and Its Vicinity, Eastern China

The middle south parts of Tancheng Lujiang deep fault zone and its vicinity are an important locality of Cu Au deposits related to Mesozoic volcanic subvolcanic magmatism in eastern China. According to their metallogenic features and ore forming conditions, copper gold deposits in this district are ascribed to two groups: the epithermal group which can be further divided into tellurium gold type, quartz adularia type and quartz manganoansiderite type; the magmatic hydrothermal group which includes porphyry Cu Au deposit, breccia pipe porphyry type Au Cu deposit and skarn type Au Cu deposit. In this paper, characteristics of six typical shoshonite hosted Cu Au deposits are outlined. Additionally, the factors that control the metallogenesis and distribution of these Cu Au deposits are discussed preliminarily.

Geochemistry of Subvolcanic-Type Copper-Silver Deposits in Eastern China

The metallogenesis of subvolcanic deposits is controlled by subvolcanic activities. The copper polymetallic deposits are genetically related to intermediate-acid rocks, and the silver polymetallic deposits are more closely related to acid rocks. The abundance of Cu is relatively high in the intermediate-acid rocks and subvolcanic rocks, whereas the abundances of Pb, An and Ag are high in acid rocks, indicating rich ore-forming elements in original magmas. The study of REEs shows that the magmatic type related to copper deposits is the syntectic type, and that related to silver polymetallic deposits is mainly the re-melting type. The deposits were formed under medium-low temperatures and low salinity. The metallogenic times were the late stage of the early Yanshanian or the late Yanshanian, dating 78–147 Ma.