“From the gold-bearing quartz vein sample depicted in image 768911. There appear to be at least two copper sulfosalts present in this sample, a bronzy-brown one (possibly luzonite/famatinite) and this black one, which was identified as goldfieldite based on color, estimated hardness of other similar grains, and two EDS analyses (of this grain and another one) indicating a Cu-Te-S mineral with minor As. See child image for EDS analysis of this grain. In addition, a green mineral (see image 769026) apparently resulting from the weathering of other apparent goldfieldite in the same specimen was identified (with EDS) as a copper tellurate.
This and the other EDS-analyzed goldfieldite grain were scanned under the SEM for gold inclusions. Tiny (perhaps on the order of 10-50 microns), sparse inclusions of gold (high-fineness gold and gold-copper alloy) were observed in the sulfosalt. See second child image of an EDS analysis of an inclusion of gold-copper alloy observed in quartz in this goldfieldite grain.
Field of view ~ 3mm.”
Kyle Beucke - 1st September 2016