A comparison of gold and trace metals in pyrite from shale hosted orogenic gold deposits and pyrite from modern anoxic sedimentary basins

Recently it has been proposed by Large et al. that diagenetic pyrite may be the source of gold and arsenic in shale hosted orogenic gold deposits in areas such as Sukhoi Log, Russia (Large et al., 2007) and Bendigo, Australia (Large et al., 2009). The research presented in this poster has been conducted to determine whether diagenetic pyrites or organic matter from modern ocean sediments are enriched in gold and trace metals. This is done by conducting laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (LA-ICPMS) analysis on different pyritic, carbonaceous modern sediments from around the world.