Geochemical Exploration for Gold and the Association of As-Cu-Pb-Sn-Zn-Li in the Upper Proterozoic Granitoids of the Wadi Rumman Area, Southwest Jordan
The geochemical studies were conducted in an area covering about 15 km2 of the south side of the
Wadi Rumman area, SW Jordan. The study area included a part of a basement of complex exposed
rocks in southwestern Jordan. The complexes comprised igneous and metamorphic suites, mostly
from the late Proterozoic age. A systematic geochemical sampling was conducted using rock and
heavy mineral-panned concentrate of geochemical samples. Fifty rock samples were collected
from the granitic rocks, simple pegmatite dyke, quartz veins and alteration zone, which covered
the area. Next, 45 heavy mineral-panned concentrate samples were collected from the alluvium in
the stream sediment within the catchment area, and the dray was sieved to less than 1 mm grain
size. The geochemical samples were analyzed for their trace elements and gold by using Ione
Conductive Coupled Plasma Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and the Atomic Absorption Spectrometer
(AAS) at Natural Resources Authority (NRA) Labs. The results of the geochemical analysis
indicated the presence of gold and heavy minerals in the study area, a result considered abnormal
in the rock samples. A strong positive correlation was recorded of Au with As, Cu and W (r =
0.82, 0.7 and 1.0), as with Mo (r = 0.83), Cu with Pb (r = 0.83), Sn with Mo (r = 0.73), Mo with W (r =
0.97), Zn with W (r = 0.71), and Li with Bi (r = 0.7). These correlations revealed gold associated
within the hydrothermal alteration, quartz veins and pegmatite dyke. Abnormal metals such as As
and Bi were good path-finders to find Au. The HM samples showed low positive linear correlations
among the concentrations of Au with As, Zn and Li, and negative linear correlations of Au with Pb,
Sn, Bi and W. The combination of both rock and heavy mineral concentrate samples shows four
geochemical anomalous areas of gold and heavy minerals. The geochemical signatures of Au and
As in the Wadi Rumman appear to be in the hydrothermal alteration, quartz veins and pegmatite