Journal of African Earth Sciences 68 (2012) 114

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Journal of African Earth Sciences

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Multi-element association analysis of stream sediment geochemistry data

for predicting gold deposits in Barramiya gold mine, Eastern Desert, Egypt
Hassan Z. Harraz a,, Mohamed M. Hamdy a, Mohamed H. El-Mamoney b
a
Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, 31527 Tanta, Egypt
b
National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Alexandria, Egypt

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: The use of traditional statistical methods can provide suitable indicators of geochemical element disper-
Received 22 September 2011 sion, and aids in targeting potential areas for mineral exploration. Analyzes of stream sediments from an
Received in revised form 19 March 2012 ophiolite suite of ophiolitic mlange matrix and metasediments belt are used for regional geochemical
Accepted 20 March 2012
prospecting of gold in the Barramiya mining district, Eastern Desert, Egypt. The principal rocks exposed
Available online 13 April 2012
in the study area are Late-Proterozoic volcano-sedimentary sequences intruded by serpentinite, small
bodies of Older and Younger Granitoids, all injected by dykes of various compositions. Gold production
Keywords:
derived mainly from shear zone with Au-bearing quartz veins hosted by ultramac schists and serpenti-
Surcial dispersion of Au
Stream sediment survey
nites at fault intersections or along the basal dcollement of the major thrusts, especially where granitoid
R-mode factor analysis massifs and stocks are common. Orebodies are mainly sulde-bearing quartz and quartzcarbonate lodes
Principal component analysis associated with graphite-schist, listvenite and marble exposures, showing signs of structural control
Multi-element association geochemistry expressed in preferable orientation and consistent meso- and microfabrics. The area has two known gold
Gold deposits where several chromite mines are present. Auriferous veins are conned along E and ENE frac-
ture systems and zones in a passive tectonic contact between the serpentinites and the metasediments.
Results of 425 stream sediment samples from an area of 73 km2 analyzed for 13 trace elements are
presented using simple statistical and R-mode factor methods. The overall sample density achieved by
the survey is 6 samples/km2. Signicant variations in background metal contents are recorded near
the known mineralized sites. Preliminary visual interpretation of individual spatial distribution patterns
of Ag, As, Au, Cu, Mo, Pb, and W show clear-cut relationships with known gold mineralization in the study
area. Geochemical patterns of these elements delineate drainage basins with anomalous concentration of
elements genetically related to gold mineralization. Gold in analyzed samples ranges from <0.02 to
3.51 ppm with average 0.21 ppm. Most of the high element concentrations in stream sediments are found
in the graphite-schist and serpentinized marble rocks.
Application of R-mode factor analysis indicates signicant components of the sample composition.
These reect lithological, environmental and mineralization controls. Preparation of factor score map
for the association AgAuAsCuZnPbMoW enables a more precise delineation of zones of known
gold mineralization as well as areas that may contain (on geological grounds) primary gold mineraliza-
tion. The exploration signicance of some anomalies has not been established, but a number of these
anomalies may be related to undiscovered mineralization while others may be of no economic signi-
cance. Groundwater pH inuences the hydromorphic dispersion patterns of Ag, As, and Au in different
ways and this requires consideration during data interpretation.
2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction methodology has been (1) to determine gold in heavy mineral

Conventionally, geochemical exploration for gold is based on the
assumptions that (1) gold is chemically inert in surcial environ-
ments; (2) gold occurs mainly in discrete grains; and (3) gold is
transferred by mechanical means to form elastic dispersion halos
and dispersion trains. Consequently, the commonly adopted
Corresponding author.
E-mail address: hharraz2006@yahoo.com (H.Z. Harraz).
concentrates; (2) to use large samples in order to improve the repro-
ducibility of gold analyzes; (3) to use high detection limits and
thresholds; and (4) to determine total gold contents and pathnder
elements. However, these methods are not always successful in
locating gold deposits, and they have limited application in the
search for buried or blind deposits (Cloke and Kelly, 1964; Lakin
et al., 1974; Carver et al., 1987; Nichol et al., 1989; Fletcher and
Wolcott, 1991; Zeegers and Leduc, 1993; Melo and Fletcher, 1999).
In Egypt, studies of the distribution and migration of particulate and

1464-343X/$ - see front matter 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2012.03.009
2 H.Z. Harraz et al. / Journal of African Earth Sciences 68 (2012) 114
ultrane gold indicate that (1) gold is active and mobile in surcial
environments; (2) gold occurs not only as discrete grains, but also as
ultrane particles; and (3) regional low-concentration gold anoma-
lies as well as local anomalies over buried gold deposits originate
from ultrane gold and other complex forms of gold (Bugrov,
1974; Salpeteur and Sabir, 1989; Harraz et al., 2001).
This study interprets results of a geochemical drainage survey
carried out during the period 20042005 covering most of the
drainage system at the Barramiya gold mine area (73 km2,
Fig. 1), where 425 samples of stream sediment were analyzed for
Ag, As, Au, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sn, W and Zn. In this approach,
the surcial dispersion of Au and various elements in wadi sedi-
ments in close proximity of shear zone with Au-bearing quartz
veins is determined to dene or rene exploration efforts. More-
over, drainage basins with anomalous metal contents are delin-
eated (visualized) to recognize any additional subtle though
important geochemical patterns that may exist in the area.
The study area is a part of Barramiya region in central Eastern
Desert of Egypt (Fig. 1). For several decades the Barramiya area
was widely known for its substantial gold production, derived
mainly from shear zone with Au-bearing quartz veins hosted by
Fig. 1. General geologic map of Barramiya gold mine area (modied from Shukri and Lot, 1955; EGSMA, 1992; Gad and Kusky, 2006; Zoheir and Lehmann, 2011).
ultramac schists and serpentinites at fault intersections or along
the basal dcollement of the major thrusts, especially where granit-
oid massifs and stocks are common. The Barramiya district in central
Eastern Desert of Egypt hosts several gold occurrences with gold-
bearing quartz veins mostly situated along the eastnortheast-
trending BarramiyaUm Salatit ophiolitic belt. The Barramiya
deposit is considered as a vein-type goldarsenic mineralization,
close to chromite, magnesite and antimony ores (Sabet and Bondon-
osov, 1984). Worked orebodies are mainly sulde-bearing quartz
and quartzcarbonate lodes associated with graphite-schist, listve-
nite and marble exposures, showing signs of structural control
expressed in preferable orientation and consistent meso- and
micro-fabrics. Gold was probably produced in the pre-Dynastic
and Roman periods and later. The Barramiya gold deposit comprises
four veins namely: the Main Lode, the Taylor,s Reef, the Counter
Lode and the new Counter Lode, all extensively worked for many
years. They were not completely exhausted and still contain valu-
able reserves. Depth of the excavations varied between <40 and
76 m, and the Au content ranged from <0.1 to 31 g/t, with the Ag/
Au ratio 1:4.6 (Hume, 1937, p. 791). The mine was abandoned at
the end 1918 due to increased costs of mining operation, transport
 H.Z. Harraz et al. / Journal of African Earth Sciences 68 (2012) 114
problems, and low gold price (Gabbra, 1986). More than 1.8 million
tons of gold ore grading 2.8 g/t Au reserves are estimated in the mine
(Gabbra, 1986). In addition, 318500 tons of tailings and dumps
with 3.15 g/t gold are stock-piled in three sites (Centamin Egypt
Ltd., 2000). According to Pharaoh Gold Mines, Centamin Egypt
Limited Co. (2001), the Barramiya gold mine contains multi-million
ounces of gold.
2. Regional geologic setting
The surveyed area (73 km2, Figs. 1 and 2) comprises Late-Pro-
terozoic metasediments intruded by serpentinized ultramac
bodies, small bodies of deformed gabbro-diorite, Older and Youn-
ger Granites, all injected by dykes of various compositions. The vol-
cano-sedimentary sequence occupies 80% of the Barramiya gold
mine area, and are composed dominantly of pelitic and semi-
pelitic schists, quartzites and marbles (Shukri and Lot, 1955).
These volcano-sedimentary sequences include the following varie-
ties: graphite-, actinolite-, actinolite-tremolite, chlorite-sericite,
and hematite-sericite-schists. Successions of nely banded
quartzsericite and graphite-bearing quartzo-feldspathic schists
admixed with metagreywacke and siltstone are locally interca-
lated with numerous lenticular bodies of massive and tectonized
serpentinites (with harzburgite-dunite-matrices), talc-carbonate,
tremolite-talc schist and listvenite (c.f. El-Bedawi et al., 1983;
Osman, 1995; Zoheir and Lehmann, 2011). However, the volcano-
sedimentary sequence is seen fringing the serpentinite masses,
and also as small roof pendants within the serpentinite masses.
Serpentinites form huge hilly masses elongated in a general ENE
trend concordant with that of foliation of the ophiolitic mlange
matrix. Therefore, the Barramiya serpentinite belt is a part of an
island arc system that is highly tectonized in an ENE direction.
Fig. 2. Drainage network and sample locations (n = 425) of stream sediment over the basement complex, Barramiya area.
3
These masses are parts of an ophiolite suite and usually there is
a passive tectonic contact between serpentinites and metasedi-
ments (Shackelton et al., 1980; Azer and Stern, 2007).
Deformed gabbro-diorite rocks cut the ophiolitic mlange
matrix and metasediments in the central part of the study area.
On the other hand, several 10 s km-across intrusions of heteroge-
neously foliated, syn-orogenic quartzdiorite/granodiorite (i.e.,
Older Granitoids) cut through the ophiolitic rocks in the north-
western part of the study area. At the mine area, intensively
weathered granite porphyry and elongate (EW) granodiorite
bodies cut the main foliation of the mlange matrix. Discrete elon-
gate bodies of post-orogenic monzogranite and granite porphyry
(i.e., Younger Granites) are bound to intersection zones of steeply
dipping EW and NWSE trending faults. Post-granite dykes
including quartz porphyry, rhyolite, dacite and less common basalt
are oriented in different directions in the mine area.
The tectonically admixed sedimentary/volcano-sedimentary
and ophiolitic rocks form the ophiolitic mlange matrix in the area.
Along the thrust zones, talc, magnesite, marble and chromite form
veinlets, nodules or irregular pockets in the sheared ultramac
rocks and metabasalt. The serpentinite-metasediment zone around
Barramiya gold mine area belongs to the older metasedimentary
gold metallogenic province (Pohl, 1988; Botros, 2002). The ser-
pentinite-schist zone is the most important rock unit from the
point of view of its economic potential in this area. The economic
interest arises from the presence of auriferous quartz in the central
part of the area, chromite and magnesite in the northern and
western parts, as well as talc in the most northeast part of the area.
Auriferous quartz and magnesite veins cross-cut talc-carbonate
rocks, in some places (Hamdy, 2007). Chromite deposits occur
within the serpentinite and associated with the talc-carbonate
rocks in lenticular, disseminated, thin veins, banded and nodular
4 H.Z. Harraz et al. / Journal of African Earth Sciences 68 (2012) 114
forms (Ahmed et al., 2001). The podiform nature of the Barramiya
chromites is documented by geochemical and mineralogical fea-
tures (Anwar et al., 1969; Azer and Stern, 2007) as well as by the
common nodular type of ore. Marbles which are coarse grained
metamorphosed calcitic or dolomitic rock are the well representa-
tives of metasediments and hosted by sheared and altered
ophiolitic serpentinized ultramac rocks at the northern and
northwestern parts of the area, where auriferous and uraniferous
marbles (0.982.76 ppm Au, Hamdy and Aly, 2011) were recorded.
Marble is usually gray to grayish white and occurs in pod-like and
bedded shapes (58 m thick and up to 100 m long). Their country
rocks are made principally of altered serpentinite and sometimes
occur as fragments within marble. The contact between marble
and serpentinite is usually not sharp. At this contact, the serpenti-
nites are usually highly sheared, foliated, sometimes folded, and
become rich in carbonates, graphite, magnesite, and chlorite, and
their metamorphism (Pan-African) was retrograde. Peak of meta-
morphism was at greenschist facies to form metamorphic dolomite
and calcite, and tremolite, then went down to the upper
subgreenschist facies forming chlorite (Hamdy and Aly, 2011).
2.1. Gold mineralization
The mineralization is related to quartz and quartzcarbonate
lodes in silicied/carbonatized wallrocks. Gold mineralization
was worked in ancient times from several quartz veins scattered
over an area of 24 km2 and mainly cut through graphite- and actin-
olite-schists, and highly sheared serpentinites. The auriferous
quartz veins are composed of gray and dark bluish-gray quartz
containing nely dispersed gold and are conned to ENE long re-
gional fracture systems and schistosity planes in metasediments.
Orebodies are mainly sulde-bearing quartz and quartzcarbonate
lodes associated with graphite-schist, listvenite and marble expo-
sures, showing signs of structural control expressed in preferable
orientation. Orebodies are made up of early bluish/gray quartz
fractured and sealed with a late milky quartz phase, or mainly of
milky quartz with appreciable amounts of Fe-carbonate (ankerite
and magnesite) and wallrock materials. Less commonly, aggregates
and bers of magnesitesiderite calcite occur as replacement
phases lling the open vugs in some veins, and are associated with
comb quartz. Most veins exhibit boudinage structures along the
strike and dip, and taper off at ends. Stylolitic and sheeted struc-
tures are common where slivers of carbonaceous wallrocks are
associated with elongate quartz ribbons.
Gold mineralization is closely associated with hydrothermally
and metasomatically altered bands of ultramac metasedimentary
rocks (averaging 1 m thickness), almost entirely serpentinitized
and later transformed into talc-carbonate rock. Most of the aurifer-
ous veins cut graphite- and actinolite-schists that are closely asso-
ciated with listvenite, talc and highly ferruginous shear zone
extending EW (El-Ramly et al., 1970; El-Bedawi et al., 1983;
Osman, 1995). The hydrothermally altered country rocks are
important targets to exploited gold at Barramiya area. The main
processes of the hydrothermal alteration are silicication, ferrugi-
nation, listvenitization, carbonatization, talcization sericitiza-
tion chloritization. Listvenites and the graphite schist rocks
enclosing the ore veins are often intensively ssured and lled
with quartz, aggregates of chromite, chlorite, antigorite and sulde
minerals. All the hydrothermally altered zones contain gold
(El-Bedawi et al., 1983; Harraz et al., 2001). The wallrock selvages
comprise graphite-schist, carbonatized actinolite schist and listve-
nite, with or without carbonaceous material. These selvages are
rich in disseminated pyritearsenopyritechalcopyrite and are
characterized by microbrecciation, slip, and annealing textures.
An assemblage of chlorite graphitecarbonate minerals occupies
the serrate planes between deformed quartz crystals, outlining a
distinct stylolitic texture. Most gold-sulde mineralization is con-
ned to the stylolitic planes in recrystallized quartz veins, where
disseminated suldes are associated with a carbonaceous material.
However, gold is almost always present in a free state in quartz
gangue with a marked tendency to cluster in close proximity to
alteration zones of carbonatization. The geochemical ability of car-
bonaceous materials to absorb suldes and gold was discussed by
Cameron (1979), Liu et al. (1999) and Likhoidov et al. (2007).
Earlier investigations (Hume, 1937; Sabet et al., 1976) had dem-
onstrated the association of pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, cop-
per oxide and hydroxide, scheelite, molybdenite, and chromite
with the Au-mineralization. Zoheir and Lehmann (2011) showed
that ore minerals disseminated in quartz veins and adjacent wall-
rocks are mainly arsenopyrite, pyrite and trace amounts of chalco-
pyrite, sphalerite, tetrahedrite, pyrrhotite, galena, gersdorfte and
gold. Partial to complete replacement of arsenopyrite by pyrite
and/or marcasite is common. Native gold and goldsilver alloy oc-
cur as tiny grains along micro-fractures in the quartz veins. Hamdy
and Aly (2011) recorded specks of gold and sulde disseminations
in marbles at the northern and northwestern parts of the area
(Fig. 1). Native nuggets (2035 lm) having globule, rod, crescent,
and irregular streak shapes occur in pores, vugs, and ssures of
marble. Other secondary phases include uranium minerals (i.e.,
autunite, uranophane, carnotite and uranothorite), covellite, chro-
mite, hematite, goethite, limonite, bunsenite (NiO), and danbaite
[(CuZn) O], together with an assemblage of accessory minerals
such as apatite, monazite, allanite, zircon, baddeleyite, halite, and
sylvite. Other gangue minerals include sericite/mariposite, rutile,
clinopyroxene, amphibole, talc, Fe-carbonate, chlorite, pyrophyl-
lite, kaolinite, and graphite.
3. Geomorphology
3.1. Drainage features
The drainage network of the Barramiya gold mine area is stud-
ied by the present authors to delineate its possible lithological and/
or structural controls. The present drainage network was mainly
formed during early Quaternary humid periods. During the Quater-
nary, semi-arid to humid climatic periods alternated with arid
periods. The drainage network is shown in Fig. 2, where the area
is drained by a few main drainages, that possess numerous tribu-
taries. The area is dissected at the northwestern and western parts
by relatively large tributaries, that ow south-southwest to the
west. While the northern, northeastern, and eastern parts of the
area are drained by tributaries owing to the north and south.
Moreover, the southern and southeastern parts of the area are
drained by tributaries owing to the east and the west (Fig. 2).
The network is a part of a vast watershed whose main wadis are
directed to the southwest and run towards the River Nile following
the general SW slope of the main road of Idfu-Mersa Alam (Fig. 1).
The drainages are mature with broad gentle sloping valleys. In the
eastern part of the area, there are high banks of ancient gravel
through which later relatively large tributaries have cut their
way, leaving terraces (Fig. 1). Therefore, the drainage network of
the Barramiya area is radial, reecting its dome-like structure.
However, structural features affecting this area locally modify the
drainage conguration to trellis, rectangular, subparallel or coarse
dendritic patterns.
3.2. Physiography
The topography of the Barramiya gold mine area is rugged and
changes in altitude are abrupt and is for the most part undulating,
with an average elevation of 500 m above sea-level, except in the
northwest, where the landscape is quite well developed. Gentle
 H.Z. Harraz et al. / Journal of African Earth Sciences 68 (2012) 114
mountain slopes and wadi oors are covered by recent eolian and
alluvium. Alluvial sediments in upper parts of drainage systems
and wadis are composed mainly of blocks and boulders, but down-
stream often comprise gravel and sands. Eolian (clay and sand)
material is trapped in topographic hollows and wadi channels,
where small bushes and grass grow.
The study area has an extremely arid climate. Rainfall is usually
scarce or is practically nil (<25 mm/y) leading to rare torrents (or
dust storms) which ll the valleys with clast assemblages, ranging
from boulders to ne silts and clays, weathered from source rocks
in the drainage basins. Weathering and erosion are mainly by
mechanical processes. Although diurnal temperature can be quite
marked, there is little seasonal variation. Summer is very hot
(but cools at night) and winter is mild and windy. The mean daily
maximum temperature is between 35 and 45 C, with annual mean
evaporation 3500 mm/y.
The nature of drainage sediments is largely a function of topog-
raphy, local bedrock geochemistry and the inuence of weathering
as well as other secondary factors tending to modify the bedrock-
soil-stream sediment relationships (Nichol et al., 1969; Melo and
Fletcher, 1999; Halfpenny and Mazzucchelli, 1999). Sediments of
streams draining out of the northern, western, southeastern and
northeastern parts of the survey area are largely composed of clast
assemblages derived from serpentinites and talc-carbonates. In the
northwestern part of the area the stream sediment is largely sili-
ceous derived from granitic and serpentinized marble rocks. In
the southeastern and middle parts of the area the stream sedi-
ments are largely derived from metasediments.
3.3. Physical dispersion processes
During the hot season hot ascending air-currents produce
whirlwinds, which mobilize the surcial clay-sand material. Dur-
ing occasional rainstorms (once in four years) the upper silty-argil-
laceous layer is mobilized with the surcial water owing on the
reg pavement. This material is redeposited on the margins of the
wadis. In at sites the coarse material is not moved. In moderate
to hilly relief if the rainfall lasts long enough (more than 1 h) grav-
ity ows occur and the water content in the upper clayey layer in-
creases creating mudow conditions.
The low permeability of the upper layer and lack of vegetation
give way to a sudden inux of clayey water from the tributaries
into the main channel or in temporary playas or in topographic
hollows (playas and khabras). In wadis the water rst erodes the
upper eolian sand-silt deposits around the bushes. When the water
inux climax is reached all the alluvial material is moved in a
mechanism very similar to that of mudows. When the rain stops,
the ow energy decreases and the water lose its sand-clay load.
Reworking of the top alluvium by braided streams creates cross-
bedded deposits on the bankets and black patches of heavy miner-
als on the surface.
An understand this ow mechanism is of prime importance in
the discussion of gold mobility in present-day drainage. This in
particular explains the lack of sorting in the main alluvial sedi-
ments and the lack of enrichment of heavy minerals at the allu-
vium/bedrock interface as currently observed in temperate or
tropical climates. A matter which led to bias of any optical deter-
mination of gold on a nonmagnetic fraction of heavy pan concen-
trated samples. In addition nugget growth is practically absent in
the present arid conditions. Fig. 3 shows a typical alluvial se-
quence. The overall thickness of the sequence ranges from 50 to
100 cm. In some sites, one or two intermediate horizons are miss-
ing. The rapid evaporation of water (3500 mm/y) gives some nod-
ular gypsum or carbonate precipitation in the brown intermediate
sandy-gravel sediments.
5
Fig. 3. Wadi-sediment prole at Barramiya gold mine area.
Reg pavement is equivalent of the Australian lag or gibber
(Carver et al., 1987), but in Australia it is mainly composed of sili-
ceous or ferruginous fragments of a pre-existing laterite cover. This
is not the case in Eastern Desert of Egypt because most of the
paleosoils were eroded during the Miocene. This is the main reason
why gossans are exceptional on the Eastern Desert of Egypt (the
present-day rainfall is too low; <25 mm/y; to induce severe oxida-
tion of the sulde ores).
4. Sampling and analytical techniques
Some 425 samples were collected systematically from rst-
and second-order tributaries drainage channels over an area of
73 km2 (Fig. 2). The overall sample density achieved by the
survey was 6 samples/km2. Samples were taken as close to the
center of the wadi-channel as possible where small bushes and
grass grow as well as debris of bedrock outcrops. About 10 kg
of channel samples were taken from a depth of 1530 cm below
the surface and at intervals of 200250 m along the drainage
channels.
Samples were air-dried and then split to obtain 3 kg of material,
which was sieved in the eld with retention of the 1 mm fraction
which was re-sieved in the laboratory and the 1 to +0.25 mm
fraction was pulverized for chemical analysis. Past experience of
sampling in the Eastern Desert of Egypt (Bugrov, 1974; Levinson,
1980; El-Makky, 1981; Nichol et al., 1989) proved that these sam-
pling methods are the most economical and useful for geochemical
prospecting using stream sediments where clasts are being derived
from local bedrocks. The remaining sample (7 kg) was panned by
hand, then the heavy concentrates were separated with bromo-
form and the nonmagnetic fraction processed by a Frantz magnetic
separator to select the enriched fraction for microscopic examina-
tion for gold.
The pulverized samples were ground and digested in a concen-
trated acid mixture consisting of 2 ml HNO3, 2 ml HCl and 2.5 ml
HF (Langmyhr and Paus, 1968, 1970). Solutions were analyzed for
Ag, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sn, W and Zn using a Varian 10+ atomic
absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Arsenic was determined col-
ourimetrically after KOH fusion. Gold was determined by AAS with
a graphite furnace after organic extraction with methyl isobutyl ke-
tone (MIBK). Analyzes were done by El-Mamoney at the National
Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Alexandria-Egypt. Detec-
tion limits were Ag 0.1 ppm; As 30 ppm; Au 0.02 ppm; Co, Cr, Ni
and W 3 ppm; Cu, Mo, Pb and Sn 1 ppm; Li and Zn 5 ppm. Due to
duplicate analyzes of the above-mentioned elements systematic
errors were avoided. The analytical precision for each element,
determined from 46 duplicate samples using the method of
Garrett (1969), expressed as the coefcient of variation, was 7%
for Ag, Cu, Li, Mo, Pb, W and Zn; 12% for Au, Co, Cr, Ni and Sn;
20% for As.
6 H.Z. Harraz et al. / Journal of African Earth Sciences 68 (2012) 114

5. Statistical treatment of data
5.1. Single-element distribution
Results of chemical analyzes are summarized in Table 1 and
illustrated in Fig. 4. They show variations in the distribution of
the majority of elements with bedrock type. In particular Co, Cr,
and Ni tend to be enriched over areas of serpentinites, talc-carbon-
ates and metasediments, whereas Li, Mo, Sn and W are preferen-
tially concentrated in the granitoids. Marked regional variations
are noted in the mean contents of certain elements in the stream
sediments associated with different sites of both rock varieties.
In contrast, patterns of Cu, Pb, and Zn do not appear to be related
to a particular bedrock-type. Ag, Au, As, Cu and Mo; Cr; as well
as Pb, Sn and W are predominantly associated with the distribution
of auriferous quartz, chromite and mineralized greisens,
respectively.
Sediments derived from serpentinites are markedly enriched in
Cr, Ni and Co relative to those from metasediments that are in turn
somewhat higher than in sediments derived from granites (Table
1). Li, Pb, Sn, W and Mo show a signicant enrichment in the latter
(Fig. 4). Au, Ag, and As in sediments derived from both serpenti-
nites and metasediments are relatively higher than in sediments
derived from granite (Table 1). Classication of samples in terms

Table 1
Statistical parameters of some selected trace elements content of stream sediments associated with various geological units.
0 00
Element Range (ppm) Mean (ppm) Cb (ppm) S S S (%) t1 (ppm) t2 (ppm)
Serpentinite (n = 173)
Ag <0.105.85 0.62 0.22 1.04 3.936 167 2.7 3.5
As <151000 88 22 164 4.732 186 415 493
Au <0.022.74 0.23 0.05 0.48 5.508 207 1.2 1.4
Co 5475 90 71 73 1.914 81 237 260
Cr 20045,000 3129 1786 6012 2.477 192 15,152 10,958
Cu 24372 99 79 71 1.910 72 241 288
Li <522 7.00 5.55 4.73 1.999 67 16 22
Mo <137 2.77 1.57 4.05 2.710 146 11 12
Ni 503000 957 796 545 1.936 57 2047 2983
Pb 4.5175 26 15 33 2.655 128 92 106
Sn <113 3.35 2.16 2.53 2.877 76 8.4 18
W <316 2.81 2.20 2.57 1.854 91 8.0 7.6
Zn 15790 162 116 131 2.355 81 424 643
Metasediment (n = 204)
Ag <0.106.27 0.59 0.25 0.96 3.758 162 2.5 3.5
As <15800 81 27 127 4.385 156 334 519
Au <0.023.51 0.21 0.05 0.43 5.675 203 1.1 1.6
Co 20475 77 65 57 1.718 74 191 192
Cr 2006000 1338 1128 830 1.820 62 2997 3736
Cu 21320 111 96 64 1.722 57 239 285
Li <535 6.81 5.21 5.83 2.009 86 18 21
Mo <117 1.98 1.21 2.62 2.489 132 7.2 7.5
Ni 602500 714 567 479 2.028 67 1673 2332
Pb 4.5138 25 17 26 2.203 105 76 83
Sn <119 4.34 3.16 3.09 2.483 71 11 19
W <365 3.90 2.45 6.91 2.133 177 18 11
Zn 30885 175 134 124 2.138 71 423 613
Granite (n = 48)
Ag <0.103.10 0.45 0.25 0.57 3.048 127 1.6 2.3
As <15215 51 27 55 3.281 106 161 291
Au <0.021.44 0.16 0.07 0.24 4.365 149 0.6 1.3
Co 585 30 23 21 2.198 68 71 111
Cr 20300 88 64 77 2.196 87 241 309
Cu 27209 98 85 50 1.730 51 198 254
Li <589 28 20 24 2.466 83 76 120
Mo <135 7.97 4.76 8.18 2.786 103 24 37
Ni 15400 70 49 75 2.134 108 221 223
Pb 6154 27 19 29 2.148 107 86 88
Sn <157 15 9.08 15 2.979 100 44 81
W <327 5.31 3.13 6.66 2.553 125 19 20
Zn 50390 176 160 74 1.570 42 324 394
All data (n = 425)
Ag <0.106.27 0.59 0.24 0.96 3.758 163 2.5 3.3
As <151000 81 25 128 4.106 158 337 421
Au <0.023.51 0.21 0.05 0.32 5.047 150 0.9 1.2
Co 5475 78 61 65 2.042 83 208 254
Cr 2045,000 1967 1054 4006 3.034 204 9979 9702
Cu 21372 105 88 66 1.816 63 237 290
Li <589 9.32 6.21 12 2.301 129 33 33
Mo <137 2.98 1.57 4.56 2.851 153 12 13
Ni 153000 760 532 534 2.016 70 1828 2162
Pb 4.5175 25 16 27 2.193 108 79 77
Sn <157 5.12 3.05 6.60 2.915 129 18 26
W <365 3.62 2.42 5.59 2.084 154 15 11
Zn 15885 170 129 123 2.138 72 416 590
0
Cb, local background; S, standard deviation; S , geometric standard deviation; S00 , coefcient of variation; t, threshold {t1 = (x + 2S); t2 = (Cb(S0 )2)}.
 H.Z. Harraz et al. / Journal of African Earth Sciences 68 (2012) 114 7

Fig. 4. Bar diagrams showing the range and the arithmetic mean ( ) for stream sediments associated with various lithologic units at Barramiya gold mine area (Dotted line
represents concentrations below the detection limits; solid line shows the total range).

of their bedrock type is therefore a critical matter. On the other
hand, erratic distributions are displayed by threshold values of ele-
ments that occur in markedly varying concentrations in various
lithologies (Table 1).
In order to facilitate the assessment of geochemical patterns,
maps are presented to show the distribution of selected elements
of economic or exploration signicance (Figs. 5 and 6). A prelimin-
ary visual interpretation of individual spatial distribution patterns
of Ag, As, Au and W shows clear-cut relationships with known gold
mineralization in the study area. Most of these elements are excess
the regional thresholds (Mean + 2 Standard deviation, Table 1)
being conned to areas around the Barramiya gold mine (Figs. 5
and 6). In these areas the occurrence of Au-bearing quartz veins
and veinlets and disseminations in graphite schists and serpenti-
nized marbles have been reported and the enhancement of these
elements may be related to them. Gold values in drainage sedi-
ments are generally low and erratic, only few samples have values
exceeding 1 ppm (Fig. 5). The area around the Barramiya gold
mine, which contains the highest density of old gold workings, is
characterized by Au contents that generally exceed 0.2 ppm.

Fig. 5. Distributions of Au, Ag, Cu, As, Pb, and Zn in drainage sediment over the basement complex, Barramiya area.
8 H.Z. Harraz et al. / Journal of African Earth Sciences 68 (2012) 114
Fig. 6. Distributions of Mo, W, Sn, Co, Cr, and Ni in drainage sediment over the basement complex, Barramiya area.
Values greater than the regional threshold (1.2 ppm) are conned
mainly to the northern and northwestern parts of the study area,
nearly to Au- and U-bearing marbles (Fig. 6).
Mo contents (Fig. 4) range from <1 to 37 ppm with a geometric
mean concentration of 1.57 ppm. Values greater than the regional
threshold (13 ppm) are conned mainly to the northwestern part
of the study area (Fig. 6). Mo anomalies in stream sediments are
somewhat more restricted geographically than Pb, Sn and W
anomalies. This limited distribution is possibly due to the high sol-
ubility of Mo in the low-pH water (pH 4.5; Rose et al., 1979) of the
study area where stream sediment derived from granites. Also,
molybdenite is highly susceptible to mechanical weathering and
most of the particulate molybdenite may be washed away in this
terrain of moderate relief and fast-moving streams (Levinson,
1980; Harraz et al., 2001). Therefore, any particulate molybdenite
found in the detrital material is usually near its source. These fac-
tors result in Mo anomalies clustering in the same areas as Pb, Sn
and W, but closer to the source rocks. The abundant anomalies in
the NW part of the area represent a greisen mineralization, which
is in part related to the Younger Granites (Figs. 1 and 6).
As expected the elements associated with the ores show high
coefcients of variation in all samples draining out from all sources
(Table 1). Other elements (e.g. Co, Cr, Li, Ni and Sn) in samples
draining the different rock media often have smaller coefcients
of variation. However, there is one exception, Cr, which has a high
standard deviation for all samples draining the different rock med-
ia. In general, a belt of low metal values trends NS through the
eastern part of the area and gradually to the area with higher metal
contents to the central, northern, and northwest (Figs. 5 and 6). The
precise form of the regional distribution pattern of elements varies
from one element to another and, for certain elements, local
patterns are superimposed on the regional distribution. For exam-
ple, the NS trough is shown very clearly by Ag, As, Au, Mo, Pb, Sn,
W, and Zn, but in the cases of Co, Cr, Cu and Ni the overall pattern is
not so clear (Figs. 5 and 6). The major factor controlling the distri-
bution of trace elements in stream sediments is the composition of
the bedrock, but in places variation in topography appears to have
a modifying effect on the bedrock-stream sediment relationship.
Therefore, it would be necessary to take fully into account the
varying inuence of local secondary factors related to weathering,
transportation and deposition that serve to modify the rock-soil-
stream sediment relationship (Lakin et al., 1974; Nichol et al.,
1989; Fletcher and Wolcott, 1991; Zeegers and Leduc, 1993; Melo
and Fletcher, 1999; Hamdy and Aly, 2011).
Problems of interpretation of regional pattern of elements in a
drainage survey fall mainly into two categories: (i) discrimination
of regional trends and relatively minor anomalies of regional data,
and (ii) identication of variations related to bedrock mineraliza-
tion and secondary environment. Application of factor analysis aids
to improve interpretation of regional geochemical data.
5.2. R-mode factor analysis
The compilation and objective interpretation of multielement
geochemical data from a large number of samples is extremely te-
dious and difcult. Quantitative statistical treatment of geochemi-
cal data as a useful and even a necessary technique in geochemical
interpretation is widely accepted and practiced (see for example
Nichol et al., 1969; Closs and Nichol, 1975; Swan and Sandilands,
1995; Davis, 2002; Ali et al., 2006).
The initial step in calculating R-mode factor analysis is to
compute a correlation matrix. The latter was calculated using
 H.Z. Harraz et al. / Journal of African Earth Sciences 68 (2012) 114 9

log-transformed values (Table 2). The majority of analyzed ele-
ments in stream sediment samples are positively correlated. The
results demonstrate that Au is strongly correlated with Ag, As,
Cu, Mo, Pb, W and Zn and weakly correlated with Co. CrCoNi
and LiSnMoPbW have signicant inter-correlation. A preli-
minary examination reveals that three groups of the ore elements
are moment correlated with positive correlations at r-values at
0.01% level of signicance (Table 2). Therefore, the variables can
be classied into three dispersion patterns: (1) AgAsAuCu
PbZnWMoCo; (2) CoCrNi; and (3) LiSnMoWPb.
Although some elements (i.e. Co, Pb, Mo and W) are common in
more than one dispersion pattern, others are characteristic of only
one. These dispersion patterns are consistent with the three ore
deposits well recorded in the Barramiya area (i.e. Gold, chromite
and wolframite, see Gabbra, 1986). The low correlation between
other trace elements perhaps could result from there being more
than one group of elements, and is depending on dispersion of
these trace elements in the three draining system.
In order to investigate more subtle features in the data, factor
analysis is employed. The R-mode factor multivariate analytical
technique essentially measures correlation between variables on
the basis of their mutual linear correlation coefcients. Closs and
Nichol (1975) indicated that selection of the most appropriate
model is based on the recognition of metal associations considered
meaningful in terms of geological or surface processes. R-mode fac-
tor analysis is used to resolve the intercorrelations of the geochem-
ical variables and to explain the observed relations among the
numerous variables in terms of simpler relations. The Varimax
matrix of the log-transformed data is shown in Table 3. All calcu-
lations of R-mode factor analysis were performed by SPSS-pro-
gramme (SPSS 15.0 for windows: Noruis and SPSS Inc., 2006).
After inspection of various factor models that were computed, a
three-factor model that accounted for 74.10% of the data variability
(Table 3) was considered to be the most consistent with the known
geological and environmental processes. Only variables with load-
ings greater than 0.40 were considered as signicant members of a
particular factor. There is a general tendency for samples classied
on geological basis as draining metasediment bedrock to have high
scores of factor 1 (Fig. 7). In contrast, samples derived from serpen-
tinites or granites tend to have low scores of factor 1. However,
certain sediment samples classied geologically as derived from
granites are shown statistically to have metasedimentary afnities
and some metasedimentary samples have serpentinitic afnities,
indicating the inadequacies of the classication based on the geo-
logical basis. To illustrate areas of high factor, factor scores were
also computed and selected maps are shown in Fig. 7.
5.2.1. Factor 1 (AgAuAsCuZnPbMoW)
Factor 1 accounts for 61% of the variability of this model with
some contribution from Co (Table 4). Factor 1 is denitely
chalcophile in nature and obviously related to gold mineralization
(Fig. 7). Elements of this factor occur in pyrite, arsenopyrite, copper
oxide and hydroxide, and sphalerite. Scheelite is widely distributed
in wadi sediments, might also be associated with the elements of
factor 1 (Hume, 1937). This metal occurs in the area underlain by
the graphite-schist in contact with talc-carbonate at the central
part of the study area. High factor scores, obtained at the northern
and northwest parts of the study area, correlate spatially with the
area underlain by Younger Granites at the contact with the serpen-
tinized marble (Fig. 7). Moreover, specks of gold and sulde dis-
seminations were observed in quartz veins invading the Younger
Granite samples as well as native nuggets (2035 lm) having glob-
ule, rod, crescent, and irregular streak shapes, in pores, vugs, and
ssures of serpentinized marble.
A comprehensive review of the geochemistry of As and its pro-
spective value as a pathnder for Au has been given by Hale (1981)
and Samal et al. (2008). Although the abundance of As in factor 1 is
high, the element exhibits strong siderophile to chalcophile char-
acteristics, which suggest a marked geochemical contrast between
its concentrations in sulde minerals as compared to silicate or
carbonate rocks. On the other hand, carbonates have marked
chemical favorability for inltration of hydrothermal uids (Liu
et al., 1999). Thus, the metacarbonates (graphite and marble) are
probably the host for many ore minerals. In addition, the post-col-
lision magmatism and even surcial alteration and weathering
could also be agents of enrichment and mineralizing the graphite
schist and serpentinized marble rocks.
5.2.2. Factor 2 (NiCoCr)
Factor 2 accounts for 30% of the data variability of this model
and reects, essentially, a mac lithological control. The metal
association map (Fig. 7) and the single element Co and Cr maps
(Fig. 6) are also similar. The areal distribution of factor scores
shows high values, lying dominantly within the area underlain
by chromite lenses hosted by the serpentinite and talc-carbonate
rocks at the central and northern parts of the area (Fig. 7). Isolated
high scores in metasediment areas often correspond to streams
that drain lenses of talc-carbonate (Fig. 1). The combination of this
element association together with the areal disposition of factor
scores is consistent with the interpretation that this factor is a
strong indicator of chromite deposits, thus reecting the close
relation between them in the parent rocks and chromite lenses
as a dominant inuencing factor.
5.2.3. Factor 3 (LiSnW)
Factor 3 accounts for 9.5% of the data variability accounted for
by three-factor model (Table 4). There is also some contribution
from both Mo and Pb. This metal association coupled with strong
positive correlation reect their similar afnity. High scores for this

Table 2
Correlation coefcient matrix for trace elements in the stream sediments of the Barramiya area.

Ag As Au Co Cr Cu Li Mo Ni Pb Sn W Zn
Ag 1.00 0.81 0.88 0.39 0.15 0.72 0.29 0.56 0.07 0.68 0.24 0.54 0.67
As 1.00 0.81 0.38 0.12 0.71 0.27 0.56 0.10 0.66 0.22 0.60 0.67
Au 1.00 0.33 0.07 0.68 0.29 0.60 0.12 0.62 0.26 0.58 0.66
Co 1.00 0.59 0.30 0.10 0.02 0.57 0.33 0.15 0.31 0.25
Cr 1.00 0.12 0.24 0.21 0.75 0.05 0.24 0.09 0.07
Cu 1.00 0.27 0.48 0.15 0.68 0.29 0.50 0.60
Li 1.00 0.50 0.24 0.40 0.58 0.44 0.26
Mo 1.00 0.23 0.42 0.40 0.52 0.48
Ni 1.00 0.13 0.24 0.19 0.12
Pb 1.00 0.39 0.57 0.58
Sn 1.00 0.35 0.27
W 1.00 0.40
Zn 1.00

Critical value of r = 0.321 for n = 425 samples at 0.01% condence level.

10 H.Z. Harraz et al. / Journal of African Earth Sciences 68 (2012) 114

Table 3
Metal associations, element loadings and data variability (%) of different factor models of trace element contents of stream sediments.

Factor Factor model

2 3 4 5 6 7 8
F1 Ag 0.91 Ag 0.91 Ag 0.89 Ag 0.87 Ag 0.87 Cu 0.90 Au 0.91
As 0.89 Au 0.90 Au 0.87 Cu 0.85 Cu 0.84 Pb 0.79 Ag 0.90
Au 0.89 As 0.89 As 0.86 As 0.83 As 0.83 Ag 0.69 As 0.78
Cu 0.82 Cu 0.82 Zn 0.84 Zn 0.83 Zn 0.83 As 0.64 Cu 0.57
Pb 0.80 Zn 0.80 Cu 0.82 Au 0.83 Au 0.83 Au 0.60 Zn 0.52
Zn 0.77 Pb 0.72 Pb 0.70 Pb 0.75 Pb 0.76 Zn 0.45 Pb 0.48
W 0.71 Mo 0.61 Mo 0.57 Mo 0.47 Mo 0.48 Mo 0.44
Mo 0.65 W 0.55 W 0.45 W 0.41 W 0.42
Co 0.47
Li 0.40
F2 Cr 0.88 Ni 0.88 Ni 0.90 Ni 0.92 Ni 0.92 Ni 0.92 Ni 0.92
Ni 0.85 Co 0.83 Cr 0.85 Cr 0.86 Cr 0.86 Cr 0.88 Cr 0.88
Co 0.68 Cr 0.82 Co 0.79 Co 0.77 Co 0.77 Co 0.75 Co 0.75
Li 0.62
Sn 0.61
Mo 0.42
F3 Li 0.83 Sn 0.87 Sn 0.87 W 0.79 Mo 0.81 Cu 0.70
Sn 0.77 Li 0.75 Li 0.76 Au 0.48 Pb 0.62
W 0.57
Mo 0.40
F4 W 0.77 W 0.77 Li 0.82 Zn 0.83 W 0.83
Pb 0.40 Pb 0.40 Au 0.43
Ag 0.40
As 0.40
F5 Mo 0.69 Sn 0.90 W 0.80 Li 0.84
Co 0.44
F6 Mo 0.69 Li 0.83 Sn 0.91
F7 Sn 0.91 Zn 0.81
F8 Mo 0.76
Data Variability 67.10 74.10 78.90 83.30 86.60 89.70 92.30

Fig. 7. Factor score maps in drainage sediment over the basement complex, Barramiya area.
 H.Z. Harraz et al. / Journal of African Earth Sciences 68 (2012) 114 11

Table 4 disseminated Nisuldes and Ni-arsenides and pentlandite re-

R-mode varimax factor matrix. vealed traces of Au (up to 0.64 wt.% Au; Takla and Suror, 1996).
Element Communality F-1 F-2 F-3 Accordingly, it is suggested that the serpentinized ultramac rocks
Ag 0.852 0.906 0.116 0.135 may have been an important source for gold (Takla and Suror,
Au 0.830 0.898 0.038 0.147 1996). However, not all known sites of mineralization in the Barra-
As 0.827 0.894 0.096 0.137 miya area are represented by such anomalies. Analysis of common
Cu 0.694 0.816 0.059 0.160 sulde minerals suggests that As is most widely distributed in pyr-
Zn 0.641 0.797 0.011 0.078
Pb 0.654 0.719 0.130 0.347
ite and chalcopyrite, while galena and sphalerite more readily
Mo 0.598 0.611 0.250 0.403 accommodate Ag. Ag and As concentrations reported may occur
Ni 0.846 0.178 0.878 0.208
as substitutions in lattice of the host suldes, or as inclusions of
Co 0.802 0.326 0.832 0.059 Ag and As minerals in solid solution. On the other hand, Mo and
Cr 0.802 0.118 0.820 0.341 W are mostly related to molybdenite and scheelite minerals, both
Li 0.780 0.195 0.217 0.834 elements are used as indicators since ancient times (Hume, 1937).
Sn 0.670 0.156 0.243 0.766 The occurrence of signicant quantities of sulde minerals, either
W 0.633 0.550 0.106 0.565 in the ore or in its associated minerals, is therefore an important
Eigenvalue 5.88 2.84 0.91
source of Ag, As, Mo and W. These four elements can also form
% of Var. 61.00 29.55 9.45
Cum% 61.00 90.55 100.00 their own minerals, which occur in minor quantities in some min-
eralization sites. The work carried out here been not extended to
the determination of Ag, As, Mo and W in sulde minerals. How-
ever, the stream sediment data suggest that at least one of these
elements, most usually Ag or As, appears to be present in the min-
factor were scanty, but the areas of serpentinites and talc-carbon-
eralization in quantities required for the application of pathnder
ates are characterized by very low scores. The association of Li, Sn,
geochemistry in drainage surveys.
W and Pb is typically of felsic rocks and is, therefore, considered as
Signicant anomalies of Ag, As, Mo and W, related to oxidizing
lithologically controlled. The distribution map of Factor 3 (Fig. 7)
zones associated with gold mineralization, are likely to include a
shows a few scattered clusters that correlate spatially with the area
large hydromorphic component compared with background levels
underlain by the highly weathered Older Granites, thus reecting
of these elements. Mobility in a surcial environment is dominated
the parent rocks and greisen as dominant inuencing factors. On
by transport in aqueous solutions; therefore greatly inuence the
the other hand, a few scattered cluster distributions of the factor
occurrence of anomalies (see Hamdy and Aly, 2011). The elements
scores, may reect in part the irregular occurrence of greisens that
Ag, As, Mo and W are soluble in aqueous phases and mobile in the
contain cassiterite, wolframite and galena.
vicinity of oxidizing suldes, providing their host minerals are
undergoing oxidation (Williams, 2003). Arsenic and Mo, are
6. Discussion strongly scavenged from solution in Fe-rich environments, either
by formation of Fe-compounds or by adsorption on Fe-oxides
Application of R-mode factor analysis indicates that factor 1 (Hem, 1977). Moreover, arsenic remains mobile under all condi-
gives the most interesting results, which associates Ag, As, Cu, tions in natural environment, leading to the development of rela-
Mo and W with Au and is considered indicative of the occurrence tively long As dispersion trains and anomalies in a variety of host
of arsenopyrite, copper minerals and scheelite (sphaler- rocks at the Barramiya gold mine area.
ite molybdenite) with gold. Although visible gold is rare, micro-
scopic and submicroscopic free-milling gold grains occur as
dispersed globule, rod, crescent, irregular streak, blebs and specks 6.1. Dispersion of gold in wadi sediments
along ne ribbons of wallrock in quartz veins, and in the graphitic
shear planes. These wallrock selvages are the locus of abundant Gold contents in drainage sediments are generally low and erra-
ne-grained arsenopyrite that is frequently intimately associated tic; only few values exceed 1 ppm (Fig. 5). Most of the high element
with gold. Inclusions of gold (10 lm-across) have been observed concentrations in stream sediments are found in the graphite-
in the As-bearing pyrite grains intergrown with arsenopyrite, or schist and serpentinized marble rocks matched well with principal
occur as free grains embedded in the quartzsericiteankerite sel- component images that represent multi-element associations re-
vage. Native gold and goldsilver alloy occur as tiny grains along lated to gold mineralization. The area around the Barramiya gold
micro-fractures in the quartz veins. However, the bulk mineraliza- mine, however, which contains the highest density of old gold
tion was attributed to auriferous arsenopyrite and arsenic-bearing workings, is characterized by Au contents that generally exceed
pyrite (with hundreds of ppms of refractory Au), as evident by 0.2 ppm (Fig. 5). Distribution of Au changes abruptly from the near
electron microprobe and LAICPMS analyzes (n = 102, range source to 150 m downstream. Geochemical survey can be effective
2193116 ppm, average 667 ppm Au; Zoheir and Lehmann, by using a sensitive analytical method for Au in the 1 + 0.25 mm
2011). As rocks weather and their content of sulde minerals oxi- fraction of the brown blocky gravel sediment. Geochemical disper-
dize, Ag, As, Mo and W are likely to be carried into drainage sys- sion patterns in the 0.51.0 ppm range indicate Au mineralization
tems in solution as well as included in clastic fragments. of 500100 m upstream, depending on relief. Very strong anoma-
Therefore, in a geochemical exploration using drainage sediments, lies of more than 1 ppm Au (Fig. 5) are mainly related to the sur-
these elements can assume the role of pathnder elements for cial pattern due to the dumps of the ancient gold workings in the
potentially economic deposits. Their concentrations in this role de- central part of the study area near the Barramiya gold mine.
pend upon many factors, but in particular upon the consistency of Despite the vicinity of very strong anomalies, Au contents in wadi
their association with the type of deposits sought, upon their geo- alluvium fall very sharply from 0.75 ppm (100300 m) down-
chemical dispersion characteristics and upon the ease with which stream to 0.35 ppm (5001200 m) far from their downstream
geochemical analysis can be performed. (Fig. 5). Despite eolian contamination, supercial geochemical
Above the selected geochemical thresholds, Ag, As, Mo and W anomaly in the range 0.750.35 ppm is detectable at 1200 m
anomalies appear in general to be related to known or suspected downstream of the Au-vein systems that were articially disinte-
mineralization (see Fig. 1). Electron microprobe analysis of grated by ancient workings.
12 H.Z. Harraz et al. / Journal of African Earth Sciences 68 (2012) 114

6.2. Supergene gold chemical mobility

Dominant transport processes vary by environment (arid, trop-

ical), age or type of cover, and structural/tectonic setting. In some
areas water and electrochemical mechanisms may dominate metal
transport. In others, movement of elements along faults by water,
evapo-transpiration and/or gaseous diffusion dominate, such that
the strongest signatures are evident around faults. In yet other
areas hyper-saline groundwater contributes signicantly to ele-
ment mobility through formation of highly mobile metal anion
complexes. Variable roles in metal transportation and xation
may be played by micro-organisms, cycling of metals by vegeta-
tion, seismic or barometric pumping of water and/or gases. This
fact has major consequences on the chemical mobility of gold. In
arid environments with abundant carbonate and prevailing soil
pH of 79, most metals of interest to exploration do not travel far.
The present-day desert conditions impede any nugget growth
in soil and alluvium, a fact conrmed by the most recent failure
to nd gold placers in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. Scarcity of veg-
etation and lack of organic decomposition in soils hinder produc-
tion of humic and cyanogenic complexes, which play an
important role in tropical climates (Lakin et al., 1974; Harraz
et al., 2001). During the more humid paleoclimatic periods, second-
ary enrichment must have been active but most of the resultant
proles were eroded by the Miocene period leaving only a skele-
tal residue of the adjacent rocks. The residence time of the Au-
bearing solutions in the present-day climate is too short to allow
secondary growth of gold particles (Salpeteur and Sabir, 1989;
Fletcher and Wolcott, 1991; Zeegers and Leduc, 1993). Fig. 8. Grain-size distribution of gold particles recovered by hand panning from
Gold particles larger than 100 lm are locally observed on the drainage sediment samples at the Barramiya area.

top of quartz veins and in pyritic limonitic boxworks hosted in

granites at the contact with serpentinized marble at the northern
and northwestern parts of the study area, but these are generally
affected by sand and wind erosion. The average size of free gold
particles recovered by hand panning is 45 lm in oxidized dump
samples and 7080 lm in the wadi-sediment samples (Fig. 8).
These are maxima; most of the very ne gold is lost in sample
desliming.
Occurrence of free gold particles up to 0.5 mm on the oxidized
outcrops of mineralized quartz veins and in listvenite may result
from secondary enrichment by ascending oversaturated solutions
(Bonnemaison, 1986; Osman, 1995; Likhoidov et al., 2007). Hamdy
and Aly (2011) showed that specks of gold and sulde dissemina-
tions are native nuggets (2035 lm) in pores, vugs, and ssures of
highly altered serpentinized marble and in the oxidation zone at
the northern and northwestern parts of the studied area. The
post-metamorphic gold mineralization in the marble took place
mostly by surcial uids. Mineralizing uid was also responsible
for leaching Au from its serpentinite source. The Au was most
probably transported from its source to the marble rocks by pluvial
periods-related meteoric and/or underground water (<1.5 Ma;
Hamdy and Aly, 2011). Consequence, source of native nuggets gold
in stream sediment samples at the northern and northwestern
parts of the studied area is mostly the country ultramac rocks
and the mineralization timing, relative to the marblization and
metamorphism of the source rocks (Harraz et al., 2001; Hamdy
and Aly, 2011). A more accurate approach to the mineralogy of
these secondary weathering products is needed to achieve a better
understanding of the processes and their relative chronology with
respect to the past pluvial climatic periods in the Eastern Desert of
Egypt.
Hydrogeochemical studies of water wells in the central Eastern
Desert and Bir Barramiya especially indicate high Cl content and
weak acidic conditions. Chemical transport of gold may then be

suspected since the AuCl4 and HAuO 3 complexes are stable in such
conditions (Cloke and Kelly, 1964; Webster and Mann, 1984).
During oxidation of sulde minerals the SO2 2 content of the sur-
cial water increases, thereby lowering the pH. Dissolution and
hydrolysis of Ca- and Mg-bearing minerals increase the anionic
content of the ground water. Subsequent evaporation in hot desert
conditions produces oversaturated and slightly alkaline conditions.

The AuCl4 complex becomes unstable (Hamilton et al., 1983) and
metallic gold is adsorbed on quartz silts. This mechanism has been
experimentally demonstrated by Sakkarova et al. (1984). Oxidation
of Fe2+ to Fe3+ may also reduce Au3+ to the metallic state (Williams,
2003), as suggested by the common observation of secondary gold
nuggets in limonitic boxworks. Variability in chemistry of host
rocks and their paleoclimatic history explain the difculty of den-
ing a general rule.
7. Conclusions
The applicability of both simple statistical and R-mode factor
multivariate analytical techniques for interpretation of regional
stream sediment data from the study area has been shown.
Single-element distribution plots, though useful, are both time
consuming and inadequate for identifying subtle though signi-
cant patterns within the data. Single element maps of Au and As
give starting point for further studies. These maps allow the loca-
tion of the richest regions for these elements, and it is a very useful
tool. However, the use of several numerical methods can help to
identify specic areas of interest. In this way R-mode factor multi-
variate analytical techniques have been selected to show their ben-
ets in interpreting stream sediment geochemical data from the
study area. The three-factor model has been adequately explained
in terms of geological and surface processes, which show great
masking effects. The most interesting results are related to factor
1, which associates Ag, As, Cu, Mo and W with Au and is considered
indicative of the occurrence of arsenopyrite, copper minerals and
scheelite (sphalerite molybdenite) with gold. Association of Ag
 H.Z. Harraz et al. / Journal of African Earth Sciences 68 (2012) 114
with Au in this factor is well established since the mean purity val-
ues of ore samples are 702794 Au and 117171 Ag, with Ag: Au
ratio 1:4.6 (Hume, 1937). In single-element distribution maps
some elements show a clear-cut relationship with known gold
mineralization or other potentially mineralized areas.
In conclusion, the use of R-mode factor analysis proved effective
for recognition of the metal association AgAuAsCuZnPb Halfpenny, R., Mazzucchelli, R.H., 1999. Regional multi-element drainage
MoW that is most probably indicative of potential mineralization
in the Barramiya gold deposit. The most promising area for follow-
up exploration is the district underlain by the graphite-schist in
contact with talc-carbonate at the central part of the area and
underlain also by serpentinized marble as well as Younger Granites
at the northwest part of the area (Figs. 5 and 7). Gold specks and
sulde disseminations were observed in quartz veins invading
the Younger Granite as documented by panning of stream sedi-
ments from the northwest part of the area as well as by detecting
native gold nuggets in pores, vugs, and ssures of auriferous and
uraniferous marbles.
Acknowledgments
The paper was beneted from the critical reviews and the con-
structive criticism of Prof. J. Roberts and anonymous reviewer,
which helped to improve the manuscript. Prof. P. Eriksson is
thanked for editorial handling the manuscript.
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