PLACER GOLD PROSPECTION IN SUŠEVSKA RIVER, SUŠEVO VILLAGE, NORTH MACEDONIA

Abstract

This paper will present detailed studies on the chemical composition of gold aggregates found in Strumica Valley, eastern Macedonia, and their morphological characteristics. About a hundred chemical analyses of recovered gold aggregates were done. The chemical composition of gold aggregates shows heterogeneity with an average gold content from 89.85 to 99.72% and a significant mercury (0.44 to 6.27%) and silver content (0.24 to 18.41%). Other impurities are present in low contents: iron, tellurium, copper and arsenic. Although some platness-flattened and elongated shapes are present, the isometric-irregular shape is most frequent. The size of the gold aggregates ranges from 900 m to 3 mm.
Key words: schlich prospection; placer gold; morphology; gold grains