Rick N 3 Report post Posted December 1, 2015 Finding this red waxy clay in the quartz. Anyone know what material it might be and the process that it came from? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eric N 22 Report post Posted December 2, 2015 The feldspars and micas degrade into clay. eric 1 Clay reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rick N 3 Report post Posted December 4, 2015 Eric, excellent, didn't know that or even how to research the material. Is the degradation from sulfides or just oxidation from water? Is there any relation to the clay pocket(s) (white, gray and red) that I should pay attention to related to this process? Like what original material deposited the clay? Still learning this stuff and appreciate the help. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eric N 22 Report post Posted December 5, 2015 Water is the primary mechanism that reduces the oxides to clays. Keep in mind that this water carries dissolved oxygen, a small bit of carbon dioxide and isn't pH neutral. The same water can alter any sulfides and remobilize downward them out of the oxidation zone. A favorite reference of mine and probably out of print is: "Ore Deposits" Park and MacDiarmid, 1964, W.H. Freeman and Company. If the evidence suggests that the quartz matrix could carry gold, then I would crush, wash and pan the material. eric Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rick N 3 Report post Posted December 7, 2015 Thanks Eric, looking it up now. Been testing / sampling as I go. Getting color but so minute it hasn't been worth the time but now I need to reduce some piles and so will be processing some this winter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
