Amery Jackson began his PhD project in November 2017 to evaluate the geological controls on natural fractionation of gold during breakage in drill core tests and in bulk samples. Amery has utilised a range of drill core characterisation tools including hyperspectral mineralogy and Equotip hardness analysis to determine variability in rock properties across multiple drill core intercepts from Gramalote. The relationship between these characteristics is integrated with detailed geological logging of mineralisation and alteration paragenesis to determine the geological drivers for gold fractionation. The research outputs from the project will be to identify the site-specific geological features that control grade by size fractionation, and to generate geometallurgical indices for predicting upgrade response in other parts of the ore system.

Amery Jackson began his PhD project in November working on evaluating geological factors that drive natural fractionation of gold during early stages of comminution (e.g., blasting, crushing). Drill core and bulk sample material was collected in late 2017 by AngloGold Ashanti’s site-based metallurgical group for delivery to CODES in early 2018. Prior to commencing the research program, Amery conducted a desk-study using existing metadata from drill cores (hyperspectral data, multi-element assay data and logging information) and metallurgical test work information from bulk samples to design a research program to commence in early 2018. The research outputs from the project will be to identify the site-specific geological features that control grade-by-size fractionation, and to generate geometallurgical indices for predicting upgrade response in other parts of the ore system.