Arsenic Drives Gold Concentration: A Breakthrough Discovery

Scientists using the intense X-ray beam of the European Synchrotron (ESRF) have uncovered the crucial role of arsenic in gold ore enrichment. Research reveals an atomic-scale attraction between arsenic and gold. When minerals are arsenic-rich, gold directly binds to arsenic, forming stable chemical bonds and thus being captured by the mineral. Conversely, with low arsenic concentration, gold only forms weak bonds with the mineral surface. This discovery not only explains the formation and distribution mechanisms of gold deposits but also offers new avenues for finding new gold resources and improving gold extraction processes, while also helping mitigate the health risks posed by arsenic to gold miners.