Probing gold in hot ore fluids: experiments and molecular dynamics simulations

为了有效地为澳大利亚发现重要的新矿产资源，勘探人员必须了解对矿石形成的基本控制。缺乏高压下热流体中可溶金属行为的数据是我们理解沉积形成和湿法冶金等工业工艺应用的一个重大障碍。该项目将利用澳大利亚尖端的实验和计算设施，利用多种新颖的实验技术和分子动力学模拟，从分子水平上了解高温、高压、富含二氧化碳的流体和金胶体系统中金的运输和沉积的基本化学过程。

In order to efficiently discover vital new mineral resources for Australia, explorers must understand the fundamental controls on ore formation. The lack of data for soluble metal behaviour in hot fluids at high pressure is a significant impediment to our understanding of deposit formation and for the application of industrial processes, such as hydrometallurgy. This project will gain molecular-level understanding of the fundamental chemistry of gold transport and deposition in high temperature, high-pressure, carbon dioxide-rich fluids and gold colloid systems, using multiple novel experimental techniques and molecular dynamics simulations that make use of Australia’s cutting-edge experimental and computational facilities.