Improvement of Analytical Technique for Determination of Gold in Geological Matrix

Abstract

This article elucidates the improvement of analytical technique for determination of gold in geological matrix. Samples suspected to have gold in them were subjected to neutron flux from the Nigeria Research Reactor (NRR-1), a Miniature Neutron Source Reactor (MNSR). Two geological samples – one sample was encapsulated in a cylindrical cadmium shield and the other, bare – were separately irradiated. Of the two gamma ray spectrum generated, the spectrum of the sample shielded by cadmium cover indicates significant freedom from peak energy interference. Gold energy peak – chosen out of several clean elemental peaks – illustrates the benefits of this marked improvement.

Key words: gold, geological matrix, Research Reactor