Noble Metals of the Gaysky Copper-Zinc Massive Sulphide Deposit of Orenburg Region

The article provides data on the quantitative content of noble metals (platinum, palladium, gold and silver) and their distribution in the ores and minerals of the Gaysky copper-zinc massive sulphide deposit. The Gaysky field is unique in terms of reserves and has been mined since the middle of the last century. Platinum, palladium, gold and silver were determined in samples from the Gaysky deposit by atomic absorption spectrometry using our own patented method for the simultaneous determination of noble metals, which increases the accuracy of the determination. The quantitative contents of all the indicated noble metals in the ores and minerals of the Gaysky deposit have been determined. Higher concentrations of platinum, palladium, gold, and silver are found in chalcopyrite, and the lowest in pyrite. Based on average values, the content of noble metals in the studied samples is distributed as follows: Ag > Au > Pd > Pt. The significant volumes of mining and processing of massive sulphide ores in the Orenburg region and the entire Urals as a whole make the problem of studying the noble metals of these ores extremely urgent and promising. Taking into account the presence in the region of waste dumps, tailings of concentration plants, as well as with a decrease the copper content in the original ores, these objects can serve as additional sources of raw materials for many metals in the future.