Gold Clusters in Arsenopyrite Revealed by Atom Probe Tomography

The Challenge

Gold is often locked inside refractory minerals like arsenopyrite, making it nearly invisible to conventional analysis. Mining operations crush and process tons of ore to extract tiny amounts of gold, but without knowing how gold is distributed—whether clustered or dispersed—optimizing recovery is difficult. Traditional techniques can localize gold at the micron scale but fail to reveal its atomic-scale behavior, leaving critical questions unanswered. This process can also be extended to recover rare earth materials, as critical minerals are a large part of modern electronics and batteries.

How Atom Probe Solved It

CAMECA’s Atom Probe Tomography (APT) delivers a breakthrough in understanding “invisible” gold. By providing 3D atomic-scale imaging, APT reveals the precise distribution of gold within arsenopyrite:

• Detects individual atoms and reconstructs their positions in 3D.
• Identifies nanometer-sized gold clusters and regions of homogeneous distribution.
• Shows grain-to-grain variations in gold concentration by an order of magnitude.

These insights empower mining companies to refine extraction processes, improve efficiency, and maximize recovery of valuable resources.

Ready to See the Difference?

Unlock atomic-scale insights with the CAMECA LEAP 6000XR—the most advanced Atom Probe system for materials research and mining applications.

➡ Explore the LEAP 6000XR and Invizo 6000:

LEAP 6000 XR - 3D Atom Probe

Invizo 6000 - 3D Atom Probe