  Gold-associated pathfinder minerals have been investigated by identifying
host minerals of Au for samples collected from an artisanal mining site near a
potential gold mine (Kubi Gold Project) in Dunkwa-On-Offin in the central
region of Ghana. We find that for each composition of Au powder (impure) and
the residual black hematite/magnetite sand that remains after gold panning,
there is a unique set of associated diverse indicator minerals. These indicator
minerals are identified as SiO2 (quartz), Fe3O4 (magnetite), and Fe2O3
(hematite), while contributions from pyrite, arsenopyrites, iridosmine,
scheelite, tetradymite, garnet, gypsum, and other sulfate materials are
insignificant. This constitutes a confirmative identification of Au pathfinding
minerals in this particular mineralogical area. The findings suggest that X-ray
diffraction could also be applied in other mineralogical sites to aid in
identifying indicator minerals of Au and the location of ore bodies at reduced
environmental and exploration costs.
