Hydrothermal synthesis of electrum and argentite at 150°C

Abstract

Au ₁₀Ag₉₀ alloy was placed in 5.2 molal aqueous NaHS solution at a temperature of 150°C for 120 days in order to observe the change of the texture of the material. Very fine-grained electrum (<1μm) coexisting with argentite was synthesised. The texture of the synthesised material was very similar to so called "chalcopyrite disease" (BARTON and BETHKE, 1987).