Gold oxide is an inorganic compound containing gold and oxygen with the formula Au2O3. It decomposes at 298 °C.
The most stable form of gold, it is a red-brown solid that is non-conductive to electricity.
It is an important source of gold for the glass industry and is also used in a number of applications such as optics, filtration and coatings. The oxidation state of the gold oxide is very low, making it a thermally stable and soluble source for applications in glass and ceramics.
IOCG deposits are major gold repositories worldwide, but their gold grades and tonnages vary widely. The gold tonnage ranges from 0.6 to 483 t (average 64 t) and the Cu/Au ratios are generally significantly variable (ranging from 0.7 to 64).
The gold distribution in IOCG deposits is controlled by a combination of source, solubility and depositional mechanism (Williams-Jones et al., 2009). The gold is found in three forms: native gold, electrum and a gold-bismuth-antimony-tellurium alloy.
Fulminating gold is a complex of auric oxide with ammonia, Au2O3(NH3)4. It is formed by precipitating gold chloride with ammonia or its carbonate. The fulminate is a dark brown, pulverulent powder that is insoluble in water, but soluble in potassium cyanide.
It dissolves in concentrated sulphuric and nitric acids, giving sulphates and nitrates of gold respectively, but it also combines with metallic oxides to form aurates. It can also be dispersed in aqua regia and is decomposed by hydrochloric acid, but weak bases at once decompose it.
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