Gold in the Drava and Mura Rivers - Geological Genesis and Mineralogical Analysis

Ispiranje zlata iz recentnih i starih nanosa rijeka i potoka, jedan je od najstarijih oblika rudarenja, koji seže u predmetalno doba razvoja civilizacije (bakar i željezo). Razlog treba tražiti u neposrednoj upotrebi zlata bez znanja složene tehnologije pridobivanja čistog metala. Separacija teških minerala u vodotocima odvija se jednostavnim prirodnim procesom odnošenjem lakših mineralnih frakcija vodenom strujom. Postupci ispiranja zlata, korišteni od čovjeka, nisu ništa drugo nego kopiranje prirodnog procesa, uz male domišljate varijacije priručnog alata. U radu je opisana kratka povijest zlatarstva na Dravi, te data temeljita analiza geološke geneze zlatnih nanosa i mineraloški sastav dravskog zlata.Gold panning from recent and old river and stream deposits is one of the oldest forms of mining, dating back to the pre-metal ages of the development of civilisation (Copper and Iron Ages). The reasons should be sought in the direct use of gold without the knowledge of the more complex technologies of obtaining pure metal. The separation of heavy minerals in watercourses is carried out by the simple natural process of separation of lighter mineral fractions by the water current. The procedure of gold panning as used by man is none other than copying this natural process, with a few interesting variations using the available tools. This paper provides a short history of gold panning on the Drava River, and a comprehensive analysis on the geological genesis of gold deposits and the mineralogical composition of the Drava River gold