Gold In Plants: A BiogeochemicalApproach In Determining GoldAnomalies Undercover- A Case Study At Homase/Akokerri, Ghana

Gold in Plants

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4314/sxrw0f30

Keywords:

Mineralisation; gold; regolith-dominated; biogeochemistry

Abstract

This study examines whether gold concentrations in tree bark can be used to identify geochemical anomalies beneath regolith at Homase/Akokerri, Ghana. Forty bark samples were collected from four plant species: Kokoma (10), Nyamedua (10), Sesamasa (10), and Ofram (10). The samples were analysed for gold and selected pathfinder elements using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Kokoma recorded the highest average gold concentration, whereas Nyamedua and Ofram had lower values. Gold concentrations above the 0.5 ppm threshold reported by Lintern (2007) occurred in several samples. The results also include measurements of copper and arsenic for comparison with gold. The variation observed among the plant species indicates that tree bark may provide useful geochemical information in regolith-covered areas, although the plant results require confirmation with geological and conventional geochemical data.

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Author Biographies

  • Maxwell Sarpong, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana

    Maxwell Sarpong is a graduate of the Department of Petroleum Geosciences and Engineering at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, Ghana. His research interests include exploration geochemistry, reservoir characterisation, basin analysis, economic geology, mineral exploration, geospatial analysis, and environmental geoscience. He has contributed to research on the application of biogeochemical techniques for mineral exploration in Ghana. His work focuses on advancing sustainable and innovative approaches to mineral resource exploration.

  • Gabriel Adansi Fordjour, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana

    Gabriel Adansi Fordjour is a teaching assistant at the Petroleum Geosciences and Engineering Department of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa – Ghana. He holds a BSc in Petroleum Geosciences and Engineering from the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, Ghana. His research interest includes Geochemistry, Seismic Interpretation, and Reservoir Characterisation.

  • Botwe Takyi, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana

    Botwe Takyi is a Lecturer at the Petroleum Geosciences and Engineering Department of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa-Ghana. He holds a PhD in Petroleum Geology from the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, an MSc in Mineral Exploration Geosciences from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and a BSc in Geological Engineering from UMaT, Ghana. His research interests include Biomarker Applications in Petroleum Geochemistry, Source Rock and Crude Oil Geochemistry, Reservoir Compartmentalisation, Mineral Exploration and Mining Geology. He has several years of experience in mining and exploration as a geologist in the Ghanaian Mines.

  • Bright Sakyi Odame, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia

    Odame Bright is a postgraduate student in Petroleum Engineering at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia. His work focuses on using machine learning to predict wellbore stability in carbon capture and storage systems. His research interests include petroleum geomechanics, rock failure criteria, geomechanical modelling, reservoir characterization, explainable artificial intelligence, and CO₂ storage.

  • Opoku Yeboah Bennet, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana

    Opoku Yeboah Bennet is a Bsc graduate student in Petroleum Geosciences and Engineering at University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa. His research interests include petroleum geomechanics, geomechanical modelling, reservoir characterization, geochemical interactions among fluids and rocks (CO2 Sequestration)

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Published

09/29/2026

Issue

 Online first articles 

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Copyright (c) 2026 Maxwell Sarpong, Gabriel Adansi Fordjour, Botwe Takyi, Bright Sakyi Odame, Opoku Yeboah Bennet

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Articles published in the JUST are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC BY 4.0).

How to Cite

Gold In Plants: A BiogeochemicalApproach In Determining GoldAnomalies Undercover- A Case Study At Homase/Akokerri, Ghana: Gold in Plants. (2026). Journal of Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.4314/sxrw0f30