Mineralogical characterization of copper sulfide tailings using automated mineral liberation analysis: A case study of the Chambishi Copper Mine tailings

As ore grades constantly decline, more copper tailings, which still contain a considerable amount of unrecovered copper, are expected to be produced as a byproduct of froth flotation. This research reveals the occurrence mechanism of copper minerals in typical copper sulfide tailings using quantitative mineral liberation analysis(MLA) integrated with scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectroscopy(SEM–EDS). A comprehensive mineralogical characterization was carried out, and the results showed that almost all copper minerals were highly disseminated within coarse gangue particles, except for 9.2 wt% chalcopyrite that occurred in the 160–180 μm size fraction. The predominant copper-bearing mineral was chalcopyrite, which was closely intergrown with orthoclase and muscovite rather than quartz. The flotation tailings sample still contained 3.28 wt% liberated chalcopyrite and 3.13 wt% liberated bornite because of their extremely fine granularity.The SEM–EDS analysis further demonstrated that copper minerals mainly occurred as fine dispersed and fully enclosed structures in gangue minerals. The information obtained from this research could offer useful references for recovering residual copper from flotation tailings.     

Process mineralogy as a key factor affecting the flotation kinetics of copper sulfide minerals

The aim of this study is to apply process mineralogy as a practical tool for further understanding and predicting the flotation kinetics of the copper sulfide minerals. The minerals' composition and association, grain distribution, and liberation within the ore samples were analyzed in the feed, concentrate, and the tailings of the flotation processes with two pulp densities of 25 wt% and 30 wt%. The major copper-bearing minerals identified by microscopic analysis of the concentrate samples included chalcopyrite(56.2 wt%), chalcocite(29.1 wt%),covellite(6.4 wt%), and bornite(4.7 wt%). Pyrite was the main sulfide gangue mineral(3.6 wt%) in the concentrates. A 95% degree of liberation with d_(80) 80 μm was obtained for chalcopyrite as the main copper mineral in the ore sample. The recovery rate and the grade in the concentrates were enhanced with increasing chalcopyrite particle size. Chalcopyrite particles with a d_(80) of approximately 100 μm were recovered at the early stages of the flotation process. The kinetic studies showed that the kinetic second-order rectangular distribution model perfectly fit the flotation test data. Characterization of the kinetic parameters indicated that the optimum granulation distribution range for achieving a maximum flotation rate for chalcopyrite particles was between the sizes 50 and 55 μm.     

Structural,compositional and mineralogical characterization of carbonatitic copper sulfide: Run of mine,concentrate and tailings

The aim of this study was to determine the structural, compositional, and mineralogical composition of carbonatitic copper sulfide concentrator plant streams. Three samples, each from a different stream(run of mine(ROM), concentrate, and tailings) of a copper concentrator were characterized using various techniques, including stereomicroscopy, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared(FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy(SEM) in conjunction with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS), and optical microscopy. The results reveal that each stream possesses its own unique compositional features. Carbonate minerals associated with calcite and dolomite, followed by quartz, remain the major minerals in both the ROM and tails streams. In the ROM stream, chalcopyrite appears to occur as veins within the carbonatite-hosting ore body. Mineral phase mutation was discovered in the tails stream because magnetite formerly identified in the ROM as the primary iron oxide had evolved into hematite. This metamorphosis was likely promoted by the concentration process. The concentration process was effective, upgrading the chalcopyrite content from 2 wt% in the ROM stream to 58 wt% in the concentrate stream; it was accompanied by bornite(4 wt%), anilite(3 wt%), and digenite(2.5 wt%). In addition, the concentrate stream exhibited properties distinctive from those of the other streams. The FTIR analysis showed the existence of a sulfide group related to the chalcopyrite mineral. Free chalcopyrite grains were observed in the concentrate by SEM analysis, and their mineral presence was supported by the EDS analysis results. All characterization techniques corresponded well with each other regarding the structure, chemistry, and composition of the samples.     

Daughter minerals in fluid inclusions of garnet and diopside from Tongguanshan Copper Deposit by SEM/EDS and LRM

Tongguanshan copper deposit of Tongling large ore belt is one of the typical skarn copper deposits. Based on careful observation under microscope many daughter minerals including transparent ones and opaque ones have been distinguished in the fluid inclusions of garnet and diopside. The results of SEM/EDS (scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive spectrometer) and LRM (laser Raman microprobe) analysis show that these daughter minerals in garnet are sylvite, halite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and carbonate. Sylvite daughter mineral is very popular in garnet and diopside. The existence of so much sylvite daughter mineral and other daughter minerals in the fluid inclusions indicates that the ore-forming fluid is of supper-high salinity and high potassium concentration. High potassium concentration in the fluid inclusions agrees with K-rich mesotype-acid rock and K-silicate alteration that occurred widely in this area. The daughter mineral assemblage in garnet and diopside is similar to the mineral assemblage of oreforming stage that followed skarn stage.     

Quantitative mineralogical characterization of chrome ore beneficiation plant tailing and its beneficiated products

Mineralogical characterization and liberation of valuable minerals are primary concerns in mineral processing industries. The present investigation focuses on quantitative mineralogy, elemental deportment, and locking-liberation characteristics of the beneficiation of tailings from a chrome ore beneficiation plant in the Sukinda region, Odisha; methods used for the study of the beneficiated tailings are QEMSCAN®, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and mineral chemistry by a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy-dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS). The tailing sample was fine grained (69.48wt% below 45 μm size), containing 20.25wt% Cr₂O₃ and 39.19wt% Fe₂O₃, with a Cr:Fe mass ratio of 0.51. Mineralogical investigations using QEMSCAN studies revealed that chromite, goethite, and gibbsite are the dominant mineral phases with minor amounts of hematite, kaolinite, and quartz. The sample contained 34.22wt% chromite, and chromite liberation is more than 80% for grains smaller than 250 μm in size. Based on these results, it was predicted that liberated chromite and high-grade middling chromite particles could be separated from the gangue by various concentration techniques. The tailing sample was beneficiated by hydrocyclone, tabling, wet high-intensity magnetic separation (WHIMS), and flotation in order to recover the chromite. A chromite concentrate with 45.29wt% Cr₂O₃ and a Cr:Fe mass ratio of 1.85 can be produced from these low-grade chromite ore beneficiation plant rejects.     

Occurrence mechanism of silicate and aluminosilicate minerals in Sarcheshmeh copper flotation concentrate

The Sarcheshmeh copper flotation circuit is producing 5×104 t copper concentrate per month with an averaging grade of 28% Cu in rougher, cleaner and recleaner stages. In recent years, with the increase in the open pit depth, the content of aluminosilicate minerals increased in plant feed and subsequently in flotation concentrate. It can motivate some problems, such as unwanted consumption of reagents, decreasing of the copper concentrate grade, increasing of Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ in the copper concentrate, and needing a higher temperature in the smelting process. The evaluation of the composite samples related to the most critical working period of the plant shows that quartz, illite, biotite, chlorite, orthoclase, albeit, muscovite, and kaolinite are the major Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ beating minerals that accompany chalcopyrite, chalcocite, and covellite minerals in the plant feed. The severe alteration to clay minerals was a general rule in all thin sections that were prepared from the plant feed. Sieve analysis of the flotation concentrate shows that Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ bearing minerals in the flotation concentrate can be decreased by promoting the size reduction from 53 to 38 μm. Interlocking of the Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ bearing minerals with chalcopyrite and chalcocite is the occurrence mechanism of silicate and aluminosilicate minerals in the flotation concentrate. The dispersed form of interlocking is predominant.     

New influence factor inducing difficulty in selective flotation separation of Cu–Zn mixed sulfide minerals

Selective flotation separation of Cu–Zn mixed sulfides has been proven to be difficult. Thus far, researchers have found no satisfactory way to separate Cu–Zn mixed sulfides by selective flotation, mainly because of the complex surface and interface interaction mechanisms in the flotation solution. Undesired activation occurs between copper ions and the sphalerite surfaces. In addition to recycled water and mineral dissolution, ancient fluids in the minerals are observed to be a new source of metal ions. In this study, significant amounts of ancient fluids were found to exist in Cu–Zn sulfide and gangue minerals, mostly as gas–liquid fluid inclusions. The concentration of copper ions released from the ancient fluids reached 1.02 × 10-6 mol/L, whereas, in the cases of sphalerite and quartz, this concentration was 0.62 × 10-6mol/L and 0.44 × 10-6 mol/L, respectively. As a result, the ancient fluid is a significant source of copper ions compared to mineral dissolution under the same experimental conditions, which promotes the unwanted activation of sphalerite. Therefore, the ancient fluid is considered to be a new factor that affects the selective flotation separation of Cu–Zn mixed sulfide ores.     

Slime coating of kaolinite on chalcopyrite in saline water flotation

In saline water flotation, the salinity can cause a distinguishable slime coating of clay minerals on chalcopyrite particles through its effect on their electrical double layers in aqueous solutions. In this work, kaolinite was used as a representative clay mineral for studying slime coating during chalcopyrite flotation. The flotation of chalcopyrite in the presence and absence of kaolinite in tap water, seawater, and gypsum-saturated water and the stability of chalcopyrite and kaolinite particles in slurries are presented. Zeta-potential distributions and scanning electron microscopy images were used to characterize and explain the different slime coating degrees and the different flotation performances. Kaolinite particles induced slime coating on chalcopyrite surfaces and reduced chalcopyrite floatability to the greatest extent when the pH value was in the alkaline range. At 0.24wt% of kaolinite, the chalcopyrite floatability was depressed by more than 10% at alkaline pH levels in tap water. Salinity in seawater and gypsum-saturated water compressed the electrical double layers and resulted in extensive slime coating.     

Thin-layer heap bioleaching of copper flotation tailings containing high levels of fine grains and microbial community succession analysis

Thin-layer heap bioleaching of copper flotation tailings containing high levels of fine grains was carried out by mixed cultures on a small scale over a period of 210 d. Lump ores as a framework were loaded at the bottom of the ore heap. The overall copper leaching rates of tailings and lump ores were 57.10wt% and 65.52wt%, respectively. The dynamic shifts of microbial community structures about attached microorganisms were determined using the Illumina MiSeq sequencing platform based on 16S rRNA amplification strategy. The results indicated that chemolithotrophic genera Acidithiobacillus and Leptospirillum were always detected and dominated the microbial community in the initial and middle stages of the heap bioleaching process; both genera might be responsible for improving the copper extraction. However, Thermogymnomonas and Ferroplasma increased gradually in the final stage. Moreover, the effects of various physicochemical parameters and microbial community shifts on the leaching efficiency were further investigated and these associations provided some important clues for facilitating the effective application of bioleaching.     

New influence factor inducing difficulty in selective flotation separation of Cu-Zn mixed sulfide minerals

Selective flotation separation of Cu-Zn mixed sulfides has been proven to be difficult. Thus far, researchers have found no satisfactory way to separate Cu-Zn mixed sulfides by selective flotation, mainly because of the complex surface and interface interaction mechanisms in the flotation solution. Undesired activation occurs between copper ions and the sphalerite surfaces. In addition to recycled water and mineral dissolution, ancient fluids in the minerals are observed to be a new source of metal ions. In this study, significant amounts of ancient fluids were found to exist in Cu-Zn sulfide and gangue minerals, mostly as gas-liquid fluid inclusions. The concentration of copper ions released from the ancient fluids reached 1.02×10-6 mol/L, whereas, in the cases of sphalerite and quartz, this concentration was 0.62×10-6 mol/L and 0.44×10-6 mol/L, respectively. As a result, the ancient fluid is a significant source of copper ions compared to mineral dissolution under the same experimental conditions, which promotes the unwanted activation of sphalerite. Therefore, the ancient fluid is considered to be a new factor that affects the selective flotation separation of Cu-Zn mixed sulfide ores.     

一种难选铁矿石磁选精矿直接反浮选的分散特征

介绍了一种处理难选铁矿石磁选精矿的直接反浮选工艺.采用XRD,SEM和EDS等手段对原矿、精矿和尾矿的形貌及矿物组成进行了表征,重点探讨了分离过程中矿物的分散特征,为含碳酸盐难选铁矿石磁选精矿的直接反浮选技术提供理论基础.研究结果表明,采用添加分散剂直接反浮选技术可以获得合格铁精矿;有用铁矿物和脉石矿物细颗粒无选择性粘附在有用铁矿物和脉石粗颗粒表面,是造成铁矿石分离困难的主要原因;分散剂的加入有利于颗粒分散,从而实现了有用铁矿物与脉石矿物的选择性分离.     

Structural,compositional and mineralogical characterization of carbonatitic copper sulfide: Run of mine,concentrate and tailings

The aim of this study was to determine the structural, compositional, and mineralogical composition of carbonatitic copper sulfide concentrator plant streams. Three samples, each from a different stream(run of mine(ROM), concentrate, and tailings) of a copper concentrator were characterized using various techniques, including stereomicroscopy, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared(FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy(SEM) in conjunction with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS), and optical microscopy. The results reveal that each stream possesses its own unique compositional features. Carbonate minerals associated with calcite and dolomite, followed by quartz, remain the major minerals in both the ROM and tails streams. In the ROM stream, chalcopyrite appears to occur as veins within the carbonatite-hosting ore body. Mineral phase mutation was discovered in the tails stream because magnetite formerly identified in the ROM as the primary iron oxide had evolved into hematite. This metamorphosis was likely promoted by the concentration process. The concentration process was effective, upgrading the chalcopyrite content from 2 wt% in the ROM stream to 58 wt% in the concentrate stream; it was accompanied by bornite(4 wt%), anilite(3 wt%), and digenite(2.5 wt%). In addition, the concentrate stream exhibited properties distinctive from those of the other streams. The FTIR analysis showed the existence of a sulfide group related to the chalcopyrite mineral. Free chalcopyrite grains were observed in the concentrate by SEM analysis, and their mineral presence was supported by the EDS analysis results. All characterization techniques corresponded well with each other regarding the structure, chemistry, and composition of the samples.     

氰化尾渣浮选回收过程中黄铜矿的界面特性研究

氰化尾渣是氰化提金过程中产生的固体废弃物,同时也是高价值的二次资源,含有大量的铜、铅、锌等有价元素。由于氰化过程长时间的充气搅拌,氰化尾渣的矿物界面发生严重的改性,但是关于这方面的研究较少。本文针对某高铜铅氰化尾渣浮选过程中存在铜铅难分离及铜回收率低等问题开展黄铜矿界面性质研究,采用的研究方法包括粒度分析仪、XRD分析、SEM–EDS微界面分析、FTIR分析、界面洗脱及浮选实验等。实验结果表明部分黄铜矿表面致密包裹一层细粒的方铅矿,导致黄铜矿表现为类似于方铅矿的浮选特性,导致这种现象的原因是黄铜矿表面被非极性油污染。不能被浮选回收的黄铜矿表面包裹一层铁矾类似物,导致黄铜矿表面被钝化而不利于药剂的吸附。通过研究可知氰化尾渣中黄铜矿界面容易被杂质污染及氧化层包裹,导致其难于被浮选回收。     

超细氰化尾渣中铜铅矿物颗粒界面性质

山东某冶炼厂氰化尾渣无法实现铜铅分选,通过XRD、激光粒度仪、浮选实验、FTIR、SEM-EDS、金相显微镜等方法,研究了氰化尾渣铜铅矿物颗粒界面性质.结果表明,渣中主要矿物为方铅矿、黄铜矿、黄铁矿、闪锌矿,粒度小于38μm质量分数为95.61%.氰化尾渣中的方铅矿和黄铜矿表面含有大量油状物,此油状物被证明是机械润滑油.黄铜矿表面吸附大量润滑油,造成黄铜矿无法被氰化物抑制.细颗粒方铅矿通过疏水作用力包裹在黄铜矿表面,导致铜铅无法分选.     

鞍山式赤铁矿石反浮选尾矿铁品位偏高机制

针对鞍山式赤铁矿石反浮选流程中存在的浮选尾矿铁品位偏高的问题,借助X射线衍射分析、化学多元素分析、粒度分析、扫描电子显微镜等检测手段,对选别流程中样品的化学多元素组成、物相组成、粒度分布及矿物的单体解离度进行了研究.结果表明,在各扫选尾矿中存在着一些单体解离高的微细铁矿物颗粒,其吸附在粗粒级脉石矿物表面,形成“载体浮选”进入到尾矿中,造成尾矿铁品位偏高.     

镍钼矿浮选尾矿工艺矿物学及再选试验研究

镍钼矿浮选尾矿中Ni、Mo的品位分别为0.42%、0.62%,仍然具有开发利用价值.通过工艺矿物学分析,解释了镍钼矿浮选尾矿中镍、钼均主要以硫化矿形式存在,钼矿物与脉石矿嵌布关系密切,镍矿物与黄铁矿共生关系密切.通过再选闭路试验,浮选得到了Ni、Mo品位分别为1.44%、1.89%的再选精矿,Ni、Mo回收率分别为46.39%、41.24%,增加了镍钼矿综合回收利用.     

闽西某铅锌尾矿工艺矿物学研究

利用XRD、SEM、MLA自动检测等技术对闽西地区某铅锌尾矿进行工艺矿物学分析,主要进行化学组成、矿物组成、解离度以及主要金属矿物的嵌布特征、元素赋存状态等研究.结果表明:尾矿中硫和铁元素含量较高,品位分别为8.07%和25.90%,具有回收价值,含铁矿物主要是磁黄铁矿、黄铁矿和磁铁矿等;矿石粒度分布较不均匀,但含铁矿物主要是粗颗粒形态,单体解离度高.     

硫化矿无捕收剂浮选

本文报道了不加巯基类捕收剂,在实验室和工业回路中实现了硫化铜矿石的浮选。按天然可浮性、自诱导浮选和硫诱导浮选,研究和讨论硫化矿无捕收剂浮选的不同机理,提出了无捕收剂浮选分离硫化矿混合矿的新设想。     

墨西哥某氧化铜矿形态学特征对其酸浸试验的影响

通过化学选矿的方法研究了氧化铜矿形态学特征对铜浸出率的影响.以硫酸为浸出剂对某氧化铜矿的两种矿样进行酸浸试验.分别研究浸出剂用量、浸出时间以及料层厚度等影响因素.同时,采用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）观察原矿和尾矿中铜的形态学特征,即A矿样中铜矿物以薄膜的形式覆盖在脉石矿物表面;B矿样中铜矿物呈颗粒状与脉石矿物共生.酸浸试验结果表明：在相同的条件下,A矿样的铜浸出率要远高于B矿样.这是因为A矿样中铜矿物具有更大的比表面积,与硫酸的接触面大,反应更加充分.     

锌浸出渣的还原焙烧和人工硫化矿物浮选过程中硫酸铅和硫酸锌的反应行为

To evaluate the feasibility of recovering Pb and Zn sulfides and Ag-containing minerals from Zn leaching residue by the process of reduction roasting followed by flotation, the reaction behaviors of Pb and Zn sulfates during this process were investigated. Chemical analysis showed that the transformation ratios of PbSO₄ and ZnSO₄ could reach 65.51% and 52.12%, respectively, after reduction roasting, and the introduction of a sulfidation agent could improve the transformation ratios of these sulfates. scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS) revealed that temperature obviously affects the particle size, crystal growth, and morphology of the artificial Pb and Zn sulfide minerals. Particle size analysis demonstrated that the particle size of the materials increases after roasting. Flotation tests revealed that a flotation concentrate composed of 12.01wt% Pb, 27.78wt% Zn, and 6.975 × 10?2wt% Ag with recoveries of 60.54%, 29.24%, and 57.64%, respectively, could be obtained after roasting.