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This article presents recent developments in the field of mineralogical analyses based on X-ray computer tomography (CT). The analysis of the data obtained indicates a good repeatability of measurements, and, consequently, the possibility of using the CT method for the purpose of studying rocks during their enrichment, as well as predicting the rock behavior in the process of disintegration. Porosity parameters, particularly void density, according to CT data correlate with rock strength whereas the total porosity, which is determined from the values of mineral density, enables only an indirect estimation of the rock strength and provides no information about size, shape of pores, their connectivity and spatial orientation.

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Experimental and methodological works were carried out by the thermomagnetic geochemical method (TMGM), one of geoelectrochemical methods, within the Svetlyi Bor platiniferous massif (Central Urals). We have analyzed the results of observation along two (search and test) profiles. The known distribution of platinum contents along the ditch in the test profile confirmed the effectiveness of the used method and made it possible to recognize the best indicators of platinum from the geoelectrochemical research data. The obtained results helped to reveal PGE-promising areas and suggested the presence of deep-seated “blind” orebodies.

The complexity of deep processing of fine-grained and refractory mineral raw materials is determined by the difficulty of disclosing aggregates of ore components during disintegration and extracting them into commercial products of standard quality. The main task of the disintegration of such ores is to destroy the object along the phase boundaries without overgrinding while minimizing energy costs. To implement selective disintegration, a precise study of the properties of the mineral components of the ore is necessary. However, there are no systematic data on the effect and relationship of the mineralogical-technological, structural-textural and physical-technical properties of minerals, rocks and ores with the processes of selective disintegration. The article presents the results of computer microtomographic and optical-microscopic studies of the structural and textural characteristics of typical sulfide copper-nickel ores using a SkyScan-1173 microtomograph from Bruker (Belgium), as well as a specialized, accredited as a measuring tool, Thixomet Pro software (Russia). The studies made it possible to identify automatically 19 morphometric parameters of ore grains in three mutually perpendicular sections, the most informative of which were the grain size of individual ore minerals, their perimeter, distance between grains and grain shape (sphericity, edge roughness, and others). The obtained quantitative characteristics of the structural and textural parameters, the analysis of the granulometric composition of the grains of ore minerals make it possible to assess the possibility of using selective grinding at various stages of ore preparation.