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Oxidized black copper ores are known for their difficulty in dissolving their components of interest through conventional methods. This is due to its non-crystalline and amorphous structure. Among these minerals, copper pitch and copper wad are of great interest because of their considerable concentrations of copper and manganese. Currently, these minerals are not incorporated into the extraction circuits or left untreated, whether in stock, leach pads, or waste. For the recovery of its main elements of interest (Cu and Mn), it is necessary to use reducing agents that dissolve the present MnO2, while allowing the recovery of Cu. In this research, the results for the dissolution of Mn and Cu from a black copper mineral are exposed, evaluating the reducing effect of NaCl for MnO2 through pre-treatment of agglomerate and curing, and subsequently leaching in standard condition with the use of a reducing agent (Fe2+). High concentrations of chloride in the agglomerate process and prolonged curing times would favor the reduction of MnO2, increasing the dissolution of Mn, while the addition of NaCl did not benefit Cu extractions. Under standard conditions, low Mn extractions were obtained, while in an acid-reducing medium, a significant dissolution of MnO2 was achieved, which supports the removal of Cu.

The implications of physical conditions of the feedwell on the rheological properties of synthetic copper tailings, flocculated in seawater, were analysed. The mixing intensity of flocculation was related to the structural characteristics of the aggregates, and the outcomes were linked to the yield stress of the pulp sediments. Tailings settling assays were conducted by using a 30 mm turbine type stirrer with an in-situ aggregate size characterisation. The structural characteristics of the aggregates were determined by using the focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM). After a mixing time between the pulp and the flocculant, the sample was allowed to settle for 2.5 h, where the variation of the sediment height was minimal. The sediment was gently removed and subjected to rheological characterisation. The yield stress was measured on an Anton Paar MCR 102 rheometer (ANAMIN Group, Santiago, Chile), with a vane-in-cup configuration. The mixing intensity was related to the characteristics of the aggregates, and the outcomes were linked to the yield stress of the flocculated pulp sediments. More aggressive hydrodynamics deteriorated the structure of the aggregates, promoting the reduction of both its size and the fractal dimension. This brought direct consequences on the rheological properties of the sediments: at higher mixing level, the yield stress was lower. The explanation lies in the structural changes of the aggregates, where at a fixed mixing rate, the yield stress presented a seemingly exponential increase over the fractal dimension. Additionally, correlations were found between the rheological properties with settling rate and aggregate size.Metals 2019, 9, 1295 2 of 12 of the mineral processing. Water recovery is principally accomplished in thickeners, where chemical reagents (i.e., flocculants) are used to stimulate the decantation of solid particles, generating a clarified supernatant liquid [1]. The discharge is carried out by a lower cone (underflow), and it must be expelled with the help of rakes that move with the application of mechanical torque. The magnitude of the rheological properties is critical, and several studies show a qualitative improvement in dewaterability as a result of raking the suspension [2,3]. Ultimately, the thickened tailings are transported through pipes to a disposal area for subsequent dehydration and consolidation [4].Tailings produced in the copper mining operations generally have clays contents like kaolinite, where their colloidal size and amorphous structure cause varied challenges in thickening. Usually, the settling rate of the flocculated slurries drop [5][6][7], and the rheological parameters can rise to acquire non-Newtonian behaviours [8,9]. Several studies have examined the adsorption of polyacrylamides on the surface of kaolinite, standing out as the main flocculants and most common clay that appear in the copper industry. It has been concluded that polymer adsorption occurs mostly on the kaolinite edge, that is, on the broken bonds of the aluminol (Al-OH) an...