Scherrer Width and Topography of Illite as Potential Indicators for Contrasting Cu-Recovery by Flotation of a Chilean Porphyry Cu (Mo) Ore

Abstract

Two contrasting feeds in terms of copper recovery from a Cu (Mo) porphyry deposit but with similar overall mineralogy have been characterized by X-ray diffraction for their <1 µm fraction illite crystallinity, Scherrer width and by atomic force microscopy for surface roughness. The unfavorable feed displayed slightly higher crystallinity, larger Scherrer width and surface roughness factors, than the feed with good Cu recovery. As Scherrer width is an easy and cheaply to determine parameter it is suggested as complementary information to particle size distribution analyses when dealing with feeds where illite may affect pulp viscosity or gangue adhesion to bubbles during flotation.