The Role of Process Mineralogy in Identifying the Cause of the Low Recovery of Chalcopyrite at KUCC

Bradshaw, Dee; Triffett, B.; Kashuba, Dave

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-27682-8_10

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Process mineralogy is concerned with the practical application of mineralogical knowledge of ores to guide the development and/or optimization of process flow sheets (Baum, 2014;Bradshaw, 2014;Henley, 1983;Lotter et al, 2018;Whiteman, Lotter, and Amos, 2016). Ores are characterized by inhomogeneities such as flaws, joints, voids`, and a variety of minerals dispersed as grains of various sizes with differing interrelationships with one another, i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of mineralogy on grindability -A case study of copper ores

Nghipulile

Moongo

Dzinomwa

et al. 2023

J. S. Afr. Inst. Min. Metall.

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The effect of mineralogy on the grindability was investigated using three copper ores - two sulphides and one oxide. The dominant copper minerals were identified by optical microscopy and mineral chemistry derived from SEM-EDS analysis. The sample designated sulphide 1 was bornite-rich, sulphide 2 ore was mainly chalcopyrite, and the oxide ore was predominantly malachite and minor azurite. The gangue minerals were identified using semi-qualitative XRD analysis. Sulphide 1 contained more than 80% (w/w) of quartz compared to about 70% in the other two ores. The Bond work indices were 13.8, 21.6, and 17.3 kWh/t for sulphide 1, sulphide 2, and oxide ore respectively. This suggested that the chalcopyrite-rich ore is the hardest, while the malachite-rich ore has intermediate hardness, and the bornite-rich ore is the softest. The brittleness indices of the ores were calculated using the chemical composition of the gangue, and a good correlation between brittleness indices and Bond work indices was observed, which highlights the importance of the gangue composition in determining the fracture behaviour of the ores. There is scope for further investigation into the relationship between ore mineralogy and comminution behaviour using other breakage characterization techniques.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The influence of ore texture has long been recognized as a critical factor in mineral processing (Bradshaw, 2014;Ghanei, 2020;Mine, 2017;Mwanga et al, 2014;Schouwstra and Smit, 2011). For example, Mine (2017) developed the relationship between grindability and mineralogical data for the Aitik copper mine in Sweden.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of mineralogy on grindability -A case study of copper ores

Nghipulile

Moongo

Dzinomwa

et al. 2023

J. S. Afr. Inst. Min. Metall.

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“…Mineral grain size, in particular grain size distribution of both sulphides and gangue minerals and mineral association are expected to have the greatest influence on processing behaviour (Evans, 2010;Sutherland, 2007;Wills and Napier-Munn, 2006;King, 2001) but are not typically included in the descriptions of texture. Examples include the work of Becker et al (2008), Bradshaw et al (2011), andHagni (2011) that provided qualitative estimate of mineral grain size at the micro-scale and used this information to explain processing behaviour. In the works of Hunt et al (2008) and MacDonald et al (2011), grain size distribution as measured by the Mineral Liberation Analyser (MLA) was used to link ore characterisation with mineral processing; however the implications for flowsheet design were not discussed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Relating mineralogical and textural characteristics to flotation behaviour

Tungpalan

Wightman

Manlapig

2015

Minerals Engineering

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“…Challenges are presented for the froth flotation process by the presence of these clays and iron oxides, as they can potentially hinder flotation efficiency, complicating the extraction of valuable copper minerals. Despite these deposits’ recognized economic and industrial significance, a comprehensive analysis of their mineralogical characteristics and interactions remains essential. ,, This characterization is vital to developing and refining strategies to process these complex ores effectively . However, a need for more existing literature is identified.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite these deposits’ recognized economic and industrial significance, a comprehensive analysis of their mineralogical characteristics and interactions remains essential. 24 , 27 , 28 This characterization is vital to developing and refining strategies to process these complex ores effectively. 29 However, a need for more existing literature is identified.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Iron Oxide–Copper Mineral Associations in Supergene Zones: Insights into Flotation Challenges and Optimization Using Response Surface Methodology

Oumesaoud,

Faouzi,

Aboulhassan

et al. 2024

ACS Omega

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In this study, batch flotation tests were conducted to investigate the flotation of oxidized copper ore from the supergene zone of the Bounhas deposit. Utilizing the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) anchored on the Box-Behnken Design (BBD), the effects of parameters such as collector dosage, sulfidizing agent, copper oxide and iron oxide grades, and particle size on copper recovery were explored. ANOVA and response surface plots elucidated the complex behavior of copper flotation. Mineralogical analyses of the initial feed and postflotation tails were performed on an industrial scale using advanced Zeiss microscopy. The quadratic model with an R 2 of 94.49% accurately captured the impact of the process parameters on copper recovery. Among the key findings, the sulfidizing agent exhibited the most substantial quadratic effect, while the copper oxide grade had the most substantial linear impact on recovery. A pivotal observation was the link between copper losses in tailings and specific iron oxide-copper associations. Optimization identified conditions leading to a maximum copper recovery rate of 71.49%. When validated industrially, the model demonstrated robust applicability for analogous mineral processing contexts. The study’s mineralogical insights enhance our understanding of the supergene zone mineralization and offer a solid foundation for subsequent in-depth mineral processing studies.

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The Role of Process Mineralogy in Identifying the Cause of the Low Recovery of Chalcopyrite at KUCC

Cited by 4 publications

References 3 publications

Effect of mineralogy on grindability -A case study of copper ores

Effect of mineralogy on grindability -A case study of copper ores

Relating mineralogical and textural characteristics to flotation behaviour

Iron Oxide–Copper Mineral Associations in Supergene Zones: Insights into Flotation Challenges and Optimization Using Response Surface Methodology

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