Uptake of trace elements by baryte during copper ore processing: A case study from Olympic Dam, South Australia

Schmandt, Danielle S.; Cook, Nigel J.; Ehrig, Kathy; Gilbert, Sarah; Wade, Benjamin P.; Rollog, Mark; Ciobanu, Cristiana L.; Kamenetsky, Vadim S.

doi:10.1016/j.mineng.2019.02.034

Cited by 13 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…There are many forms and mineralization stages of baryte at Olympic Dam [29]. Two such types are "dirty" baryte containing a high density of inclusions, and clean, largely homogeneous baryte-both visible in Figure 13.…”

Section: Radionuclide Distributionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is insufficient time for 210 Pb to form Pb minerals as such, though it may augment existing minerals if proximity, time, conditions and growth kinetics allow for it. It is significantly more likely that 226 Ra (half-life~1600 years) finds stability in accommodating minerals such as sulfates [29], and the 210 Pb simply decays in situ. Although logical, this dissociation has disappointingly nullified attempts to use (readily measurable) 206 Pb as a proxy for (parts-per-trillion-level or less) 210 Pb.…”

Section: Radionuclide Distributionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Laser ablation ICP-MS is a remarkably powerful tool which has proven invaluable for detailed characterization of a range of minerals [59]. It has found wide application in mineral characterization of Olympic Dam ores, for hematite [30,32], apatite [35], feldspars [60], rare earth minerals [33,34], and baryte [29], among others. Moreover, microbeam techniques have proven invaluable for the development of new methodologies for dating oxide-dominant ores [61] from Olympic Dam.…”

Section: Instrument Capabilities and Future Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Concentrate leach discharges are flotation concentrates which have undergone sulfuric acid leaching; extensively altering mineralogy on the nano-, micro-, and macroscales and redistributing trace elements and isotopes at anthropogenic conditions. A simplified flow sheet of ore processing at Olympic Dam may be found in Schmandt et al [29]. This study presents just a few examples of beneficial trace element/isotope analyses, including examples of both geochemical and economic interest.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Detection of Trace Elements/Isotopes in Olympic Dam Copper Concentrates by nanoSIMS

et al. 2019

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Many analytical techniques for trace element analysis are available to the geochemist and geometallurgist to understand and, ideally, quantify the distribution of trace and minor components in a mineral deposit. Bulk trace element data are useful, but do not provide information regarding specific host minerals—or lack thereof, in cases of surface adherence or fracture fill—for each element. The CAMECA nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometer (nanoSIMS) 50 and 50L instruments feature ultra-low minimum detection limits (to parts-per-billion) and sub-micron spatial resolution, a combination not found in any other analytical platform. Using ore and copper concentrate samples from the Olympic Dam mining-processing operation, South Australia, we demonstrate the application of nanoSIMS to understand the mineralogical distribution of potential by-product and detrimental elements. Results show previously undetected mineral host assemblages and elemental associations, providing geochemists with insight into mineral formation and elemental remobilization—and metallurgists with critical information necessary for optimizing ore processing techniques. Gold and Te may be seen associated with brannerite, and Ag prefers chalcocite over bornite. Rare earth elements may be found in trace quantities in fluorapatite and fluorite, which may report to final concentrates as entrained liberated or gangue-sulfide composite particles. Selenium, As, and Te reside in sulfides, commonly in association with Pb, Bi, Ag, and Au. Radionuclide daughters of the 238U decay chain may be located using nanoSIMS, providing critical information on these trace components that is unavailable using other microanalytical techniques. These radionuclides are observed in many minerals but seem particularly enriched in uranium minerals, some phosphates and sulfates, and within high surface area minerals. The nanoSIMS has proven a valuable tool in determining the spatial distribution of trace elements and isotopes in fine-grained copper ore, providing researchers with crucial evidence needed to answer questions of ore formation, ore alteration, and ore processing.

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Section: Radionuclide Distributionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Radionuclide Distributionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Instrument Capabilities and Future Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Detection of Trace Elements/Isotopes in Olympic Dam Copper Concentrates by nanoSIMS

et al. 2019

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“…Rapid uptake via co-precipitation [11][12][13] as well as the slower recrystallization process can lead to this solid solution [14][15][16][17][18]. Recrystallization of BaSO 4 in the presence of 226 Ra has been considered to be relevant with respect to nuclear waste disposal [19] as well as to ore processing [20,21], where barite was also observed to take up 226 Ra from the process solutions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recrystallization and Uptake of 226Ra into Ba-Rich (Ba,Sr)SO4 Solid Solutions

et al. 2020

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226Ra is an important contributor to naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) and also considered in safety cases related to the disposal of spent nuclear fuel in a deep geological repository. Recrystallization and solid solution formation with sulfates is regarded as an important retention mechanism for 226Ra. In natural systems sulfates often occur as (Ba,Sr)SO4. Therefore, we have chosen this solid solution at the Ba-rich end for investigations of the 226Ra uptake. The resulting 226Ra-solubility in aqueous solution was assessed in comparison with a thermodynamic model of the solid solution-aqueous solution system (Ba,Sr,Ra)SO4 + H2O. The temperature and composition of the initial (Ba,Sr)SO4 solid solution were varied. Measurements of the solution composition were combined with microscopic observations of the solid and thermodynamic modeling. A complex recrystallization behavior of the solid was observed, including the dissolution of significant amounts of the solid and formation of metastable phases. The re-equilibration of Ba-rich (Ba,Sr)SO4 to (Ba,Sr,Ra)SO4 leads to a major reconstruction of the solid. Already trace amounts of Sr in the solid solution can have a significant impact on the 226Ra solubility, depending on the temperature. The experimental findings confirm the thermodynamic model, although not all solids reached equilibrium with respect to all cations.

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