Usable Values of Nickel Ore and Nickel Concentrate Certified Reference Materials

Abstract

The preparation and characterisation of three nickel ores and two nickel concentrate certified reference materials are described in this paper. The samples of nickel ore and nickel concentrate were collected from the Hongqiling nickel deposit in Jilin province. The raw materials were crushed and passed through a 2.0-mm sieve. The rough samples were then ground for 48 hr in a high-alumina ball mill to a final size of < 0.074 mm. Homogeneity of the samples was tested by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (WD-XRF) and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The relative standard deviations (RSD) of results on mass fraction measurements by WD-XRF were < 1.0% m/m for eighteen components. F-tests showed that all five samples were homogeneous.Nineteen laboratories contributed with measurement results (2127 in total) for the certification of mass fractions for twenty-three elements and compounds. Twenty-three components in the nickel ores and twenty components in the nickel concentrates were characterised as certified values, while the Ni mass fractions ranges from 0.1 to 9.02% m/m in these certified reference materials. These five samples were approved as national certified reference materials by the National Organisation of Reference Materials of China in 2012.Certified ore reference materials are very important in the chemical analysis and quality control of raw and final products in mineral exploration, mining and metallurgy. They are used for the calibration of different types of instruments, as well as for method validation in the determination of major and trace elements. Readily available nickel ore certified reference materials are limited in number. A nickel-copper-cobalt ore (SU-1b) with a Ni mass fraction of 1.953% m/m was prepared by CANMET (Mining and Mineral Sciences laboratory, Canada). A nickel sulfide ore reference material (OREAS 72

2014 Atomic Spectrometry Update – a review of advances in X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

“…Those involved in the analysis of chromium ores will welcome the preparation of four new reference materials GCr-1 to GCr-4 (ref. 124) in which WDXRF spectrometry was used to evaluate homogeneity.…”

Certified Reference Materials of Molybdenum Ore and Molybdenum Concentrate (GBW07141, GBW07142, GBW07143 and GBW07144)

“…The stability trend was evaluated using the ISO Guide 35 linear model, as described in detail in Cheng et al . (). Four samples were selected randomly for testing the Mo, Mn, S, Cu, Co, SiO 2 and CaO contents.…”

“…The stability of these samples was evaluated by determining the mass fraction of various elements four times over a 2-year period from December 2009 to November 2011. The stability trend was evaluated using the ISO Guide 35 linear model, as described in detail in Cheng et al (2015). Four samples were selected randomly for testing the Mo, Mn, S, Cu, Co, SiO 2 and CaO contents.…”

2016 Atomic Spectrometry Update – a review of advances in X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and its applications

“…Although at the time of writing there is a surplus of steel production round the world, Chokshi et al 162 undertook a study using XRF, XRD, SEM and optical microscopy techniques to determine the mineralogical, morphological and textural properties of low-grade iron ore to optimise its use for iron and steel production, in circumstances when high-grade ores become depleted. Finally, practitioners in the analysis of nickel ores and nickel concentrates will be interested in the production of ve new certied reference materials the preparation of which was described in a paper by Cheng et al 163 The WDXRF and ICP-OES techniques were used in their homogeneity testing.…”