Sulfide fabrics in some nickel sulfide ores from Kambalda, Western Australia

Pyrrhotite and pentlandite fabric studies were carried out on oriented cubes of nickel sulfide ore from the tabular Durkin and Lunnon shoots associated with the Archaean Kambalda dome. Grain sizes, grain shapes, triple junction angles and preferred dimensional and lattice orientations were determined for the monoclinic pyrrhotite. Spatial orientations were determined also for pentlandite foliation and lineation in the same samples.Two distinct pyrrhotite grain morphologies were identified. The foliated pyrrhotite comprises a flattened variety, and an equant variety occurs as microvolumes within the former. Pyrrhotite foliations are separated from pentlandite foliations by consistently small angles.The pyrrhotite and pentlandite foliations are acquired features that developed at about the same time, probably following the peak of the principal dynamo-thermal event. Subsequent deformation(s)and recrystallization produced rotations within the ores and the equant pyrrhotite that crystallized from the flattened variety.

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Analysis of pyrrhotite properties accompanying recrystallization of metamorphosed nickel sulfide ore from Kambalda, Western Australia

Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences ◽

10.1139/e83-011 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 113-119 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

J. Lusk ◽

J. Ostwald

Keyword(s):

Low Temperature ◽

Triple Junction ◽

Nickel Sulfide ◽

Lattice Orientation ◽

Line Broadening ◽

Serial Sectioning ◽

X Ray ◽

Peak Broadening ◽

Sulfide Ore ◽

Monoclinic Pyrrhotite

Serial sectioning was carried out on a single sample of oriented pyrrhotite–pentlandite ore from the Durkin Shoot at Kambalda. This permitted the sequential investigation of a number of pyrrhotite properties including grain morphologies, triple-junction angles, grain lattice orientation, microhardness, peak broadening in X-ray diffractograms, and approximate Fe/S ratios of the monoclinic pyrrhotite by microprobe analysis.The present study confirms the presence of previously identified flattened tabular (F) and equant polyhedral (E) pyrrhotite morphologies, and establishes that the E type has recrystallized from the F variety. The latter is composed of subgrain aggregates with C axes that tend to be oriented perpendicular to the pyrrhotite foliation. Formation of the E type pyrrhotite from the F variety involved subgrain rotations, subgrain coalescence, and grain growth. This was accompanied by definite reductions in σ values for triple-junction angles and in microhardness, as well as apparent reductions in X-ray line broadening and Fe/S ratios for the pyrrhotite. The recrystallization is regarded as a late, low-temperature feature of the regionally metamorphosed nickel sulfide ore.

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Nickel Bioleaching at Elevated pH: Research and Application

Solid State Phenomena ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/ssp.262.197 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 262 ◽

pp. 197-201 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jian Zhi Sun ◽

Bo Wei Chen ◽

Jian Kang Wen ◽

Biao Wu

Keyword(s):

Nickel Sulfide ◽

Industrial Applications ◽

Low Grade ◽

Sulfide Ores ◽

Leaching Rate ◽

Sulfide Deposits ◽

Acid Consumption ◽

Sulfide Ore ◽

The Cost ◽

Experimental Researches

Biohydrometallurgy has broad application prospect in the treatment of low-grade nickel sulfide ore. However, quite a number of nickel sulfide deposits are associated with basic gangue minerals such as contain olivine, serpentine. The high basic gangue minerals will lead to a higher acid consumption and make it difficult to bioleach at pH below 2.5. It is crucial to improve processes and adapt bacteria with this kind of ore. This paper reviews the experimental researches and industrial applications for bioleaching of the high acid consumption nickel sulfide ores. It is suggested that bioleaching at elevated pH will have similar leaching rate compared with pH below 2.5, meanwhile the cost will be decreased remarkably due to a lower acid consumption and less dissolved impurity ions.

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Komatiites and nickel sulfide ores of the Black Swan area, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. 4. Platinum group element distribution in the ores, and genetic implications

Mineralium Deposita ◽

10.1007/s00126-004-0440-1 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 39 (7) ◽

pp. 752-765 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Stephen J. Barnes

Keyword(s):

Western Australia ◽

Platinum Group Element ◽

Nickel Sulfide ◽

Element Distribution ◽

Group Element ◽

Black Swan ◽

Sulfide Ores ◽

Yilgarn Craton ◽

Platinum Group

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Spinel phases associated with metamorphosed volcanic-type iron-nickel sulfide ores from Western Australia

Economic Geology ◽

10.2113/gsecongeo.72.7.1224 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 72 (7) ◽

pp. 1224-1244 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

D. I. Groves ◽

F. M. Barrett ◽

R. A. Binns ◽

K. G. McQueen

Keyword(s):

Western Australia ◽

Nickel Sulfide ◽

Sulfide Ores ◽

Spinel Phases ◽

Iron Nickel

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A possible volcanic-exhalative origin for lenticular nickel sulfide deposits of volcanic association, with special reference to those in western Australia

Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences ◽

10.1139/e76-046 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 451-458 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

J. Lusk

Keyword(s):

Special Reference ◽

Western Australia ◽

Nickel Sulfide ◽

Regional Metamorphism ◽

Massive Sulfide ◽

Sulfide Ores ◽

Direct Link ◽

Sulfide Deposits ◽

Local Abundance ◽

Greenstone Belts

Archean lenticular nickel sulfide deposits of volcanic association bear a striking resemblance lo volcanic-exhalative Cu–Zn massive sulfide deposits. They have similar morphologies, show well developed mineralogical layering, and exhibit close stratigraphic relationships with intimately associated volcanics and intra-volcanic sediments of greenstone belts. The nickel sulfide deposits are associated with early ultramafic/mafic volcanics. and massive Cu–Zn sulfide deposits with intermediate to silicic volcanics that formed later in volcanic-sedimentary cycles.It is suggested that a magmatic volcanic-extrusive origin does not explain features of massive nickel sulfide deposits as well as an alternative volanic-exhalative origin, which provides a direct link between sulfide ores and intimately associated exhalative sediments. It also satisfactorily accounts for a number of important features, including mineralogical layering, a relative enrichment in pyrite, and the local abundance of millerite.Outpouring of extremely hot ultramafic lavas across top surfaces of deposits would partially melt the Ni–Cu sulfides, thereby generating the igneous textures observed. Later regional metamorphism has modified these earlier features.

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