Platinum and platinoids in the Bolotisty gold-placer deposit (Khabarovsky Krai, Russia)

The article shows the results of studies the platinum mineralization (within the framework of studying the complexity of deposits) in the waste of heavy concentrate in the southeastern flank of the Bolotisty gold-placer deposit, which the located in the Khabarovsky Krai (Russia). The deposit is localized in the “erosion window” among the covers of Miocene basalts and Eocene andesites, where Cretaceous sedimentary, tuffaceous-sedimentary rocks of the basement of the volcano structure, broken through by an Eocene intrusive body of intermediate and basic composition, come to the surface. An abbreviated mineralogical analysis for monofraction of precious metals was carried out for a concentrate fraction weighing 1.813 kg with a grain size of -3.0 + 0.1 mm. Gold and platinum were found - 1.38 mg and 1.08 mg. Platinum has an iron impurity up to 3-5 % Fe and Cu, Ir, Rh impurities are variable. There are plate-like inclusions of native osmium with an admixture of ruthenium in 43 % of the studied platinum grains. There are single inclusions of ehrlichmanite. A large amount of high-temperature dipyramidal quartz, along with magnetite, chromite, tourmaline and other minerals is a characteristic feature of the concentrate and platinum grains of this area.

Effect of a Small Amount of Iron Impurity in Sphalerite on Xanthate Adsorption and Flotation Behavior

Through industrial testing at the Huize lead-zinc mine, it was found that the floatability of sphalerite varied greatly with the iron impurity content. Three kinds of Huize sphalerites with iron contents of 2.30 wt.%, 3.20 wt.% and 4.66 wt.%, were used to study the influence of small amounts of iron impurity in the sphalerite on xanthate adsorption and flotation behavior. The flotation experiments showed that the flotation recovery increased with the increase in iron impurity content. Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Ultraviolet–visible (UV-VIS) spectra showed that the adsorbed products of xanthate on the surface of three kinds of sphalerite were metal xanthate. The adsorption capacity measurements showed that the saturation absorption of xanthate on sphalerite increased with the increase in iron impurity content. The cyclic voltammetry curve and Tafel curve showed that with the increase in iron impurity content, sphalerite was more easily oxidized and the adsorption rate of xanthate on the surface of sphalerite increased obviously. To summarize, a small amount of iron impurity was beneficial to the recovery of sphalerite.

The Effect of Beneficiation on Some Properties of Osun State Ceramic Raw Materials

Clay, feldspar and silica sand are important industrial minerals which often need treatment commonly known as beneficiation to improve the quality of ceramic tiles produced from these materials. The different minerals, after sorting, were treated separately in distilled water, alcohol and hydrochloric acid before being crushed in a ball mill; they were then characterized using a pelletron accelerator. The results show an increased silicon content for clay, silica sand and feldspar; and reduced aluminum content for clay and silica sand but not for feldspar. Iron impurity and its oxide are also shown to reduce by over 50% in all the minerals while potassium was found to be the dominant element in feldspar among the defining elements. In conclusion, the increased quartz in the mineral will improve the hardness, density, porosity, and rigidity of ceramic tiles as well as providing support and controlling shrinkage. Furthermore, increasing the mineral quotient in feldspar will enhance its fluxing potential.