Effect of silicon on elemental composition determination of mineral samples

In this paper, the effect of the silicon content in the sample solution on obtaining reliable analysis results of macro- and microcomponents of a mineral sample is shown. The methods for sample preparation and analysis are proposed. It should be noted that it is important to take into account the polycondensation reaction of silicic acids, its effect on the shelf life of the sample without the formation of polymer forms.

Pretreatment to Leaching for a Primary Copper Sulphide Ore in Chloride Media

The dissolution of copper sulphide ores continues to be a challenge for the copper industry. Several media and leaching alternatives have been proposed to improve the dissolution of these minerals, especially for the leaching of chalcopyrite. Among the alternatives, pretreatment prior to leaching was proposed as an option that increases the dissolution of copper from sulphide ores. In this study, a mineral sample from a copper mining company was used. The copper grade of the sample was 0.79%, and its main contributor was chalcopyrite (84%). The effect of curing time (as pretreatment) in a chloride media on copper sulphide ore was evaluated at various temperatures: 25, 50, 70 and 90 °C. The pretreated sample and leaching residues were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and reflected light microscopy. Pretreatment products such as CuSO4, NaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6, and S0 were identified although with difficulty, due to the low presence of chalcopyrite in the initial sample (1.99%). Under the conditions of 15 kg/t of H2SO4, 25 kg/t of NaCl, and 15 days of curing time, a copper extraction of 93.1% was obtained at 90 °C with 50 g/L of Cl− and 0.2 M of H2SO4.

MAP2XANES: a Jupiter interactive notebook for elemental mapping and XANES speciation

MAP2XANES is an intuitive Jupiter notebook that automatizes the analysis of synchrotron X-ray fluorescence imaging and X-ray absorption spectroscopy for the characterization of complex and heterogeneous samples. The notebook uses basic modules and functions from Numpy, Scipy, Pandas, iPywidgets and Matplotlib libraries for a powerful data reduction process that, in just a few clicks, guides the user through the visualization of elemental maps, space-resolved absorption spectra and their automatized analysis. In particular, by means of linear combination fit of the XANES spectra, the notebook determines the chemical species distribution in the sample under investigation. The direct output of the analysis process is the correlation between the different elemental distributions and the spatial localization of the chemical species detected. An application to mineralogy is thus presented, analyzing the Mn2+, Mn3+ and Mn4+ distribution in a mineral sample of hausmannite (Mn2+Mn2 3+O4), courtesy of the Museum of Natural Science of Barcelona.

A Comparative Study of Energy Efficiency in Tumbling Mills with the Use of Relo Grinding Media

An evaluation of Relo grinding media (RGM, Reuleaux tetrahedron-shaped bodies) performance versus standard grinding media (balls) was made through a series of grinding tests, including a slight modification of the standard Bond test procedure. Standard Bond tests showed a reduction in the Bond ball mill work index (wi) of the mineral sample used in this study when using Relo grinding media. The modified Bond test procedure is based on using the standard Bond ball work index test but changing the circulating loads (350%, 250%, 150%, 100%). The comparative tests with RGM were carried out at the same number of revolutions as the grinding tests with balls at respective circulating load. The RGM charge yielded a 14% higher net undersize product than balls, which hints at improving energy efficiency and the potential for significant mining industry benefits.

Redetermination and new description of the crystal structure of vanthoffite, Na6Mg(SO4)4

The crystal structure of vanthoffite {hexasodium magnesium tetrakis[sulfate(VI)]}, Na6Mg(SO4)4, was solved in the year 1964 on a synthetic sample [Fischer & Hellner (1964). Acta Cryst. 17, 1613]. Here we report a redetermination of its crystal structure on a mineral sample with improved precision. It was refined in the space group P21/c from a crystal originating from Surtsey, Iceland. The unique Mg (site symmetry \overline{1}) and the two S atoms are in usual, only slightly distorted octahedral and tetrahedral coordinations, respectively. The three independent Na atoms are in a distorted octahedral coordination (1×) and distorted 7-coordinations intermediate between a `split octahedron' and a pentagonal bipyramid (2×). [MgO6] coordination polyhedra interchange with one half of the sulfate tetrahedra in <011> chains forming a (100) meshed layer, with dimers formed by edge-sharing [NaO7] polyhedra filling the interchain spaces. The other [NaO7] polyhedra are organized in a parallel layer formed by [010] and [001] chains united through edge sharing and bonds to the remaining half of sulfate groups and to [NaO6] octahedra. The two types of layers interconnect through tight bonding, which explains the lack of morphological characteristics typical of layered structures.

Caliche and Seawater, Sources of Nitrate and Chloride Ions to Chalcopyrite Leaching in Acid Media

Hydrometallurgical processing of chalcopyrite is of great interest today due to the depletion of oxidized copper minerals. This will also enable existing plants to continue operation. The objective of this work is to study the behavior of chalcopyrite leaching by stirring in an acid-nitrate-chloride media where seawater and brines provide chloride ions and nitrate ions can be provided from the caliche industry. The variables studied were sulfuric acid, nitrate and chloride concentration, source of water (dissolvent), temperature, solid/liquid ratio, particle size, mineral sample, and pretreatment before the leaching process. Despite being a refractory mineral, chalcopyrite can be leached in this system obtaining favorable recoveries at the conditions studied. It was possible to obtain 50% Cu in 0.7 M of H2SO4 and NaNO3, using brine at 45 °C. The nitrate-chloride-acid system was highly temperature dependent, with an activation energy of 82.6 kJ/mol, indicative of chemical reaction control of leaching kinetics. SEM/EDS indicated the presence of sulfur on the surface of the mineral after leaching. This study demonstrates that sources such as seawater or discard brines (such as from the reverse osmosis process) and waste (solid or solutions) from the caliche industry can provide a highly oxidative system for the dissolution of chalcopyrite.

Analysis of crude mineral sample preparation schemes

Introduction. Sample preparation schemes are multi-stage. Sample reduction in the process of preparation introduces extra inaccuracy in the result of sampling, consequently, sample preparation schemes inaccuracy should be calculated with further selection of its rational parameters. Research methodology is based on calculation by the formula of sample reduction random inaccuracy. Inaccuracy calculation of a sample preparation scheme. Calculation has been carries out of the scheme recommended by GOST 14180-80. Paradoxical growth of inaccuracy of sample preparation has been shown with ore homogeneity growth. Determination of sample mass by the stages of preparation. Standards and techniques of ore and nonferrous metals concentrates sampling for the creation of sample preparation schemes recommend finding the coefficient in minimum mass formula depending on the mass fraction variation coefficient in the sampled product. Sample preparation is carried out in laboratory conditions, and sample mass cannot depend on this coefficient of variation. Sample inhomogeneity in the laboratory depends only on the inhomogeneity of separate lumps of a sample. Sample inhomogeneity in the preparation laboratory is defined by lump dispersion, and the coefficient is the function of this dispersion, admissible inaccuracy of sample reduction and the dimensions of grain impregnations of the mineral which contains the analyte. 78 "Izvestiya vysshikh uchebnykh zavedenii. Gornyi zhurnal". No. 1. 2020 ISSN 0536-1028 For each factory, individual coefficient can be found, and sample masses can be calculated by the stages of preparation. Analysis of sample preparation schemes. Sample preparation scheme inaccuracy formula is given. Calculation and analysis of the model scheme of sample preparation according to GOST 14180-80 have shown that at the third crushing stage the sample is advisable to be crushed not up to 3, but up to 2 mm, and the recommended sample size at the final stage 8.08 hardly improves the result of preparation, that is why the previous recommendation of 0.1 mm can be used.