Incorporation of Geometallurgical Input into Gold Mining System Simulation to Control Cyanide Consumption

The Alhué deposit (Melipilla, Chile) is an example of a hydrothermal Au-Ag-Zn(-Pb) vein system hosted within the volcanic rocks of the Las Chilcas Formation. The dominant ore minerals observed are free electrum and native gold associated with silver sulfosalts, and with magnetite and base metal sulphides, including pyrite +/− sphalerite-galena-chalcopyrite. The alteration assemblage in the veins mainly consists of quartz epidote-chlorite-actinolite with lesser smectite, amphibole, and calcite-kaolinite-garnet. Mineralized veins also contain variable amounts of base metals, some of which (e.g., copper and iron) are considered harmful to the extraction of precious metals. Iron and especially copper minerals are known cyanide consumers; ore type classification schemes that do not consider the detrimental effects of such mineralogy or process elements can ultimately result in metal losses from ore feed restrictions, as well as spikes in cyanide consumption and higher operating costs. Mineralogical and geological variation can nonetheless be managed by applying alternating modes of operation as demonstrated in this paper; the decision to switch between modes is governed by current and forecasted stockpile levels feeding into the process. Simulations based on experiences at the Alhué deposit are provided that demonstrate the importance of standardized operational modes and their potential impact on cyanide consumption control.

Decoupling the effects of alteration on the mineralogy and flotation performance of Great Dyke PGE ores

Ores from a single deposit may exhibit extensive variability in their mineralogy and texture. The ability to quantify this variability and link it to mineral processing performance is one of the primary goals of process mineralogy. This study focuses on the effect of alteration in three platinum group element ore samples from the Great Dyke in Zimbabwe - two of which were more pristine compared to the third, which was locally classified as 'oxidized' ore. These ores are known to be characterized by varying degrees of alteration, resulting in numerous challenges in flotation and affecting both grade and recovery. Alteration, by near-surface oxidation, of the valuable base metal sulphides and platinum group minerals resulted in lower flotation recoveries of Cu, Ni, Pt, and Pd. Evidence of incipient oxidation was more readily observed in the base metal sulphide assemblage than the platinum group mineral assemblage, even though the loss in recovery (because of oxidation) was most significant for Pd. Alteration through hydration resulted in a significant increase in mass pull and dilution of concentrate grade through the inadvertent recovery of naturally floating gangue comprising composite orthopyroxene and talc particles. In this study, the amount of naturally floating gangue was more strongly correlated with the talc grain size distribution than the grade of talc in the flotation feed. The oxidation and hydration alteration reactions are not necessarily mutually exclusive, although one may be more dominant than the other, giving rise to ore variability.

Ore mineralogy, pyrite chemistry, and S isotope systematics of magmatic-hydrothermal Au mineralization associated with the Mooshla Intrusive Complex (MIC), Doyon-Bousquet-LaRonde mining camp, Abitibi greenstone belt, Québec

The Mooshla Intrusive Complex (MIC) is an Archean polyphase magmatic body located in the Doyon-Bousquet-LaRonde (DBL) mining camp of the Abitibi greenstone belt, Québec. The MIC is spatially associated with numerous gold (Au)-rich VMS, epizonal 'intrusion-related' Au-Cu vein systems, and shear zone-hosted (orogenic?) Au deposits. To elucidate genetic links between deposits and the MIC, mineralized samples from two of the epizonal 'intrusion-related' Au-Cu vein systems (Doyon and Grand Duc Au-Cu) have been characterized using a variety of analytical techniques. Preliminary results indicate gold (as electrum) from both deposits occurs relatively late in the systems as it is primarily observed along fractures in pyrite and gangue minerals. At Grand Duc gold appears to have formed syn- to post-crystallization relative to base metal sulphides (e.g. chalcopyrite, sphalerite, pyrrhotite), whereas base metal sulphides at Doyon are relatively rare. The accessory ore mineral assemblage at Doyon is relatively simple compared to Grand Duc, consisting of petzite (Ag3AuTe2), calaverite (AuTe2), and hessite (Ag2Te), while accessory ore minerals at Grand Duc are comprised of tellurobismuthite (Bi2Te3), volynskite (AgBiTe2), native Te, tsumoite (BiTe) or tetradymite (Bi2Te2S), altaite (PbTe), petzite, calaverite, and hessite. Pyrite trace element distribution maps from representative pyrite grains from Doyon and Grand Duc were collected and confirm petrographic observations that Au occurs relatively late. Pyrite from Doyon appears to have been initially trace-element poor, then became enriched in As, followed by the ore metal stage consisting of Au-Ag-Te-Bi-Pb-Cu enrichment and lastly a Co-Ni-Se(?) stage enrichment. Grand Duc pyrite is more complex with initial enrichments in Co-Se-As (Stage 1) followed by an increase in As-Co(?) concentrations (Stage 2). The ore metal stage (Stage 3) is indicated by another increase in As coupled with Au-Ag-Bi-Te-Sb-Pb-Ni-Cu-Zn-Sn-Cd-In enrichment. The final stage of pyrite growth (Stage 4) is represented by the same element assemblage as Stage 3 but at lower concentrations. Preliminary sulphur isotope data from Grand Duc indicates pyrite, pyrrhotite, and chalcopyrite all have similar delta-34S values (~1.5 � 1 permille) with no core-to-rim variations. Pyrite from Doyon has slightly higher delta-34S values (~2.5 � 1 permille) compared to Grand Duc but similarly does not show much core-to-rim variation. At Grand Duc, the occurrence of Au concentrating along the rim of pyrite grains and associated with an enrichment in As and other metals (Sb-Ag-Bi-Te) shares similarities with porphyry and epithermal deposits, and the overall metal association of Au with Te and Bi is a hallmark of other intrusion-related gold systems. The occurrence of the ore metal-rich rims on pyrite from Grand Duc could be related to fluid boiling which results in the destabilization of gold-bearing aqueous complexes. Pyrite from Doyon does not show this inferred boiling texture but shares characteristics of dissolution-reprecipitation processes, where metals in the pyrite lattice are dissolved and then reconcentrated into discrete mineral phases that commonly precipitate in voids and fractures created during pyrite dissolution.

PGE distribution in the chromitite layers at Eastern Chrome Mine, Eastern Bushveld Complex, South Africa: A descriptive study with comparison of EPMA and LA-ICP-MS methods for detection of trace PGE in base metal sulphides

A descriptive petrographic study was carried out on the chromitites (LG-6 to UG-3a) of a single borehole from the Winterveld Chrome Mine, Eastern BC, along with analysis by both EPMA and LA-ICP-MS of the PGE contents of base metal sulphides (BMS) found within these layers. EPMA measurements were optimized to measure trace amounts of PGE by increased probe current and counting time, yielding very low detection limits for this method (12 to 38 ppm). However, analytical error proved to be very high (over ~30%) in samples that showed PGE values below 100 ppm. Also, the possibility of interference on PGE spectra by other elements, especially on Rh, is high. Therefore, these measurements can only be considered semi-quantitative indicators of elemental PGE concentration. Our findings confirmed that pentlandite of the BC chromitites contains Pd and Rh, probably in solid solution. Pt was found in discrete minerals (braggite, cooperite) throughout the sequence, and Ru, Ir and Os were found as early-stage minerals such as laurite, associated with chromite rather than sulphide. The PPGE increase upwards in the chromitite layers relative to the IPGE. An immiscible sulphide phase contributed to collection of the PGE in the chromitites of the MG-4 and above. The chromitites of the LG-6 to MG-1 show less evidence of hosting an immiscible sulphide phase, and pentlandite of these layers does not appear to host Rh, although Pd was found. Although this borehole is located only 1.5 km away from the centre of the Steelpoort Fault Zone, a possible feeder zone for the BC, large-scale disruption of the chromitite layers was not observed. An intrusive pegmatoidal pyroxenite was found to occur beneath the LG-6, and contained PGE-bearing sulphides, although the origin of this mineralization is most likely from the LG-6 chromitite itself. A sulphide vein occurring in silicate was also analysed and was found to be PGE-deficient compared to the sulphides of the chromitite layers.