Acid equilibrium during bioleaching of alkaline low-grade sulfide copper ore

This article reports the study on acid equilibrium during bioleaching of alkaline low-grade copper sulfide ore. Adding auxiliary agents 1# （sulfur） and 2# （pyrite） makes bacterial leaching of copper and acid production carried out simultaneously because the auxiliary agents can be oxidized by bacteria and the oxidation products involve acid. The acid required for dissolving alkaline gangue during bacterial leaching is produced, and acid equilibrium is reached during the ore bio-leaching. The recovery of copper reaches more than 95%.

STUDY ON GREY FORECASTING MODEL OF COPPER EXTRACTION RATE WITH BIOLEACHING OF PRIMARY SULFIDE ORE

A model GM （grey model） （1,1） for forecasting the rate of copper extraction during the bioleaching of primary sulphide ore was established on the basis of the mathematical theory and the modeling process of grey system theory. It was used for forecasting the rate of copper extraction from the primary sulfide ore during a laboratory microbial column leaching experiment. The precision of the forecasted results were examined and modified via ＂posterior variance examination＂. The results show that the forecasted values coincide with the experimental values. GM （1,1） model has high forecast accuracy; and it is suitable for simulation control and prediction analysis of the original data series of the processes that have grey characteristics, such as mining, metallurgical and mineral processing, etc. The leaching rate of such copper sulphide ore is low. The grey forecasting result indicates that the rate of copper extraction is approximately 20% even after leaching for six months.

Effect of technological factors on bacterial leaching of low-grade Ni-Cu sulfide ore

The bioleaching of a low grade Ni Cu sulfide ore from Jinchuan Mine with Thiobacillus ferrooxidans (TF5) and Thiobacillus thiooxidans (TT) was investigated. The effect of pH, the initial cell numbers of bacteria, the pulp density and the ratio of TF5 and TT on leaching was described, and the favorable bioleaching conditions for the ore were experimentally confirmed. The aeration leaching, agitation leaching with air bubbling, and column leaching were respectively tested. The highest recovery was achieved in the aeration leaching. After leaching for 20?d with pulp density of 15%, the extractions of Ni, Cu and Co were respectively 95.4%, 48.6% and 82.6%.

Enhanced copper recovery from low grade copper sulfide ores through bioleaching using residues produced by fermentation of agricultural wastes

Effects of residues produced by agricultural wastes fermentation(AWF)on low grade copper sulfide ores bioleaching,copper recovery,and microbial community were investigated.The results indicated that adding appropriate bulk of AWF made contributions to low grade copper sulfide ores bioleaching,which may be mainly realized through reducing the passivation layer formed by Fe3+hydrolysis.Improved copper recovery(78.35%)and bacteria concentration(9.56×10^(7)cells·mL^(−1))were yielded in the presence of 5 g·L^(−1)AWF.The result of 16S rDNA analysis demonstrated that microbial community was differentiated by adding AWF.Bacteria proportion,such as Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans,Moraxella osloensis,and Lactobacillus acetotolerans changed distinctly.Great difference between samples was showed according to beta diversity index,and the maximum value reached 0.375.Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans accounted for the highest proportion throughout the bioleaching process,and that of sample in the presence of 5 g·L^(−) AWF reached 28.63%.The results should show reference to application of agricultural wastes and low grade copper sulfide ores.

Mineralogical Characterization of a Polymetallic Sulfide Ore to Improve Silver Recovery

Based on the mineralogical characterization for the polymetallic sulfide ore, the way to improve silver recovery was studied. The results showed that silver was the most valuable metal whose grade was 448.82 g/t Ag, while 0.118% Cu, 1.65% Pb and 1.06% Zn may be comprehensively utilizated. The main silver-bearing minerals were argent and aregentite which accounted for 87.18% of total silver. Argentite and other metal minerals were distributed in the gangue minerals in complex forms. Argentite grains of 33.76% minus 50 μm indicated that a fine grinding scheme was necessary to enhance the degree of dissociation, and meanwhile selective grinding must be considered to prevent a complete grinding of coarse grains. The optimum regrinding fineness in the Cu flotation was determined as 73% minus 37 μm, while grains of 68.5% minus 74 μm in one-stage grinding remained unchanged as much as possible. Consequently, silver recovery increased to 2.68%, as well as the content of Pb simultaneously decreased from 7.26% to 2.68% in the Cu concentrate. From the lead pyrometallurgical point of view, recovering larger amounts of silver and lead at the expense of decreasing the grade of lead to a suitable level is not only economically viable for the plant, but also convenient for subsequent processing. Silver and lead recovery increased to 13.18% and 12.58%, respectively, while the Pb grade decreased from 53.1% to 46.12% for the Pb concentrate.

The Mechanism of Structural Control of Ore Formation and Geochemical Characteristics in the Massive Sulfide Deposits of the Wushan Copper Ore Field,Jiangxi

The ore-controlling mechanism of the bedding fault system in the massive sulfide deposits of the Wushancopper orefield may be generalized as the control of ore deposition by optimum surface in an ore-formingstructural trap. The mechanism has three major features: (1) timing of mineralization; (2) positioning of hostformation; and (3) dependence of ore-controlling structure on properties of rocks. The 'optimum surface' is adivisional structural plane which marks obvious difference in physical, chemical and mechanical properties andis favorable for mineralization. It is also a unity of structures. lithofacies and orebodies. The structural and geochemical characteristics of the ore deposits indicate the migration trend of the ma-jor characteristic clements in the ore-controlling fault belt: elements with a small radius (Si, Fe, Mg and Al)moved towards and concentrated at the center of the belt while large-radius ones (Ca, K and Na) were remotefrom the center.

Flotation of indium-beard marmatite from multi-metallic ore

Flotation of indium-beard marmatite from Dulong multi-metallic ore in Yunnan Province of China was studied to improve the grades and recoveries of zinc and indium of the zinc concentrate in Dulong concentration plant. The experimental results indicated that copper sulfate mixed with a chemical reagent X- 1 as the activator in the marmatite flotation produced a much better beneficiation than copper sulfate alone, increasing the zinc and indium recoveries of 10% and 6%, respectively, while the concentrate grades remained unchanged. Also, the new activator acted well around pH 10, allowing large savings on lime consumption in the marmatite flotation. In addition, it has been found that a sufficient activated time of activator with ore slurry in the flotation is needed to achieve good beneficiation of the marmatite ore.

The Massive Sulfide Deposit of Siirt Madenkoy,South-Eastern Turkey--Geology,Geochemistry and Mineral Raw Material Potential

The Siirt Madenköy massive sulfide ore deposit has been in operation since 2005. With its approx. 39 Mt reserves (2.40% Cu), it represents the largest Cu deposit and the largest mining operation in the country (1.5 Mt ore/year). The thickness of the adjacent rocks is composed of olivine-pyroxenite basalts pillow lava, which is spilite, interchangeable ore lenses of chalcopyrite and pyrite is about 170 m and reaches a depth of 350 m. The mid-Eocene aged porphyritic, strongly altered spilites are locally interspersed with diabase and covered by conglomerates. The ores appear massive, stock work and disseminated. Main ore minerals are idiomorphic pyrite, cataclastic chalcopyrite and fine-grained magnetite. The geochemical composition of the Cu ores of the Siirt-Madenköy deposit shows in places high levels of Cu, Fe and S, as important trace elements, As, Ba, Co and Ti are listed. In relation to Clarke values, Se, Bi, Cu, Mo and Co are strongly enriched, while Na, K and Ca as well as their coherent trace elements Rb, Sr and Cd are depleted due to hydrothermal alteration. The elemental distribution is characterized by log-normal distribution, proportionality effect, high Cu/Ni ratio and significantly positive correlation between the element pairs MgO-Ni, Cr-Ni and Co/FeO-Co. The dependence of Cu and SO3 contents and Cu/FeO, SO3/FeO ratios are to be interpreted as an indication of the common origin of Cu, Fe and S. In general, Cu, Zn, Pb and S content decrease with depth, whereas those of Fe3O4 increase. The variograms of the ore distributions are characterized by hole effect, trend and zonal anisotropy, which reflect alternation of ores with host rocks and changes in elemental contents. The Siirt Madenköy deposit is attributable to Cu and Zn ratios of the Cu class of ophiolitic massive sulfide deposits. Due to the very high Cu/Pb and Cu/Zn ratios, it can be described as an analogous deposit of the mid oceanic ridge, for example comparable to ores of Galapagos Ridge. The Siirt Madenköy deposit is considered to be a syngenetic volcanogenic-exhalative massive sulfide ore deposit based on the results of the study. It belongs to the “Cyprus deposit type”. Similar deposits are Küre and Ergani-Maden in Turkey, Ermioni in Greece and Outukumpu in Finland.

Effect of N-substituents on performance of thiourea collectors by density functional theory calculations

Using density functional methods,some properties were studied such as the energies and compositions of frontier molecular orbitals and the atomic charges,which are related to the reactive behavior of thioureas containing different N-substituent groupings.The calculation results indicate that the N-substituent groupings have significant effect on the flotation performance of thiourea collectors.The order of electron-donating ability is N-propyl-N'-benzyl-thiourea(PBZYTU)>N-propyl-N'-ethyl-thiourea (PETU)>N-propyl-N'-allyl-thiourea(PALTU)>>N-propyl-N'-acetyl-thiourea(PACTU)>N-propyl-N'-ethoxycarbonyl-thiourea (PECTU)>N-propyl-N'-benzoyl-thiourea(PBZOYTU),and the order of feedback-electron-accepting ability is PBZOYTU> PACTU>PECTU>>PALTU>PETU>PBZYTU.This implies that PBZOYTU,PACTU or PECTU can react with copper atoms having(t2g) 6 (eg) 3Cu(II)or t 6e 4Cu(I)configuration on the surfaces of copper sulfide minerals through normal covalent bond and back donation covalent bond,and exhibit excellently collecting performance for copper sulfide minerals.These are consistent with the experimental data reported in the literatures.

Surface chemical study of the selective separation of chalcopyrite and marmatite

FCLS (Ferric Chromium Lignin Sulfonate) was used to aid the separation of chalcopyrite from marmatite. Flotation, adsorption and zeta-potential tests of treated marmatite and chalcopyrite were performed. The flotation of marmatite was strongly depressed, while that of chalcopyrite was only slightly depressed, over a wide range of pH values when FCLS was used as depressant in the presence of Butyl Xanthate (BX). The adsorption of BX onto chalcopyrite or marmatite takes place over a wide pH range. The adsorption density of BX on chalcopyrite and marmatite decreases as the pH increases. The adsorption density of FCLS onto marmatite is greater than the adsorption density onto chalcopyrite. The zeta potentials of chalcopyrite and marmatite become more negative due to the addition of xanthate and FCLS.

Improving gold recovery of Pb–Zn sulfide ore by selective activation with organic acid

Free gold and gold wrapped in sulfides are considered as the object of gold floatation. However,floatation of free gold exhibits more variables in practice.In this study, improving gold recovery of a Pb-Zn sulfide ore from Yunnan Province, China, was investigated. The results show that free gold and auriferous sulfides account for 94.99 % of total gold. Without adding organic acid in floatation, only 82 % recovery of gold could be obtained.Gold recovery in Au/Pb concentrates increases by 9.29 %with oxalate added and by 7.35 % with citric acid added,respectively, while performances of lead and arsenic nearly keep a constant. A possible reason is that free gold is of wonderful selectivity against pyrite with organic activators.A new method to enhance gold recovery is proposed.

DRAWING PREDOMINANCE DIAGRAM OF M_1—M_2—x—y SYSTEM AND ITS APPLICATION

Discussions were made of the principle,method and computer program for drawing the pre- dominance diagrams of the bi-metal co-existed system M_1-M_2-x-y in which the multi-me- tallic compounds may be produced by interaction between compounds of both metals.The formation of zinc ferrite and its stable region have been analyzed through drawing Zn-Fe-S-O system predominance diagrams.The availability of the diagram is given the di- rection to roast the zinc sulfide ore as well.

LEACHING GOLD BY LOW CONCENTRATION THIOSULFATE SOLUTION

The effects of the concentrations of thiosulfate,copper and ammonia on the extraction of gold from sulfide gold concentrate have been studied.The results show that it is possible to reduce thiosulfate concentration.More than 95%of the gold could be extracted by a 0.2 mol/L thiosulfate leaching solution in two hours under suitable conditions.Therefore,the process of washing the residue was simplified,and the consumption and loss of thiosulfate carried by the washing residue were reduced.

Sulphide melt evolution in upper mantle to upper crust magmas,Tongling, China

Sulphide inclusions, which represent melts trapped in the minerals of magmatic rocks and xenoliths, provide important clues to the behaviour of immiscible sulphide liquids during the evolution of magmas and the formation of NieCueFe deposits. We describe sulphide inclusions from unique ultramafic clots within mafic xenoliths, from the mafic xenoliths themselves, and from the three silica-rich host plutons in Tongling, China. For the first time, we are able to propose a general framework model for the evolution of sulphide melts during the evolution of mafic to felsic magmas from the upper mantle to the upper crust. The model improves our understanding of the sulphide melt evolution in upper mantle to upper crust magmas, and provides insight into the formation of stratabound skarn-type FeeCu polymetallic deposits associated with felsic magmatism, thus promising to play an important role during prospecting for such deposits.