REE Geochemistry of Sulfides from the Huize Zn-Pb Ore Field, Yunnan Province: Implication for the Sources of Ore-forming Metals

REE abundances in sulfides from the Huize Zn-Pb ore field were determined with the ICPMS after preconcentration. The REE abundances in 26 sulfide samples （including pyrite, galena and sphalerite） are very low, with the ~REE ranging from 1.6×10^-9 to 166.8×10^-9. Their LREE/HREE ratios range from 7.6 to 98, showing LREE enrichment relatively. The JEu values are below 1, indicating that they were deposited from an Eu-depleted and reducing fluid-system. Similar to the ore-hosting carbonate strata, calcite separates from carbonate veinlets filling in the fractures or faults crosscutting the carbonate strata also show clear Eu-depletion. This indicates that the carbonate veinlets and their parent fluid was possibly sourced from the strata and inherited the REE geochemical features of the strata. Therefore, REE-geochemical characteristics of both the sulfides and calcites, which were deposited from an ore-forming hydrothermal system, are similar to those of carbonate strata, and strongly suggest that the ore metals were mainly sourced from carbonate strata.

Carburization of ferrochromium metals in chromium ore fines containing coal during voluminal reduction by microwave heating

Chromium ore fines containing coal (COFCC) can be rapidly heated by microwave to conduct the voluminal reduction, which lays a foundation of getting sponge ferrochromium powders with a lower content of C. Under the conditions of COFCC with n(O)-n(C) (molar ratio) as 1.00-0.84 and n(SiO2)-n(CaO) as 1.00-0.39, the samples were heated by 10 kW microwave power to reach the given temperatures and held for different times respectively. The results show that the low-C-Cr ferrochromium metal phase in the reduced materials forms before the high-C-Cr ferrochromium metal phase does. With increasing temperature the C content of ferrochromium metals is in a positive correlation with the content of Cr. The C content of ferrochromium metal in reduced materials is 0-10.07% with an average value of 4.68%. With the increase of holding time the Cr content in ferrochromium metals is in a negative correlation with the content of C, while the content of Fe changes in the contrary way. In the microwave field the kinetic conditions of carburization are closely related with the temperature of microwave heating, holding time and carbon fitting ratio.

Investigation on the Geochemical Distribution of REE and Heavy Metals in Western Part of Jalal-Abad Iron Ore Deposit, Zarand, SE of Iran

The Jalal-Abad iron ore deposit, with a reserve of more than 200 Mt ore, is located in NW of Zarand region, southeastern Iran. The ore deposit occurs in the form of an elongated lens-shaped body incorporated in a folded structure of Rizu volcano-sedimentary unit. Mineralization occurred mainly in siltstones, acidic volcanic rocks and dolomitized limestones. The ore minerals include magnetite, hematite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, goethite, malachite and azurite. Chloritization and silicification are the two most widespread alteration types in the Jalal-Abad area. Cu and Ti are among the associated elements with iron in the ore samples. In comparison, the concentrations of Cu, Ti and REE are relatively low in the samples analyzed. The combined concentrations of Ce, La and Y show that geochemical background values for most areas have been measured. The Pearson correlation coefficient values and the results of cluster and principal component analyses indicate a strong correlation between REE, La, Ce, and Y with Sr in the same geochemical group suggesting a common source for these elements. A close association between Cu and Cl with metasomatic host rock and among Pb, Zn and Ba with carbonate host rocks is observed.

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.

Spatial-Temporal Distribution, Geological Characteristics and Ore-Formation Controlling Factors of Major Types of Rare Metal Mineral Deposits in China

Rare metals including Lithium(Li),Beryllium(Be),Rubidium(Rb),Cesium(Cs),Zirconium(Zr),Hafnium(Hf),Niobium(Nb),Tantalum(Ta),Tungsten(W)and Tin(Sn)are important critical mineral resources.In China,rare metal mineral deposits are spatially distributed mainly in the Altay and Southern Great Xingán Range regions in the Central Asian orogenic belt;in the Middle Qilian,South Qinling and East Qinling mountains regions in the Qilian-Qinling-Dabie orogenic belt;in the Western Sichuan and Bailongshan-Dahongliutan regions in the Kunlun-Songpan-Garze orogenic belt,and in the Northeastern Jiangxi,Northwestern Jiangxi,and Southern Hunan regions in South China.Major ore-forming epochs include Indosinian(mostly 200-240 Ma,in particular in western China)and the Yanshanian(mostly 120-160 Ma,in particular in South China).In addition,Bayan Obo,Inner Mongolia,northeastern China,with a complex formation history,hosts the largest REE and Nb deposits in China.There are six major rare metal mineral deposit types in China:Highly fractionated granite;Pegmatite;Alkaline granite;Carbonatite and alkaline rock;Volcanic;and Hydrothermal types.Two further types,namely the Leptynite type and Breccia pipe type,have recently been discovered in China,and are represented by the Yushishan Nb-Ta-(Zr-Hf-REE)and the Weilasituo Li-Rb-Sn-W-Zn-Pb deposits.Several most important controlling factors for rare metal mineral deposits are discussed,including geochemical behaviors and sources of the rare metals,highly evolved magmatic fractionation,and structural controls such as the metamorphic core complex setting,with a revised conceptual model for the latter.

Formation and characterization of metallic iron grains in coal-based reduction of oolitic iron ore

To reveal the formation and characteristics of metallic iron grains in coal-based reduction, oolitic iron ore was isothermally re- duced in various reduction times at various reduction temperatures. The microstructure and size of the metallic iron phase were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and a Bgrimm process mineralogy analyzer. In the results, the re- duced Fe separates from the ore and forms metallic iron protuberances, and then the subsequent reduced Fe diffuses to the protuberances and grows into metallic iron grains. Most of the metallic iron grains exist in the quasi-spherical shape and inlaid in the slag matrix. The cumula- tive frequency of metallic iron grain size is markedly influenced by both reduction time and temperature. With increasing reduction temperature and time, the grain size of metallic iron obviously increases. According to the classical grain growth equation, the growth kinetic parameters, i.e., time exponent, growth activation energy, and pre-exponential constant, are estimated to be 1.3759 ± 0.0374, 103.18 kJ·mol^-1, and 922.05, respec- tively. Using these calculated parameters, a growth model is established to describe the growth behavior of metallic iron grains.

Inhibition of acid mine drainage and immobilization of heavy metals from copper flotation tailings using a marble cutting waste

Acid mine drainage （AMD） with high concentrations of sulfates and metals is generated by the oxidation of sulfide beating wastes. CaCO3-rich marble cutting waste is a residual material produced by the cutting and polishing of marble stone. In this study, the feasibility of using the marble cutting waste as an acid-neutralizing agent to inhibit AMD and immobilize heavy metals from copper flotation tailings （sul- fide-beating wastes） was investigated. Continuous-stirring shake-flask tests were conducted for 40 d, and the pH value, sulfate content, and dissolved metal content of the leachate were analyzed every 10 d to determine the effectiveness of the marble cutting waste as an acid neu- tralizer. For comparison, CaCO3 was also used as a neutralizing agent. The average pH value of the leachate was 2.1 at the beginning of the experiment （t = 0）. In the experiment employing the marble cutting waste, the pH value of the leachate changed from 6.5 to 7.8, and the sul- fate and iron concentrations decreased from 4558 to 838 mg/L and from 536 to 0.01 mg/L, respectively, after 40 d. The marble cutting waste also removed more than 80wt% of heavy metals （Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn） from AMD generated by copper flotation tailings.

An experimental study on metal precipitation driven by fluid mixing: implications for genesis of carbonate-hosted lead–zinc ore deposits

A type of carbonate-hosted lead–zinc(Pb–Zn)ore deposits, known as Mississippi Valley Type(MVT)deposits, constitutes an important category of lead–zinc ore deposits. Previous studies proposed a fluid-mixing model to account for metal precipitation mechanism of the MVT ore deposits, in which fluids with metal-chloride complexes happen to mix with fluids with reduced sulfur, producing metal sulfide deposition. In this hypothesis, however, the detailed chemical kinetic process of mixing reactions, and especially the controlling factors on the metal precipitation are not yet clearly stated. In this paper, a series of mixing experiments under ambient temperature and pressure conditions were conducted to simulate the fluid mixing process, by titrating the metal-chloride solutions, doping withor without dolomite, and using NaHS solution. Experimental results, combined with the thermodynamic calculations, suggest that H_2S, rather than HS^-or S^(2-),dominated the reactions of Pb and/or Zn precipitation during the fluid mixing process, in which metal precipitation was influenced by the stability of metal complexes and the pH. Given the constant concentrations of metal and total S in fluids, the pH was a primary factor controlling the Pb and/or Zn metal precipitation. This is because neutralizing or neutralized processes for the ore-forming fluids can cause instabilities of Pb and/or Zn chloride complexes and re-distribution of sulfur species, and thus can facilitate the hydrolysis of Pb and Zn ions and precipitation of sulfides. Therefore, a weakly acidic to neutral fluid environment is most favorable for the precipitation of Pb and Zn sulfides associated with the carbonate-hosted Pb–Zn deposits.

Fluid Inclusion Geochemistry of Metallic Ore Deposits in the South- Central Sector of theDa Hinggan Mountains in China

Physicochemical parameters of mineralization such as temperature, pressure, salinity, density, composition and boiling of ore fluids as well as pH, Eh, fo2 and reducing parameter in theprocess of mineralization of major ore deposits in the study district have been obtained by the authors through systematic observation and determination of characteristics and phase changes of fluid inclusions at different temperatures and analysis of gaseous and liquid phase compositions of the inclusions, thus providing a scientific basis for the division of mineralization-alteration stages, types of mineral deposits and minerogenetic series and the deepening of the knowledge about the ore-forming processes and mechanisms of mineral deposits. It is indicated that the deposits of the same type have similar fluid inclusion geochemical features and physicochemical parameters though they belong to different minerogenetic series, while the compositions of inclusions are not conditioned by deposit types but closely related to the minerogenetic series of deposits.

Deselenization and detellurization of precious-metal ore concentrates by swelling oxidizing roasting and successive alkaline leaching

A new technique of swelling oxidizing roasting and alkaline leaching was proposed for deselenization and detellurization of pre- cious-metal ore concentrates. Alkali-metal and alkaline-earth-metal chlorides and carbonates were preliminarily selected as swelling agents. The roasting removal rate and alkaline leaching rate of selenium and tellurium were investigated, and NaCl was selected as an appropriate swelling agent. Furthermore, the effects of various factors on the selenium gasification rate and leaching rate of selenium and tellurium were investigated. The results show that the selenium gasification rate reaches 88.41% after swelling oxidizing roasting for 2 h at 510~C using an NaC1 dosage coefficient of 100 and a sulfuric acid dosage coefficient of 1.3; the amorphous elemental tellurium is completely transformed into TeO2. The roasted product is subjected to alkaline leaching using a 100 g/L NaOH solution, which results in a selenium leaching rate of 10.51%, a total selenium removal rate of 98.92%, and a tellurium leaching rate of 97.64%. In the alkaline leaching residue, the contents of selenium, tellurium, gold, platinum, and palladium are 0.7825%, 5.492%, 8.333%, 0.2587%, and 1.113%, respectively; the precious metals are enriched approximately sixfold.

Comparison of finite difference and pseudo-spectral methods in forward modelling based on metal ore model of random media

With more applications of seismic exploration in metal ore exploration,forward modelling of seismic wave has become more important in metal ore. Finite difference method and pseudo-spectral method are two important methods of wave-field simulation. Results of previous studies show that both methods have distinct advantages and disadvantages: Finite difference method has high precision but its dispersion is serious; pseudospectral method considers both computational efficiency and precision but has less precision than finite-difference. The authors consider the complex structural characteristics of the metal ore,furthermore add random media in order to simulate the complex effects produced by metal ore for wave field. First,the study introduced the theories of random media and two forward modelling methods. Second,it compared the simulation results of two methods on fault model. Then the authors established a complex metal ore model,added random media and compared computational efficiency and precision. As a result,it is found that finite difference method is better than pseudo-spectral method in precision and boundary treatment,but the computational efficiency of pseudospectral method is slightly higher than the finite difference method.

The Evolutionary History of Ore-forming Processes of Metallic Ore Deposits in Northern Guangxi

The northern Guangxi region is an important rare metal, rare earth metal and polymetallic metallogenic province. In the region there exist five metallogenic series and two metallogenic subseries, whose metallogenesis shows features of polycyclic spiral evolution throughout the geological history. As far as various cycles are concerned, mantle-derived ore substances were reduced while crust-derived ore substances increased from early to late timesfin the whole geological evolutionary history, mantle-derived substances decreased gradually while crust-derived ones increased. Meanwhile ore element associations became more and more varied. In terms of space, mineralization migrated from the old basement outwards, i.e. from west to east during the Precambrian, and from north to south during the Phanerozoic, and again from east to west during the Yanshanian.

Coal-based reduction mechanism of low-grade laterite ore

A low-grade nickel laterite ore was reduced at different reduction temperatures. The morphology of metallic particles was investigated by scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and energy dispersive spectroscopy （EDS）. Experimental results indicate that the metallic nickel and iron gradually assemble and grow into larger spherical particles with increasing temperature and prolonging time. After reduction, the nickel laterite ore obviously changes into two parts of Fe-Ni metallic particles and slag matrix. An obvious relationship is found between the reduction of iron magnesium olivine and its crystal chemical properties. The nickel and iron oxides are reduced to metallic by reductant, and the lattice of olivine is destroyed. The entire reduction process is comprised of oxide reduction and metallic phase growth.

Leaching of nickel-molybdenum sulfide ore in membrane biological reactor

The bioleaching of molybdenum from its sulfide ore using a Mo-resistant thermophilic bacterium sulfolobus metallics combined with a membrane biological reactor（MBR） was studied.The experimental results showed that the concentration of Mo can be controlled by filter of the membrane in MBR and the toxicity of Mo to microorganism is decreased in the process of bioleaching.It was also evidenced that there were different leaching rates of Ni and Mo when the concentration of Mo was different.After leaching for 20 d in the MBR at Mo concentration of 395 mg/L,the leaching rates of Ni and Mo reached the maximum of 79.57% and 56.23% respectively under the conditions of 100 g/L of mineral density,65 ℃,pH=2 and 1.0 L/min of the aeration rate.While 75.59% Ni and 54.33% Mo were leached out in column without membrane under the same conditions.

Acid mine drainage and heavy metal contamination in groundwater of metal sulfide mine at arid territory (BS mine,Western Australia)

The issues of acid mine drainage （AMD） and heavy metals contamination in the metal sulfide mine in the add district were explored, through studying the acidification and the heavy metals distribution and evolution of groundwater in the black swan （BS） nickel sulfide mine （Western Australia）. The groundwater samples were collected from the drilling holes situated in the vicinity of tailings storage facility （TSF） and in the background of the mine （away from TSF）, respectively, and the pH and electric conductivity （Ec） were measured in site and the metal contents were analysed by ICP-MS and ICP-AES, quarterly in one hydrological year. The results disclose that the TSF groundwater is remarkably acidified （.pHmean=5, pHmin=3）, and the average contents of heavy metals （Co, Cu, Zn, Cd） and Al, Mn are of 1-2 orders of magnitude higher in TSF groundwater than in background groundwater. It may be due to the percolation of tailings waste water from miU process, which leads the tailings to oxidize and the deep groundwater to acidify and contaminate with heavy metals. Besides, the heavy metals concentration in groundwater may be controlled by pH mainly.

Optimization of flotation variables for the recovery of hematite particles from BHQ ore

The technology for beneficiation of banded iron ores containing low iron value is a challenging task due to increasing demand of quality iron ore in India. A flotation process has been developed to treat one such ore, namely banded hematite quartzite （BHQ） containing 41.8wt% Fe and 41.5wt% SiO2,by using oleic acid, methyl isobutyl carbinol （MIBC）, and sodium silicate as the collector, frother, and dispersant, respectively. The relative effects of these variables have been evaluated in half-normal plots and Pareto charts using central composite rotatable design. A quadratic response model has been developed for both Fe grade and recovery and optimized within the experimental range. The optimum reagent dosages are found to be as follows： collector concentration of 243.58 g/t, dispersant concentration of 195.67 g/t, pH 8.69, and conditioning time of 4.8 min to achieve the maximum Fe grade of 64.25% with 67.33% recovery. The predictions of the model with regard to iron grade and recovery are in good agreement with the experimental results.

Growth of metallic iron particles during reductive roasting of boron-bearing magnetite concentrate

The growing characteristics of metallic iron particles during reductive roasting of boron-bearing magnetite concentrate under different conditions were investigated.The size of the metallic iron particles was quantitatively measured via optical image analysis with consideration of size calibration and weighted ratio of image numbers in the core,middle and periphery zones of cross-section of pellets.In order to guarantee the measurement accuracy,54 images were captured in total for each specimen,with a weighted ratio of 1:7:19 with respect to the core,middle and periphery section of the cross-section of pellets.Increasing reduction temperature and time is favorable to the growth of metallic iron particles.Based on the modification of particle size measurement,in terms of time(t)and temperature(T)a predicting model of metallic iron particle size(D),was established as:D=125−0.112t−0.2352T−5.355×10^−4t^2+2.032×10^−4t∙T+1.134×10^−4T^2.

Application of a water cooling treatment and its effect on coal-based reduction of high-chromium vanadium and titanium iron ore

A water cooling treatment was applied in the coal-based reduction of high-chromium vanadium and titanium （V-Ti-Cr） iron ore from the Hongge region of Panzhihua, China. Its effects on the metallization ratio （η）, S removal ratio （Rs）, and P removal ratio （Rp） were studied and analyzed on the basis of chemical composition determined via inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The metallic iron particle size and the element distribution of Fe, V, Cr, and Ti in a reduced briquette after water cooling treatment at 1350℃ were determined and observed via scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the water cooling treatment improved the η, Rs, and Rp in the coal-based reduction of V-Ti-Cr iron ore compared to those obtained with a furnace cooling treatment. Meanwhile, the particle size of metallic iron obtained via the water cooling treatment was smaller than that of metallic iron obtained via the furnace cooling treatment; however, the particle size reached 70 μm at 1350℃, which is substantially larger than the minimum particle size required （20 μm） for magnetic separation. Therefore, the water cooling treatment described in this work is a good method for improving the quality of metallic iron in coal-based reduction and it could be applied in the coal-based reduction of V-Ti-Cr iron ore followed by magnetic separation.

Experimental Study of the Distribution of Au and Cu in Aqueous Vapor Phase at High Temperatures and Its Role on Ore-forming Transportation

This study focuses on experiments of Au and Cu dissolved in vapor phase in hydrothermal fluids. Experiments prove that Au and Cu can re-distribute in vapor phase and liquid phase during separation of Au- and Cu-bearing supercritical fluids to vapor and liquid phases. These experimental results can illustrate some ore geneses, where boiling phenomena of ore fluids were found. Au- and Cubearing NaHCO3-HCl solutions were heated up to more than 350℃ in the main vessel, and then passed through a phase separator in a temperature range from 250℃ to 300℃, separated into vapor and liquid phases. We collected and analyzed the liquid and vapor samples separately, and found that Au and Cu dissolved and distributed in vapor phase. In some cases, the concentrations of Au and Cu in vapor are higher than those in liquid phase. Those experiments are used to interpret field observations of fluid inclusion data of some Au and Cu deposits, and demonstrate that some Au and Cu ore deposits are derived from metals transportation in vapor phase.

Addressing ore formation and exploration

Common base and noble metals represent an important economic factor in the actual industrial development.For instance the world resources for copper are actually estimated for about the next 30 years only.The situation requires rethinking the way major ore deposits form,leading to new guides for exploration.The present paper briefly examines the processes leading to ore formation,in relation with granitic or granodioritic intrusions.It identifies the importance of metal enrichment during the magmatic stage.Within the magma chamber that forms porphyry intrusions,metals may incorporate to first formed crystals,becoming inert;concentrate into the residual melt of a mush;or segregate by diffusion into the exsolved magmatic volatile phase(MVP)into which they are transported and precipitated.A competition results between elements partitioning and diffusivity.Hence,a specific Peclet number for each metal(Cu,Au,Ag,Mo,W,Sn,and REE)controls the ratio between the diffusive and the advective flux.Metals diffusivity in the melt shows differential behavior relative to a threshold of about10 13 m2/s.Metals with slower diffusivity values(e.g.As)will not concentrate.Conversely,fast diffusive metals(Au,Ag,Cu)may rapidly incorporate the MVP,provided an adequate component(halogens or S)is attractive for metals.The chemistry of the MVP escaping the magma induces different alteration patterns.Their relative content in F,Cl or S,attested by the composition of biotites and apatites,links with the preferential content of metals in o re deposits,representing a valuable tool for exploration.Finally the model is replaced in a set of coupled mechanical-chemical instabilities,within a three phase material.