Introduction

Process mineralogy combines mineralogical techniques with mineral process unit operations to identify minerals, their associations and characteristics in order to:

• establish feasibility concepts at the early stages of geological exploration;
• design processing flowsheets;
• specify raw materials and marketable products;
• troubleshoot plants;
• indicate new uses of minerals.

Process Mineralogy 1 for Metals presents the basic tools of process mineralogy and their application primarily with respect to metals, illustrated by numerous examples. Topics covered include the following:

• Importance of process mineralogy for mining, mineral processing and metallurgy; definition of raw materials; different sources of raw materials; techniques used in process mineralogy; important mineralogical aspects for mineral concentration and leaching.
• Analytical techniques used in process mineralogy to identify and quantify minerals and for chemical analysis; principles of optical microscopy; use of the polarizing microscope to identify minerals; transmitted and reflected light.
• Quantitative mineralogical analysis using optical microscopy; point counting; degree of liberation by the Gaudin method; image analysis.
• Mineralogical analysis by x-ray diffraction; principles of x-ray generation and diffraction; quantitative XRD methods; use of x-ray fluorescence for chemical analysis.
• Electron microscopy; scanned and transmitted beams; interaction of electrons with matter; x-ray maps; identification of minerals.
• Quantitative mineralogical analysis using mineral separation; heavy liquid separation; density gradient; study of mineral liberation using heavy liquids and flotation; study of gold liberation.
• Quantitative mineralogical analysis based on chemical composition of minerals; mass balance techniques.

Application of process mineralogy to coal and industrial minerals is covered in a companion course titled Process Mineralogy 2 for Coal and Industrial Minerals.

Learning Outcomes

1. Discuss the importance of process mineralogy for mining, mineral processing and metallurgy.
2. Discuss the principles of optical microscopy, x-ray diffraction, x-ray fluorescence, electron microscopy, mineral separation and mass balance techniques and their application in process mineralogy.
3. Discuss the use of these tools for investigative and quantitative mineralogical analysis.

Duration: 20 Hours

Category: Mineral Processing

Level: Advanced