Ore mineralogy

Selection of a flotation technique for gold preconcentration depends very much on the ore mineralogy, gangue composition and gold particle size. There is no universal method for flotation of the gold-bearing minerals, and the process is tailored to the ore characteristics. A specific reagent scheme and flowsheet are required for each ore. 

Ore mineralogy and analysis Leach oxidant and quantity added ... 

Nyashanu R., Monhemius A., and Buchanan D. (1999) The effect of ore mineralogy on the speciation of arsenic in bacterial oxidation of refractory arsenical gold ores. In International Biohydrometallurgy of Symposium IBS 99, Madrid (eds. R. Amils and A. Ballester). Elsevier, Oxford, pp. 431-441. 

Because leaching largely destroys the mineral species, it is an attractive alternative to explore, as it is likely to be little influenced by the ore mineralogy. The technology of separating elements from each other in solution by crystallization, precipitation, ion exchange or solvent extraction has advanced massively in recent times. 

In Table IV, the data given in Table II are projected to the revenue targets that we now consider are realistic for each of these mines using the Warner Process system. The projected improvements in revenue will, of course, be further increased by the cost savings possible in operations. As one would expect, the mines that stand to gain the most are those wife the more complex ore mineralogy. Mine No. 9 is on an ore that contains significant amounts of cobalt in... 

Moh] Moh, G.H., Experimental and Descriptive Ore Mineralogy , Neues Jahrb. Mineral, Abh., 128(2), 115-188 (1976) (Experimental, Phase Diagram, Phase Relations, 101)... 

Forster I. F. Paragenetical ore mineralogy of the Loolekop-Phalaborwa Carbonatite Complex, eastern Transvaal. Trans. Proc. geol Soc. S. Afr., 61, 1958, 359-65. 

F. W. Fraser and C. B. Belcher, "Mineralogical Studies of the Groote Eylandt Manganese Ore Deposits," Proceedings Mustralasian Institute of Minerals and Metallurgy tFo. 254, June 1975. 

Figure 1.14. Schematic diagram showing mineralogical changes in various kinds of ores of Kuroko deposits (Matsukuma and Horikoshi, 1970).

Several workers have intended to estimate the chemical compositions of Kuroko ore fluids based on the chemical equilibrium model (Sato, 1973 Kajiwara, 1973 Ichikuni, 1975 Shikazono, 1976 Ohmoto et al., 1983) and computer simulation of the changes in mineralogy and chemical composition of hydrothermal solution during seawater-rock interaction. Although the calculated results (Tables 1.5 and 1.6) are different, they all show that the Kuroko ore fluids have the chemical features (1 )-(4) mentioned above. 

Some mechanisms of anhydrite deposition in Kuroko deposits. Shikazono et al. (1983) considered the depositional mechanism of anhydrite based on the mode of occurrence, texture, Sr content, nature of the contained fluid inclusions and isotopic composition of Sr, S and O in anhydrite together with the mineralogy of the sekko ore, combined with their experimental study on the patitioning of Sr between coexisting anhydrite and aqueous solution. The following is their discussion on the depositional mechanism of anhydrite. 

Bryndzia, L.T., Scott, S.D. and Farr, J.E. (1983) Mineralogy, geochemistry, and mineral chemistry of siliceous ore and altered footwall rocks in the Uwamuki 2 and 4 deposits, Kosaka mine, Hokuroku district, Japan. Econ. GeoL Mon., 5, 507-522. 

The characteristic features of chimney-like ores and chimney from Kuroko deposits and Mariana Trough are summarized and mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of Kuroko and Mariana chimneys and those of the midoceanic ridge chimneys are compared below. 

Geological, mineralogical and geochemical features of these deposit types (distribution, age, associated volcanism, host and country rocks, fluid inclusions, opaque, gangue and hydrothermal alteration minerals, chemical features of ore fluids (temperature, salinity, pH, chemical composition, gaseous fugacity, isotopic compositions (O, D, S, Sr/ Sr, Pb), rare earth elements)) were summarized. 

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