OXIDATION Malachite Cuprite Haematite Mineralogical observations and results of Eh-pH measurements made on weathered profiles over serpentinites containing Ni-Fe sulphides in several areas of Western Australia permits some conclusions to be drawn relating to the chemical conditions prevailing during, and as the result of, weathering. At depth, conditions of relatively low Eh and high pH prevail. Eh increases and pH decreases upward in response chiefly to a series of anodic oxidative changes in the sulphides. Sulphides decompose at the water table, resulting in a sharp drop in pH which, in turn, promotes the decomposition of serpentine and carbonates. Above the water table, where the mineralogy is dominated by goethite, the pH increases again, promoting the local deposition of carbonates. Near-surface silicification is attributed to deposition of silica from silicic acid generated by the
Cu2CO3(OH)2. Cu2O, Cu.Fe2O3(OH) Cleaner concentration of CVD concentrate via various methods indicated final recoveries to cleaner concentrate of +/-50-60% Au, 30-40% Ag, +/-75% Pb and +/-25% Cu & Zn to 10% mass yield. Concentrate grades were of the order of 40g/t Au, >200g/t Ag, 11% Pb, 2.7% Cu and 3.4% Zn. Beyond this mass pull (i.e.>10% mass) gravity recovery of all metals was essentially proportional to mass yield (i.e. unit slope). It seems therefore that scavenger flotation may be required subsequent to CVD processing in order to maximise recovery; testing of this flowsheet yielded overall recoveries in excess of 94% for all metals. Overall mass yield was +/-47% (37% via CVD gravity, 10% via flotation). Flotation was rapid and froth was barren within 7 minutes. Regrinding beyond the grind suitable for CVD (250um) was not beneficial to flotation performance
The mineralogy of the ore will
determine the best recovery process and that metallurgical testing is almost always required to optimize a recovery flowsheet. Thats Why we need a good cooperation between metallurgist and geologist
Purpose of GEOMEtalurgY Evaluation
Source DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PROCESSING OF REFRACTORY & COMPLEX GOLD ORES
Presented by Alan Taylor ALTA Metallurgical Services, Melbourne
Evaluation of Materials by Scanning Electron Microscopy) is best for base metals. Optical/D-SIMS best for gold for visible/refractory gold respectively.
Metallurgical Testwork
Bottle Roll Test
Column Test
Metallurgical Mapping
Where is the gold ????
Champagne pool new zeala
Gold concentrations in the water
topped 20 parts per billion and silver concentrations reached 2,000 or more parts per billion
GOLD ORE
GOLD ORE FREE GOLD OXIDE ORE GOLD LOCKED IN SULPHIDE OR OTHER MINERAL (REFRACTORY)
GOLD EXTRACTION Cyanidation processes may include the following operations:
Carbon-In-Pulp (CIP) Carbon-In-Leach (CIL) Carbon-In-Column (CIC) alternative for carbon resin
Source : Denver Mineral Engineers
GOLD EXTRACTION Refractory ore processing methods almost always serve only one purpose, to treat ores that will not liberate their values by conventional cyanide leaching. The refractory ore treatment process is then followed by a conventional cyanidation step. Refractory ore processing methods include:
Bioleaching Autoclaving (pressure oxidation) Roasting Clorination Pre-oxidation Lime/caustic pretreatment New Development : ALBION Process ultra fine grinding 10-12 m and
As a geologist we need to know the way to
liberate the metal from the rock
The major categories of commercially
viable recovery processes include the following:
Gravity separation Flotation Cyanidation Refractory ore processing Alternative lixiviants Amalgamation
LEAD TO BEST EXPLORATION
METHOD ??????
GOLD EXTRACTION FREE AND OXIDE GOLD
Leaching
Source DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PROCESSING OF REFRACTORY & COMPLEX GOLD ORES
Presented by Alan Taylor ALTA Metallurgical Services, Melbourne
GOLD EXTRACTION OXIDE AND SULPHIDES GOLD
GOLD EXTRACTION REFRACTORY
GOLD
Heap Leaching for Oxide Ore
Modified from Robertson et al -2005
Applying Geometalurgy in Practice
1) Collection of geological data through drilling, drill core logging, measurements,
rock mechanical analyses, petrophysical parameters and chemical analyses. 2) An ore sampling program for metallurgical testing where geological data is used in the identification of preferred locations for the samples. 3) Laboratory testing of these samples in order to extract process model parameters (sometimes called ore variability testing). 4) Checking the metallurgical validity of the geological ore-type definitions and, where necessary, developing new ore-type definitions called geometallurgical domains. 5) Developing mathematical relationships for the estimation of important metallurgical parameters across the geological database. 6) Developing a metallurgical model of the process. The model consists of unit operations which use the metallurgical parameters defined above. 7) Plant simulation using the metallurgical process model and the distributed metallurgical parameters as the data set. 8) Calibration of the models via benchmarking for existing operations
From Geometallurgy A tool for better resource Efficiency by Cecilia Lund* and Pertti Lamberg
Geologist Task
Metallurgical familiarisation with the geology and mineralogy
Provisional valuation of the mineralisation to determine whatmight be realistically extracted Selection of drill type and core sizes for metallurgical samples Establishment of core logging criteria for metallurgical purposes Establishment of the drill core assays required Metallurgical review of data from drill logs Selection of samples for mineralogical examination Delineation of all the different types or zones of mineralisation Provision of metallurgical data for cut-off grade calculations Retention of suitable samples for metallurgical test work Selection of representative samples for metallurgical test work
Geologist Task Logging note mineralogical variation and percentage (include mineral and gangue), lithology and alteration, competency, oxidation etc Assays assyas for potential ore and gangue, different potential extraction (AuFA-AuCn, Cu-CuCn), potential high penalty (Hg, Bi, As, Sb etc) Drilling Selection of Drilling Methode Not RC, Highest possible size. Twin hole is best Selection of target ore or zone sample variation (by lithology, grade, alteration, oxidation etc) Drilling Aids use of oil, grease, foam, cement, mud etc Drying Drill Core not High temp but low are acceptable under Metallurgist supervision Core Processing dont crush, full core if possible, good quality bag Core Storage - carefully storage, prevent from Oxidation, water,
Geometallurgy Domain Model
Develop geometallurgy domain base on data collection in the database,
Geologist Task (Sampling) Each mineable sample intercept should be
Have variaton on different type of ore /zones
Falls within pit limit Appropriate amounts ofmining dilution Equal or higher than cut off grade Check with mineralogist for ore types classification
Each Composite should be subjected to
mineralogical examination
Verify all mineral present and estimated proportion
Determine potential economic significant Ascertain the range of grain size on mineral economic Establish degree of locking meneragraphy Identify any problems during metallurgical evaluation
SUCCESS KEY for
OPTIMUM PROCESS GOOD MINERALOGY UNDERSTANDING GOOD METALLURGICAL MAPPING
