Liberation-limited grade/recovery curves for auriferous pyrite ores as determined by high resolution x-ray microtomography

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Title Liberation-limited grade/recovery curves for auriferous pyrite ores as determined by high resolution x-ray microtomography
Publication Type dissertation
School or College College of Mines & Earth Sciences
Department Metallurgical Engineering
Author Medina, Juan Francisco
Date 2012-08
Description As in all flotation separations, the separation efficiency for the flotation of pyrite from auriferous pyrite ores depends on the flotation conditions and the particle properties of the feed ore. Liberation and texture are particle properties that refer to release of valuable minerals from gangue waste minerals during size reduction and the arrangement of these mineral phases within the particles. Separation efficiency may be impacted significantly by variation in liberation and the texture of locked particles, even with locked particles having the same overall composition. Not all locked particles of the same composition will have the same flotation response. Their flotation response will also depend on their texture. Now, analysis of liberation and texture is possible using High Resolution X-ray Microtomography (HRXMT). This analytical technique can provide quantitative information on liberation and exposure (texture) for each particle in a given particle population. Products from the flotation of two types of auriferous pyrite ores, both batch scale experiments and plant operations, were analyzed by HRXMT. In this way, the degree of liberation of the pyrite grains was determined. The liberation-limited grade/recovery curves were calculated for each ore. The liberation-limited grade/recovery curves are used to determine the limits of the separation efficiency. Also, the characteristic texture of particles in each flotation product was determined and the effect of these textural features on the flotation separation efficiency discussed. It was found that the separation efficiency of auriferous pyrite was controlled principally by factors other than liberation. In general the texture analysis revealed that the pyrite-containing particles with a high exposure of pyrite grains at the particle surface have a better possibility of being recovered in the concentrate during flotation.
Type Text
Publisher University of Utah
Subject Grade/recovery; Liberation; Microtomography; Auriferous pyrite ores
Subject LCSH Flotation; Pyrites
Dissertation Institution University of Utah
Dissertation Name Doctor of Philosophy
Language eng
Rights Management Copyright © Juan Francisco Medina 2012
Format application/pdf
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 12,969,373 bytes
Identifier etd3/id/1835
Source Original in Marriott Library Special Collections, TN7.5 2012 .M43
ARK ark:/87278/s6sj21dq
Setname ir_etd
ID 195523
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6sj21dq
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