Understanding the mineralogy of the ore-body is essential as this knowledge enables one to predict how a mineral will behave during processing. Modern process mineralogy techniques are conducted by using all available mineral and ore characterisation techniques and instruments available, with each technique building onto the next ensuring meaning and accurate results are obtained.
All process mineralogical tests begin by defining the geometallurgical units. Lotter et al, (2003), defined geometallurgical units as ore type or group of ore types that encompasses a distinctive set of textural and compositional properties, which can be used to determine the processing behaviour of similar units. These units are based on review of geological data including host rock, alteration, grain sizes, texture, structural geology, grade, sulphide mineralogy and metal ratios with focus on characteristics which are known to affect metallurgical performance (Lotter et al, 2003; 2011).
The next step is to ensure representative sampling such that meaningful diagnoses of untreated samples and/ or extracted sample from production concentrator are attained. According to Lotter, (2011), unoxidised drill core samples, are the best representative of the geometullurgical unit it was extracted from. This is critical step in ensuring accuracies of QEMSCAN and LMA data. Representatively is accomplished by thoroughly mixing the sample and subsequently splitter the sample into replicate subsamples using a rotatory splitter (Lotter et al, 2003; Lotter & Whittake, 2004; Lotter, 2011).
Modern process mineralogy follows a set strategy to ensure accurate and meaningful mineralogical measurements are taken. Method development in ore characterization test during pre-f...
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... processing. The QEMSCAN comes equipped with theoretical compositions that do not take into account heterogeneity between mineral phases. The theoretical compositions will suffice for all other quantitative measurements performed by the QEMSCAN beside the elemental deportment measurements. This short coming is overcome by making use of the accurate compositional data that can be acquired from EMPA analysis. The compositional information of individual mineral phases is added to the QEMSCAN to refine the elemental deportment data. The composition data from the microprobe can also be used to update species identification protocol (SIP file).
All of the analytical instruments mentioned above all have their short coming, which is noted in Table 1, but combining these individual instruments in a methodical manner eliminates the majority of their individual limitations.
A bauxite is a mixture consisting of hydrated aluminum oxide minerals and mineral impurities which are formed by weathered aluminum bearing rocks. In 1891 bauxite was mined in Alabama from the Rock Run. However, mining came to a sudden stop because metallurgical grade bauxite became very hard to obtain. Production started back up in 1927 and has been running on a maintained basis. Due to irregular distributions of bauxite deposits, exploratory test drilling must be conducted before any mining. Alabama bauxite is used in the making of high temperature products, abrasives, and chemicals. (Tew, 6)
The fortune of silver and gold discovered in Colorado’s mountains were locked inside complex ores consisting of granite, quartz and other metals that rendered them useless, unless they could be separated (Egan. NPS). Miners originally imported stamp mills and Spanish arrastras to extract the gold and silver but both these methods were inefficient and lost upwards of 70 percent of the sought after mineral (NPS). In 1867, chemistry professor Nathanial P. Hill discovered an efficient method called the Swansea process to separate the precious metals and opened the Boston Colorado Smelter in Blackhawk (NPS).
Aluminum is the most abundant metallic constituent in the crust of the earth; only the nonmetals oxygen and silicon are more abundant. Aluminum is never found as a free metal; commonly as aluminum silicate or as a silicate of aluminum mixed with other metals such as sodium, potassium, iron, calcium, and magnesium. These silicates are not useful ores, for it is chemically difficult, and therefore an expensive process, to extract aluminum from them. bauxite an impure h...
There are many potential adverse health impacts caused by the chemicals used at the drilling site, which are later often unintentional released into the environment. These chemicals are hazardous and as Witter et. al. (2008) state “some of the chemicals used in this process are brought to the surface, potentially contaminating soil, air, and water, while some of the chemicals are left underground, potentially subsurface aquifers” (4). This makes it difficult to track which chemicals are causing effects and where they are coming from. Another piece to the puzzle is that the drilling companies do not disclose the full-list of chemicals so there is a great mystery in what chemicals and what concentrations are used in the process (Lauver 2012:383). However, recently there researchers have begun to breakdown the chemical identities and concentrations.
Taconite mining has become more popular ever since the rock has become rare. Taconite was once considered “waste rock,” but is currently really valuable. Since the Gogebic Iron Range has about three-fourths of all the taconite in the nation people from all over the country want to take over and start mining. Although taconite mining would do some good for the community, such as creating tons of jobs and boosting the economy for awhile, there are too many risks. Taconite mining has a negative effect on the environment and health.
Riley, C.M. "Lahars." Geological and Mining Engineering Sciences. Michigan Tech. Web. 6 Feb. 2010. .
Objectives • To evaluate the difficulty of mining and reclamation To calculate costs, expenses, income, and profit from a hands-on mining exercise. • To evaluate the effectiveness of reclamation and its added costs to mining. To describe the increasing rarity of some non-renewable mineral resources. Introduction Minerals play an important role in our day-to-day life, but we often do not contemplate how the minerals are obtained. Minerals are scattered all over the world, just like any other resource.
Stately pines towered over the wandering Little Meadow Creek. The stream was almost dry; many rocks revealed along the bank and rivulet bed. Be that as it may, Conrad Reed, a brazen 12-year-old, chose a Sunday in 1799 that he'd preferably angle in this shallow spot then go to chapel. As the kid sat tight for a nibble, he saw a yellow shake projecting from the water. It was an abnormal shake, dissimilar to the typical quartz and slate he found in the field. He pulled the stone from the stream quaint little innit home.
8.) Balance – I chose this, as it is very precise (it measure to 2
.... Without knowledge of the reliability and validity of these two instruments we are unable to know if the instruments are consistent or if they measure what they intend to measure.
Possible sources of error in this experiment include the inaccuracy of measurements, as correct measurements are vital for the experiment.
Acid mine drainage refers to water (leachate, drainage or seepage) that has come into contact with oxidised rocks or overburden that contains sulphide material (coal, zinc, copper, lead). Keller, 2000; U.S.G.S. ; U.S.E.P.A., 2002). A common sulphide is pyrite, or iron disulfide (FeS2). Throughout this essay, it will be pyrite that will be the primary sulphide considered. Acid mine drainage is not a new phenomenon, early mining techniques utilized gravity to avoid water pooling, resulting in the water becoming polluted by acid, iron, sulphur and aluminium (U.S.E.P.A., 2002).
The Purpose: The purpose of this experiment is to demonstrate how chemical weathering affects the different types of rocks.
Mining is the process or industry of obtaining minerals from the earth. Topics in this paper I’ll be specifically discussing are pros and cons of mining, structures of a mine, mining in general, California gold rush, diamonds in Africa, and comparison of diamond and gold mines.
Coil, D., McKittrick, E., and Higman, B. (2010, December 16). Acid Mine Drainage. Ground Truth Trekking. Retrieved February 12, 2011, from http://www.groundtruthtrekking.org/Issues/MetalsMining/AcidMineDrainage.html