K. Dachri; Kh. Naji; K. Nouar; I. Benzakour; Kh. Ouzaouit; M. Badri; A. Boussetta; H. Faqir; Kh. El Amari; M. Hibti
Abstract
This work aims to define an efficient and innovative tool in order to make early metallurgical predictions of the Tizert deposit in western Anti-Atlas-Morocco. To do this, the mineralogical approach is used as a tool of gometallurgical prediction using a combination of the lithological field observations ...
Read More
This work aims to define an efficient and innovative tool in order to make early metallurgical predictions of the Tizert deposit in western Anti-Atlas-Morocco. To do this, the mineralogical approach is used as a tool of gometallurgical prediction using a combination of the lithological field observations on representative drill cores, microscopic characterization performed on 54 thin sections, and automated quantitative mineralogy (AQM) conducted on five composite samples. The metallurgical prediction of the Tizert ore is based on the liberation data, notably on the copper content locked in the gangue and on unrecoverable copper buried as a solid matrix in the gangue minerals (refractory copper). In order to ensure the validity of the proposed method, the results of mineralogical prediction are compared with the flotation test work performance. As a result, the predicted copper recovery results from the mineralogical data are practically the same as those obtained through the flotation tests, showing a maximum difference of 2.02%, an R2 value of 0.96, and a Root Mean Square Error of 1.64%. These results indicate that using the AQM data, the copper recovery could be predicted accurately for the Tizert ore. Furthermore, an early prediction of the flotation performance is very useful in the geo-metallurgical model conception. In addition, such an approach ensures visibility throughout the life of the mine, and provides quick and cost-effective data for processing the performance. On an industrial scale, the applicability of this method can be expanded further by integrating the mineralogical approach into all steady-state processes in order to cover the possible mineralogical variety during the operations, and ensure an industrial process control.
Mineral Processing
S. Mohammadi; B. Rezai; A. A. Abdolahzadeh
Abstract
Geometallurgy tries to predict the instability the behavior of ores caused by variability in the geological settings, and to optimize the mineral value chain. Understanding the ore variability and subsequently the process response are considered to be the most important functions of an accurate geometallurgical ...
Read More
Geometallurgy tries to predict the instability the behavior of ores caused by variability in the geological settings, and to optimize the mineral value chain. Understanding the ore variability and subsequently the process response are considered to be the most important functions of an accurate geometallurgical study. In this paper, the geometallurgical index is presented as a new tool to optimize the mining activities. Geometallurgical index is described as any geological feature that makes a footprint on the process performance of ores. In a comprehensive research work at the Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper mine, the geological features that affect the main process responses including the product grade and recovery and plant’s throughput are subjected to investigation. In the current report, the rock hardness variability in terms of semi-autogenous grinding power index (SPI) and its effects on the mill throughput and energy consumption are presented. Ninety samples are collected based on the geological features including lithology, hydrothermal alteration, and geological structures. The samples are mineralogically characterized using XRD, XRF, and electron and optical microscopy. The Starkey laboratory mill, commercialized by Minnovex, is used to perform the SPI comminution test. The SPI results show a wide range of hardness, varying from 12 to 473 minutes. The correlation between the SPI results and the geological features show that lithology is a key geological feature that defines the hardness variability. In addition, the hydrothermal alteration would be an effective parameter in the period that the plant is fed with a single lithology.
