Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T02:17:16.287Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Characterization of a low-grade copper-sulphide ore to assess its suitability for in situ recovery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 January 2018

Jian Li ,
Laura Kuhar ,
Peter Austin  and
Micheal Da Costa
Jian Li*
Affiliation:
CSIRO Mineral Resources, 7 Conlon St., Waterford 6152, Australia
Laura Kuhar
Affiliation:
CSIRO Mineral Resources, 7 Conlon St., Waterford 6152, Australia
Peter Austin
Affiliation:
CSIRO Mineral Resources, 7 Conlon St., Waterford 6152, Australia
Micheal Da Costa
Affiliation:
CSIRO Mineral Resources, 7 Conlon St., Waterford 6152, Australia
*
a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Electronic mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

CSIRO Minerals is developing new technologies and approaches for the in situ recovery (ISR) of valuable metals. ISR provides opportunities to process small and/or deep deposits and could create additional revenue for conventional uneconomic mines. Unlike for conventional processing, no standard methodology exists for characterizing sample suitability for ISR. The authors are developing a workflow to understand sample and deposit amenability to ISR processing. A South Australian low-grade iron-oxide-copper-gold sulphide ore was studied. A total of 37 drill cores samples were obtained from the ore sample for detailed mineralogical and leaching characterization. A range of characterization techniques including chemical analysis, X-ray fluorescence mapping, quantitative evaluation of minerals by scanning electron microscopy, computed tomography scanning, and bulk- and micro-X-ray diffraction analyses were applied to understand the ore mineralogy. Leaching tests at 50 °C were performed on selected samples to understanding their leaching behaviour. Mineralogical characterization found that copper was present mostly as discrete secondary copper sulphides distributed in various areas and at various specimen depths, which, in theory should be readily available for leaching, provided sufficient solution access exists. Leaching results showed steady copper recovery under the conditions tested. This study provides insight into understanding the suitability of an ore for ISR processing.

Keywords

in situ recoverycopper sulphideX-ray fluorescence mappingX-ray diffractionquantitative evaluation of minerals by scanning electron microscopy (QEMSCAN)computed tomography scanleaching
Type
Technical Articles
Information
Powder Diffraction , Volume 32 , Supplement S2 , December 2017 , pp. S78 - S84
Copyright
Copyright © International Centre for Diffraction Data 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Benes, V., Boitsov, A. V., Fazlullin, M., Hunter, J., Mays, W., Novak, J., Slezak, J., Stover, D. E., Tweeton, D. and Underhill, D. H. (2001). Manual of Acid In Situ Leach Uranium Mining Technology (International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna), p. 283.Google Scholar
Godel, B. (2013). “High-resolution X-ray computed tomography and its application to ore deposits: from data acquisition to quantitative three-dimensional measurements with case studies from Ni–Cu–PGE deposits”, Econ. Geol. 108, 2005–2019.Google Scholar
ICDD (2011). International Centre for Diffraction Data, 2011.Google Scholar
Mudd, G. M. (2000a). Acid In Situ Leach Uranium Mining: 1 – USA and Australia (Tailings & Mine Waste '00, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA). January 2000.Google Scholar
Mudd, G. M. (2000b). Acid In Situ Leach Uranium Mining: 2 – Soviet Block and Asia (Tailings & Mine Waste '00, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA). January 2000.Google Scholar
Mudd, G. M. (2001). Critical review of acid in situ leach uranium mining: 1. USA and Australia. Environ. Geol. 41, 390–403.Google Scholar
Sinclair, L. and Thompson, J. (2015). “In situ leaching of copper: challenges and future prospects”, Hydrometallurgy 157, 306–324.Google Scholar
Watling, H. R. (2006). “The bioleaching of sulphide minerals with emphasis on copper sulphides – a review”, Hydrometallurgy 84, 81–108.Google Scholar
World Nuclear Association (WNA) (2014). In Situ Leach (ISL) Mining of Uranium. http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/mining-of-uranium/in-situ-leach-mining-of-uranium.aspx Google Scholar