Iron-ore resources of the United States including Alaska and Puerto Rico, 1955

USGS Publications Warehouse

Carr, Martha S.; Dutton, Carl E.

1959-01-01

The importance of iron ore, the basic raw material of steel, as a fundamental mineral, resource is shown by the fact that about 100 million long tons of steel is used annually in the economy of the United States, as compared with a combined total of about 5 million long tons of copper, lead, zinc, and aluminum. Satisfying this annual demand for steel requires about 110 million tons of iron ore and 70 million tons of scrap iron and steel. The average annual consumption of iron ore in the United States from 1951 to 1955, inclusive, was about 110 million long tons, which is about twice the annual average from 1900 to 1930. Production of iron ore in the United States in this 5-year period averaged approximately 100 million long tons annually, divided by regions as follows (in percent): Lake Superior, 84.1; southeastern, 6.7; western, 6.7; northeastern, 1.4; and central and gulf, 1.1. Mining of iron ore began in the American Colonies about 1619, and for 225 years it was limited to eastern United States where fuel and markets were readily available. Production of iron ore from the Lake Superior region began in 1846; the region became the leading domestic source by 1890, and the Mesabi range in Minnesota has been the world's most productive area since 1896. Proximity of raw materials, water transportation, and markets has resulted in centralization of the country's iron and steel industry in the lower Great Lakes area. Increased imports of iron ore being delivered to eastern United States as well as demands for steel in nearby markets have given impetus to expansion in the steel-making capacity in this area. The four chief iron-ore minerals - hematite, liminite, magnetite, and siderite - are widely distributed but only locally form deposits of sufficient tonnage and grade to be commercially valuable at the present time. The iron content of these minerals, of which hematite is the most important, ranges from 48 percent in siderite to 72 percent in magnetite, but as these minerals are associated with other rock-forming minerals, the iron content of marketable ore has a lower range from 30 to 67 percent.Chemical constituents other than iron also are important in determining the marketability of iron ore. Although some iron ores can be used in the blast furnace as mined, others must first be improved either chemically by reduction of undesirable constituents, or physically by aggregation. Phosphorus and sulfur particularly are common deleterious elements; excessive silica is also undesirable but within certain limits can be controlled by additional flux. Lime and magnesia are beneficial in specified amounts because of their fluxing qualities, and a small amount of alumina improves the fluidity of slag. Manganese is especially desirable as a deoxidizing and desulfurizing agent. Titanium, chromium, and nickel must also be considered in the use of ore containing these elements.The principal iron-ore deposits in the United States have been formed by three processes. Hematite-bearing bedded deposits such as those at Birmingham, Ala., are marine sedimentary rocks which, except for weathering along the outcrop, have remained practically unaltered since deposition. Deposits of the Lake Superior region, also in sedimentary strata, originally had a slightly lower iron content than those at-Birmingham, but ore bodies of hematite and limonite were formed by removal of other constituents in solution after deposition of the beds, with a relative increase of iron content in the material remaining. Limestone adjacent to igneous intrusions has been replaced by magnetite deposits at Cornwall, Pa., and by hematite-magnetite deposits near Cedar City, Utah. Magnetite deposits in New Jersey and in the Adirondack Mountains of New York are generally believed to have been formed by replacement of grains of other minerals in metamorphic rocks. Iron-ore resources are made up of reserves of iron ore, material usable under existing economic and technologic conditions; and potential ore, material likely to become usable under more favorable conditions. The tonnage and grade of material of combined reserves and potential ore in each of the deposits known or believed to contain at least 200,000 long tons of iron-ore resources are tabulated in this report, and numerous sources of additional information are given in a selected bibliography. The total domestic iron-ore resources are estimated at approximately 75,000 million long tons of crude ore. About 10,000 million tons of the resources is reserves of crude ore that will probably yield 5,500 million tons of concentrates and direct-shipping ore. About 65,000 million tons is potential ore and may yield 25,000 million tons of concentrates and some direct-shipping ore.

Gold grade of epithermal gold ore at Lamuntet, Brang Rea, West Sumbawa District, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ernawati, Rika; Idrus, Arifudin; TBMP, Himawan

2017-06-01

Lamuntet is one of gold ore mining area carried out by the Artisanal Small scale Gold Mining (ASGM) located in West Sumbawa, Indonesia. Most of the miners at this area are not the local miners but also those from other regions. Mineralization of this area is strong identified as low sulfidation epithermal system. There are two blocks of this mining location, namely, Ngelampar block with an area of 0.164 km2 and Song block with an area of 0.067 km2. This study was focused on Ngelampar block. The characteristic of epithermal system is the existence of quartz vein with comb, vuggy, and sugary texture. The aim of this research was to analyze the gold grade and other metals, such as Cu, Ag, Pb, As, Zn, and Hg. The research methods included literature study from previous researches, field work, laboratory work, and interpretation. The literature study was performed on previous researches with similar study area. The field work comprised of direct observation and sampling. Fieldwork was done for a week to obtain gold ore/vein. Sixteen samples were analyzed to obtain the grade of ore/metal. The Hg laboratory analysis was then performed on the six samples with the highest gold grade. Laboratory works were conducted at Intertek Jakarta by using Fire Assay (FA) for gold grade and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) for Cu, Ag, Pb, As, Zn, and Hg. Results of the analysis showed the range of Au was grade (0.1 ppm - 27.8 ppm), Cu was 26 ppm -1740 ppm, Pb was 101 ppm- >4000 ppm, Zn of 73 ppm- >10,000 ppm, Ag of 3 ppm -185 ppm, As was 150 ppm-6530 ppm, and Hg of 0.08 ppm - 1.89 ppm. L1 and L15 had high grade for all values (Au, Ag, Zn, Cu, As, and Hg). Gold mineralization was formed as electrum because of Ag content is higher than 20%. Associated minerals of the samples in the study area were galena, sphalerite, arsenopyrite, and chalcopyrite which showed the characteristic of rich base metal of Pb, Zn, and Cu at LS epithermal.

Recovery of magnetite from low grade banded magnetite quartzite (BMQ) ore

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tripathy, Alok; Bagchi, Subhankar; Rao, Danda Srinivas; Nayak, Bijaya Ketana; Rout, Prashanta Kumar; Biswal, Surendra Kumar

2018-04-01

There has been a steady increase of iron ore demand in the last few decades. This growing demand could be countered by use of low grade iron ore after beneficiation. Banded iron formations (BIF) are one of the resources of such low grade iron ores. Banded magnetite quartzite (BMQ) is one such BIF and a source of iron phase mineral in the form of magnetite. In the present study a low grade BMQ ore containing around 25.47% Fe was beneficiated for recovery of magnetite. XRD study shows that quartz, magnetite, hematite, and goethite are the major minerals phases present in the low grade BMQ sample. Unit operations such as crushing, scrubbing, grinding, and magnetic separations were used for recovering magnetite. Based on the large scale beneficiation studies the process flowsheet has been developed for enrichment of magnetite. It was found that with the help of developed process flowsheet it is possible to enrich Fe value up to 65.14% in the concentrate with a yield of 24.59%.

Physical, technical, and economic accessibility of resources and reserves need to be distinguished by grade: Application to the case of phosphorus.

PubMed

Springer, Nathaniel P

2017-01-15

The amount of phosphorus in the total environment is finite, yet recent estimates suggest that more than enough phosphate ore resources exist in the lithosphere to meet future increases in demand during the next century. Still, it remains unclear how the accessibility of this resource stock - which is heterogeneous in terms of grade and location - will change as currently accessible resources are utilized, as extraction and processing technologies develop, and as the relative economic costs vary. This study uses an economic framework, the World Trade Model with Rectangular Choice-of-Technology, to link estimates of known geological resources of various grades with the technically and economically accessible reserves. Using the most recent public data on phosphate ore stocks and mining and technological capacity, this study estimates that the ~400,000teragrams (Tg) of known apatite ore (>1% P 2 O 5 content) equate to ~110,000Tg when converted to potential reserves (~30% P 2 O 5 ) using existing technologies, with over half of these remaining potential reserves converted from resources with grades below 20% P 2 O 5 . Corresponding global reserves are estimated at ~70,000Tg using the Rectangular Choice-of-Technology model, but since any reserve estimate is contingent on the state of the world economy, a set of five illustrative scenarios are constructed to show how this estimate can vary between ~67,000 and ~98,000Tg with only a small number of changes to the economic and technical parameters and variables. Calculating accessibility using consistent definitions for resources and reserves while distinguishing between grades not only creates a clearer picture of remaining non-renewable resources, but creates a framework that can be used to explore future geopolitical scenarios about ore availability, extraction technologies, supply networks, and global commodity prices. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Mineralized aplite—pegmatite at Jabal Sa'id, Hijaz region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hackett, Damien

The Jabal Sa'id aplite—pegmatite, located at 23°49'03″N, 40°56'30″E, is part of the Jabal Hadb ash Sharar granite complex and resulted from emplacement of a residual volatile-rich fraction of alkali granite magma dominantly above a chilled carapace. Mineralization is layered, with four peak grades in layers 20-25 m wide, one of which may represent a mineral resource with greater potential than the aplite—pegmatite as a whole. The grades of all elements, except Zr, increase towards the upper part of the body. Chemical composition is extremely variable. Major-oxide data confirm previously determined geochemical characteristics and genetic relationships that suggested this body is an apogranite. However, the abundant new data also show that differences between the aplite—pegmatite and cognate alkali microgranite are not as great as previously reported, except for Na 2O which is extremely depleted in the apogranite. REE data support suggested genetic relationships and indicate that feldspar fractionation was important during crystallization. They also show that the content of HREE is comparatively constant throughout the aplite—pegmatite, and that variations in total REE content are caused by variations in the content of LREE. Bastnaesite and synchysite-(Y) are the principal rare-earth-element minerals, and are accompanied by monazite and synchesite; pyrochlore and thorite are also important ore minerals. Other elements concentrated in the aplite—pegmatite, such as Ta, Sn and U, occur only in solid solution in these minerals. The grain size of the ore minerals is commonly in the range 0.02-0.2 mm, and the grain size of gangue minerals, quartz, microcline and lesser amounts of aegirine and arfvedsonite, is typically in the range 1.0-4.0 mm. The ore minerals occur typically along gangue mineral boundaries. Zoning within the body permits calculation of high- and low-grade reserves which correspond to the upper and lower part of the apogranite.

The F'derik-Zouerate iron district: Mesoarchean and Paleoproterozoic iron formation of the Tiris Complex, Islamic Republic of Mauritania

USGS Publications Warehouse

Taylor, Cliff D.; Finn, Carol A.; Anderson, Eric D.; Bradley, Dwight C.; Joud, Mohamed; Taleb Mohamed, Ahmed; Horton, John D.; Johnson, Craig A.; Bouabdellah, Mohammed; Slack, John F.

2016-01-01

High-grade hematitic iron ores (of HIF, containing 60-65 wt%Fe) have been mined in Mauritania since 1952 from Superior-type iron deposits of the F'derik-Zouerate district.  Depletion of the high-grade ores in recent years has resulted in new exploration projects focused on lower-grade magnetite ores occurring in Algoma-type banded iron formation (of BIF, containing ca. 35 wt% Fe).  Mauritania is the seventeenth largest iron producer in the world and currently has about 1.1 Gt of crude iron ore reserves. 

Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of the Noamundi-Koira basin iron ore deposits (India)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mirza, Azimuddin; Alvi, Shabbar Habib; Ilbeyli, Nurdane

2015-04-01

India is one of the richest sources of iron ore deposits in the world; and one of them is located in the Noamundi-Koira basin, Singhbhum-Orissa craton. The geological comparative studies of banded iron formation (BIF) and associated iron ores of Noamundi-Koira iron ore deposits, belonging to the iron ore group in eastern India, focus on the study of mineralogy and major elemental compositions along with the geological evaluation of different iron ores. The basement of the Singhbhum-Orissa craton is metasedimentary rocks which can be traced in a broadly elliptical pattern of granitoids, surrounded by metasediments and metavolcanics of Greenstone Belt association. The Singhbhum granitoid is intrusive into these old rocks and to younger, mid Archaean metasediments, including iron formations, schists and metaquartzites and siliciclastics of the Precambrian Iron Ore Group (Saha et al., 1994; Sharma, 1994). The iron ore of Noamundi-Koira can be divided into seven categories (Van Schalkwyk and Beukes 1986). They are massive, hard laminated, soft laminated, martite-goethite, powdery blue dust and lateritic ore. Although it is more or less accepted that the parent rock of iron ore is banded hematite jasper (BHJ), the presence of disseminated martite in BHJ suggests that the magnetite of protore was converted to martite. In the study area, possible genesis of high-grade hematite ore could have occurred in two steps. In the first stage, shallow, meteoric fluids affect primary, unaltered BIF by simultaneously oxidizing magnetite to martite and replacing quartz with hydrous iron oxides. In the second stage of supergene processes, deep burial upgrades the hydrous iron oxides to microplaty hematite. Removal of silica from BIF and successive precipitation of iron resulted in the formation of martite- goethite ore. Soft laminated ores were formed where precipitation of iron was partial or absent. The leached out space remains with time and the interstitial space is generally filled with kaolinite and gibbsite, which make it low grade. Massive iron ores are devoid of any lamination and usually associated with BHJ and lower shale. The thickness of the massive ore layer varies with the location. The massive iron ore grades in to well-developed bedded BHJ in depth. Blue dust occurs in association with BHJ as pockets and layers. Although blue dust and friable ore are both powdery ores, and subjected to variable degree of deformation, leading to the formation of folding, faulting and joints of complex nature produce favourable channels. Percolating water play an important role in the formation of blue dust and the subterranean solution offers the necessary acidic environment for leaching of quartz from the BHJ. The dissolution of silica and other alkalis are responsible for the formation of blue dust. The friable and powdery ore on the other hand are formed by soft laminated ore. As it is formed from the soft laminated ore, its alumina content remains high similar to soft laminated ore compaired to blue dust. Mineralogy study suggests that magnetite was the principal iron oxide mineral, now a relict phase whose depositional history is preserved in BHJ, where it remains in the form of martite. The platy hematite is mainly the product of martite. The different types of iron ores are intricately related with the BHJ. Hard laminated ores, martite-goethite ore and soft laminated ore are resultant of desilicification process through the action of hydrothermal fluids. Geochemistry of banded iron-formations of the Noamundi-Koira iron ore deposits shows that they are detritus-free chemical precipitates. The mineralogical and geochemical data suggest that the hard laminated, massive, soft laminated ores and blue dust had a genetic lineage from BIF's aided with certain input from hydrothermal activity. The comparative study of major elemental composition of the basin samples and while plotting a binary diagram, it shows a relation between major oxides against iron oxides, in which iron oxides is taken as a reference oxide (Mirza, 2011). On the other hand, by plotting a binary diagram between chemical index of alteration (CIA) and other oxides while taking the samples of lower, middle and upper shales. It reflects an immobility and mobility of ions during partial and complete weathering processes (Mirza, 2011). Geochemical data indicate that BIF are in general detritus free chemical precipitates. Fe2O3 content of BHJ are varies in between 36.6% to 65.04%. In hard laminated ore, Fe2O3 content varies from 93.8% to 96.38%, Soft laminated ore varies from 83.64% to 89.5% and laterite ore varies from 53.5% to 79.11%. Fe2O3 content in Martite- Goethite ore varies from 86.38% to 89.42% and blue dust having 90.74% to 95.86% and all other oxides like SiO2, Al2O3, CaO, MgO, K2O, Na2O are decreases. Major part of the iron could have been added to the bottom sea water by hydrothermal solutions derived from hydrothermally active anoxic marine environments. The presence of intacalated tuffaceous shales pointing towards the genesis of iron, which could have leached from sea floor by volcanogenic process. Iron and silica of BIF were provided by the hydrothermal solutions emplaced at the vent sites situated at the Archean-Mid Oceanic Ridges. References: Mirza A (2011). Major element geochemistry of iron ore deposits in Noamundi-Koira basin of Singhbhum-Orissa craton (India). MSc thesis, Aligarh Muslim University, India. Saha AK (1994). Crustal evolution of Singhbhum, North Orissa, Eastern India; Geol. Soc. India Memoir 27 341. Sharma M, Basu AR and Ray SL (1994). Sm-Nd isotopic and geochemical study of the Archaean tonalite-amphibolite association from the eastern Indian craton. Contrib. Mineral Petrol. 117:45-55. Van Schalkwyk J and Beukes N J (1986). The Sishen iron ore deposit, Griqualand West; In: Mineral deposits of Southern Africa (eds) Annhaeusser C R and Maske S S, Geological Society of South Africa, Johannesburg, 931-956.

Characterization of Sumbawa manganese ore and recovery of manganese sulfate as leaching products

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kusumaningrum, Retno; Rahmani, Siti Astari; Widayatno, Wahyu Bambang; Wismogroho, Agus Sukarto; Nugroho, Dwi Wahyu; Maulana, Syahrizal; Rochman, Nurul Taufiqu; Amal, M. Ikhlasul

2018-05-01

The aims of this research were to study the leaching process of manganese ore which originated from Sumbawa, Indonesia and its characterization. A high grade Indonesian manganese ore from Sumbawa, West of Nusa Tenggara was characterized by X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF). The result showed composition of 78.8 % Mn, 17.77% Fe and the rest were trace elements such as Si, Co, Ti, Zn, V and Zr contents. X-Ray Diffraction analysis showed that the manganese ore was consisted of pyrolusite (MnO2), rhodonite (MnSiO3), rhodochrosite (MnCO3) and hematite (Fe2O3). Manganese ore was also analyzed by thermal analysis to observe their thermal decomposition character. In this study, sulphuric acid (H2SO4, 6 M) was deployed as leaching agent. The leaching process was performed at 90 °C for two hours with the addition of NH4OH to control pH. Recovery percentage of leaching process yielded of 87 % Mn extracted. The crystallization process result at heating temperature of 200 °C was confirmed by XRD as manganese sulfate.

Bio-mineralization and potential biogeochemical processes in bauxite deposits: genetic and ore quality significance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laskou, Magdalini; Economou-Eliopoulos, Maria

2013-08-01

The Parnassos-Ghiona bauxite deposit in Greece of karst type is the 11th largest bauxite producer in the world. The mineralogical, major and trace-element contents and δ18O, δ12C, δ34S isotopic compositions of bauxite ores from this deposit and associated limestone provide valuable evidence for their origin and biogeochemical processes resulting in the beneficiation of low grade bauxite ores. The organic matter as thin coal layers, overlying the bauxite deposits, within limestone itself (negative δ12C isotopic values) and the negative δ34S values in sulfides within bauxite ores point to the existence of the appropriate circumstances for Fe bio-leaching and bio-mineralization. Furthermore, a consortium of microorganisms of varying morphological forms (filament-like and spherical to lenticular at an average size of 2 μm), either as fossils or presently living and producing enzymes, is a powerful factor to catalyze the redox reactions, expedite the rates of metal extraction and provide alternative pathways for metal leaching processes resulting in the beneficiation of bauxite ore.

The El Teniente porphyry Cu-Mo deposit from a hydrothermal rutile perspective

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rabbia, Osvaldo M.; Hernández, Laura B.; French, David H.; King, Robert W.; Ayers, John C.

2009-11-01

Mineralogical, textural, and chemical analyses (EPMA and PIXE) of hydrothermal rutile in the El Teniente porphyry Cu-Mo deposit help to better constrain ore formation processes. Rutile formed from igneous Ti-rich phases (sphene, biotite, Ti-magnetite, and ilmenite) by re-equilibration and/or breakdown under hydrothermal conditions at temperatures ranging between 400°C and 700°C. Most rutile nucleate and grow at the original textural position of its Ti-rich igneous parent mineral phase. The distribution of Mo content in rutile indicates that low-temperature (˜400-550°C), Mo-poor rutile (5.4 ± 1.1 ppm) is dominantly in the Mo-rich mafic wallrocks (high-grade ore), while high-temperature (˜550-700°C), Mo-rich rutile (186 ± 20 ppm) is found in the Mo-poor felsic porphyries (low-grade ore). Rutile from late dacite ring dikes is a notable exception to this distribution pattern. The Sb content in rutile from the high-temperature potassic core of the deposit to its low-temperature propylitic fringe remains relatively constant (35 ± 3 ppm). Temperature and Mo content of the hydrothermal fluids in addition to Mo/Ti ratio, modal abundance and stability of Ti-rich parental phases are key factors constraining Mo content and provenance in high-temperature (≥550°C) rutile. The initial Mo content of parent mineral phases is controlled by melt composition and oxygen fugacity as well as timing and efficiency of fluid-melt separation. Enhanced reduction of SO2-rich fluids and sulfide deposition in the Fe-rich mafic wallrocks influences the low-temperature (≤550°C) rutile chemistry. The data are consistent with a model of fluid circulation of hot (>550°C), oxidized (ƒO2 ≥ NNO + 1.3), SO2-rich and Mo-bearing fluids, likely exsolved from deeper crystallizing parts of the porphyry system and fluxed through the upper dacite porphyries and related structures, with metal deposition dominantly in the Fe-rich mafic wallrocks.

Effects of High Pressure ORE Grinding on the Efficiency of Flotation Operations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saramak, Daniel; Krawczykowska, Aldona; Młynarczykowska, Anna

2014-10-01

This article discusses issues related to the impact of the high pressure comminution process on the efficiency of the copper ore flotation operations. HPGR technology improves the efficiency of mineral resource enrichment through a better liberation of useful components from waste rock as well as more efficient comminution of the material. Research programme included the run of a laboratory flotation process for HPGR crushing products at different levels of operating pressures and moisture content. The test results showed that products of the high-pressure grinding rolls achieved better recoveries in flotation processes and showed a higher grade of useful components in the flotation concentrate, in comparison to the ball mill products. Upgrading curves have also been marked in the following arrangement: the content of useful component in concentrate the floatation recovery. All upgrading curves for HPGR products had a more favourable course in comparison to the curves of conventionally grinded ore. The results also indicate that various values of flotation recoveries have been obtained depending on the machine operating parameters (i.e. the operating pressure), and selected feed properties (moisture).

Microwave enhanced recovery of nickel-copper ore: communition and floatability aspects.

PubMed

Henda, R; Hermas, A; Gedye, R; Islam, M R

2005-01-01

A study describing the effect of microwave radiation, at a frequency of 2450 MHz, on the processes of communication and flotation of a complex sulphide nickel-copper ore is presented. Ore communication has been investigated under standard radiation-free conditions and after ore treatment in a radiated environment as a function of ore size, exposure time to radiation, and microwave power. The findings show that communication is tremendously improved by microwave radiation with values of the relative work index as low as 23% at a microwave power of 1.406 kW and after 10 s of exposure time. Communication is affected by exposure time and microwave power in a nontrivial manner. In terms of ore floatability, the experimental tests have been carried out on a sample of 75 microm in size under different exposure times. The results show that both ore concentrate recoveries and grades of nickel and copper are significantly enhanced after microwave treatment of the ore with relative increases in recovered concentrate, grade of nickel, and grade of copper of 26 wt%, 15 wt%, and 27%, respectively, at a microwave power of 1330 kW and after 30 s of exposure time.

Selective Removal of Iron from Low-Grade Ti Ore by Reacting with Calcium Chloride

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, Jungshin; Okabe, Toru H.

2017-02-01

Recently, titanium metal production by molten salt electrolysis using CaCl2 as molten salt and TiO2 or rutile (94 to 96 pct TiO2) as feedstock has been drawing attention. However, when a low-grade Ti ore (mainly FeTiO3) is used as feedstock, removal of iron (Fe) from the ore is indispensable. In this study, the influence of reaction temperature, reaction time, particle size of the ore, and source country for the ore on the removal of iron by selective chlorination using CaCl2 was assessed. Experimental results showed that the mass percent of iron in the ore decreased from 49.7 to 1.79 pct under certain conditions by selective removal of iron as FeCl2. As a result, high-grade CaTiO3 was produced when the ore particles smaller than 74 µm reacted with CaCl2 at 1240 K (967 °C) for 8 to 10 hours. Therefore, this study demonstrates that the removal of iron from the ore is feasible through the selective chlorination process using CaCl2 by optimizing the variables.

Magnetite deposits near Klukwan and Haines, southeastern Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Robertson, Eugene C.

1956-01-01

Low-grade iron ore is found in magnetite-bearing pyroxenite bodies near Klukwan and Haines in Southeastern Alaska. An alluvial fan at Haines also contains magnetite-bearing rock of possible economic significance. The Haines-Klukwan area is underlain by rocks of Mesozoic Including epidote diorite, quartz diorite, and alaskite of the Coast Range batholith, metabasalt (recrystallized lava flows and pyroclastic rocks), and, in the southern part, interbedded slate and limestone. Layering and foliation, where perceptible, generally strike northwest and dip steeply northeast. The iron deposits are found at or near the contact between the metabasalt and epidote diorite; they appear to represent highly-altered lava flows that were metamorphosed during the emplacement of the batholith. Several billion tens of rock containing about 13 percent magnetic iron are included in the pyroxenite body at Klukwan. Sampling and dip-needle data suggest the presence there of two or three tabular aches in which the rock has an average magnetic iron content of 20 percent or more. Pyroxenite bodies outcropping in three areas near Haines apparently are lower in grade than the Klukwan deposit; lack of exposures prevented thorough sampling but reconnaissance traverses with a dip needle failed to reveal important zones of high-grade iron ore. An alluvial fan adjoining the pyroxenite body at Klukwan contains several hundred million tons of broken rock having a magneticiron content of about 10 percent.

Coal-oil gold agglomeration assisted flotation to recover gold from refractory ore

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Otsuki, A.; Yue, C.

2017-07-01

This study aimed to investigate the applicability of coal-oil gold agglomeration (CGA) assisted flotation to recover gold from a refractory ore. The ore with the grade of 2-5 g/t was tested with the CGA-flotation process in six different size fractions from 38 to 300 urn using different collector types and dosages. In addition, the flotation without CGA was performed under the same condition for comparison. The results showed that the higher gold grade and recovery were achieved by applying the CGA-flotation, compared with the flotation without CGA. More than 20-60 times grade increase from the head grade was obtained with CGA-flotation. The elemental analysis of gold and sulphur explained their relationship with gold recovery. The results well indicated the applicability of CGA to upgrade the refractory gold ore.

PHYSICAL BENEFICATION OF LOW-GRADE URANIUM ORES

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Butler, J.N.

1958-07-30

Investigations are presented of methods for the physi cal beneficiation of low-grade and other uranium ores. The investlgations which have been in progress since September 1952 cover work done on a variety of natural ores, as well as a certain amount of basic research on mixtures of synthetic or high-grade natural uranium minerais with various gangues. Methods of beneficlation investigated include flotation, wet and dry attroftioning, magnetic separation. electresiatie separation, and misceilaneous minor methods. A rapid, routine method oicolorimeiric determlnation of uranium was also developed in order to facilitaie analyzing of low-grade materials for uranium. This proeedure is presenied inmore » condensed form. (auth)« less

Geochemistry and petrology of the indium-bearing polymetallic skarn ores at Pitkäranta, Ladoga Karelia, Russia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valkama, M.; Sundblad, K.; Cook, N. J.; Ivashchenko, V. I.

2016-08-01

The historic mining district of Pitkäranta in the Ladoga region, Fennoscandian Shield, was exploited for Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, Sn and Ag in the nineteenth to twentieth centuries. The Pitkäranta region is dominated by Palaeoproterozoic supracrustal rocks, which, together with gneissic Archaean dome structures, constitute an allochthonous terrane complex that amalgamated to the Archaean continent during the Svecokarelian orogeny at 1.9-1.8 Ga. This crustal complex was intruded by 1.8 Ga Late orogenic granites, 1.54 Ga anorogenic rapakivi granites and 1.45 Ga dolerites. The polymetallic skarn ores of Pitkäranta extend over a 25-km-long zone in Palaeoproterozoic supracrustal rocks and formed from hydrothermal solutions, which emanated from the anorogenic rapakivi granites and reacted with marble layers. Four major ore types are recognised after the dominating metal: Fe, Cu, Sn and Zn, respectively. These types are not restricted to individual mines or mine fields but represent end members in zonation patterns within each ore body. Pitkäranta was the second discovery site in the world for indium but has been without modern documentation for more than 75 years. The indium contents in the ores are up to 600 ppm, in most cases sphalerite-hosted. The only roquesite-bearing sample in this study had an indium grade of 291 ppm and an In/Zn ratio of 51 (close to the criteria for the limiting conditions for creating an In-rich mineral). The Pitkäranta ores have a potential for future small-scale exploitation, but all such plans are hampered by high contents if Bi, Cd and As.

Extraction of Copper from Malanjkhand Low-Grade Ore by Bacillus stearothermophilus.

PubMed

Singh, Sradhanjali; Sukla, Lala Behari; Mishra, Baroda Kanta

2011-10-01

Thermophilic bacteria are actively prevalent in hot water springs. Their potential to grow and sustain at higher temperatures makes them exceptional compare to other microorganism. The present study was initiated to isolate, identify and determine the feasibility of extraction of copper using thermophilic heterotrophic bacterial strain. Bacillus stearothermophilus is a thermophilic heterotrophic bacterium isolated from hot water spring, Atri, Orissa, India. This bacterium was adapted to low-grade chalcopyrite ore and its efficiency to solubilize copper from Malanjkhand low-grade ore was determined. The low-grade copper ore contains 0.27% Cu, in which the major copper-bearing mineral is chalcopyrite associated with other minerals present as minor phase. Variation in parameters such as pulp-density and temperatures were studied. After 30 days of incubation, it was found that Bacillus stearothermophilus solubilize copper up to 81.25% at pH 6.8 at 60°C.

Three Sub-Saharan Minerals: US Interests and Responses.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-03-01

Minnesota, 50 million ounces; Montana, 225 32 million ounces; and others (including copper porphyries ), 5 million ounces. Recycling. Although platinum and...domestic mines and resources are low-grade 18 ores of less than 35 percent metal content. Arizona , Arkansas, Colorado, Maine and Minnesota have...these manganese deposits also contain nickel, copper and cobalt. Because of the prohibitive research and initial operating costs, plus the risk of

Isotopic evidence for organic matter oxidation by manganese reduction in the formation of stratiform manganese carbonate ore

USGS Publications Warehouse

Okita, P.M.; Maynard, J.B.; Spiker, E. C.; Force, E.R.

1988-01-01

Unlike other marine-sedimentary manganese ore deposits, which are largely composed of manganese oxides, the primary ore at Molango (Hidalgo State, Mexico) is exclusively manganese carbonate (rhodochrosite, Mn-calcite, kutnahorite). Stable isotope studies of the carbonates from Molango provide critical new information relevant to the controversy over syngenetic and diagenetic models of stratiform manganese deposit formation. Negative ??13C values for carbonates from mineralized zones at Molango are strongly correlated with manganese content both on a whole rock scale and by mineral species. Whole rock ??13C data fall into three groups: high-grade ore = -16.4 to -11.5%.; manganese-rich, sub-ore-grade = -5.2 to 0%.; and unmineralized carbonates = 0 to +2.5%. (PDB). ??18O data show considerable overlap in values among the three groups: +4.8 to -2.8, -5.4 to -0.3%., and -7.4 to +6.2 (PDB), respectively. Isotopic data for individual co-existing minerals suggest a similar separation of ??13C values: ??13C values from calcite range from -1.1 to +0.7%. (PDB), whereas values from rhodochrosite are very negative, -12.9 to -5.5%., and values from kutnahorite or Mn-calcite are intermediate between calcite and rhodochrosite. 13C data are interpreted to indicate that calcite (i.e. unmineralized carbonate) formed from a normal marine carbon reservoir. However, 13C data for the manganese-bearing carbonates suggest a mixed seawater and organic source of carbon. The presence of only trace amounts of pyrite suggests sulfate reduction may have played a minor part in oxidizing organic matter. It is possible that manganese reduction was the predominant reaction that oxidized organic matter and that it released organic-derived CO2 to produce negative ??13C values and manganese carbonate mineralization. ?? 1988.

High-grade iron ore at Windarling, Yilgarn Craton: a product of syn-orogenic deformation, hypogene hydrothermal alteration and supergene modification in an Archean BIF-basalt lithostratigraphy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Angerer, Thomas; Hagemann, Steffen G.; Danyushevsky, Leonid

2013-08-01

Banded iron formation (BIF)-hosted iron ore deposits in the Windarling Range are located in the lower greenstone succession of the Marda-Diemals greenstone belt, Southern Cross domain, Yilgarn Craton and constitute a total hematite-martite-goethite ore resource of minimum 52 Mt at 60 wt.% Fe (0.07 P). Banded iron formation is interlayered with high-Mg basalts at Windarling and precipitated during episodes of volcanic quiescence. Trace element content and the rare earth element (REE) ratios Y/Ho (42 to 45), Sm/Yb (1.5), together with positive La and Gd anomalies in `least-altered' hematite-magnetite-metachert-BIF indicate the precipitation from Archean seawater that was fertilised by hydrothermal vent fluids with a basaltic HREE-Y signature. Hypogene iron ore in sub-greenschist facies metamorphosed BIF formed during three distinct stages: ore stage 1 was a syn- to post-metamorphic, syn-D1, Fe-Ca-Mg-Ni-Co-P-REE metasomatism that produced local Ni-REE-rich Fe-dolomite-magnetite alteration in BIF. Hydrothermal alteration was induced by hot fluid flow controlled by brittle-ductile reactivation of BIF-basalt margins and crosscutting D1 faults. The Ni-Co-rich content of dolomite and a shift in REE ratios in carbonate-altered BIF towards Archean mafic rock signature (Y/Ho to 31 to 40, Sm/Yb to 1 to 2 and Gd/Gd* to 1.2 to 1.4) suggest that high-Mg basalts in the Windarling Range were the primary source of introduced metals. During ore stage 2, a syn-deformational and likely acidic and oxidised fluid flow along BIF-basalt margins and within D1 faults leached carbonate and precipitated lepidoblastic and anhedral/granoblastic hematite. High-grade magnetite-hematite ore is formed during this stage. Ore stage 3 hydrothermal specular hematite (spcH)-Fe-dolomite-quartz alteration was controlled by a late-orogenic, brittle, compressional/transpressional stage (D4; the regional-scale shear-zone-related D3 is not preserved in Windarling). This minor event remobilised iron oxides, carbonate and quartz to form veins and breccia but did not generate significant volumes of iron ore. Ore stage 4 involved Mesozoic(?) to recent supergene oxidation and hydration in a weathering environment reaching down to depths of ˜100 to maximum 200 m below surface. Supergene ore formation involved goethite replacement of dolomite and quartz as well as martitisation. Important `ground preparation' for supergene modification and upgrade were mainly the formation of steep D1 to D4 structures, steep BIF/basalt margins and particularly the syn-D1 to syn-D2 carbonate alteration of BIF that is most susceptible to supergene dissolution. The Windarling deposits are structurally controlled, supergene-modified hydrothermal iron ore systems that share comparable physical, chemical and ore-forming characteristics to other iron ore deposits in the Yilgarn Craton (e.g. Koolyanobbing, Beebyn in the Weld Range, Mt. Gibson). However, the remarkable variety in pre-, syn- and post-deformational ore textures (relative to D1 and D2) has not been described elsewhere in the Yilgarn and are similar to the ore deposits in high-strain zones, such as of Brazil (Quadrilátero Ferrífero or Iron Quadrangle) and Nigeria. The overall similarity of alteration stages, i.e. the sequence of hydrothermal carbonate introduction and hypogene leaching, with other greenstone belt-hosted iron ore deposits supports the interpretation that syn-orogenic BIF alteration and upgrade was crucial in the formation of hypogene-supergene iron ore deposits in the Yilgarn Craton and possibly in other Archean/Paleoproterozoic greenstone belt settings worldwide.

Kinetic studies on the reduction of iron ore nuggets by devolatilization of lean-grade coal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Biswas, Chanchal; Gupta, Prithviraj; De, Arnab; Chaudhuri, Mahua Ghosh; Dey, Rajib

2016-12-01

An isothermal kinetic study of a novel technique for reducing agglomerated iron ore by volatiles released by pyrolysis of lean-grade non-coking coal was carried out at temperature from 1050 to 1200°C for 10-120 min. The reduced samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and chemical analysis. A good degree of metallization and reduction was achieved. Gas diffusion through the solid was identified as the reaction-rate-controlling resistance; however, during the initial period, particularly at lower temperatures, resistance to interfacial chemical reaction was also significant, though not dominant. The apparent rate constant was observed to increase marginally with decreasing size of the particles constituting the nuggets. The apparent activation energy of reduction was estimated to be in the range from 49.640 to 51.220 kJ/mol and was not observed to be affected by the particle size. The sulfur and carbon contents in the reduced samples were also determined.

Main types of rare-metal mineralization in Karelia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ivashchenko, V. I.

2016-03-01

Rare-metal mineralization in Karelia is represented by V, Be, U deposits and In, Re, Nb, Ta, Li, Ce, La, and Y occurrences, which are combined into 17 types of magmatic, pegmatite, albitite-greisen, hydrothermal-metasomatic, sedimentary, and epigenetic groups. The main vanadium resources are localized in the Onega ore district. These are deposits of the Padma group (556 kt) and the Pudozhgorsky complex (1.5 Mt). The REE occurrences are primarily characterized by Ce-La specialization. The perspective of HREE is related to the Eletozero-Tiksheozero alkaline and Salmi anorthosite-rapakivi granite complexes. Rare-metal pegmatites bear complex mineralization with insignificant low-grade resources. The Lobash and Jalonvaara porphyry Cu-Mo deposits are potential sources of rhenium: Re contents in molybdenite are 20-70 and 50-246 ppm and hypothetical resources are 12 and 7.5 t, respectively. The high-grade (˜100 ppm) and metallogenic potential of indium (˜2400 t) make the deposits of the Pitkäranta ore district leading in the category of Russian ore objects most prospective for indium. Despite the diverse rare-metal mineralization known in Karelia, the current state of this kind of mineral commodities at the world market leaves real metallogenic perspective only for V, U, Re, In, and Nb.

Raman Spectroscopic Characterisation of Australian Banded Iron Formation and Iron Ore

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wells, M. A.; Ramanaidou, E. R.

2012-04-01

In Australia and world-wide over the past 5-10 years, declining reserves of premium, high-grade (>64% Fe), low-P bearing iron ore, have seen iron ore producers increase their utilisation of lower Fe-grade, higher P/Al/Si ore. In Australia, the channel iron deposits (CID), bedded iron deposits (BID) and, more recently, BIF-derived magnetite iron deposits (MID) have seen increased usage driven mainly by the increased demand from Chinese steel mills (Ramanaidou and Wells, 2011). Efficient exploitation and processing of these lower-grade iron ores requires a detailed understanding of their iron oxide and gangue mineralogy and geochemistry. The common Fe-bearing minerals (e.g., hematite, magnetite, goethite and kenomagnetite) in these deposits, as well as gangue minerals such as quartz and carbonates, are all strongly Raman active (e.g., de Faria et al., 1997). Their distinct Raman spectra enable them to be easily detected and mapped in situ in either unprepared material or samples prepared as polished blocks. In this paper, using representative examples of Australian CID ore, martite-goethite bedded iron deposit (BID) ore and banded iron formation (BIF) examined as polished blocks, we present a range of Raman spectra of the key iron ore minerals, and discuss how Raman spectroscopy can be applied to characterising iron ore mineralogy. Raman imaging micrographs, obtained using a StreamLine Plus Raman imaging system, clearly identified the main Fe-oxide and gangue components in the CID, BID and BIF samples when compared to optical micrographs. Raman analysis enabled the unequivocal identification of diamond in the CID ore as a contaminant from the polishing paste used to prepare the sample, and confirmed the presence of hematite in the BID ore in the form of martite, which can be morphologically similar to magnetite and, thus, difficult to otherwise distinguish. Image analysis of Raman mineral maps could be used to quantify mineral abundance based on the number of 'pixels' identified for each phase normalised to the total number of 'pixels' for each area scanned. Shifts in the main phonon lines of goethite and hematite mapped in the CID samples examined were used to estimate the Al substitution in these phases (e.g., Ramanaidou et al. 1996) which were consistent with electron microprobe data. The Raman data demonstrated the Al-free nature of hematite (0.5 mol% Al) and showed that goethite in the CID cortex was more Al-rich (10 mol%) than goethite in the CID matrix (3 mol% Al). Shifts in the excitation bands of carbonate mapped in the BIF sample were well related to the Mg content of Fe-carbonate, based on the work of Rividi et al. (2010) and confirmed by in situ spot analysis using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This data confirmed the first world-wide occurrence of a high Mg-bearing siderite (pistomesite) in BIF. Detailed, in situ characterisation of the iron oxide and gangue mineralogy of iron ore deposits as provided by Raman spectroscopy provides a step change to current characterisation methods. Understanding and defining their mineralogy and geochemistry is critical in developing strategies to best manage and process existing BID and CID ores, as well as the newly emerging MID ores.

Stratigraphy of Zambian copperbelt orebodies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Binda, Pier L.

1994-11-01

The subdivision of the Roan Supergroup in three informal units instead of the traditional Lower Roan/Upper Roan allows a better understanding of facies relationships. The lower division (Siliciclastic Unit) consists of a variable thickness of continental conglomerates and erenites. The middle division (Mixed Unit) consists of a wedge of carbonate and siliciclastic lithologies tapering to the south-west and deposited in a shallow sea. The upper division (Carbonate Unit or Upper Roan s.s.) is a thick succession of dolostones, subordinate argillites and breccias that directly overlies, but is probably in tectonic contact with, the Siliciclastic Unit in the south-western part of the Copperbelt. Reference boundaries for the Mixed and Siliciclastic Units are given for all mining localities of the Zambian Copperbelt. The basal part of the Mixed Unit, host to the most important CuCo orebodies, was deposited during a major marine transgression which, proceeding from SW-NE, swiftly inundated the whole Copperbelt basin. Thus, the Mufulira Ore Formation can be considered as the near-shore facies of the basinal ore shale. The transition from the Mufulira arenites to the Chambishi silty, ore shale has been effaced by erosional or tectonic stripping of the Roan sediments on the Kafue anticline, whereas the transition from silty to carbonaceous ore shale is well documented in the southern part of the Chambishi-Nkana basin. Concomitant with the NE-SW lithofacies changes within the basal Mixed Unit, there is marked decrease in Cu grade and content from the Mufulira wacke and arenite to the silty ore shale of the northern Chambishi basin and the carbonaceous and pyritic ore shale of the southern Chambishi basin. Cobalt is virtually absent in the Mufulira Ore Formation, reaches ore grade in the silty ore shale and occurs in trace amounts in the carbonaceous ore shale. Thus, the correlation of the basal Mixed Unit reveals a hitherto undetected regional metal zoning akin to that noted in parts of individual Copperbelt basin. The middle portion of the Mixed Unit contains at least one laterally continuous Cu mineralization in the arkosic arenite with minor occurrences of local significance. The Siliciclastic Unit contains Cu concentrations at several stratigraphical levels, but precise correlation of footwall orebodies is precluded by the heterogeneity of the clastic wedges of local provenance. The Mixed Unit of the Zambian Copperbelt can be correlated lithostratigraphically with the Serie des Mines of Shaba. A bed-by-bed correlation of the Kamoto (Zaire) and Mindola (Zambia) Ore Formations is proposed. The southern provenance of the Shaba nappes is supported.

New insights into the extraction of invisible gold in a low-grade high-sulfur Carlin-type gold concentrate by bio-pretreatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qiu, Xiao-bin; Wen, Jian-kang; Huang, Song-tao; Yang, Hong-ying; Liu, Mei-lin; Wu, Biao

2017-10-01

To extract gold from a low-grade (13.43 g/t) and high-sulfur (39.94wt% sulfide sulfur) Carlin-type gold concentrate from the Nibao deposit, Guizhou, a bio-pretreatment followed by carbon-in-pulp (CIP) cyanide leaching process was used. Various methods were used to detect the low-grade gold in the concentrate; however, only time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) was successful. With bio-pretreatment, the gold recovery rate increased by approximately 70.16% compared with that obtained by direct cyanide leaching of the concentrate. Various attempts were made to increase the final gold recovery rate. However, approximately 20wt% of the gold was non-extractable. To determine the nature of this non-extractable gold, mineralogy liberation analysis (MLA), formation of secondary product during the bio-pretreatment, and the preg-robbing capacity of the carbonaceous matter in the ore were investigated. The results indicated that at least four factors affected the gold recovery rate: gold occurrence, tight junctions of gold-bearing pyrite with gangue minerals, jarosite coating of the ore, and the carbonaceous matter content.

Comparison of selective flocculation of low grade goethitic iron ore fines using natural and synthetic polymers and a graft copolymer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tudu, Kichakeswari; Pal, Sagar; Mandre, N. R.

2018-05-01

This study aims to beneficiate low grade goethitic iron ore fines using a selective flocculation process. Selective flocculation studies were conducted using different polymers such as starch amylopectin (AP), poly acrylic acid (PAA), and a graft copolymer (AP-g-PAA). The obtained results were analyzed; they indicate the enhancement of the iron ore grade from 58.49% to 67.52% using AP-g-PAA with a recovery of 95.08%. In addition, 64.45% Fe with a recovery of 88.79% was obtained using AP. Similarly, using PAA, the grade increased to 63.46% Fe with a recovery of 82.10%. The findings are also supported by characterizing concentrates using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) techniques.

Sediment-hosted Pb-Zn Deposits: a global perspective

USGS Publications Warehouse

Leach, David L.; Sangster, Donald F.; Kelley, Karen D.; Large, R; Garven, G.; Allen, Craig R.

2005-01-01

Sediment-hosted Pb-Zn deposits contain the world's greatest lead and zinc resources and dominate world production of these metals. They are a chverse group of ore deposits hosted by a wide variety of carbonate and siliciclastic roch that have no obviolls genetic association with igneous activity. A nmge of ore-fortl1ing processes in a vmiety of geologic and tectonic environments created these deposits over at least two billion years of Earth history. The metals were precipitated by basinal brines in synsedimentary and early diagenetic to low-grade metamorphic environments. The deposits display a broad range of relationships to enclosing host rocks that includes stratiform, strata-bound, and discordant ores. These ores are divided into two broad subt)1Jes: Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) and sedimentmy exhalative (SEDEX), Despite the "exhalative" component inherent in the term "SEDEX," in this manusclipt, direct evidence of an exhalite in the ore or alteration component is not essential for a deposit to be classified as SEDEX. The presence of laminated sulfides parallel to bedding is assumed to be permissive evidence for exhalative ores. The chstinction between some SEDEX and MVT depOSits can be quite subjective because some SEDEX ores replaced carbonate, whereas some MVT depOSits formed in an early diagenetic environment and display laminated ore textures. Geologic and resource information are presented for 248 depositS that provide a framework to describe ,mel compare these deposits. Nine of tlle 10 largest sediment-hosted Pb-Zn deposits are SEDEX, Of the deposits that contain at least 2.5 million metric tons (Mt), there are 35 SEDEX (excluding Broken Hill-type) deposits and 15 MVT (excluding Iris-type) deposits. Despite the skewed distribution of the deposit size, the two deposits types have an excellent correlation between total tonnage and tonnage of contained metal (Pb + Zn), with a fairly consistent ratio of about lO/l, regardless of the size of the deposit or district. Zinc grades are approximately the same for both, whereas Pb and Ag grades are about 25 percent greater for SEDEX deposits. The largest difference between SEDEX and MVT deposits is their Cu content. Three times as many SEDEX deposits have reported Cu contents, and the median Cu value of SEDEX deposits is nearly double that of MVT deposits. Furthermore, grade-tonnage values for MVT deposits compared to a subset of SEDEX deposits hosted in carbonate rocks are virtually indistinguishable. The distribution of MVT deposits through geologic time shows that they are mainly a Phanerozoic phenomenon. The ages of SEDEX deposits are grouped into two major groups, one in the Proterozoic and another in the Phanerozoic, MVT deposits dominantly formed in platform carbonate sequences typically located within extensional zones inboard of orogenic belts, whereas SEDEX deposits formed in intracontinental or failed rifts, and rifted continental margins. The ages of MVT ores are generally tens of millions of years younger than their host rocks; however, a few are close <~5 m.y.) to the age of their host rocks. In the absence of direct dates for SEDEX deposits, their age of formation is generally constnuned by relationships to sedimentary or diagenetic features in the rocks. These studies suggest that deposition of SEDEX ores was coeval with sedimentation or early diagenesis, whereas some deposits formed at least 20 m.y. after sedimentation. Fluid inclusion, isotopic studies, and deposit modeling suggest that MVf and SEDEX deposits formed from basin brines with similar temperatures of mainly 90° to 200°C and lO to 30 wt percent NaCI equiv. Lead isotope compositions for MVT and SEDEX deposits show that Pb was mainly derived from a variety of crustal sources. Lead isotope compositions do not provide critelia that distinguish MVT from SEDEX subtypes. However, sulfur isotope compositions for sphalerite and galena show an apparent difference. SEDEX and MVf sulfur isotope compositions extend over a large range; however, most data for SEDEX ores have mainly positive isotopic compositions from 0 to 20 per mil. Isotopic values for MVf ores extend over a wider range and include more data with negative isotopic values. Given that there are relatively small differences between the metal character of MVT and SEDEX deposits and the fluids that deposited them, perhaps the most significant difference between these deposits is their depositional environment, which is determined by their respective tectonic settings. The contrasting tectonic setting also dictates the fundamental deposit attributes that generally set them apart, such as host-rock lithology, deposit morphology, and ore textures. Blief discussions are also presented on two controversial sets of deposits: Broken Hill-type deposits and a subset of deposits in the MVT group located in the Irish Midlands, considered by some authors to be a distinct ore type (Irish type). There are no Significant differences in grade tonnage values between MVT deposits and the subset that is described as Irish type. Most features of the Irish deposits are not distinct from the family of MVT deposits; however, the age of mineralization that is the same as or close to the age of the host rocks and the anomalously high fluid inclusion temperatures (up to 250°C) stand out as distinctly different from typical MVT ores. The dominance of bacteriogenic sulfur in the hish ores commonly ascribed as uniquely hish type is in fact no different from several MVT deposits or districts. A comparison of SEDEX and Broken Hill-type deposits shows that the latter deposits contain signiflcantly higher contents of Ag and Pb relative to SEDEX deposits. In terms of median values, Broken Hill-type deposits are almost three times more ellliched in Ag and one and a half times more enriched in Pb compared to other SEDEX deposits. Metamorphism is a charactelisoc feature but not a prerequisite for inclusion in the Broken Hill-type category, and IGlown Broken Hill-type examples appear to occur in Paleo- to Mesoproterozoic terranes. Broken Hill-type deposits remain an enigmatic grouping; however, there is sufficient evidence to support their inclusion as a separate category of SEDEX deposits.

The case for metamorphic base metal mineralization: pyrite chemical, Cu and S isotope data from the Cu-Zn deposit at Kupferberg in Bavaria, Germany

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Höhn, S.; Frimmel, H. E.; Debaille, V.; Pašava, J.; Kuulmann, L.; Debouge, W.

2017-12-01

The stratiform Cu-Zn sulfide deposit at Kupferberg in Germany represents Bavaria's largest historic base metal producer. The deposit is hosted by Early Paleozoic volcano-sedimentary strata at the margin of a high-grade allochthonous metamorphic complex. The present paper reports on the first Cu and S isotope data as well as trace element analyses of pyrite from this unusual deposit. The new data point to syn-orogenic mineralization that was driven by metamorphic fluids during nappe emplacement. Primary Cu ore occurs as texturally late chalcopyrite within stratiform laminated pyrite in black shale in two different tectonostratigraphic units of very low and low metamorphic grade, respectively, that were juxtaposed during the Variscan orogeny. Trace element contents of different pyrite types suggest the presence of at least one hydrothermal pyrite generation (mean Co/Ni = 35), with the other pyrite types being syn-sedimentary/early diagenetic (mean Co/Ni = 3.7). Copper isotope analyses yielded a narrow δ65Cu range of -0.26 to 0.36‰ for all ore types suggesting a hypogene origin for the principal chalcopyrite mineralization. The ore lenses in the two different tectonostratigraphic units differ with regard to their δ34S values, but little difference exists between poorly and strongly mineralized domains within a given locality. A genetic model is proposed in which syn-sedimentary/early diagenetic pyrite with subordinate chalcopyrite and sphalerite formed in black shale beds in the two different stratigraphic units, followed by late-tectonic strata-internal, hydrothermal mobilization of Fe, Cu, and Zn during syn-orogenic thrusting, which concentrated especially Cu to ore grade. In agreement with this model, Cu distribution in stream sediments in this region shows distinct enrichments bound to the margin of the allochthonous complex. Thus, Kupferberg can be considered a rare example of a syn-orogenic Cu deposit with the Cu probably being derived from syn-sedimentary/early diagenetic pyrite contained in Early Paleozoic shale units.

Feasibility Studies for Production of Pellet Grade Concentrate from Sub Grade Iron Ore Using Multi Gravity Separator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rao, Gottumukkala Venkateswara; Markandeya, R.; Kumar, Rajan

2018-04-01

An attempt has been made to utilise Sub Grade Iron Ore by producing pellet grade concentrate from Deposit 5, Bacheli Complex, Bailadila, Chhattisgarh, India. The `as received' Run of Mine (ROM) sample assayed 40.80% Fe, 40.90% SiO2. Mineralogical studies indicated that the main ore mineral is Hematite and lone gangue mineral is Quartz. Mineral liberation studies indicated that, the ore mineral Hematite and gangue mineral Quartz are getting liberated below 100 microns. The stage crushed and ground sample was subjected to concentration by using a Multi Gravity Separator (MGS). Rougher Multi Gravity Separation (MGS) experimental results were optimised to recover highest possible iron values. A concentrate of 55.80% Fe with a yield of 61.73% by weight with a recovery of 84.42% Iron values was obtained in rougher MGS concentrate. Further experiments were carried out with rougher MGS concentrate to produce a concentrate suitable for commercial grade pellet concentrate. It was proved that a concentrate assaying 66.67% Fe, 3.12% SiO2 with an yield of 45.08% by weight and with a recovery of 73.67% iron values in the concentrate.

Origin of high-grade gold ore, source of ore fluid components, and genesis of the Meikle and neighboring Carlin-type deposits, Northern Carlin Trend, Nevada

USGS Publications Warehouse

Emsbo, P.; Hofstra, A.H.; Lauha, E.A.; Griffin, G.L.; Hutchinson, R.W.

2003-01-01

The Meikle mine exploits one of the world's highest grade Carlin-type gold deposits with reserves of ca. 220 t gold at an average grade of 24.7 g/t. Locally, gold grades exceed 400 g/t. Several geologic events converged at Meikle to create these spectacular gold grades. Prior to mineralization, a Devonian hydrothermal system altered the Bootstrap limestone to Fe-rich dolomite. Subsequently the rocks were brecciated by faulting and Late Jurassic intrusive activity. The resulting permeability focused flow of late Eocene Carlin-type ore fluids and allowed them to react with the Fe-rich dolomite. Fluid inclusion data and mineral assemblages indicate that these fluids were hot (ca. 220??C),of moderate salinity (400 g/t. Petrographic observations, geochemical data, and stable isotope results from the Meikle mine and other deposits at the Goldstrike mine place important constraints on genetic models for Meikle and other Carlin-type gold deposits on the northern Carlin trend. The ore fluids were meteoric water (??D = -135???, ??18O = -5???) that interacted with sedimentary rocks at a water/rock ratio of ca. 1 and temperatures of ca. 220??C. The absence of significant silicification suggests that there was little cooling of the ore fluids during mineralization. These two observations strongly suggest that ore fluids were not derived from deep sources but instead flowed parallel to isotherms. The gold was transported by H2S (??34S = 9???), which was derived from Paleozoic sedimentary rocks. The presence of auriferous sedimentary exhalative mineralization in the local stratigraphic sequence raises the possibility that preexisting concentrations of gold contributed to the Carlin-type deposits. Taken together our observations suggest that meteoric water evolved to become an ore fluid by shallow circulation through previously gold- and sulfur-enriched rocks. Carlin-type gold deposits formed where these fluids encountered permeable, reactive Fe-rich rocks.

The application of PGNAA borehole logging for copper grade estimation at Chuquicamata mine.

PubMed

Charbucinski, J; Duran, O; Freraut, R; Heresi, N; Pineyro, I

2004-05-01

The field trials of a prompt gamma neutron activation (PGNAA) spectrometric logging method and instrumentation (SIROLOG) for copper grade estimation in production holes of a porphyry type copper ore mine, Chuquicamata in Chile, are described. Examples of data analysis, calibration procedures and copper grade profiles are provided. The field tests have proved the suitability of the PGNAA logging system for in situ quality control of copper ore.

Cyanide hazards to plants and animals from gold mining and related water issues

USGS Publications Warehouse

Eisler, R.; Wiemeyer, Stanley N.

2004-01-01

Highly toxic sodium cyanide (NaCN) is used by the international mining community to extract gold and other precious metals through milling of high-grade ores and heap leaching of low-grade ores (Korte et al. 2000). The process to concentrate gold using cyanide was developed in Scotland in 1887 and was used almost immediately in the Witwatersrand gold fields of the Republic of South Africa. Heap leaching with cyanide was proposed by the U.S. Bureau of Mines in 1969 as a means of extracting gold from low-grade ores. The gold industry adopted the technique in the 1970s, soon making heap leaching the dominant technology in gold extraction (Da Rosa and Lyon 1997). The heap leach and milling processes, which involve dewatering of gold-bearing ores, spraying of dilute cyanide solutions on extremely large heaps of ores containing low concentrations of gold, or the milling of ores with the use of cyanide and subsequent recovery of the gold-cyanide complex, have created a number of serious environmental problems affecting wildlife and water management. In this account, we review the history of cyanide use in gold mining with emphasis on heap leach gold mining, cyanide hazards to plants and animals, water management issues associated with gold mining, and proposed mitigation and research needs.

Ordovician reef-hosted Jiaodingshan Mn-Co deposit and Dawashan Mn deposit, Sichuan Province, China

USGS Publications Warehouse

Fan, Delian; Hein, James R.; Ye, Jie

1999-01-01

The Jiaodingshan Mn-Co and Dawashan Mn deposits are located in the approximately 2-m thick Daduhe unit of the Wufengian strata of Late Ordovician (Ashgill) age. Paleogeographic reconstruction places the deposits at the time of their formation in a gulf between Chengdu submarine rise and the Kangdian continent. The Jiaodingshan and Dawashan deposits occur in algal-reef facies, the former in an atoll-like structure and the latter in a pinnacle reef. Ores are mainly composed of rhodochrosite, kutnahorite, hausmannite, braunite, manganosite, and bementite. Dark red, yellowish-pink, brown, green-gray, and black ores are massive, banded, laminated, spheroidal, and cryptalgal (oncolite, stromatolite, algal filaments) boundstones. Blue, green, and red algal fossils show in situ growth positions. Samples of high-grade Jiaodingshan and Dawashan ores assay as much as 66.7% MnO. Jiaodingshan Mn carbonate ores have mean contents of Ba, Co, and Pb somewhat higher than in Dawashan ores. Cobalt is widely distributed and strongly enriched in all rock types as compared to its crustal mean content. Cobalt is correlated with Cu, Ni, and MgO in both deposits and additionally with Ba and Zn in the Dawashan deposit. The δ13C(PDB) values of Mn carbonate ores (-7.8 to -16.3‰) indicate contributions of carbon from both seawater bicarbonate and the bacterial degradation of organic matter, the latter being 33% to 68%, assuming about -24‰ for the δ13C(PDB) of the organic matter. Host limestones derived carbon predominantly from seawater bicarbonate δ1313C(PDB) of +0.2 to -7‰). NW-trending fault zones controlled development of lithofacies, whereas NE-trending fault zones provided pathways for movement of fluids. The source of Co, Ni, and Cu was mainly from weathering of mafic and ultramafic rocks on the Kangdian continent, whereas contemporaneous volcanic eruptions were of secondary importance. The reefs were likely mineralized during early diagenesis under shallow burial. The reefs were highly porous and acted as the locus for metasomatic replacement by Mn that combined with CO2 produced during oxidation of organic matter in the zone of sulfate reduction and seawater bicarbonate. That metasomatic replacement formed the rhodochrosite ores.

Geologic setting and genesis of the Mule Canyon low-sulfidation epithermal gold-silver deposit, north-central Nevada

USGS Publications Warehouse

John, D.A.; Hofstra, A.H.; Fleck, R.J.; Brummer, J.E.; Saderholm, E.C.

2003-01-01

The Mule Canyon mine exploited shallow, low-sulfidation, epithermal Au-Ag deposits that lie near the west side of the Northern Nevada rift in northern Lander County, Nevada. Mule Canyon consists of six small deposits that contained premining reserves of about 8.2 Mt at an average grade of 3.81 g Au/tonne. It is an uncommon mafic end member of low-sulfidation Au-Ag deposits associated with tholeiitic bimodal basalt-rhyolite magmatism. The ore is hosted by a basalt-andesite eruptive center that formed between about 16.4 to 15.8 Ma during early mafic eruptions related to regionally extensive bimodal magmatism. Hydrothermal alteration and Au-Ag ores formed at about 15.6 Ma and were tightly controlled by north-northwest- to north-striking high-angle fault and breccia zones developed during rifting, emplacement of mafic dikes, and eruption of mafic lava flows. Hydrothermal alteration assemblages are zoned outward from fluid conduits in the sequence silica-adularia, adularia-smectite, smectite (intermediate argillic), and smectite-carbonate (propylitic). All alteration types contain abundant pyrite and/or marcasite ?? arsenopyrite. Field relations indicate that silica-adularia alteration is superimposed on argillic and propylitic alteration. Little or no steam-heated acid-sulfate alteration is present, probably the result of a near-surface water table during hydrothermal alteration and ore deposition. Two distinct ore types are present at Mule Canyon: early replacement and later open-space filling. Replacement ores consist of disseminated and vesicle-filling pyrite, marcasite, and arsenopyrite in argillically altered or weakly silicified rocks. Ore minerals consist of Au-bearing arsenopyrite and arsenian pyrite overgrowths on earlier-formed pyrite and marcasite. Open-space filling ores include narrow stockwork quartz-adularia veins, banded and crustiform opaline and chalcedonic silica-adularia veins, silica-adularia cemented breccias, and sparse carbonate-pyrite and/or marcasite veins. Ore minerals consist mostly of electrum and Ag sulfide and selenide minerals, with minor to major amounts of pyrite, marcasite, and arsenopyrite, and local stibnite. Both types of ores have similar geochemical signatures, characterized by high Au, Ag, As, Sb, and Se contents, locally high Hg, Mo, Tl, and W contents, and low Cu, Pb, and Zn contents. Stable isotope data indicate that ore fluids consisted dominantly of meteoric water that evolved by deep circulation through Paleozoic sedimentary rocks at low water/rock ratios (about 1) and high temperatures (>200??C). Calculated isotopic compositions of ore fluids are ??18OH2O = -3 to -7 per mil, ??DH2O = -107 to -124 per mil, ??13CCO2 = 0 to -6 per mil, and ??34SH2S = -3 to +8 per mil. The ore fluids obtained much of their H2S and CO2 and probably scavenged ore metals and trace elements from the Paleozoic sedimentary rocks. Some H2S and CO2 may have been derived from degassing Miocene magmas. Mule Canyon formed at shallow depths, probably about 100 m below the paleosurface. Ore fluids were dilute, nearly neutral in pH, reduced, H2S-rich, and CO2-bearing. Peak temperatures in ore zones reached 230?? to 265??C at nearly lithostatic pressures when some crystalline quartz ?? adularia precipitated, but most ore formed at temperatures <200??C at near hydrostatic pressures and was accompanied by precipitation of opaline and chalcedonic silica ?? adularia ?? calcite and dolomite. Deposition of gold in As-rich overgrowths on pyrite and/or marcasite in disseminated ores occurred owing to decreasing H2S in the ore fluids resulting from sulfidation reactions. Later electrum and Ag selenide precipitation in open spaces occurred owing to boiling, loss of H2S to the vapor phase, and cooling. Mule Canyon is similar to most other low-sulfidation Au-Ag deposits associated with Miocene tholeiitic bimodal basalt-rhyolite magmatism in the Great Basin, such as Sleeper, Midas, and Buckhorn. Major differences at Mule Canyon are

Geology of the Eymir iron mine, Edremit, Turkey

USGS Publications Warehouse

Jacobson, Herbert Samuel; Turet, Erdogan

1972-01-01

The Eymir mine near Edremit on Turkey's Aegean coast (long 27?30'E.,1at 39?36'N.) was investigated as part of the Maden Tetkik ve Arama Enstitutsu (MTA)-U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) mineral exploration and training project, for the purpose of increasing the known mineral reserves. Geologic mapping of the mine area indicates that hematite is restricted to argillized, silicified, and pyritized dacite and possibly andesite. Hematite is present as massive replacements, impregnations, disseminations, and fracture fillings. Most of the upper part of the iron deposit consists of a breccia composed mostly of silicifiled dacite fragments in a hematite matrix. The iron deposit was apparently formed in three steps: 1. Argillation, silicification, and pyritization of the andesitic lava and dacite units as a result of a regional intrusion. 2. Intrusion of the Dere Oren dacite stock, with associated faulting, fracturing, and breccia formation at the surface. 3. Deposition of hematite by oxidation of pyrite, and transfer of iron via fractures and faults by hydrothermal or meteoric fluids. The Eymir iron deposit is a blanketlike deposit on the crest of the Sivritepe-Eymir ridge. It is 1300 meters long, 80 to 450 meters wide, and has an average thickness of 18.6 meters. Drill holes in the deposit show the iron content to range from 32.0 to 57.6 percent, and to average 46.5 percent. Most of the gangue is silica, and an arsenic impurity averaging 0.39 percent is present. Most of the deposit cannot be utilized as iron ore because of low iron content, high silica content, and high arsenic content. Ore-dressing tests have shown that it is feasible to concentrate the low-grade material, producing a concentrate having increased iron content and reduced silica content. Tests have shown also that the arsenic content of the ore can be reduced substantially by sintering. Further tests and economic feasibility studies are necessary to determine whether an economic marketable iron ore can be produced. If such studies indicate the technical and economic feasibility of utilizing all the Eymir iron deposit, detailed additional studies are recommended including: 1. A detailed drilling and sampling program to include 60 drill holes averaging 40 meters in depth and detailed sampling of mine dumps. 2. Pilot-plant testing of concentration and sintering procedures. 3. A detailed pre-investment economic feasibility study.

Use of mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria for the improvement of copper extraction from a low-grade ore

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Darezereshki, E.; Schaffie, M.; Lotfalian, M.; Seiedbaghery, S. A.; Ranjbar, M.

2011-04-01

Bioleaching was examined for copper extraction from a low grade ore using mesophilic and moderate thermophilic bacteria. Five equal size columns were used for the leaching of the ore. Sulfuric acid solution with a flow rate of 3.12 L·m-2·h-1 and pH 1.5 passed through each column continuously for 90 d. In the first and the second column, bioleaching was performed without agglomeration of the ore and on the agglomerated ore, respectively. 28wt% of the copper was extracted in the first column after 40 d, while this figure was 38wt% in the second column. After 90 d, however, the overall extractions were almost the same for both of them. Bioleaching with mesophilic bacteria was performed in the third column without agglomeration of the ore and in the fourth column on the agglomerated ore. After 40 d, copper extractions in the third and the fourth columns were 62wt% and 70wt%, respectively. Copper extractions were 75wt% for both the columns after 90 d. For the last column, bioleaching was performed with moderate thermophilic bacteria and agglomerated ore. Copper extractions were 80wt% and 85wt% after 40 and 90 d, respectively. It was concluded that crushing and agglomeration of the ore using bacteria could enhance the copper extraction considerably.

Uranium content and leachable fraction of fluorspars

USGS Publications Warehouse

Landa, E.R.; Councell, T.B.

2000-01-01

Much attention in the radiological health community has recently focused on the management and regulation of naturally occurring radioactive materials. Although uranium-bearing minerals are present in a variety of fluorspar deposits, their potential consideration as naturally occurring radioactive materials has received only limited recognition. The uranium content of 28 samples of acid- and cryolite-grade (>97% CaF2) fluorspar from the National Defense Stockpile was found to range from 120 to 24,200 ??g kg-1, with a mean of 2,145 ??g kg-1. As a point of comparison, the average concentration of uranium in the upper crust of the earth is about 2,500 ??g kg-1. Leachability of this uranium was assessed by means of the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP). The TCLP extractable fraction ranged from 1 to 98%, with a mean of 24% of the total uranium. The typically low concentrations of uranium seen in these materials probably reflects the removal of uranium-bearing mineral phases during the beneficiation of the crude fluorspar ore to achieve industrial specifications. Future NORM studies should examine crude fluorspar ores and flotation tailings.

Ore grade decrease as life cycle impact indicator for metal scarcity: the case of copper.

PubMed

Vieira, Marisa D M; Goedkoop, Mark J; Storm, Per; Huijbregts, Mark A J

2012-12-04

In the life cycle assessment (LCA) of products, the increasing scarcity of metal resources is currently addressed in a preliminary way. Here, we propose a new method on the basis of global ore grade information to assess the importance of the extraction of metal resources in the life cycle of products. It is shown how characterization factors, reflecting the decrease in ore grade due to an increase in metal extraction, can be derived from cumulative ore grade-tonnage relationships. CFs were derived for three different types of copper deposits (porphyry, sediment-hosted, and volcanogenic massive sulfide). We tested the influence of the CF model (marginal vs average), mathematical distribution (loglogistic vs loglinear), and reserve estimate (ultimate reserve vs reserve base). For the marginal CFs, the statistical distribution choice and the estimate of the copper reserves introduce a difference of a factor of 1.0-5.0 and a factor of 1.2-1.7, respectively. For the average CFs, the differences are larger for these two choices, i.e. respectively a factor of 5.7-43 and a factor of 2.1-3.8. Comparing the marginal CFs with the average CFs, the differences are higher (a factor 1.7-94). This paper demonstrates that cumulative grade-tonnage relationships for metal extraction can be used in LCA to assess the relative importance of metal extractions.

Application of indigenous sulfur-oxidizing bacteria from municipal wastewater to selectively bioleach phosphorus from high-phosphorus iron ore: effect of particle size.

PubMed

Shen, Shaobo; Rao, Ruirui; Wang, Jincao

2013-01-01

The effects of ore particle size on selectively bioleaching phosphorus (P) from high-phosphorus iron ore were studied. The average contents of P and Fe in the iron ore were 1.06 and 47.90% (w/w), respectively. The particle sizes of the ores used ranged from 58 to 3350 microm. It was found that the indigenous sulfur-oxidizing bacteria from municipal wastewater could grow well in the slurries of solid high-phosphorus iron ore and municipal wastewater. The minimum bioleaching pH reached for the current work was 0.33. The P content in bioleached iron ore reduced slightly with decreasing particle size, while the removal percentage of Fe decreased appreciably with decreasing particle size. The optimal particle size fraction was 58-75 microm, because the P content in bioleached iron ore reached a minimum of 0.16% (w/w), the removal percentage of P attained a maximum of 86.7%, while the removal percentage of Fe dropped to a minimum of 1.3% and the Fe content in bioleached iron ore was a maximum of 56.4% (w/w) in this case. The iron ores thus obtained were suitable to be used in the iron-making process. The removal percentage of ore solid decreased with decreasing particle size at particle size range of 106-3350 microm. The possible reasons resulting in above phenomena were explored in the current work. It was inferred that the particle sizes of the iron ore used in this work have no significant effect on the viability of the sulfur-oxidizing bacteria.

Sedimentary exhalative nickel-molybdenum ores in south China

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lott, D.A.; Coveney, R.M.; Murowchick, J.B.; Grauch, R.I.

1999-01-01

Unique bedded Ni-Mo ores hosted by black shales were discovered in localized paleobasins along the Yangzte platform of southern China in 1971. Textural evidence and radiometric dates imply ore formation during sedimentation of black shales that grade into readily combustible beds, termed stone coals, which contain 10 to 15 percent organic carbon. Studies of 427 fluid inclusions indicate extreme variation in hydrothermal brine salinities that were contained by Proterozoic dolostones underlying the ore zone in Hunan and Guizhou. Variations of fluid inclusion salinities, which range from 0.1 to 21.6 wt percent NaCl equiv, are attributed to differences in the compositions of brines in strata underlying the ore bed, complicated by the presence of seawater and dilute fluids that represent condensates of vapors generated by boiling of mineralizing fluids or Cambrian meteoric water. The complex processes of ore deposition led to scattered homogenization temperatures ranging from 100??to 187??C within the Hunan ore zone and from 65??to 183??C within the Guizhou ore zone. While living organisms probably did not directly accumulate metals in situ in sufficient amounts to explain the unusually high grades of the deposits, sulfur isotope ratios indicate that bacteria, now preserved as abundant microfossils, provided sufficient sulfide for the ores by reduction of seawater sulfate. Such microbiota may have depended on vent fluids and transported organic matter for key nutrients and are consistent with a sedex origin for the ores. Vent fluids interacted with organic remains, including rounded fragments of microbial mats that were likely transported to the site of ore deposition by the action of waves and bottom currents prior to replacement by ore minerals.

Estimating usable resources from historical industry data.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cargill, S.M.; Root, D.H.; Bailey, E.H.

1981-01-01

The commodities considered are mercury, copper and its byproducts gold and silver, and petroleum; the production and discovery data are for the US. The results indicate that the cumulative return per unit of effort, herein measured as grade of metal ores and discovery rate of recoverable petroleum, is proportional to a negative power of total effort expended, herein measured as total ore mined and total exploratory wells or footage drilled. This power relationship can be extended to some limiting point (a lower ore grade or a maximum number of exploratory wells or footage), and the apparent quantity of available remaining resource at that limit can be calculated. -from Authors

Culturable microorganisms associated with Sishen iron ore and their potential roles in biobeneficiation.

PubMed

Adeleke, Rasheed; Cloete, T E; Khasa, D P

2012-03-01

With one of the largest iron ore deposits in the world, South Africa is recognised to be among the top ten biggest exporters of iron ore. Increasing demand and consumption of this mineral triggered search for processing technologies, which can be utilised to "purify" the low-grade iron ore minerals that contain high levels of unwanted potassium (K) and phosphorus (P). This study investigated a potential biological method that can be further developed for the full biobeneficiation of low-grade iron ore minerals. Twenty-three bacterial strains that belong to Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Actinobateria were isolated from the iron ore minerals and identified with sequence homology and phylogenetic methods. The abilities of these isolates to lower the pH of the growth medium and solubilisation of tricalcium phosphate were used to screen them as potential mineral solubilisers. Eight isolates were successfully screened with this method and utilised in shake flask experiments using iron ore minerals as sources of K and P. The shake flask experiments revealed that all eight isolates have potentials to produce organic acids that aided the solubilisation of the iron ore minerals. In addition, all eight isolates produced high concentrations of gluconic acid followed by relatively lower concentrations of acetic, citric and propanoic acid. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses also indicated extracellular polymeric substances could play a role in mineral solubilisation.

Physical and chemical controls on ore shoots - insights from 3D modeling of an orogenic gold deposit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vollgger, S. A.; Tomkins, A. G.; Micklethwaite, S.; Cruden, A. R.; Wilson, C. J. L.

2016-12-01

Many ore deposits have irregular grade distributions with localized elongate and well-mineralized rock volumes commonly referred to as ore shoots. The chemical and physical processes that control ore shoot formation are rarely understood, although transient episodes of elevated permeability are thought to be important within the brittle and brittle-ductile crust, due to faulting and fracturing associated with earthquake-aftershock sequences or earthquake swarms. We present data from an orogenic gold deposit in Australia where the bulk of the gold is contained in abundant fine arsenopyrite crystals associated with a fault-vein network within tight upright folds. The deposit-scale fault network is connected to a deeper network of thrust faults (tens of kilometers long). Using 3D implicit modeling of geochemical data, based on radial basis functions, gold grades and gold-arsenic element ratios were interpolated and related to major faults, vein networks and late intrusions. Additionally, downhole bedding measurements were used to model first order (mine-scale) fold structures. The results show that ore shoot plunges are not parallel with mine-scale or regional fold plunges, and that bedding parallel faults related to flexural slip folding play a pivotal role on ore shoot attitudes. 3D fault slip and dilation tendency analysis indicate that fault reactivation and formation of linking faults are associated with large volumes of high-grade ore. We suggest slip events on the large-scale thrust network allowed mineralizing fluids to rapidly migrate over large distances and become supersaturated in elements such as gold, promoting widespread precipitation and high nucleation densities of arsenopyrite upon fluid-rock interaction at trap sites within the deposit.

Kinetic study of nickel laterite reduction roasting by palm kernel shell charcoal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sugiarto, E.; Putera, A. D. P.; Petrus, H. T. B. M.

2017-05-01

Demand to process nickel-bearing laterite ore increase as continuous depletion of high-grade nickel-bearing sulfide ore takes place. Due to its common nickel association with iron, processing nickel laterite ore into nickel pig iron (NPI) has been developed by some industries. However, to achieve satisfying nickel recoveries, the process needs massive high-grade metallurgical coke consumption. Concerning on the sustainability of coke supply and positive carbon emission, reduction of nickel laterite ore using biomass-based reductor was being studied.In this study, saprolitic nickel laterite ore was being reduced by palm kernel shell charcoal at several temperatures (800-1000 °C). Variation of biomass-laterite composition was also conducted to study the reduction mechanism. X-ray diffraction and gravimetry analysis were applied to justify the phenomenon and predict kinetic model of the reduction. Results of this study provide information that palm kernel shell charcoal has similar reducing result compared with the conventional method. Reduction, however, was carried out by carbon monoxide rather than solid carbon. Regarding kinetics, Ginstling-Brouhnstein kinetic model provides satisfying results to predict the reduction phenomenon.

PROCESS FOR THE CONCENTRATION OF ORES CONTAINING GOLD AND URANIUM

DOEpatents

Gaudin, A.M.; Dasher, J.

1958-06-10

ABS>A process is described for concentrating certain low grade uranium and gold bearing ores, in which the gangue is mainly quartz. The production of the concentrate is accomplished by subjecting the crushed ore to a froth floatation process using a fatty acid as a collector in conjunction with a potassium amyl xanthate collector. Pine oil is used as the frothing agent.

Gold ores related to shear zones, West Santa Comba-Fervenza Area (Galicia, NW Spain): A mineralogical study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castroviejo, R.

1990-12-01

Recent research has discovered high-grade Au ores in NNE-SSW trending shear zones in metamorphic proterozoic and palaeozoic terranes, some 40 km NW of Santiago de Compostela (NW Spain). The orebodies are bound to late-stage Hercynian structures, mainly due to brittle deformation, which are superimposed on earlier ductile shear zones, cutting through various catazonal lithologies, including ortho- and paragneisses, amphibolites, eclogites, and granites. Ore mineralogy, alteration, and ore textures define a frame whose main features are common to all prospects in the area. Main minerals are arsenopyrite and pyrite — accompanied by quartz, adularia, sericite, ± (tourmaline, chlorite, carbonates, graphite), as main gangue minerals -with subordinate amounts of boulangerite, bismuthinite, kobellite, jamesonite, chalcopyrite, marcasite, galena, sphalerite, rutile, titanite, scheelite, beryl, fluorite, and minor native gold, electrum, native bismuth, fahlore, pyrrhotite, mackinawite, etc., defining a meso-catathermal paragenesis. Detailed microscopic study allows the author to propose a general descriptive scheme of textural classification for this type of ore. Most of the ores fill open spaces or veins, seal cracks or cement breccias; disseminated ores with replacement features related to alteration (mainly silicification, sericitization, and adularization) are also observed. Intensive and repeated cataclasis is a common feature of many ores, suggesting successive events of brittle deformation, hydrothermal flow, and ore precipitation. Gold may be transported and accumulated in any of these events, but tends to be concentrated in later ones. The origin of the gold ores is explained in terms of hydrothermal discharge, associated with mainly brittle deformation and possibly related to granitic magmas, in the global tectonic frame of crustal evolution of West Galicia. The mineralogical and textural study suggests some criteria which will be of practical value for exploration and for ore processing. Ore grades can be improved by flotation of arsenopyrite. Non-conventional methods, such as pressure or bacterial leaching, may subsequently obtain a residue enriched in gold.

Estimating usable resources from historical industry data

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cargill, S.M.; Root, D.H.; Bailey, E.H.

1981-01-01

Historical production statistics are used to predict the quantity of remaining usable resources. The commodities considered are mercury, copper and its byproducts gold and silver, and petroleum; the production and discovery data are for the United States. The results of the study indicate that the cumulative return per unit of effort, herein measured as grade of metal ores and discovery rate of recoverable petroleum, is proportional to a negative power of total effort expended, herein measured as total ore mined and total exploratory wells or footage drilled. This power relationship can be extended to some limiting point (a lower ore grade or a maximum number of exploratory wells or footage), and the apparent quantity of available remaining resource at that limit can be calculated. For mercury ore of grades at and above 0.1 percent, the remaining usable resource in the United States is calculated to be 54 million kg (1,567,000 flasks). For copper ore of grades at and above 0.2 percent, the remaining usable copper resource is calculated to be 270 million metric tons (298 million short tons); remaining resources of its by-products gold and silver are calculated to be 3,656 metric tons (118 million troy ounces) and 64,676 metric tons (2,079 million troy ounces), respectively. The undiscovered recoverable crude oil resource in the conterminous United States, at 3 billion feet of additional exploratory drilling, is calculated to be nearly 37.6 billion barrels; the undiscovered recoverable petroleum resource in the Permian basin of western Texas and southeastern New Mexico, at 300 million feet of additional exploratory drilling or 50,000 additional exploratory wells, is calculated to be about 6.2 billion BOE (barrels of oil equivalent).

Geological reconnaissance of some Uruguayan iron and manganese deposits in 1962

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wallace, Roberts Manning

1976-01-01

Three mineralized areas lie in an area near the town of Minas de Corrales in the Departamento de Rivera; they are the Cerro Amelia, the Cerro de Papagayo, and the Cerro Iman. The Cerro Amelia is composed of small bands of iron-rich rock separated by an amphibolitic or mafic rock. Selective mining would be necessary to extract the 31,000 tons per meter of depth of iron-rich rock that ranges from 15 to 40 percent metallic iron. The Cerro de Papagayo district contains many small, rich deposits of ferruginous manganese ore. The ratio of Mn to Fe varies widely within each small deposit as well as from deposit to deposit. Some ferruginous manganese ore contains 50-55 percent manganese dioxide. Although there are many thousands of tons of ore in the district, small-scale mining operations are imperative. One deposit, the Cerro Avestuz manganese mine, was visited. The manganese ore body lies within contorted highly metamorphosed itabirite that contains both hard low grade and soft high grade ferruginous manganese ores estimated to average 40 percent Mn. About 38,000 tons of manganese ore is present in this deposit. The Cerro Iman is a large block of itabirite that contains about 40 percent Fe. The grade is variable and probably runs from less than 35 percent Fe to more than 50 percent Fe. No exploration has been done on this deposit. It is recommended that the Cerro de Iman area be geologically mapped in detail, and that a geological reconnaissance be made of the area that is between the Cuchilla de Corrales and the Cuchilla de Areycua/Cuchilla del Cerro Pelado area.

Ore Deposits Mined for Critical Elements

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Verplanck, Philip; Kelley, Karen

Summary of deposit types containing critical elements, including, cobalt, gallium, germanium, indium, niobium, PGE, REE, rhenium, selenium, and tellurium. Includes information about ore deposit type, mineralogy, geologic setting, example deposits and districts, concentration ranges per reported resource, grade, and additional deposit notes. References are also included.

Comprehensive recovery of gold and base-metal sulfide minerals from a low-grade refractory ore

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Wen-juan; Liu, Shuang; Song, Yong-sheng; Wen, Jian-kang; Zhou, Gui-ying; Chen, Yong

2016-12-01

The comprehensive recovery of small amounts of valuable minerals such as gold and base-metal sulfide minerals from a low-grade refractory ore was investigated. The following treatment strategy was applied to a sample of this ore: gold flotation-gold concentrate leaching-lead and zinc flotation from the gold concentrate leaching residue. Closed-circuit trials of gold flotation yielded a gold concentrate that assayed at 40.23 g·t-1 Au with a recovery of 86.25%. The gold concentrate leaching rate was 98.76%. Two variants of lead-zinc flotation from the residue—preferential flotation of lead and zinc and bulk flotation of lead and zinc—were tested using the middling processing method. Foam from the reflotation was returned to the lead rougher flotation or lead-zinc bulk flotation, whereas middlings from reflotation were discarded. Sulfur concentrate was a byproduct. The combined strategy of flotation, leaching, and flotation is recommended for the treatment of this kind of ore.

Paleoproterozoic Keulik-Kenirim Ore-Bearing Gabbro-Peridotite Complex, Kola Region: A New Occurrence of Ferropicritic Magmatism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smolkin, V. F.; Lokhov, K. I.; Skublov, S. G.; Sergeeva, L. Yu.; Lokhov, D. K.; Sergeev, S. A.

2018-03-01

Comprehensive research of ore-bearing differentiated intrusions of the Keulik-Kenirim structural unit, which represents a fragment of the Paleoproterozoic Pechenga-Varzuga Belt, has been carried out for the first time. The intrusions are subvolcanic by type and lenticular in shape, nearly conformable and steeply dipping. They are made up of peridotite, olivine and plagioclase pyroxenites, and gabbro metamorphosed under amphibolite facies conditions along with host basic volcanics. All intrusive rocks are enriched in TiO2 and FeO. Sulfide Cu-Ni mineralization is represented by disseminated, pocket, and stringer-disseminated types, which are clustered in the peridotitic zone as hanging units and bottom lodes. The Ni content in disseminated ore is estimated at 0.45-0.55 wt % and 1.15-3.32 wt % in ore pockets; the Cu grades are 0.17-0.20 and 0.46-5.65 wt %, respectively. To determine the age of intrusions and metamorphism of intrusive and volcanic rocks, various isotopic systems have been used: Sm-Nd (TIMS) in rock and U-Pb (SIMS SHRIMP) and Lu-Hf (LA-ICP-MS) in zircon. Conclusions on the origin of zircons are based on concentrations of trace elements including REE therein and Hf-Nd correlation in zircons and rocks. The U-Pb system of zircons reflects episodes of igneous rock formation (1982 ± 12 Ma) and their postmagmatic transformation (1938 ± 20 Ma). The last disturbance of the U-Pb isotopic system occurred 700 and 425 Ma. Xenogenic zircons dated from 3.17 to 2.65 Ga have been revealed in the studied samples. These zircons were captured by magma from the Archean basement during its ascent. The intrusions were emplaced synchronously with economic ore formation in the Pechenga ore field (1985 ± 10 Ma). The peak metamorphism of intrusive rocks under amphibolite facies conditions is recorded at 40 Ma later. The differentiated intrusions of the Keulik-Kenirim structural unit are close in their internal structure, mineralogy, and geochemistry, as well as in age and features of related Cu-Ni mineralization to ore-bearing intrusions of the Pechenga ore field, which are derivatives of ferropicritic (ferriferous) magmatism.

Reactive flow models of the Anarraaq Zn-Pb-Ag deposit, Red Dog district, Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Schardt, C.; Garven, G.; Kelley, K.D.; Leach, D.L.

2008-01-01

The Red Dog ore deposit district in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska is host to several high-grade, shale-hosted Zn + Pb deposits. Due to the complex history and deformation of these ore deposits, the geological and hydrological conditions at the time of formation are poorly understood. Using geological observations and fluid inclusion data as constraints, numerical heat and fluid flow simulations of the Anarraaq ore deposit environment and coupled reactive flow simulations of a section of the ore body were conducted to gain more insight into the conditions of ore body formation. Results suggest that the ore body and associated base metal zonation may have formed by the mixing of oxidized, saline, metal-bearing hydrothermal fluids (<200??C) with reducing, HS-rich pore fluids within radiolarite-rich host rocks. Sphalerite and galena concentrations and base metal sulfide distribution are primarily controlled by the nature of the pore fluids, i.e., the extent and duration of the HS- source. Forward modeling results also predict the distribution of pyrite and quartz in agreement with field observations and indicate a reaction front moving from the initial mixing interface into the radiolarite rocks. Heuristic mass calculations suggest that ore grades and base metal accumulation comparable to those found in the field (18% Zn, 5% Pb) are predicted to be reached after about 0.3 My for initial conditions (30 ppm Zn, 3 ppm Pb; 20% deposition efficiency). ?? Springer-Verlag 2008.

Optimization of staged bioleaching of low-grade chalcopyrite ore in the presence and absence of chloride in the irrigating lixiviant: ANFIS simulation.

PubMed

Vakylabad, Ali Behrad; Schaffie, Mahin; Naseri, Ali; Ranjbar, Mohammad; Manafi, Zahra

2016-07-01

In this investigation, copper was bioleached from a low-grade chalcopyrite ore using a chloride-containing lixiviant. In this regard, firstly, the composition of the bacterial culture media was designed to control the cost in commercial application. The bacterial culture used in this process was acclimated to the presence of chloride in the lixiviant. Practically speaking, the modified culture helped the bio-heap-leaching system operate in the chloridic media. Compared to the copper recovery from the low-grade chalcopyrite by bioleaching in the absence of chloride, bioleaching in the presence of chloride resulted in improved copper recovery. The composition of the lixiviant used in this study was a modification with respect to the basal salts in 9 K medium to optimize the leaching process. When leaching the ore in columns, 76.81 % Cu (based on solid residues of bioleaching operation) was recovered by staged leaching with lixiviant containing 34.22 mM NaCl. The quantitative findings were supported by SEM/EDS observations, X-ray elemental mapping, and mineralogical analysis of the ore before and after leaching. Finally, Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) was used to simulate the operational parameters affecting the bioleaching operation in chloride-sulfate system.

Rock Smelting of Copper Ores with Waste Heat Recovery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Norgate, Terry; Jahanshahi, Sharif; Haque, Nawshad

It is generally recognised that the grades of metallic ores are falling globally. This trend can be expected to increase the life cycle-based energy requirement for primary metal production due to the additional amount of material that must be handled and treated in the mining and mineral processing stages of the metal production life cycle. Rock (or whole ore) smelting has been suggested as a possible alternative processing route for low grade ores with a potentially lower energy intensity and environmental impact than traditional processing routes. In this processing route, the beneficiation stage is eliminated along with its associated energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, but this is partially offset by the need for more solid material to be handled and heated up to smelting temperatures. A life cycle assessment study was carried out to assess the potential energy and greenhouse gas benefits of a conceptual flowsheet of the rock smelting process, using copper ore as an example. Recovery and utilisation of waste heat in the slag (via dry slag granulation) and offgas streams from the smelting step was also included in the study, with the waste heat being utilised either for thermal applications or electricity generation.

An evaluation and geochemical survey of the Farah Garan East Prospect, Southeast Asir, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bookstrom, Arthur A.; El Komi, Mohamed; Christian, Ralph P.; Bazzari, Maher A.

1990-01-01

Ore minerals in outcrops, and geochemically anomalous concentrations of gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, arsenic, antimony, and tellurium are present in carbonate-rich rocks of the hot-spring assemblage. This indicates that the ore minerals and elements were deposited originally as constituents of the hot-spring assemblage. However, exposed ore-mineral occurrences are small and sparse, and geochemical anomalies are small, irregularly distributed, and of subeconomic grade. Furthermore, weak electromagnetic anomalies do not indicate the presence of subsurface bodies of concentrated, conductive ore minerals. Therefore, no drilling is recommended.

Manufacturing and Application of Metalized Ore-Coal Pellets in Synthetic Pig Iron Smelting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nokhrina, O. I.; Rozhikhina, I. D.; Khodosov, I. E.

2016-08-01

The article presents research data on manufacturing and application of metalized ore-coal pellets in synthetic pig iron smelting. A technology of pellets metallization by means of solid-phase reduction of iron from oxides using hematite-magnetite iron ore and low-caking coal as raw materials is described. Industrial testing of replacing 10, 15, and 20% of waste metal by the metalized ore-coal pellets in the coreless induction furnace IST-1 is described. Optimal temperature and time conditions of feeding the metalized pellets into the furnace in smelting pig iron of SCh-40-60 grade are determined.

Stochastic production phase design for an open pit mining complex with multiple processing streams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asad, Mohammad Waqar Ali; Dimitrakopoulos, Roussos; van Eldert, Jeroen

2014-08-01

In a mining complex, the mine is a source of supply of valuable material (ore) to a number of processes that convert the raw ore to a saleable product or a metal concentrate for production of the refined metal. In this context, expected variation in metal content throughout the extent of the orebody defines the inherent uncertainty in the supply of ore, which impacts the subsequent ore and metal production targets. Traditional optimization methods for designing production phases and ultimate pit limit of an open pit mine not only ignore the uncertainty in metal content, but, in addition, commonly assume that the mine delivers ore to a single processing facility. A stochastic network flow approach is proposed that jointly integrates uncertainty in supply of ore and multiple ore destinations into the development of production phase design and ultimate pit limit. An application at a copper mine demonstrates the intricacies of the new approach. The case study shows a 14% higher discounted cash flow when compared to the traditional approach.

Structural evolution of the Mount Wall region in the Hamersley province, Western Australia and its control on hydrothermal alteration and formation of high-grade iron deposits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dalstra, Hilke J.

2014-10-01

The discovery of two relatively small but high-grade iron ore deposits near Mt Wall, an intensely faulted part of the southwestern Hamersley province provides unique insights into the structural control on ore formation in this region. The deposits have many geological features typical of the high grade microplaty hematite group which also contains the much larger Mt Tom Price, Paraburdoo and Mt Whaleback deposits. The deposits are structurally controlled along early normal faults and contain abundant microplaty hematite and martite, and are largely confined to the Dales Gorge member of the Brockman Iron Formation. In addition to the microplaty hematite-martite ore, there are martite-goethite ores and rare magnetite-goethite or magnetite-hematite ores. Below the modern weathering surface, hydrothermally altered zones in wallrock BIF from the Lower Dales Gorge member contain magnetite, hematite and carbonate/talc bearing mineral assemblages. A staged ore genesis model involving early extension and fluid circulation along normal faults, hypogene silica leaching and carbonate alteration, followed by deep meteoric oxidation with microplaty hematite formation and finally weathering can explain most features of the Mt Wall deposits. The role of deformation was to provide pathways for mineralising fluids and initiate the seed points for the mineralised systems. High grade iron in the Wellthandalthaluna deposit is situated between the NW to NNW trending Boolgeeda Creek fault and a synthetic joining splay, the Northern fault. Both are high angle normal faults and formed during early extension in this part of the province. Faults are characterised by localised small scale deformation and brecciation, deep carbonate alteration and oxidation. Recent weathering has penetrated deeply into the fault zones, converting the carbonate-rich assemblages into goethite. Mineralisation in the Arochar deposit is situated in the overlap or relay zone between two segments of the Mt Wall fault zone, a moderately to steeply southerly dipping normal fault system which at Arochar is intruded by dolerite dykes. At both locations, the ore controlling faults are offset by later NW trending dextral and normal faults. Fault relay zones or fault splay zones were likely zones of increased permeability and fluid flow during fault development or reactivation and may also have been important in initiating mineralisation in larger deposits such as Mt Tom Price and Mt Whaleback. However structural controls on the largest iron ore deposits are often obscured due to the intensity and scale of ore development, whereas they are better preserved in the smaller deposits. Recognition that carbonate bearing protores at Mt Wall survived for nearly two billion years until intense recent weathering converted them to martite-goethite or magnetite-goethite ores may imply that more of the giant hematite-goethite deposits of the Hamersley province had hydrothermal precursors and were not formed by supergene processes alone.

Geochemical and mineralogical composition of bog iron ore as a resource for prehistoric iron production - A case study of the Widawa catchment area in Eastern Silesia, Poland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thelemann, Michael; Bebermeier, Wiebke; Hoelzmann, Philipp

2016-04-01

Spreading from the Near East in the declining Bronze Age from the 2nd millennium BCE onwards, the technique of iron smelting reached Eastern Silesia, Poland, in approximately the 2nd century BCE (pre-Roman Iron Age). At this time the region of the Widawa catchment area was inhabited by the Przeworsk culture. While the older moraine landscape of the study area lacks ores from geological rock formations, bog iron ores were relatively widespread and, due to their comparatively easy accessibility, were commonly exploited for early iron production. In this poster the mineralogical and elemental composition of local bog iron ore deposits and iron slag finds, as a by-product of the smelting process, are investigated. The crystalline mineralogical composition of local bog iron ores is dominated by quartz (SiO2) and goethite (α FeO(OH)), in contrast to slag samples in which fayalite (Fe2SiO4), wüstite (FeO) and quartz, with traces of goethite, represent the main minerals. Ores and slags are both characterized by notable hematite (Fe2O3), magnetite (Fe3O4) and maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) contents. Analyzed bog iron ore samples show iron contents of up to 64.9 mass% Fe2O3 (45.4 mass% Fe), whereas the iron contents of bloomery slags vary between 48.7 and 72.0 mass% FeO (37.9 and 56.0 mass% Fe). A principal component analysis of the element contents, which were quantified by portable energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (p-ED-XRF), indicates local variations in the elemental composition. Our results show that bog iron ores are relatively widely distributed with spatially varying iron contents along the Widawa floodplain but present-day formation conditions (e.g. different ground-water levels) are negatively affected by modern land-use practices, such as agriculture and melioration measures.

Column bioleaching of low-grade mining ore containing high level of smithsonite, talc, sphaerocobaltite and azurite.

PubMed

Ilyas, Sadia; Chi, Ruan; Bhatti, H N; Bhatti, I A; Ghauri, M A

2012-03-01

Present work describes the bioleaching potential of metals from low-grade mining ore containing smithsonite, sphaerocobaltite, azurite and talc as main gangue minerals with adapted consortium of Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans strain-RDB and Thermoplasma acidophilum. Bioleaching potential improved markedly by added energy source, acid preleaching and adaptation of microbial consortium with mixed metal ions. During whole leaching period including acid preleaching stage of 960 h and bioleaching stage of 212 days about 76% Co, 70% Zn, 84% Cu, 72% Ni and 63% Fe leached out.

Fe-U-PGE-Au-Ag-Cu Deposits of the Udokan-Chiney Region (East Siberia, Russia)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gongalskiy, B.; Krivolutskaya, N.; Murashov, K.; Nistratov, S.; Gryazev, S.

2012-04-01

Introduction. Cupriferous sandstones-shales and magmatic copper-nickel deposits mark out the western and southern boundaries of the Siberian Craton accordingly. Of special interest are the Paleoproterozoic deposits of the Udokan-Chiney mining district (Gongalskiy, Krivolutskaya, 2008). Copper reserves and resources of this region are estimated at more than 50 Mt. Half of them is concentrated at the unique Udokan Deposit and the second half is distributed among sedimentary (Unkur, Pravoingamakitskoye, Sakinskoye, Krasnoye, Burpala) and magmatic deposits of the Chiney (Rudnoye, Verkhnechineyskoye, Kontaktovoye), Luktur and Maylav massifs. Results. It was established that the ores are characterized by similarity in chemical composition (main, major and rare elements that are Ag, Au, PGE) and mineral assemblages with varying proportions. It is important to emphasize that Fe role in mineralization was previously ignored. Meanwhile the Udokan deposit contains 10 Mt of magnetite metacrystals so as chalcocite ores may contain up to 50% magnetite too. It has been recently found that the Chiney titanomagnetite ores comprise commercially significant uranium and rare-earth metal concentrations (Makaryev et al., 2011). Thus the Udokan-Chiney region comprises Cu, Fe, Ti, V, U, REE, Ag, Au, PGE. These deposits differ from similar objects, the Olympic Dam in particular, by a much smaller content of fluid-bearing minerals. Copper mineralization at the Udokan is represented by chalcocite-bornite ores. They occur as ore beds conformable with sedimentary structures or as cross-cutting veins. The central zones of the former are often brecciated. They are rimmed by fine magnetite, bornite, and chalcocite dissemination. Bornite-chalcopyrite and chalcopyrite-pyrite veins are known at the lower levels of the Udokan ore bed. Such ore compositions are predominant in other ore deposits in sedimentary rocks (Pravoingamakitskoye, Unkur) and have a hydrothermal origin. Silver grades are up to 370 g/t in grab samples (Gongalskiy et al., 2008a). The long-lived Udokan-Chiney ore-magmatic has small areal extent of explosive rocks and breccias (n*10 m) with massive sulfide veins (chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite) which are similar to Sudbury offset dikes. While the same vertical zones at the Rudnoye deposit have been confirmed over 0.5 km downward from the lower contact of the Chiney massif. Conclusions. Multielement and similar mineralogical composition ores of different deposits in the Udokan-Chiney area reflect long evolution of ore processes in very movable block of the crust. Observed combination of magmatic, sedimentary and partially hydrothermal deposits is a result of the telescoping of a wide range of metals into a limited area.

[Assessment of Soil Fluorine Pollution in Jinhua Fluorite Ore Areas].

PubMed

Ye, Qun-feng; Zhou, Xiao-ling

2015-07-01

The contents of. soil total fluorine (TF) and water-soluble fluorine (WF) were measured in fluorite ore areas located in Jinhua City. The single factor index, geoaccumulation index and health risk assessment were used to evaluate fluorine pollution in soil in four fluorite ore areas and one non-ore area, respectively. The results showed that the TF contents in soils were 28. 36-56 052. 39 mg.kg-1 with an arithmetic mean value of 8 325.90 mg.kg-1, a geometric mean of 1 555. 94 mg.kg-1, and a median of 812. 98 mg.kg-1. The variation coefficient of TF was 172. 07% . The soil WF contents ranged from 0. 83 to 74. 63 mg.kg-1 with an arithmetic mean value of 16. 94 mg.kg-1, a geometric mean of 10. 59 mg.kg-1, and a median of 10. 17 mg.kg-1. The variation coefficient of WF was 100. 10%. The soil TF and WF contents were far higher than the national average level of the local fluorine epidemic occurrence area. The fluoride pollution in soil was significantly affected by human factors. Soil fluorine pollution in Yangjia, Lengshuikeng and Huajie fluorite ore areas was the most serious, followed by Daren fluorite ore area, and in non-ore area there was almost no fluorine pollution. Oral ingestion of soils was the main exposure route. Sensitivity analysis of model parameters showed that children's weight exerted the largest influence over hazard quotient. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found among the three kinds of evaluation methods.

A study of bauxite tailing quality improvement by reverse flotation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wulandari, W.; Purwasasmita, M.; Sanwani, E.; Malatsih, W.; Fadilla, F.

2018-01-01

The pre-treatment of bauxite ore from Tayan, West Kalimantan includes washing and screening fine bauxite particles (-2mm) prior as the feed to the Bayer process for producing alumina. These fine particles are believed to have high content of silica which is detrimental to the process. This washed bauxite tailing still has a significant amount of alumina content. Previous research has indicated that bauxite ore can be upgraded by applying reverse flotation method to reduce its silica content in the ore. Therefore, this study is aimed to utilize reverse flotation method to recover alumina content from washed bauxite tailing. The reverse flotation experiments were carried out at pH of 6 and 8; while the particle sizes were varied at - 140+270 mesh and -270 mesh, using a batch and circuit configuration. The result of this study shows that the batch reverse flotation can recover alumina in the tailing up to 81.4%, however the silica content is still significant. The complexity of silica-alumina minerals in the tailing prevents a complete separation of the ores by only using reverse flotation.

Recovery of high purity phosphorus from municipal wastewater secondary effluent by a high-speed adsorbent.

PubMed

Midorikawa, I; Aoki, H; Omori, A; Shimizu, T; Kawaguchi, Y; Kassai, K; Murakami, T

2008-01-01

High purity phosphorus was recovered from municipal wastewater secondary effluent as phosphate, using a newly developed phosphorus adsorption and recovery system. A high-speed adsorbent having a unique porous structure was used in this system. The secondary effluent, showing total phosphorus (TP) of 0.1-2.1 mg P/L, was passed through an adsorbent packed column at high space velocity (SV) of 15 h(-1). The TP of the treated water was as low as 0.02-0.04 mg P/L, indicating that 97% of phosphorus in the secondary effluent was removed. The removed phosphorus was desorbed from the adsorbent by passing a sodium hydroxide aqueous solution through the column. Calcium hydroxide was added to this solution to precipitate the phosphorus as calcium phosphate. This precipitate was neutralized with hydrochloric acid aqueous solution, washed with water, and then solid-liquid separation was performed for the phosphorus recovery. The main constituent of the recovered phosphorus was apatite-type calcium phosphate, with 16% phosphorus content, which matched that of high-grade phosphorus ore. The hazardous elements content of the recovered phosphorus was exceedingly low. Therefore the recovered phosphorus can be applied to an alternative for phosphorus ore, or to a phosphate fertilizer. IWA Publishing 2008.

Thermodynamic Analysis of the Selective Reduction of a Nickeliferous Limonitic Laterite Ore by Hydrogen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elliott, R.; Pickles, C. A.

2017-09-01

Nickeliferous limonitic laterite ores are becoming increasingly attractive as a source of metallic nickel as the costs associated with recovering nickel from the sulphide ores increase. Unlike the sulphide ores, however, the laterite ores are not amenable to concentration by conventional mineral processing techniques such as froth flotation. One potential concentrating method would be the pyrometallurgical solid state reduction of the nickeliferous limonitic ores at relatively low temperatures, followed by beneficiation via magnetic separation. A number of reductants can be utilized in the reduction step, and in this research, a thermodynamic model has been developed to investigate the reduction of a nickeliferous limonitic laterite by hydrogen. The nickel recovery to the ferronickel phase was predicted to be greater than 95 % at temperatures of 673-873 K. Reductant additions above the stoichiometric requirement resulted in high recoveries over a wider temperature range, but the nickel grade of the ferronickel decreased.

High-rate behaviour of iron ore pellet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gustafsson, Gustaf; Häggblad, Hans-Åke; Jonsén, Pär; Nishida, Masahiro

2015-09-01

Iron ore pellets are sintered, centimetre-sized spheres of ore with high iron content. Together with carbonized coal, iron ore pellets are used in the production of steel. In the transportation from the pelletizing plants to the customers, the iron ore pellets are exposed to different loading situations, resulting in degradation of strength and in some cases fragmentation. For future reliable numerical simulations of the handling and transportation of iron ore pellets, knowledge about their mechanical properties is needed. This paper describes the experimental work to investigate the dynamic mechanical properties of blast furnace iron ore pellets. To study the dynamic fracture of iron ore pellets a number of split Hopkinson pressure bar tests are carried out and analysed.

Banana peel reductant for leaching medium grade manganese ore in sulfuric acid solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aripin, H.; Joni, I. Made; Busaeri, Nundang; Usrah, Ifkar; Sudiana, I. Nyoman; Sabchevski, Svilen

2017-03-01

In this investigation, manganese has been produced from medium grade manganese ore from Karangnunggal mine (West Java, Indonesia). The effects of weighed amount of banana peels on the structural and leaching properties have been studied. The material's properties have been characterized on the basis of the experimental data obtained using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. It has been found that an increase of the weighed amount of banana peels up to 4 g leads to an increase of the leaching efficiency of manganese from manganese ore. Above 4 g, however, the leaching efficiency does not change significantly. The analysis based on the interpretation of both XRD patterns and FTIR spectrum allows one to explain the increase in the leaching efficiencies of manganese by the reduction of MnO2 minerals and by the removal of hemicelluloses groups of banana peel in the samples.

Manganese biomining: A review.

PubMed

Das, A P; Sukla, L B; Pradhan, N; Nayak, S

2011-08-01

Biomining comprises of processing and extraction of metal from their ores and concentrates using microbial techniques. Currently this is used by the mining industry to extract copper, uranium and gold from low grade ores but not for low grade manganese ore in industrial scale. The study of microbial genomes, metabolites and regulatory pathways provide novel insights to the metabolism of bioleaching microorganisms and their synergistic action during bioleaching operations. This will promote understanding of the universal regulatory responses that the biomining microbial community uses to adapt to their changing environment leading to high metal recovery. Possibility exists of findings ways to imitate the entire process during industrial manganese biomining endeavor. This paper reviews the current status of manganese biomining research operations around the world, identifies factors that drive the selection of biomining as a processing technology, describes challenges in exploiting these innovations, and concludes with a discussion of Mn biomining's future. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The method for froth floatation condition recognition based on adaptive feature weighted

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jieran; Zhang, Jun; Tian, Jinwen; Zhang, Daimeng; Liu, Xiaomao

2018-03-01

The fusion of foam characteristics can play a complementary role in expressing the content of foam image. The weight of foam characteristics is the key to make full use of the relationship between the different features. In this paper, an Adaptive Feature Weighted Method For Froth Floatation Condition Recognition is proposed. Foam features without and with weights are both classified by using support vector machine (SVM).The classification accuracy and optimal equaling algorithm under the each ore grade are regarded as the result of the adaptive feature weighting algorithm. At the same time the effectiveness of adaptive weighted method is demonstrated.

Phase change of iron ore reduction process using EFB as reducing agent at 900-1200°C

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Purwanto, H.; Salleh, H. M.; Rozhan, A. N.; Mohamad, A. S.; Zakiyuddin, A.

2018-04-01

Treatment of low grade iron ore involved reduction of oxygen in iron oxide by using reductant such as carbon monoxide or hydrogen gas. Presently, carboneous materials such as coke/coal are widely used as a source to provide reducing gas, but some problem arises from this material as the gas can harm the environments. Therefore, empty fruit bunch biomass from oil palm becomes an alternative to replace the usage of coke/coal as their major composition is carbon and hydrogen. The idea of replacing coke with biomass will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide release as biomass is a carbon neutral and renewable source, and at the same time abundance of waste from oil palm industries can be overcome. Therefore, the aim of this research is to upgrade the low grade iron with reducibility more than 50% being used in iron and steel making. In this research, low grade iron ore are mixed together with EFB then is making into composite pellet before being reduced at certain parameter chosen. The variables involved in this research is composition EFB (10%, 30% and 50%), temperature (1000°C, 1100°C and 1200°C) and reduction time is fixed with 30 minutes. From the experiment conducted, the highest reducibility achieved is 76.37% at temperature 1200°C. While XRD analysis shows the existence of metallic iron phase started to form at 1000°C with composition of 30% of EFB. Meanwhile, from magnetization test show that at 1200°C the highest magnetic susceptibility is achieved as the dominance phase at 1200°C is metallic phase. Therefore it is an interesting alternative to replace coke with biomass for reducing agent in upgrading low grade iron into workable ores.

The volcanic-sedimentary sequence of the Lousal deposit, Iberian Pyrite Belt (Portugal)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosa, Carlos; Rosa, Diogo; Matos, Joao; Relvas, Jorge

2010-05-01

The Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) is a massive sulfide province that is located in the south of Portugal and Spain, and hosts more than 90 massive sulfide deposits that amount to more than 1850 million metric tonnes of sulfide ore (Tornos, 2006). The ore deposits size, vary from ~1Mt to >100Mt (e.g. Neves Corvo and Aljustrel in Portugal, and Rio Tinto and Tharsis in Spain). The ore deposits are hosted by a submarine sedimentary and volcanic, felsic dominated, succession that constitutes the Upper Devonian to Lower Carboniferous Volcanic and Sedimentary Complex (VSC). The VSC ranges in thickness from approximately 600 to 1300 m (Tornos 2006). The VSC overlies the Phyllite-Quartzite Group (PQ) (Upper Devonian, base unknown) and is overlain by the Baixo Alentejo Flysch Group (Lower to Upper Carboniferous). The Lousal massive sulfide deposit is located in the western part of the IPB and occurs mostly interbedded with black mudstone. The VSC sequence at Lousal mine consists of a mudstone and quartzite sequence (PQ Group) in the lower part of the succession, over which a thick sequence of rhyolitic lavas (>300 m) occurs. Above the rhyolitic lavas there is a thick sequence of black and grey mudstone that hosts the massive sulfide ore bodies, and a rhyolitic sill. The upper part of the VSC sequence consists of a thick mudstone interval that hosts two thick basaltic units, locally with pillows. The rhyolites have small coherent cores, locally with flow bands, that grade to surrounding massive clastic intervals, with large lateral extent. The clasts show jigsaw-fit arrangement in many places and have planar or curviplanar margins and locally are perlitic at the margin. The top contact of these units is in most locations not exposed, which makes difficult to interpret the mode of emplacement. However, the thick clastic intervals, above described, are in accordance with quenching of volcanic glass with abundant water and therefore indicate that quenching of the rhyolites was the dominant fragmentation mechanism. Unlike many locations of the IPB, fiamme-rich pyroclastic units were not identified at Lousal. The ore deposits occur in close proximity with this volcanic centre that may have driven hydrothermal circulation that led to ore formation. The volcanic rocks show intense chloritic alteration, indicating that the mineralizing event occurred after most of the rhyolitic units have emplaced. The massive sulfides show abundant sedimentary structures which is not typical in the massive sulfide deposits of the IPB. The Lousal 50 Mt massive sulfide deposit consists of at least 11 ore bodies and was exploited until 1988 mainly for pyrite. The ores mined averaged 0.7% Cu, 0.8%Pb e 1.4%Zn (Strauss, 1971). These relatively low base metal grades led to an evaluation of the contents and distribution of high-tech element in the ore bodies, which would improve the economic viability of mining the deposit. This evaluation is currently focusing on the distribution and mineralogy of selenium, as ores mined in the past were known to be rich in this element. This work benefits from research projects INCA (PTDC/CTE-GIN/67027/2006; Characterization of crucial mineral resources for the development of renewable energy technologies: The Iberian Pyrite Belt ores as a source of indium and other high-technology elements) and project ARCHYMEDES II (POCTI/CTA/45873/2002), both funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia. REFERENCES Strauss, G.K., 1970. Sobre la geologia de la provincia piritifera del Suroeste de la Peninsula Iberica y sus yacimientos, en especial sobre la mina de pirita de Lousal (Portugal): Memoria del IGME 77, 1-266. Tornos, F., 2006. Environment of formation and styles of volcanogenic massive sulfides: The Iberian Pyrite Belt. Ore Geology Reviews 28, 259-307.

New observations on the Ni-Co ores of the southern Arburese Variscan district (SW Sardinia, Italy)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naitza, Stefano; Secchi, Francesco; Oggiano, Giacomo; Cuccuru, Stefano

2015-04-01

Among the European Variscan regions, the Arburese district, located in the Paleozoic basement of SW Sardinia (Italy) is remarkable for its metallogenic complexity, and offers good opportunities to investigate time/space and genetic links between post-collisional Variscan intrusive magmatism and mineral deposits. The district hosts a large variety of mineral deposits and occurrences, which include the Pb-Zn (Cu, Ag) mesothermal veins of the Montevecchio Lode System, one of the largest and richest Variscan hydrothermal ore deposit of Europe, now exhausted. Ore deposits are genetically related to the emplacement of the Late Variscan (304±1 Ma) Arbus Pluton, a granitoid composite intrusion ranging from monzogabbroic to granodioritic and to peraluminous leucogranitic rock-types. After more than a century of geological studies in the area, several metallogenic issues are still unresolved; among them, the occurrence in the southern sectors of little known polymetallic Ni-Co-(Pb-Zn-Cu-Ag-Bi) veins, a kind of mineralization quite unusual for the Sardinian basement. These hydrothermal deposits are hosted by very low-grade metamorphic rocks at short distance from the intrusion, where contact effect generate also hornfels. Spatial, structural and textural characters of the hydrothermal system are coherent and in apparent continuity with those of the Montevecchio Lode System. Ni-Co ores are hosted by a system of parallel, 1-2 m thick high-angle veins that discontinuously follow the southwestern and southern contacts of the Arbus Pluton for about 7 km. They constantly dip SSW, sideways with respect to the pluton contact, and show a prevalence of fracture infilling (banded and brecciated) textures, with alternating quartz and siderite bands, cockades and frequent inclusions of wallrock fragments. Wallrocks are usually silicified, bleached and/or sericitized. Systematic studies of ore textures and parageneses from different veins along the system have been performed by standard ore microscopy and SEM-EDS. Ore minerals associations include Ni-Co (Fe, Sb) arsenides/sulfoarsenides (nickeline, rammelsbergite, skutterudite, safflorite, gersdorffite, breithauptite, lollingite, cobaltite), Pb-Zn-Cu-Ag-Bi sulfides (galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite/freibergite, bismuthinite, proustite/pyrargirite, stephanite), native Bi and native Ag. Ore textures and mineral phases relationships allow to envisage the following paragenetic sequence: 1) deposition of quartz (I) and a Ni monoarsenide (nickeline), and antimonide (breithauptite) followed by 2) Ni-,Ni-Co, Co- and Fe- di-, tri- arsenides and sulfoarsenides (rammelsbergite, skutterudite, safflorite, löllingite, cobaltite), with bismuthinite and native Bi; 3) deposition of abundant siderite, with quartz (II), Pb-Zn-Cu-Ag sulfides and sulfosalts and rare native Ag, followed at last by 4) calcite. This sequence depicts a polyphased evolution with alternating gradual and abrupt changes of the physicochemical parameters of a mesothermal fluid initially characterized by Ni-As-(Sb) contents, subsequently evolved to higher contents of As, Co and Bi, and, finally, enriched in S, allowing Pb, Zn, Cu deposition as sulfides and sulfosalts.Thus, the fine alternating rims of pure nickeline (NiAs) and breithauptite (NiSb) in nickeline individuals, detected by SEM-EDS, may be explained by repeated compositional re-equilibrations due to variable As and Sb contents of the fluids; increases in As, and, moreover, the sudden appearance of siderite and sulfides after brecciations indicate further re-opening of the system, related to hydrothermal fracturing and syn-depositional tectonics.

Composition and origin of Early Cambrian Tiantaishan phosphorite-Mn carbonate ores, Shaanxi Province, China

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hein, J.R.; Fan, D.; Ye, J.; Liu, T.; Yeh, H.-W.

1999-01-01

The Tiantaishan phosphorite-Mn carbonate ores occur in the Early Cambrian Tananpo Formation in complexly folded and faulted rocks located in southern Shaanxi Province. About 65 x 106 tonnes of 17% P2O5 ore reserves exist and Mn-ore reserves are about 8.3 x 106 tonnes of +18% Mn. The stratigraphic sequence in ascending order consists of black phyllite, black to gray phosphorite ore, black phyllite, rhodochrostone ore, Mn mixed-carbonates, and dolostone. Data are presented from microprobe mineral chemistry, whole-rock chemistry, stable isotopes of carbonates, X-ray mineralogy, petrographic and SEM observations, and statistical analysis of chemical data. The dominant ore-forming minerals are hydroxy- and carbonate fluorapatite and Ca rhodochrosite, with Mg kutnahorite and dolomite comprising the Mn mixed-carbonate section. Pyrite occurs in all rock types and alabandite (MnS) occurs throughout the rhodochrostone section. The mean P2O5 content of phosphorite is 31% and argillaceous phosphorite is 16%, while the mean MnO content of rhodochrostone ore is 37%. Phosphorite ores are massive, spheroidal, laminated, and banded, while rhodochrostone ores have oolitic, spheroidal, and granular fabrics. The most distinguishing characteristics of the ores are high total organic carbon (TOC) contents (mean 8.4%) in the phosphorite and high P2O5 contents (mean 2.7%) in the rhodochrostone ore. The atypically high TOC contents in the Tiantaishan phosphorite probably result from very strong productivity leading to high sedimentation rates accompanied by weak reworking of sediments; poor utilization of the organic matter by bacteria; and/or partial replacement of bacterial or algal mats by the apatite. The depositional setting of the ores was the margin of an epicontinental seaway created as a direct consequence of global processes that included break-up of a supercontinent, formation of narrow seaways, creation of extensive continental shelves, overturn of stagnant, metal-rich deep-ocean waters, and marine transgression. Water depth increased from deposition of the black phyllite sequence through deposition of the Mn mixed-carbonate sequence, then shallowed again during deposition of the overlying dolostone sequence. Bottom waters were mostly dysoxic to suboxic, but fluctuated from oxic to anoxic. Productivity was high during deposition of the black phyllite sequence, increased during precipitation of phosphorite, and then decreased to moderate levels during precipitation of rhodochrostone ores. Biosilica contributions occur in each lithology, but are greatest in rhodochrostone. Changes in sedimentation were determined by changes in water depth, productivity, upwelling, sea-level change, and ventilation of the depositional basin. The source of the phosphorus was organic matter produced in great quantities during deposition of the black phyllite and phosphorite sequences in a zone of coastal upwelling. Organic matter accumulation was rapid. Globally, Mn was supplied by overturn of stagnant, metal-rich deep-ocean waters, which were redistributed to areas of coastal upwelling and seaways; that process may have been initiated by latest Proterozoic glaciations which would have promoted density stratification and accumulation and storage of metals. Regionally, Mn was supplied by terrigenous input into the shallow seaway and hydrothermal input into the deeper water parts of that seaway. Locally, Mn sources included leaching and transport of metals from the sediment column. Manganese was stored locally in low-oxygen (not anoxic) seawater prior to Mn-ore formation. The source of the carbon in the Mn carbonates and dolostones was predominantly seawater bicarbonate and secondarily CO2 derived from the oxidation of organic matter in the bacterially mediated diagenetic zone of sulfate reduction.

China's emergence as the world's leading iron-ore-consuming country

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kirk, W.S.

2004-01-01

China has become the leading iron ore consuming nation, and, based on recent steel production capacity increases and plans for more, its consumption will almost certainly to continue to grow. China's iron ore industry, however, faces a number of problems. China's iron ore is low-grade, expensive to process, and its mines are being depleted. For many Chinese steelmakers, particularly in the coastal regions, the delivered cost of domestic iron ore, is more than the delivered cost of foreign ore. Thus China's iron ore imports are expected to increase. As China's growth continues, it will almost certainly surpass Japan to become the leading iron ore importing country as well. Without China's increasing appetite for iron ore, the world iron ore market would be flat or declining. China's recent imports largely offset the slump in demand in North America and Europe. China is regarded by the iron ore industry as the growth sector for the next decade. Although Chinese imports are expected to continue their rapid increase and imports in other Asian countries are expected to continue growing, there appears to be enough greenfield and expansion projects to meet future demand for iron ore worldwide. Present suppliers of iron ore, Australia, Brazil, India, and South Africa, will probably be the chief beneficiaries of China's increasing consumption of iron ore. How long China can continue its extraordinary growth is the primary issue for the future of the iron ore industry. Based on the number and size of planned blast furnaces it appears that China's growth could continue for several more years. ?? 2004 Taylor and Francis.

Effects of Sodium Citrate on the Ammonium Sulfate Recycled Leaching of Low-Grade Zinc Oxide Ores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Kun; Li, Shi-wei; Zhang, Li-bo; Peng, Jin-hui; Ma, Ai-yuan; Wang, Bao-bao

2016-03-01

The effects of sodium citrate on ammonium sulfate recycled leaching of low-grade zinc oxide ores were studied. By applying various kinds of detection and analysis techniques such as chemical composition analysis, chemical phase method, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectrum (SEM/EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transforming infrared spectrum (FT-IR), zinc raw ore, its leaching slag and the functional mechanism of sodium citrate were investigated. Based on a comprehensive analysis, it can be concluded that in contrast to hemimorphite (Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O), amorphous smithsonite (ZnCO3) and zinc silicate (Zn2SiO4) prove to be refractory phases under ammonium sulfate leaching, while sodium citrate has a better chelating action with the refractory phases, resulting in a higher zinc leaching rate. Under conditions of [NH3]/[NH3]T molar ratio being 0.5, [NH3]T being 7.5 mol/L, [Na3C6H5O7] being 0.2 mol/L, S/L ratio being 1:5, temperature being 303 K, holding time being 1 h in each of the two stages, and stirring rate being 300 rpm, the leaching rate of zinc reached 93.4%. In this article, sulfate ammonium recycled technology also reveals its unique advantage in processing low-grade zinc oxide ores accompanied by high silicon and high alkaline gangue.

Exploration for uranium-vanadium deposits by the U.S. Geological Survey in the Club Mesa area, Uravan district, Montrose County, Colorado

USGS Publications Warehouse

Boardman, R.L.; Litsey, L.R.; Bowers, H.E.

1958-01-01

Club Mesa is one of the most productive areas for uranium-vanadium ore in southwestern Colorago. The average grade of this ore has ranged from about 0.25 to 1.50 percent U3O8 and 1.5 to 5.0 percent V2O5.

A unique ore-placer cluster with high-Hg gold mineralization in the Amur region (Russia)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stepanov, V. A.; Moyseenko, V. G.; Melnikov, A. V.

2017-02-01

This work presents the geological structure and a description of gold-ore manifestations and gold placers in the Un'ya-Bom ore-placer cluster of the Amur gold-bearing province. The host rocks are Late Paleozoic and Mesozoic black-shale formations. Intrusive formations are rare. The sublatitudinal Un'ya thrust fault, along which Paleozoic sandstones overlap Mesozoic flyschoid deposits, is regarded as an orecontrolling structure. Gold-quartz and low-sulfide ores are confined to quartz-vein zones. Ore minerals are arsenopyrite, scheelite, ferberite, galena, and native gold. Gold-ore manifestations and placers contain high-Hg native gold. The high Hg content in native gold is explained by the occurrence of the eroded frontal part of the gold-ore pipe in the ore cluster, a source of native gold.

Effect of moisture content on the flowability of crushed ores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cabrejos, Francisco

2017-06-01

In many mining and industrial processes where large quantities of non-degrading bulk materials such as crushed ores are handled, silos, hoppers, stockpiles and chutes are widely used because they are economical and reliable (if properly designed and operated). However, they are not free of trouble and may experience flow problems such as arching, ratholing, erratic flow, limited storage capacity, limited discharge flow rate, caking, segregation and/or flooding. Moisture content and fine particles significantly affect the flowability of most ores, increasing their cohesive strength and turning them more prone to these problems. The purpose of this article is to highlight a proven, scientific method that can be utilized to ensure reliable storage, flow and discharge of bulk solids in these equipment based on Jenike's flow-of-solids theory and laboratory testing. Knowledge of the flow properties of the material handled provides a design basis to ensure mass flow, avoid arching and prevent the formation of "ratholes". The effect of an increase in water content of the ore is discussed with experimental results.

Using apatite to discriminate synchronous ore-associated and barren granitoid rocks: A case study from the Edong metallogenic district, South China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duan, Deng-Fei; Jiang, Shao-Yong

2018-06-01

In order to find criteria to discriminate the synchronous ore-associated and barren granitoid rocks, we have determined apatite chemistry associated with ore-associated (Cu-Au) and barren granitoid rocks in the Edong district of the Middle and Lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt, South China. Both rock types give zircon U-Pb ages between 135.0 and 138.7 Ma. Apatite has a higher volatile and Li content (Cl: 0.19-0.57 wt%, average 0.35 wt%, SO3: 0.08-0.71 wt%, average 0.32 wt%, Li: 0.49-7.99 ppm, average 3.23 ppm) in ore-associated rocks than those in barren rocks (Cl: 0.09-0.31 wt%, average 0.16 wt%, SO3: 0.06-0.28 wt%, average 0.16 wt%, Li: 0.15-0.89 ppm, average 0.36 ppm). Apatite (La/Yb)N ratios and Eu/Eu* values are relatively high and show wider variation in ore-associated rocks than those in barren rocks. Apatite (La/Sm)N and (Yb/Sm)N show positive correlation in ore-associated rocks but negative in barren rocks. The higher volatile content occurs in ore-associated magma, favoring Cu-Au transportation and deposition. Furthermore, amphibole fractional crystallization in ore-associated magma further enriched the ore elements in the residual melt. Barren rocks may have undergone fluid exsolution before emplacement, which makes it barren in Cl, S and ore elements (Cu, S). These signatures emphases the significance of volatile and magma evolution in mineralization and indicate that analyses of magmatic apatite can serve to distinguish ore-associated from barren intrusions.

Stable isotope, chemical, and mineral compositions of the Middle Proterozoic Lijiaying Mn deposit, Shaanxi Province, China

USGS Publications Warehouse

Yeh, Hsueh-Wen; Hein, James R.; Ye, Jie; Fan, Delian

1999-01-01

The Lijiaying Mn deposit, located about 250 km southwest of Xian, is a high-quality ore characterized by low P and Fe contents and a mean Mn content of about 23%. The ore deposit occurs in shallow-water marine sedimentary rocks of probable Middle Proterozoic age. Carbonate minerals in the ore deposit include kutnahorite, calcite, Mn calcite, and Mg calcite. Carbon (−0.4 to −4.0‰) and oxygen (−3.7 to −12.9‰) isotopes show that, with a few exceptions, those carbonate minerals are not pristine low-temperature marine precipitates. All samples are depleted in rare earth elements (REEs) relative to shale and have negative Eu and positive Ce anomalies on chondrite-normalized plots. The Fe/Mn ratios of representative ore samples range from about 0.034 to <0.008 and P/Mn from 0.0023 to <0.001. Based on mineralogical data, the low ends of those ranges of ratios are probably close to ratios for the pure Mn minerals. Manganese contents have a strong positive correlation with Ce anomaly values and a moderate correlation with total REE contents. Compositional data indicate that kutnahorite is a metamorphic mineral and that most calcites formed as low-temperature marine carbonates that were subsequently metamorphosed. The braunite ore precursor mineral was probably a Mn oxyhydroxide, similar to those that formed on the deep ocean-floor during the Cenozoic. Because the Lijiaying precursor mineral formed in a shallow-water marine environment, the atmospheric oxygen content during the Middle Proterozoic may have been lower than it has been during the Cenozoic.

Platinum and associated elements at the New Rambler mine and vicinity, Albany and Carbon Counties, Wyoming

USGS Publications Warehouse

Theobald, P.K.; Thompson, Charles Emmet

1968-01-01

Platinum-group metals in the Medicine Bow Mountains were first identified by W. C. Knight in 1901. In the Medicine Bow Mountains, these metals are commonly associated with copper, silver, or gold in shear zones that cut a series of mafic igneous and metamorphic rocks. At the New Rambler mine, where the initial discovery was made, about 50,000 tons of mine and mill waste contain an average of 0.3 percent copper, 7 ppm (parts per million) silver, 1 ppm platinum plus palladium, and 0.7 ppm gold. This material is believed to be from a low-grade envelope around the high-grade pod of complex ore that was mined selectively in the old workings. Soil samples in the vicinity of the New Rambler mine exhibit a wide range of content of several elements associated with the ore. Most of the variation can be attributed to contamination, from the mine workings. Even though soil samples identify a low-level copper anomaly that persists to the limit of the area sampled, soils do not offer a promising medium for tracing mineralization owing to the blanket of transported overburden. Stream sediments, if preconcentrated for analysis, do reveal anomalies not only in the contaminated stream below the New Rambler mine, but in adjacent drainage and on Dave Creek. Examination of a spectrum of elements in heavy-mineral concentrates from stream sediment may contribute to knowledge of the nature of the mineralization and of the basic geology of the environment. The sampling of bedrock exposures is not particularly fruitful because outcrops are sparse and the exposed rocks are the least altered and mineralized. Bedrock sampling does, however, provide information on the large size and provincial nature of the platinum-rich area. We feel that a properly integrated program of geological, geophysical, and geochemical exploration in the Medicine Bow Mountains and probably in the Sierra Madre to the west has a reasonable probability of successfully locating a complex ore body.

Recovery of Iron from Hematite-Rich Diasporic-Type Bauxite Ore

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Tao; Li, Zhuoxuan; Yang, Lin; Li, Guanghui; Zhang, Yuanbo; Zeng, Jinghua

A technique has been proposed for recovering iron from hematite-rich diasporic-type bauxite ore in this study. Direct reduction roasting followed by low intensity wet magnetic separation process was carried out. The parameters including reduction temperature and time, sodium salts, grinding conditions and magnetic field intensity for separation of iron were determined. The optimum process parameters as follows: roasting temperature of 1050 °C, time of 60 min, sodium salts involving sodium sulfate, borax, sodium carbonate with dosages of 10 wt%, 2 wt%, 35 wt% respectively, and magnetic field intensity of 1000 Gs with fineness of pulp reached 92.75% passing -0.074mm. Under the optimal conditions, an iron concentrate containing 88.17% total iron grade and iron recovery of 92.51% was obtained, 4.55% total iron grade in tailings. This novel technique provide a potential route for utilizing hematiterich diasporic bauxite ore, recovering iron resource firstly, and extracting alumina from magnetic separation tailings further.

Sodium cyanide hazards to fish and other wildlife from gold mining operations

USGS Publications Warehouse

Eisler, R.; Clark, D.R.; Wiemeyer, Stanley N.; Henny, C.J.; Azcue, Jose M.

1999-01-01

Highly toxic sodium cyanide (NaCN) is used increasingly by the international mining community to extract gold and other precious metals through milling of high grade ores and heap leaching of low grade ores. Of the 98 million kg cyanide (CN) consumed in North America in 1989, about 80% was used in gold mining (Knudson 1990). In Canada, more than 90% of the mined gold is extracted from ores with the cyanidation process. This process consists of leaching gold from the ore as a gold-cyanide complex, and gold being recovered by precipitation (Simovic and Snodgrass 1985). Milling and heap leaching require cycling of millions of liters of alkaline water containing high concentrations of potentially toxic NaCN, free cyanide, and metal cyanide complexes that are frequently accessible to wildlife. Some milling operations result in tailings ponds of 150 ha and larger. Heap leach operations that spray or drip cyanide solution onto the flattened top of the ore heap require solution processing ponds of about 1 ha in surface area. Although not intentional or desired, puddles of various sizes may occur on the top of heaps where the highest concentrations of NaCN are found. Exposed solution recovery channels are usually constructed at the base of leach heaps. All of these cyanidecontaining water bodies are hazardous to wildlife if not properly managed (Henny et al. 1994). In this account we emphasize hazards of cyanide from mining operations to fish and wildlife species and proposed mitigation to protect them.

The Krásná Hora, Milešov, and Příčovy Sb-Au ore deposits, Bohemian Massif: mineralogy, fluid inclusions, and stable isotope constraints on the deposit formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Němec, Matěj; Zachariáš, Jiří

2018-02-01

The Krásná Hora-Milešov and Příčovy districts (Czech Republic) are the unique examples of Sb-Au subtype orogenic gold deposits in the Bohemian Massif. They are represented by quartz-stibnite veins and massive stibnite lenses grading into low-grade, disseminated ores in altered host rocks. Gold postdates the stibnite and is often replaced by aurostibite. The ore zones are hosted by hydrothermally altered dikes of lamprophyres (Krásná Hora-Milešov) or are associated with local strike-slip faults (Příčovy). Formation of Sb-Au deposits probably occurred shortly after the main gold-bearing event (348-338 Ma; Au-only deposits) in the central part of the Bohemian Massif. Fluid inclusion analyses suggest that stibnite precipitated at 250 to 130 °C and gold at 200 to 130 °C from low-salinity aqueous fluids. The main quartz gangue hosting the ore precipitated from the same type of fluid at about 300 °C. Early quartz-arsenopyrite veins are not associated with the Sb-Au deposition and formed from low-salinity, aqueous-carbonic fluid at higher pressure and temperature ( 250 MPa, 400 °C). The estimated oxygen isotope composition of the ore-bearing fluid (4 ± 1‰ SMOW; based on post-ore calcite) suggests its metamorphic or mixed magmatic-metamorphic origin and excludes the involvement of meteoric water. Rapid cooling of warm hydrothermal fluids reacting with "cold" host rock was probably the most important factor in the formation of both stibnite and gold.

The role of metasomatism in the balance of halogens in ore-forming process at porphyry Cu-Mo deposits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berzina, A. N.

2009-04-01

Volatile components play an important role in the evolution of ore-magmatic systems and their ore potential. Of special interest are fluorine and chlorine compounds that principally control the transportation of ore elements by the fluid in a magmatic process and under high-temperature hydrothermal conditions. Study of the evolution of fluorine-chlorine activity in the ore-forming process and their source is usually based on analysis of their magmatic history, whereas the additional source of fluorine and chlorine released during metasomatic alteration of rocks hosting mineralization is poorly discussed in the existing literature. Based on microprobe data on Cl and F abundances in halogen-containing minerals (biotite, amphibole, apatite, titanite) in intrusive rocks and their hydrothermally altered varieties, the role of metasomatic processes in the balance of volatiles in the ore-forming system is discussed by the example of porphyry Cu-Mo deposits of Siberia (Russia) and Mongolia. Two groups of the deposits are considered: copper-molybdenum (Erdenetiin Ovoo, Mongolia and Aksug, Russia) with prevailing propylitic and phyllic alteration and molybdenum-copper (Sora, Russia), with predominant potassic alteration. All types of hydrothermal alterations have led to drastic decrease in Cl contents in metasomatic minerals as compared with halogen-containing magmatic minerals. All studied deposits (particularly those where propylitic and phyllic alteration were developed) show a nearly complete chlorine removal from altered halogen-containing rock-forming minerals (biotite and amphibole). The Cl content in amphibole decreases several times at the stage of replacement with actinolite in the process of propylitization. In the later chlorites (ripidolite and brunsvigite) that replace amphibole, actinolite, and biotite, chlorine is not detected by microprobe (detection limit 0.01-0.02% Cl). Chlorine was also not detected in white micas (muscovite-phengite series) in quartz-sericite alteration zones. No Cl-bearing minerals were revealed in ore-metasomatic assemblages with the exception of extremely low Cl contents in secondary biotite and very rare low-Cl apatite in the early potassic alteration zone. In contrast, fluorine concentrates in chlorites and white micas; however, the F content in them is commonly lower than in dark minerals, especially in biotite from altered rocks. The highest F contents are typical of biotites related to potassic alteration (K-feldspar + biotite + quartz assemblage). For example, the F content at the Sora deposit ranges from 2.5-2.7 wt.% in the metasomatic biotite to 0.44-1.63 wt.% in the rock-forming biotite of host granitoids. At this deposit, fluorite is a major mineral of the ore-metasomatic assemblage. The Mo-rich Sora deposit drastically differs from the Cu-rich Erdenetiin Ovoo and Aksug deposits by extremely low (0.02-0.08 wt.%) Cl contents in dark minerals from all of the host rocks. The considerable quantity of chlorine released as a result of large-scale propylitic and phyllic alteration from halogen-bearing dark minerals at Cu-rich deposits considerably affected the general Cl budget in the ore-metasomatic system. This could significantly promote the generation of Cl-rich (up to 50-70 wt.% NaCl-equiv.) ore-forming solutions at such deposits. At the Sora deposit characterized by less concentrated ore-bearing solutions (12-20 wt.% NaCl-equiv.), the metasomatic alteration of host rocks was not accompanied by an appreciable removal of Cl. At the studied deposits, huge volumes of enclosing rocks were involved in metasomatism. The large amounts of halogens released during the metasomatic alteration of host rocks might have significantly influenced the balance of volatiles in the ore forming system, including the increase in the salinity of hydrothermal solutions.

Porphyry-copper ore shells form at stable pressure-temperature fronts within dynamic fluid plumes.

PubMed

Weis, P; Driesner, T; Heinrich, C A

2012-12-21

Porphyry-type ore deposits are major resources of copper and gold, precipitated from fluids expelled by crustal magma chambers. The metals are typically concentrated in confined ore shells within vertically extensive vein networks, formed through hydraulic fracturing of rock by ascending fluids. Numerical modeling shows that dynamic permeability responses to magmatic fluid expulsion can stabilize a front of metal precipitation at the boundary between lithostatically pressured up-flow of hot magmatic fluids and hydrostatically pressured convection of cooler meteoric fluids. The balance between focused heat advection and lateral cooling controls the most important economic characteristics, including size, shape, and ore grade. This self-sustaining process may extend to epithermal gold deposits, venting at active volcanoes, and regions with the potential for geothermal energy production.

Porphyry-Copper Ore Shells Form at Stable Pressure-Temperature Fronts Within Dynamic Fluid Plumes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weis, P.; Driesner, T.; Heinrich, C. A.

2012-12-01

Porphyry-type ore deposits are major resources of copper and gold, precipitated from fluids expelled by crustal magma chambers. The metals are typically concentrated in confined ore shells within vertically extensive vein networks, formed through hydraulic fracturing of rock by ascending fluids. Numerical modeling shows that dynamic permeability responses to magmatic fluid expulsion can stabilize a front of metal precipitation at the boundary between lithostatically pressured up-flow of hot magmatic fluids and hydrostatically pressured convection of cooler meteoric fluids. The balance between focused heat advection and lateral cooling controls the most important economic characteristics, including size, shape, and ore grade. This self-sustaining process may extend to epithermal gold deposits, venting at active volcanoes, and regions with the potential for geothermal energy production.

Selective autocatalytic reduction of NO from sintering flue gas by the hot sintered ore in the presence of NH3.

PubMed

Chen, Wangsheng; Luo, Jing; Qin, Linbo; Han, Jun

2015-12-01

In this paper, the selective autocatalytic reduction of NO by NH3 combined with multi-metal oxides in the hot sintered ore was studied, and the catalytic activity of the hot sintered ore was investigated as a function of temperature, NH3/NO ratio, O2 content, H2O and SO2. The experimental results indicated that the hot sintered ore, when combined with NH3, had a maximum denitration efficiency of 37.67% at 450 °C, 3000 h(-1) gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) and a NH3/NO ratio of 0.4/1. Additionally, it was found that O2 played an important role in removing NOx. However, high O2 content had a negative effect on NO reduction. H2O was found to promote the denitration efficiency in the absence of SO2, while SO2 inhibited the catalytic activity of the sintered ore. In the presence of H2O and SO2, the catalytic activity of the sintered ore was dramatically suppressed. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Genetic characteristics of fluid inclusions in sphalerite from the Silesian-Cracow ores, Poland

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kozlowski, A.; Leach, D.L.; Viets, J.G.

1996-01-01

Fluid inclusion studies in sphalerite from early-stage Zn-Pb mineralization in the Silesian-Cracow region (southern Poland), yielded homogenization temperatures (Th) from 80 to 158??C. Vertical thermal gradient of the parent fluids was 6 to 10??C, and the ore crystallization temperature ranges varied from <10??C at deep levels to 25??C at shallow levels. The peculiarities of formation of primary and secondary fluid inclusions from organic-matter-bearing water-dominated medium, position of the inclusions in crystals, features of secondary inclusions, the inclusion refilling phenomena, their formation on recrystallization of ores, and Th distribution in single fissure fillings were considered. The ore-forming fluids were liquid-hydrocarbon-bearing aqueous solutions of Na-Ca-Cl type with lower Ca contents in the south and higher Ca contents in the north of the region. The ore-forming fluids had salinities from nul to about 23 weight percent of NaCl equivalent. Three types of fluids were recognized, that mixed during ore precipitation: a) ascending fluids of low-to-moderate salinity and high, b) formation brines of high salinity and moderate Th, and c) descending waters of low salinity and low-to-moderate Th.

A unique ore-placer area of the Amur region with high-Hg gold

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Melnikov, A. V.; Stepanov, V. A.; Moiseenko, V. G.

2017-10-01

This work presents the geological structure and a description of the gold-ore occurrences and gold placers of the Un'ya-Bom ore-placer cluster of the Amur gold-bearing province. The host rocks are Late Paleozoic and Mesozoic black shales. Intrusive formations occur rarely. The sublatitudinal Un'ya Thrust is the principal ore-controlling structure. Paleozoic sandstones are thrust over Mesozoic flysch deposits along the Un'ya Thrust. The gold-ore occurrences are represented by quartz-vein zones. The ores are gold-quartz, low-sulfide. Ore minerals are arsenopyrite, scheelite, ferberite, galena, and native gold. High-Hg native gold was revealed in the ore occurrences and placers. The high Hg content in native gold is explained by the presence of the frontal part of the gold-bearing column located within the cluster; the rich placers were formed due to crushing of this column.

Effects of biomass reducing agent on magnetic properties and phase transformation of Baotou low-grade limonite during magnetizing-roasting

PubMed Central

Guo, Wen chao; Luo, Hui juan; Gong, Zhi jun; Li, Bao wei; Wu, Wen fei

2017-01-01

Biomass was used as reducing agent to roast the Baotou low-grade limonite in a high temperature vacuum atmosphere furnace. The effect of calcination temperature, time and ratio of reducing agent on the magnetic properties of calcined ore was studied by VSM. The phase and microstructure changes of limonite before and after calcination were analyzed by XRD and SEM. The results show that in the roasting process the phase transition process of the ferrous material in limonite is first dehydrated at high temperature to formα-Fe2O3, and then it is converted into Fe3O4 by the reduction of biomass. With the increase of calcination temperature, the magnetic properties of the calcined ore first increase and then decrease. When the temperature is higher than 650°C, Fe3O4 will become Fe2SiO4, resulting in reduced the magnetic material in calcined ore and the magnetic weakened. The best magnetization effect was obtained when the roasting temperature is 550°C, the percentage of biomass was 15% and the roasting time was 30min. The saturation magnetization can reach 60.13emu·g-1, the recovery of iron was 72% and the grade of iron was 58%. PMID:29040307

Effects of biomass reducing agent on magnetic properties and phase transformation of Baotou low-grade limonite during magnetizing-roasting.

PubMed

Zhang, Kai; Chen, Xiu Li; Guo, Wen Chao; Luo, Hui Juan; Gong, Zhi Jun; Li, Bao Wei; Wu, Wen Fei

2017-01-01

Biomass was used as reducing agent to roast the Baotou low-grade limonite in a high temperature vacuum atmosphere furnace. The effect of calcination temperature, time and ratio of reducing agent on the magnetic properties of calcined ore was studied by VSM. The phase and microstructure changes of limonite before and after calcination were analyzed by XRD and SEM. The results show that in the roasting process the phase transition process of the ferrous material in limonite is first dehydrated at high temperature to formα-Fe2O3, and then it is converted into Fe3O4 by the reduction of biomass. With the increase of calcination temperature, the magnetic properties of the calcined ore first increase and then decrease. When the temperature is higher than 650°C, Fe3O4 will become Fe2SiO4, resulting in reduced the magnetic material in calcined ore and the magnetic weakened. The best magnetization effect was obtained when the roasting temperature is 550°C, the percentage of biomass was 15% and the roasting time was 30min. The saturation magnetization can reach 60.13emu·g-1, the recovery of iron was 72% and the grade of iron was 58%.

Genesis of iron-apatite ores in Posht-e-Badam Block (Central Iran) using REE geochemistry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mokhtari, Mir Ali Asghar; Zadeh, Ghader Hossein; Emami, Mohamad Hashem

2013-06-01

Rare earth elements in apatites of different ore types show characteristic patterns which are related to different modes of formation of the ores. Most of the apatite-bearing iron ores are associated with alkaline magmas with LREE/HREE fractionation varying from moderate to steep. Iron-apatite deposits in Posht-e-Badam Block (Central Iran) have a high concentration of REE (more than 1000 ppm up to 2.5%), and show a strong LREE/HREE ratio with a pronounced negative Eu anomaly. This REE pattern is typical of magmatic apatite and quiet distinct from sedimentary apatites (phosphorites) which have a low REE contents and Ce negative anomalies. On the other hand, they are comparable to the REE patterns of apatites in Kiruna-type iron ores in different parts of the world. The REE patterns of apatites, iron-apatite ores and iron ores are similar and only have different REE contents. This similarity indicates a genetic relation for these rocks. Most of the iron-apatite deposits in Central Iran have similar REE patterns too, which in turn show a genetic relation for all of these deposits. This similarity indicates a similar origin and processes in their genesis. There are some small intrusions around some of the iron-apatite deposits that are petrographically identified as syenite and gabbro. These intrusions also have REE patterns similar to that of iron-apatite ores. This demonstrates a genetic relation between these intrusions and iron-apatite ores. The REE patterns of apatites in different deposits of Posht-e-Badam Block iron-apatite ores show an affinity to alkaline to sub-alkaline magmas and rifting environment. The alkaline host rocks of Central Iran iron-apatite ores are clearly related to an extensional setting where rifting was important (SSE-NNW fault lines). A probable source for this large scale ore forming processes is relatively low partial melting of mantle rocks. The ores have originated by magmatic differentiation as a late phase in the volcanic cycle forming sub-surface injections or surface flows. These ores have formed during magmatism as immiscible liquids (silicate and Fe-P-rich magmatic liquids) which separated from strongly differentiated magmas aided by a large volatile and alkali element content. Separation of an iron oxide melt and the ensuing hydrothermal processes dominated by alkali metasomatism were both involved to different degrees in the formation of Posht-e-Badam Block iron-apatite deposits. We proposed that the separation of an iron oxide melt and the ensuing hydrothermal processes dominated by alkali metasomatism were both involved to different degrees in the formation of Posht-e-Badam Block iron-apatite deposits.

Thallium-rich pyrite ores from the Apuan Alps, Tuscany, Italy:constraints for their origin and environmental concerns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

D'Orazio, Massimo; Biagioni, Cristian; Dini, Andrea; Vezzoni, Simone

2017-06-01

The southern sector of the Apuan Alps (AA) massif, Tuscany, Italy, is characterized by the occurrence of a series of baryte-pyrite-iron oxide orebodies whose Tl-rich nature was recognized only recently. The geochemistry of the pyrite ore was investigated through inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. In addition, lead isotope data for selected pyrite ores from AA were collected. Pyrite ores are characterized by a complex geochemistry, with high concentrations of Tl (up to 1100 μg/g) coupled with high As and Sb contents; the Co/Ni ratio is always <1. Geochemical data of pyrite and marcasite ore samples from other mining districts of Tuscany have been collected in order to compare them with those from the AA. These samples usually have very low Tl content (less than 2 μg/g) and high to very high Co/Ni and As/Sb ratios. Only some samples from the Sb-Hg ore deposits showed very high Tl concentrations (up to 3900 μg/g). Another difference is related to the lead isotope composition, with pyrite ores from AA markedly less radiogenic than those from the other deposits from Tuscany. Geochemical data of pyrite ores from AA give new insights on the genesis of the baryte-pyrite-iron oxide orebodies, relating their formation to low-temperature hydrothermal systems active during early Paleozoic; in addition, these data play a fundamental role in assessing the environmental impact of these deposits.

Massive deep-sea sulphide ore deposits discovered on the East Pacific Rise

USGS Publications Warehouse

Francheteau, Jean; Needham, H.D.; Choukroune, P.; Juteau, Tierre; Seguret, M.; Ballard, Richard D.; Fox, P.J.; Normark, William; Carranza, A.; Cordoba, D.; Guerrero, J.; Rangin, C.; Bougault, H.; Cambon, P.; Hekinian, R.

1979-01-01

Massive ore-grade zinc, copper and iron sulphide deposits have been found at the axis of the East Pacific Rise. Although their presence on the deep ocean-floor had been predicted there was no supporting observational evidence. The East Pacific Rise deposits represent a modern analogue of Cyprus-type sulphide ores associated with ophiolitic rocks on land. They contain at least 29% zinc metal and 6% metallic copper. Their discovery will provide a new focus for deep-sea exploration, leading to new assessments of the concentration of metals in the upper layers of the oceanic crust. ?? 1979 Nature Publishing Group.

Enhancement of Au-Ag-Te contents in tellurium-bearing ore minerals via bioleaching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Nag-Choul; Cho, Kang Hee; Kim, Bong Ju; Lee, Soonjae; Park, Cheon Young

2018-03-01

The purpose of this study was to enhance the content of valuable metals, such as Au, Ag, and Te, in tellurium-bearing minerals via bioleaching. The ore samples composed of invisible Au and Au paragenesis minerals (such as pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena) in combination with tellurium-bearing minerals (hessite, sylvanite and Tellurobismuthite) were studied. Indigenous microbes from mine drainage were isolated and identified as Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, which were used in bioleaching after adaption to copper. The effect of the microbial adaption on the bioleaching performance was then compared with the results produced by the non-adaptive process. The microbial adaption enhanced the Au-Ag-Te contents in biological leaching of tellurium-bearing ore minerals. This suggests that bioleaching with adapted microbes can be used both as a pretreatment and in the main recovery processes of valuable metals.

Phase transformations of siderite ore by the thermomagnetic analysis data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ponomar, V. P.; Dudchenko, N. O.; Brik, A. B.

2017-02-01

Thermal decomposition of Bakal siderite ore (that consists of magnesium siderite and ankerite traces) was investigated by thermomagnetic analysis. Thermomagnetic analysis was carried-out using laboratory-built facility that allows automatic registration of sample magnetization with the temperature (heating/cooling rate was 65°/min, maximum temperature 650 °C) at low- and high-oxygen content. Curie temperature gradually decreases with each next cycles of heating/cooling at low-oxygen content. Curie temperature decrease after 2nd cycle of heating/cooling at high-oxygen content and do not change with next cycles. Final Curie temperature for both modes was 320 °C. Saturation magnetization of obtained samples increases up to 20 Am2/kg. The final product of phase transformation at both modes was magnesioferrite. It was shown that intermediate phase of thermal decomposition of Bakal siderite ore was magnesiowustite.

Phytostabilisation potential of lemon grass (Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees ex Stend) Wats) on iron ore tailings.

PubMed

Mohanty, M; Dhal, N K; Patra, P; Das, B; Reddy, P S R

2012-01-01

The present pot culture study was carried out for the potential phytostabilisation of iron ore tailings using lemon grass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) a drought tolerant, perennial, aromatic grass. Experiments have been conducted by varying the composition of garden soil (control) with iron ore tailings. The various parameters, viz. growth of plants, number of tillers, biomass and oil content of lemon grass are evaluated. The studies have indicated that growth parameters of lemon grass in 1:1 composition of garden soil and iron ore tailings are significantly more (-5% increase) compared to plants grown in control soil. However, the oil content of lemon grass in both the cases more or less remained same. The results also infer that at higher proportion of tailings the yield of biomass decreases. The studies indicate that lemongrass with its fibrous root system is proved to be an efficient soil binder by preventing soil erosion.

The enhancing of Au-Ag-Te content in tellurium-bearing ore mineral by bio-oxidation-leaching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, PyeongMan; Kim, HyunSoo; Myung, EunJi; Kim, YoonJung; Lee, YongBum; Park*, CheonYoung

2015-04-01

The purpose of this study is to enhance the content of valuable metals such as Au-Ag-Te in tellurium-bearing minerals by bio-oxidation-leaching. It was confirmed that pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena were produced together with tellurium-bearing minerals including hessite, sylvanite and tellurobismuthite from ore minerals and concentrates through microscopic observation and SEM/EDS analysis. In a bio-oxidation-leaching experiment, with regard to Au, Ag, Te, Cu and Fe, the changes in the amount of leaching and the content of leaching residues were compared and analyzed with each other depending on the adaptation of an indigenous microbe identified as Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. As a result of the experiment, the Au-Ag-Te content in tellurium-bearing ore mineral was enhanced in the order of physical oxidation leaching, physical/non-adaptive bio-oxidation-leaching and physical/adaptive biological leaching. It suggests that the bio-oxidation-leaching using microbes adapted in tellurium-bearing ore mineral can be used as a pre-treatment and a main process in a recovery process of valuable metals. "This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education(NRF-2013R1A1A2004898)"

Phosphorus Flow Analysis for Food Production and Consumption

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsubae, Kazuyo; Nakajima, Kenichi; Nansai, Keisuke; Nagasaka, Tetsuya

Phosphorus is present only as a trace element on the Earth, but is one of the important strategic resources for agricultural food production and for the chemical industry. Natural phosphate ore is traded worldwide, mainly as a raw material for fertilizer. Approximately 147 × 103 kt of phosphate ore was mined in the world during 2005. Of this, 24.7% (36.3 × 103 kt) was produced in the USA, 20.7% (30.4 × 103 kt) in China, and 17.1% (25.2 × 103 kt) in Morocco, while there are essentially no deposits of phosphate ore in Japan or the EU (USGS,2012). It is of concern that, due to growing world demand for fertilizers, deposits of high-grade phosphate ore could be exhausted within the next 100 years (Vaccari 2009), and the average price of the ore in 2008 was approximately doubled that in 2007. Concerning the restricted supplies of phosphorus resource, it is important to consider the quantity and availability of phosphorus resources that currently remain untapped.

U-Sries Disequilibra in Soils, Pena Blanca Natural Analog, Chihuahua, Mexico

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

D. French; E. Anthony; P. Goodell

2006-03-16

The Nopal I uranium deposit located in the Sierra Pena Blanca, Mexico. The deposit was mined in the early 1980s, and ore was stockpiled close by. This stockpile area was cleared and is now referred to as the Prior High Grade Stockpile (PHGS). Some of the high-grade boulders from the site rolled downhill when it was cleared in the 1990s. For this study soil samples were collected from the alluvium surrounding and underlying one of these boulders. A bulk sample of the boulder was also collected. Because the Prior High Grade Stockpile had no ore prior to the 1980s amore » maximum residence time for the boulder is about 25 years, this also means that the soil was at background as well. The purpose of this study is to characterize the transport of uranium series radionuclides from ore to the soil. Transport is characterized by determining the activities of individual radionuclides and daughter to parent ratios. Isotopes of the uranium series decay chain detected include {sup 210}Pb, {sup 234}U, {sup 230}Th, {sup 226}Ra, {sup 214}Pb, and {sup 214}Bi. Peak areas for each isotope are determined using gamma-ray spectroscopy with a Canberra Ge (Li) detector and GENIE 2000 software. The boulder sample is close to secular equilibrium when compared to the standard BL-5 (Beaver Lodge Uraninite from Canada). Results for the soils, however, indicate that some daughter/parent pairs are in secular disequilibrium. These daughter/parent (D/P) ratios include {sup 230}Th/{sup 234}U, which is greater than unity, {sup 226}Ra/{sup 230}Th, which is also greater than unity, and {sup 210}Pb/{sup 214}Bi, which is less than unity. The gamma-ray spectrum for organic material lacks {sup 230}Th peaks, but contains {sup 234}U and {sup 226}Ra, indicating that plants preferentially incorporate {sup 226}Ra. Our results, combined with previous studies require multistage history of mobilization of the uranium series radionuclides. Earlier studies at the ore zone could limit the time span for mobilization only to a few thousand years. The contribution of this study is that the short residence time of the ore at the Prior High Grade Stockpile requires a time span for mobilization of 20-30 years.« less

Effects of simulated deposition of acid mist and iron ore particulate matter on photosynthesis and the generation of oxidative stress in Schinus terebinthifolius Radii and Sophora tomentosa L.

PubMed

Kuki, Kacilda Naomi; Oliva, Marco Antônio; Pereira, Eduardo Gusmão; Costa, Alan Carlos; Cambraia, José

2008-09-15

Particulate matter is a natural occurrence in the environment, but some industries, such as the iron ore sector, can raise the total amount of particles in the atmosphere. This industry is primarily a source of iron and sulfur dioxide particulates. The effects of the pollutants from the iron ore industries on representatives of restinga vegetation in a Brazilian coastal ecosystem were investigated using physiological and biochemical measures. Two species, Schinus terebinthifolius and Sophora tomentosa, were exposed to simulated deposition of acid mist and iron ore particulate matter in acrylic chambers in a greenhouse. Parameters such as gas exchange, fluorescence emission, chlorophyll content, total iron content, antioxidant enzyme activity and malondialdehyde content were assessed in order to evaluate the responses of the two species. Neither treatment was capable of inducing oxidative stress in S. terebinthifolius. Nevertheless, the deposition of iron ore particulates on this species increased chlorophyll content, the maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II and the electron transport rate, while iron content was unaltered. On the other hand, S. tomentosa showed a greater sensitivity to the treatments. Plants of S. tomentosa that were exposed to acid mist had a decrease in photosynthesis, while the deposition of iron particulate matter led to an increase in iron content and membrane permeability of the leaves. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as catalases and superoxide dismutase, were enhanced by both treatments. The results suggested that the two restinga species use different strategies to overcome the stressful conditions created by the deposition of particulate matter, either solid or wet. It seems that while S. terebinthifolius avoided stress, S. tomentosa used antioxidant enzyme systems to partially neutralize oxidative stress. The findings also point to the potential use of S. tomentosa as a biomarker species under field conditions.

Solubility and chemistry of materials encountered by beryllium mine and ore extraction workers: relation to risk.

PubMed

Deubner, David C; Sabey, Philip; Huang, Wenjie; Fernandez, Diego; Rudd, Abigail; Johnson, William P; Storrs, Jason; Larson, Rod

2011-10-01

Beryllium mine and ore extraction mill workers have low rates of beryllium sensitization and chronic beryllium disease relative to the level of beryllium exposure. The objective was to relate these rates to the solubility and composition of the mine and mill materials. Medical surveillance and exposure data were summarized. Dissolution of BeO, ore materials and beryllium hydroxide, Be(OH)(2) was measured in synthetic lung fluid. The ore materials were more soluble than BeO at pH 7.2 and similar at pH 4.5. Be(OH)(2) was more soluble than BeO at both pH. Aluminum dissolved along with beryllium from ore materials. Higher solubility of beryllium ore materials and Be(OH)(2) at pH 7.2 might shorten particle longevity in the lung. The aluminum content of the ore materials might inhibit the cellular immune response to beryllium.

Analysis of borehole geophysical information across a uranium deposit in the Jackson Group, Karnes County, Texas

USGS Publications Warehouse

Daniels, Jeffrey J.; Scott, James Henry; Smith, Bruce D.

1979-01-01

Borehole geophysical studies across a uranium deposit in the Jackson Group, South Texas, show the three geochemical environments often associated with uranium roll-type deposits: an altered (oxidized) zone, an ore zone, and an unaltered (reduced) zone. Mineralogic analysis of the total sulfides contained in the drill core shows only slight changes in the total sulfide content among the three geochemical regimes. However, induced polarization measurements on the core samples indicate that samples obtained from the reduced side of the ore zone are more electrically polarizable than those from the oxidized side of the ore zone, and therefore probably contain more pyrite. Analysis of the clay-size fraction in core samples indicates that montmorillonite is the dominant clay mineral. High resistivity values within the ore zone indicate the presence of calcite cement concentrations that are higher than those seen outside of the ore zone. Between-hole resistivity and induced polarization measurements show the presence of an extensive zone of calcite cement within the ore zone, and electrical polarizable material (such as pyrite) within and on the reduced side of the ore zone. A quantitative analysis of the between-hole resistivity data, using a layered-earth model, and a qualitative analysis of the between-hole induced polarization measurements showed that mineralogic variations among the three geochemical environments were more pronounced than were indicated by the geophysical and geologic well logs. Uranium exploration in the South Texas Coastal Plain area has focused chiefly in three geologic units: the Oakville Sandstone, the Catahoula Tuff, and the Jackson Group. The Oakville Sandstone and the Catahoula Tuff are of Miocene age, and the Jackson Group is of Eocene age (Eargle and others, 1971). Most of the uranium mineralization in these formations is low grade (often less than 0.02 percent U3O8) and occurs in shallow deposits that are found by concentrated exploratory drilling programs. The sporadic occurrence of these deposits makes it desirable to develop borehole geophysical techniques that will help to define the depositional environments of the uranium ore, which is characterized by geochemical changes near the uranium deposits. Geochemical changes are accompanied by changes in the physical characteristics of the rocks that can be detected with borehole geophysical tools. This study is concerned with a uranium deposit within the Jackson Group that is located just east of Karnes City, Tex. Five holes were drilled on this property to obtain borehole geophysical data and cores. The cores were analyzed for mineralogic and electrical properties. The borehole geophysical information at this property included induced polarization, resistivity, gamma-gamma density, neutron-neutron, gamma-ray, caliper, and single-point-resistance logs. Between-hole resistivity and induced polarization measurements were made between hole pairs across the ore deposit and off the ore deposit.

Experimental design and optimization of leaching process for recovery of valuable chemical elements (U, La, V, Mo, Yb and Th) from low-grade uranium ore.

PubMed

Zakrzewska-Koltuniewicz, Grażyna; Herdzik-Koniecko, Irena; Cojocaru, Corneliu; Chajduk, Ewelina

2014-06-30

The paper deals with experimental design and optimization of leaching process of uranium and associated metals from low-grade, Polish ores. The chemical elements of interest for extraction from the ore were U, La, V, Mo, Yb and Th. Sulphuric acid has been used as leaching reagent. Based on the design of experiments the second-order regression models have been constructed to approximate the leaching efficiency of elements. The graphical illustrations using 3-D surface plots have been employed in order to identify the main, quadratic and interaction effects of the factors. The multi-objective optimization method based on desirability approach has been applied in this study. The optimum condition have been determined as P=5 bar, T=120 °C and t=90 min. Under these optimal conditions, the overall extraction performance is 81.43% (for U), 64.24% (for La), 98.38% (for V), 43.69% (for Yb) and 76.89% (for Mo) and 97.00% (for Th). Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lambie, F.W.; Yee, S.N.

The purpose of this and a previous project was to examine the feasibility of estimating intermediate grade uranium (0.01 to 0.05% U/sub 3/O/sub 8/) on the basis of existing, sparsely drilled holes. All data are from the Powder River Basin in Wyoming. DOE makes preliminary estimates of endowment by calculating an Average Area of Influence (AAI) based on densely drilled areas, multiplying that by the thickness of the mineralization and then dividing by a tonnage factor. The resulting tonnage of ore is then multiplied by the average grade of the interval to obtain the estimate of U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ tonnage.more » Total endowment is the sum of these values over all mineralized intervals in all wells in the area. In regions where wells are densely drilled and approximately regularly spaced this technique approaches the classical polygonal estimation technique used to estimate ore reserves and should be fairly reliable. The method is conservative because: (1) in sparsely drilled regions a large fraction of the area is not considered to contribute to endowment; (2) there is a bias created by the different distributions of point grades and mining block grades. A conservative approach may be justified for purposes of ore reserve estimation, where large investments may hinge on local forecasts. But for estimates of endowment over areas as large as 1/sup 0/ by 2/sup 0/ quadrangles, or the nation as a whole, errors in local predictions are not critical as long as they tend to cancel and a less conservative estimation approach may be justified.One candidate, developed for this study and described is called the contoured thickness technique. A comparison of estimates based on the contoured thickness approach with DOE calculations for five areas of Wyoming roll-fronts in the Powder River Basin is presented. The sensitivity of the technique to well density is examined and the question of predicting intermediate grade endowment from data on higher grades is discussed.« less

An Analysis of the Published Mineral Resource Estimates of the Haji-Gak Iron Deposit, Afghanistan

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sutphin, D.M.; Renaud, K.M.; Drew, L.J.

2011-01-01

The Haji-Gak iron deposit of eastern Bamyan Province, eastern Afghanistan, was studied extensively and resource calculations were made in the 1960s by Afghan and Russian geologists. Recalculation of the resource estimates verifies the original estimates for categories A (in-place resources known in detail), B (in-place resources known in moderate detail), and C 1 (in-place resources estimated on sparse data), totaling 110. 8 Mt, or about 6% of the resources as being supportable for the methods used in the 1960s. C 2 (based on a loose exploration grid with little data) resources are based on one ore grade from one drill hole, and P 2 (prognosis) resources are based on field observations, field measurements, and an ore grade derived from averaging grades from three better sampled ore bodies. C 2 and P 2 resources are 1,659. 1 Mt or about 94% of the total resources in the deposit. The vast P 2 resources have not been drilled or sampled to confirm their extent or quality. The purpose of this article is to independently evaluate the resources of the Haji-Gak iron deposit by using the available geologic and mineral resource information including geologic maps and cross sections, sampling data, and the analog-estimating techniques of the 1960s to determine the size and tenor of the deposit. ?? 2011 International Association for Mathematical Geology (outside the USA).

Geochemical contrasts between Late Triassic ore-bearing and barren intrusions in the Weibao Cu-Pb-Zn deposit, East Kunlun Mountains, NW China: constraints from accessory minerals (zircon and apatite)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhong, Shihua; Feng, Chengyou; Seltmann, Reimar; Li, Daxin; Dai, Zhihui

2017-12-01

The Weibao copper-lead-zinc skarn deposit is located in the northern East Kunlun terrane, NW China. Igneous intrusions in this deposit consist of barren diorite porphyry (U-Pb zircon age of 232.0 ± 2.0 Ma) and ore-bearing quartz diorite and pyroxene diorite (U-Pb zircon ages of 223.3 ± 1.5 and 224.6 ± 2.9 Ma, respectively). Whole-rock major and trace element and accessory mineral (zircon and apatite) composition from these intrusions are studied to examine the different geochemical characteristics of ore-bearing and barren intrusions. Compared to the barren diorite porphyry, the ore-bearing intrusions have higher Ce4+/Ce3+ ratios of zircon and lower Mn contents of apatite, indicating higher oxidation state. Besides, apatite from the ore-bearing intrusions shows higher Cl contents and lower F/Cl ratios. These characteristics collectively suggest the higher productivity of ore-bearing quartz diorite and pyroxene diorite. When compared with ore-bearing intrusions from global porphyry Cu deposits, those from Cu-Pb-Zn skarn deposits display lower Ce4+/Ce3+ and EuN/EuN* ratios of zircon and lower Cl and higher F/Cl ratios of apatite. We conclude that these differences reflect a general geochemical feature, and that zircon and apatite composition is a sensitive tool to infer economic potential of magmas and the resulting mineralization types in intrusion-related exploration targets.

UV-Fluorescent Sensing for Primary Selection of Metal-rich Seafloor Massive Sulfide Ore

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamazaki, T.; Nakatani, T.; Nakatani, N.; Arai, R.

2012-12-01

Seafloor massive sulfides (SMS) in the western Pacific have received much attention as resources for Au, Ag, Cu, Zn, and Pb. Because of the higher metal contents, the venture commercial mining project may start in 2013 in the East Manus Basin, Papua New Guinea. One of important problems to be solved is reducing the waste rock disposal costs for the economy. The best location for the reducing is on seafloor just after the excavation of SMS ores. The authors select UV-fluorescent sensing for primary selection of the ores, because no additional environmental impact is created with the application of the method. First of all, the effectiveness of the UV-fluorescent sensing by a combination system with a UV-light and a camera (See attached figure) in deep water condition is clarified. Then many UV-fluorescent data of SMS ore, SMS accompanied rock, and seafloor rock samples are collected. In the analyses phase, the ore and rock samples are classified into some groups by applying the cluster analysis to the metal contents at first. Then, using the UV fluorescent color brightness and contrasts of the ore and rock samples, the discriminant analysis based on Mahalanobis distance is applied. The higher possibility to identify the SMS ores containing valuable metals from camera image is suggested from the analyses. When additional UV-fluorescent and chemical assay data are obtained, the renewal of discriminant analysis is necessary. Therefore, the results and conclusions described in this study are tentative ones.; UV-fluorescent sensing

Characterization and Beneficiation Studies of a Low Grade Bauxite Ore

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rao, D. S.; Das, B.

2014-10-01

A low grade bauxite sample of central India was thoroughly characterized with the help of stereomicroscope, reflected light microscope and electron microscope using QEMSCAN. A few hand picked samples were collected from different places of the mine and were subjected to geochemical characterization studies. The geochemical studies indicated that most of the samples contain high silica and low alumina, except a few which are high grade. Mineralogically the samples consist of bauxite (gibbsite and boehmite), ferruginous mineral phases (goethite and hematite), clay and silicate (quartz), and titanium bearing minerals like rutile and ilmenite. Majority of the gibbsite, boehmite and gibbsitic oolites contain clay, quartz and iron and titanium mineral phases within the sample as inclusions. The sample on an average contains 39.1 % Al2O3 and 12.3 % SiO2, and 20.08 % of Fe2O3. Beneficiation techniques like size classification, sorting, scrubbing, hydrocyclone and magnetic separation were employed to reduce the silica content suitable for Bayer process. The studies indicated that, 50 % by weight with 41 % Al2O3 containing less than 5 % SiO2 could be achieved. The finer sized sample after physical beneficiation still contains high silica due to complex mineralogical associations.

Two types of ore-bearing mafic complexes of the Early Proterozoic East-Scandinavian LIP and their ore potential

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitrofanov, Felix; Zhirov, Dmitry; Bayanova, Tamara; Korchagin, Alexey; Chaschin, Victor

2015-04-01

Two types of the ore-bearing mafic complexes are allotted in the East-Scandinavian large igneous province (LIP). They differ in geodynamic setting, structure, isotope geochemistry, petrology and mineralogy. The PGE-bearing mafic-ultramafic layered intrusions are associated with the first complex. They have been formed at an initial (pre-rift) stage of LIP. Features of origin of this complex are: 1) large-scale, protracted, and multiple episodes of deep mantle plume or asthenosphere upwelling; 2) the vast non-subduction-type basaltic magma in an intraplate continental setting; 3) low-sulfide Pt-Pd (with Ni, Cu, Au, Co and Rh) mineralization in different geological setting (reef- and contact type etc.); 4) anomalously high concentrations of PGEs in the bulk sulfides, inferred platinum distribution coefficient between silicate and sulfide melts of >100000. Deep mantle magma source is enriched in ore components (fertile source) and lithophile elements. It is reflected in the isotope indicators such as ɛNd(T) from -1 to -3, ISr(87Sr/86Sr) from 0.702 to 0.704, 3Не/4Не = (10 ^-5 ÷ 10 ^-6). Magma and ore sources differ from those of Mid-Ocean Ridge basalts (MORB), subduction-related magma but are similar to EM-I. Ore-bearing mafic complexes formed during a long period of time and by different episodes (2490±10 Ma; 2470±10 Ma; 2450±10 Ma; 2400±10 Ma), and by mixing between the boninitic an anorthositic magmas. It is known about 10 deposits and occurrences in Kola region with total reserves and resources about 2000 tons in palladium equivalent (with an average content ≥2-3 ppm). Intrusions with the rich sulfide Ni-Cu ore (with Co and poor PGE) are associated with the second mafic complex. Ore-controlling mafic-ultramafic intrusions are formed at a final stage of the intracontinental rifting of the Transitional period (2200-1980 Ma). Initial magma is depleted and similar to the MORB in terms of rare earths distribution. Enriched ferropicritic Fe-Ti derivatives of magma generate single volcano-plutonic rock series. For intrusive ore bodies rock differentiation with the formation of syngenetic wehrlite-clinopyroxenite-gabbro- orthoclase gabbro sequence is typical. Upper mantle source of the depleted magma is characterized by the following isotope indicators: ɛNd(T) +0.5 to +4, ISr= 87Sr/86Sr 0.703-0.704. Ore-bearing intrusive bodies are injected in the upper part of the Early Palaeoproterozoic volcano-sedimentary cross-section. Ores are located in the basement of intrusions and in the redeposited veined bodies, including offset setting. Numerous Ni-Cu deposits with total reserves and resources of several million tons of Nickel equivalent (with an average grade ≥ 0,3%) have been explored, and some of them now is mining. As a result of our research, the complex of indicators and criteria is suggested for predicting the occurrence, for regional exploration target selection and for regional resource evaluation of PGE and base metals. The studies are supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project nos. 13-05-12055).

Production of Titanium Metal by an Electrochemical Molten Salt Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fatollahi-Fard, Farzin

Titanium production is a long and complicated process. What we often consider to be the standard method of primary titanium production (the Kroll process), involves many complex steps both before and after to make a useful product from titanium ore. Thus new methods of titanium production, especially electrochemical processes, which can utilize less-processed feedstocks have the potential to be both cheaper and less energy intensive than current titanium production processes. This project is investigating the use of lower-grade titanium ores with the electrochemical MER process for making titanium via a molten salt process. The experimental work carried out has investigated making the MER process feedstock (titanium oxycarbide) with natural titanium ores--such as rutile and ilmenite--and new ways of using the MER electrochemical reactor to "upgrade" titanium ores or the titanium oxycarbide feedstock. It is feasible to use the existing MER electrochemical reactor to both purify the titanium oxycarbide feedstock and produce titanium metal.

Bacterial consortium for copper extraction from sulphide ore consisting mainly of chalcopyrite

PubMed Central

Romo, E.; Weinacker, D.F.; Zepeda, A.B.; Figueroa, C.A.; Chavez-Crooker, P.; Farias, J.G.

2013-01-01

The mining industry is looking forward for bacterial consortia for economic extraction of copper from low-grade ores. The main objective was to determine an optimal bacterial consortium from several bacterial strains to obtain copper from the leach of chalcopyrite. The major native bacterial species involved in the bioleaching of sulphide ore (Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, Leptospirillum ferrooxidans and Leptospirillum ferriphilum) were isolated and the assays were performed with individual bacteria and in combination with At. thiooxidans. In conclusion, it was found that the consortium integrated by At. ferrooxidans and At. thiooxidans removed 70% of copper in 35 days from the selected ore, showing significant differences with the other consortia, which removed only 35% of copper in 35 days. To validate the assays was done an escalation in columns, where the bacterial consortium achieved a higher percentage of copper extraction regarding to control. PMID:24294251

Dzhezkazgan and associated sandstone copper deposits of the Chu-Sarysu basin, Central Kazakhstan

USGS Publications Warehouse

Box, Stephen E.; Seltmann, Reimar; Zientek, Michael L.; Syusyura, Boris; Creaser, Robert A.; Dolgopolova, Alla

2012-01-01

Sandstone-hosted copper (sandstone Cu) deposits occur within a 200-km reach of the northern Chu-Sarysu basin of central Kazakhstan (Dzhezkazgan and Zhaman-Aibat deposits, and the Zhilandy group of deposits). The deposits consist of Cu sulfide minerals as intergranular cement and grain replacement in 10 ore-bearing members of sandstone and conglomerate within a 600- to 1,000-m thick Pennsylvanian fluvial red-bed sequence. Copper metal content of the deposits ranges from 22 million metric tons (Mt, Dzehzkazgan) to 0.13Mt (Karashoshak in the Zhilandy group), with average grades of 0.85 to 1.7% Cu and significant values for silver (Ag) and rhenium (Re). Broader zones of iron reduction (bleaching) of sandstones and conglomerates of the red-bed sequence extend over 10 km beyond each of the deposits along E-NE-trending anticlines, which began to form in the Pennsylvanian. The bleached zones and organic residues within them are remnants of ormer petroleum fluid accumulations trapped by these anticlines. Deposit sites along these F1anticlines are localized at and adjacent to the intersections of nearly orthogonal N-NW-trending F2synclines. These structural lows served to guide the flow of dense ore brines across the petroleum-bearing anticlines, resulting in ore sulfide precipitation where the two fluids mixed. The ore brine was sourced either from the overlying Early Permian lacustrine evaporitic basin, whose depocenter occurs between the major deposits, or from underlying Upper Devonian marine evaporites. Sulfur isotopes indicate biologic reduction of sulfate but do not resolve whether the sulfate was contributed from the brine or from the petroleum fluids. New Re-Os age dates of Cu sulfides from the Dzhezkazgan deposit indicate that mineralization took place between 299 to 309 Ma near the Pennsylvanian-Permian age boundary. At the Dzhezkazgan and some Zhilandy deposits, F2fold deformation continued after ore deposition. Copper orebodies in Lower Permian shale near the Zhaman-Aibat deposit indicate that at least some of the mineralization there is younger than at Dzhezkazgan, consistent with the Re-Os age and with differences in their ore Pb isotopes.

Formation of Si-Al-Mg-Ca-rich zoned magnetite in an end-Permian phreatomagmatic pipe in the Tunguska Basin, East Siberia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neumann, Else-Ragnhild; Svensen, Henrik H.; Polozov, Alexander G.; Hammer, Øyvind

2017-12-01

Magma-sediment interactions in the evaporite-rich Tunguska Basin resulted in the formation of numerous phreatomagmatic pipes during emplacement of the Siberian Traps. The pipes contain magnetite-apatite deposits with copper and celestine mineralization. We have performed a detailed petrographic and geochemical study of magnetite from long cores drilled through three pipe breccia structures near Bratsk, East Siberia. The magnetite samples are zoned and rich in Si (≤5.3 wt% SiO2), Ca, Al, and Mg. They exhibit four textural types: (1) massive ore in veins, (2) coating on breccia clasts, (3) replacement ore, and (4) reworked ore at the crater base. The textural types have different chemical characteristics. "Breccia coating" magnetite has relatively low Mg content relative to Si, as compared to the other groups, and appears to have formed at lower oxygen fugacity. Time series analyses of MgO variations in microprobe transects across Si-bearing magnetite in massive ore indicate that oscillatory zoning in the massive ore was controlled by an internal self-organized process. We suggest that hydrothermal Fe-rich brines were supplied from basalt-sediment interaction zones in the evaporite-rich sedimentary basin, leading to magnetite ore deposition in the pipes. Hydrothermal fluid composition appears to be controlled by proximity to dolerite fragments, temperature, and oxygen fugacity. Magnetite from the pipes has attributes of iron oxide-apatite deposits (e.g., textures, oscillatory zoning, association with apatite, and high Si content) but has higher Mg and Ca content and different mineral assemblages. These features are similar to magnetite found in skarn deposits. We conclude that the Siberian Traps-related pipe magnetite deposit gives insight into the metamorphic and hydrothermal effects following magma emplacement in a sedimentary basin.

Redbed-type gold mineralisation, Kupferschiefer, south-west Poland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piestrzyński, Adam; Pieczonka, Jadwiga; Głuszek, Adam

2002-06-01

A new type of gold mineralisation containing minor amounts of platinum and palladium has been found proximal to the secondary redox interface located below the Cu-Ag Kupferschiefer orebody of the Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine in the south-western part of the Lubin-Sieroszowice district, Poland. This deposit can be classified as redbed-type gold. Our study shows that gold, platinum and palladium occur in secondary red-coloured sections of the basal Zechstein sedimentary rocks and in the uppermost Weissliegendes sandstone. Noble metal mineralisation occurs within an average interval of 0.22 m, which lies directly below the copper ores. The average grade of the horizon is 2.25 ppm Au, 0.138 ppm Pt and 0.082 ppm Pd with a metal content of several tens of tonnes of gold. A transition zone has been recognised between the gold-bearing horizon and the copper deposit. This transition zone is characterised by the presence of low grades of copper (<0.2 wt%) and elevated gold contents (>0.5 ppm). Native gold accompanied by electrum, mercury-bearing gold, haematite, covellite, chalcocite, bornite and chalcopyrite has been identified in the gold-bearing horizon. In some sections, Pd-arsenides, tetra-auricupride, Co-arsenides, clausthalite, tennantite, digenite, yarrowite, spionkopite and galena have also been noted.

Nuclear forensic analysis of an unknown uranium ore concentrate sample seized in a criminal investigation in Australia

DOE PAGES

Keegan, Elizabeth; Kristo, Michael J.; Colella, Michael; ...

2014-04-13

In early 2009, a state policing agency raided a clandestine drug laboratory in a suburb of a major city in Australia. While searching the laboratory, they discovered a small glass jar labelled “Gamma Source” and containing a green powder. The powder was radioactive. This paper documents the detailed nuclear forensic analysis undertaken to characterize and identify the material and determine its provenance. Isotopic and impurity content, phase composition, microstructure and other characteristics were measured on the seized sample, and the results were compared with similar material obtained from the suspected source (ore and ore concentrate material). While an extensive rangemore » of parameters were measured, the key ‘nuclear forensic signatures’ used to identify the material were the U isotopic composition, Pb and Sr isotope ratios, and the rare earth element pattern. These measurements, in combination with statistical analysis of the elemental and isotopic content of the material against a database of uranium ore concentrates sourced from mines located worldwide, led to the conclusion that the seized material (a uranium ore concentrate of natural isotopic abundance) most likely originated from Mary Kathleen, a former Australian uranium mine.« less

Nuclear forensic analysis of an unknown uranium ore concentrate sample seized in a criminal investigation in Australia.

PubMed

Keegan, Elizabeth; Kristo, Michael J; Colella, Michael; Robel, Martin; Williams, Ross; Lindvall, Rachel; Eppich, Gary; Roberts, Sarah; Borg, Lars; Gaffney, Amy; Plaue, Jonathan; Wong, Henri; Davis, Joel; Loi, Elaine; Reinhard, Mark; Hutcheon, Ian

2014-07-01

Early in 2009, a state policing agency raided a clandestine drug laboratory in a suburb of a major city in Australia. During the search of the laboratory, a small glass jar labelled "Gamma Source" and containing a green powder was discovered. The powder was radioactive. This paper documents the detailed nuclear forensic analysis undertaken to characterise and identify the material and determine its provenance. Isotopic and impurity content, phase composition, microstructure and other characteristics were measured on the seized sample, and the results were compared with similar material obtained from the suspected source (ore and ore concentrate material). While an extensive range of parameters were measured, the key 'nuclear forensic signatures' used to identify the material were the U isotopic composition, Pb and Sr isotope ratios, and the rare earth element pattern. These measurements, in combination with statistical analysis of the elemental and isotopic content of the material against a database of uranium ore concentrates sourced from mines located worldwide, led to the conclusion that the seized material (a uranium ore concentrate of natural isotopic abundance) most likely originated from Mary Kathleen, a former Australian uranium mine. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nuclear forensic analysis of an unknown uranium ore concentrate sample seized in a criminal investigation in Australia

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Keegan, Elizabeth; Kristo, Michael J.; Colella, Michael

In early 2009, a state policing agency raided a clandestine drug laboratory in a suburb of a major city in Australia. While searching the laboratory, they discovered a small glass jar labelled “Gamma Source” and containing a green powder. The powder was radioactive. This paper documents the detailed nuclear forensic analysis undertaken to characterize and identify the material and determine its provenance. Isotopic and impurity content, phase composition, microstructure and other characteristics were measured on the seized sample, and the results were compared with similar material obtained from the suspected source (ore and ore concentrate material). While an extensive rangemore » of parameters were measured, the key ‘nuclear forensic signatures’ used to identify the material were the U isotopic composition, Pb and Sr isotope ratios, and the rare earth element pattern. These measurements, in combination with statistical analysis of the elemental and isotopic content of the material against a database of uranium ore concentrates sourced from mines located worldwide, led to the conclusion that the seized material (a uranium ore concentrate of natural isotopic abundance) most likely originated from Mary Kathleen, a former Australian uranium mine.« less

The control of H2S in biogas using iron ores as in situ desulfurizers during anaerobic digestion process.

PubMed

Zhou, Qiying; Jiang, Xia; Li, Xi; Jiang, Wenju

2016-09-01

In this study, five kinds of iron ores, limonite, hematite, manganese ore, magnetite and lava rock, were used as the in situ desulfurizers in the anaerobic digestion reactors to investigate their effects on controlling H2S in biogas. The results show that the addition of the five iron ores could significantly control the content of H2S in biogas, with the best performance for limonite. As limonite dosages increase (10-60 g/L), the contents of H2S in biogas were evidently decreased in the digesters with different initial sulfate concentrations (0-1000 mg/L). After the anaerobic digestion, the removed sulfur was mostly deposited on the surface of limonite. A possible mechanism of H2S control in biogas by limonite was proposed preliminarily, including adsorption, FeS precipitation, and Fe (III) oxidation. The results demonstrated that limonite was a promising in situ desulfurizer for controlling H2S in biogas with low cost and high efficiency.

Localization of mineralization, its age, and relationship to magmatism at the Mogot silver-base-metal deposit, North Stanovoi metallogenic zone in the southeastern framework of the North Asian Craton

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buchko, I. V.; Buchko, Ir. V.; Sorokin, A. A.; Ponomarchuk, V. A.; Travin, A. V.

2014-03-01

The results of studying the Mogot silver-base-metal deposit located in the Dzhugdzhur-Stanovoi Superterrane are discussed in this paper. The main ore-controlling structural elements of the studied district are near-latitudinal and NE-trending faults, which are accompanied by zones of hydrothermal metasomatic potassic, propylitic, and argillic alterations, breccias with quartz and quartz-carbonate cement replacing metamorphic rocks and granitoids of the Late Stanovoi Complex. The total sulfide content in ore is 2-3%. The high Ag, Pb, and Zn contents in ore allow us to consider the Mogot deposit as silver-base-metal, since except of orebody 4, there are no silver minerals proper. This indicates that silver is incorporated into crystalline lattice of sulfides. The results of 40Ar/39Ar geochronological investigations show that the hydrothermal ore deposition dated at 127-125 Ma was related to emplacement of intrusions pertaining to the Tynda-Bakaran Complex.

Purification of trona ores by conditioning with an oil-in-water emulsion

DOEpatents

Miller, J. D.; Wang, Xuming; Li, Minhua

2009-04-14

The present invention is a trona concentrate and a process for floating gangue material from trona ore that comprises forming an emulsion, conditioning the trona ore at a high solids content in a saturated trona suspension, and then floating and removing the gangue material. The process for separating trona from gangue materials in trona ore can include emulsifying an oil in an aqueous solution to form an oil-in-water emulsion. A saturated trona suspension having a high solids content can also be formed having trona of a desired particle size. The undissolved trona in the saturated suspension can be conditioned by mixing the saturated suspension and the oil-in-water emulsion to form a conditioning solid suspension of trona and gangue material. A gas can be injected through the conditioning solid suspension to float the gangue material. Thus, the floated gangue material can be readily separated from the trona to form a purified trona concentrate without requirements of additional heat or other expensive processing steps.

Economic Outlook for Radiometric Selection of Ores; POSSIBILITES OUVERTES EN MATIERE ECONOMIQUE PAR SELECTION RADIOMETRIQUE DES MINERAIS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Formery, P.; Ziegler, V.

1959-10-31

The radiometric grading of uranium ores is analyzed. The cut-off is defined, and its parameters are derived. Cut-off above ground and underground are statistically interpreted. An evaluation is made of the combined effects of both kinds of cut-off made in succession. The corrections to be made to the radiometric apparatus used are determined. Application of the theory of cutoff to the evaluation of reserves is discussed. (J.S.R.)

Hemimorphite Ores: A Review of Processing Technologies for Zinc Extraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Ailiang; Li, Mengchun; Qian, Zhen; Ma, Yutian; Che, Jianyong; Ma, Yalin

2016-10-01

With the gradual depletion of zinc sulfide ores, exploration of zinc oxide ores is becoming more and more important. Hemimorphite is a major zinc oxide ore, attracting much attention in the field of zinc metallurgy although it is not the major zinc mineral. This paper presents a critical review of the treatment for extraction of zinc with emphasis on flotation, pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical methods based on the properties of hemimorphite. The three-dimensional framework structure of hemimorphite with complex linkage of its structural units lead to difficult desilicification before extracting zinc in the many metallurgical technologies. It is found that the flotation method is generally effective in enriching zinc minerals from hemimorphite ores into a high-grade concentrate for recovery of zinc. Pure zinc can be produced from hemimorphite or/and willemite with a reducing reagent, like methane or carbon. Leaching reagents, such as acid and alkali, can break the complex structure of hemimorphite to release zinc in the leached solution without generation of silica gel in the hydrometallurgical process. For optimal zinc extraction, combing flotation with pyrometallurgical or hydrometallurgical methods may be required.

Separation of thorium ions from wolframite and scandium concentrates using graphene oxide.

PubMed

Jankovský, Ondřej; Sedmidubský, David; Šimek, Petr; Klímová, Kateřina; Bouša, Daniel; Boothroyd, Chris; Macková, Anna; Sofer, Zdeněk

2015-10-14

The separation of rare metals from the ores and commercially available compounds is an important issue due to the need of their high purity in advanced materials and devices. Important examples of two highly important elements that co-exist in the ores are scandium and thorium. Scandium containing ores and consequently also commercially available scandium compounds often contain traces of thorium which is very difficult to separate. We used graphene oxide for the selective sorption of thorium ions from scandium and thorium mixtures originating from the mined ores as well as from commercially available scandium salts. Our results showed that graphene oxide has an extreme affinity towards thorium ions. After the sorption process the graphene oxide contained over 20 wt% of thorium while the amount of scandium sorbed on GO was very low. This phenomenon of high sorption selectivity of graphene oxide can be applied in industry for the purification of various chemicals containing scandium and for separation of thorium containing mixtures. Alternatively, this methodology can be used for preconcentration of thorium from low-grade ores and its further use in the new generation of nuclear reactors.

Benthic and Plankton Foraminifers in Hydrothermally Active Zones of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khusid, T. A.; Os'kina, N. S.; Lukashina, N. P.; Gablina, I. F.; Libina, N. V.; Matul, A. G.

2018-01-01

Comparison of benthic foraminiferal assemblages from the core obtained within the Peterburgskoe ore field (Mid-Atlantic Ridge) and from the core taken five kilometers away from the ore field revealed evident differences in their composition, in the appearance of their shells, and also in the benthic-plankton species ratio. It was noted that the foraminiferal assemblage from the ore-bearing sediments of the Petersburg field was characterized by a higher relative content of benthic species and a large number of chemically altered and broken shells. The first occurrence of the species Osangularia umbonifera, which is able to exist in lowoxygen and CaCO3-undersaturated bottom waters at the boundary of biogenic sediments surrounding the ore field and in the ore-bearing sediments, was established. In the core section sampled beyond the ore field, the composition of foraminiferal assemblages differs insignificantly from typical oceanic ones.

Metal cation exchange reactions of ore minerals in Fe-Mn crusts of the Marcus Wake Rise (Pacific Ocean) in aqueous-salt solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Novikov, G. V.; Bogdanova, O. Yu.; Melnikov, M. E.; Drozdova, A. N.; Lobus, N. V.; Shulga, N. A.

2017-12-01

It is shown that the reaction ability of metal cations of ore minerals in Fe-Mn crusts of the Marcus Wake Rise increases in the following manner: (Co2+ < Cu2+ < Ni2+) < (Mg2+ < Mn2+ < K+ ≈ Ca2+ ≈ Na+). The composition of the exchange complex of the ore minerals is constant and includes these metal cations. Ca2+ and Na+ are major contributors to the exchange capacity of the ore minerals. The capacity of the ore minerals by cations of alkali and base metals is 0.43-0.60 and 2.08-2.70 mg-equiv/g, respectively. The exchange capacity of the ore minerals by cations of base metals increases linearly with the increase in the MnO2 content of the crust and does not depend on the geographical locations of the Marcus Wake guyots.

Production Quality, Value and Revenue in Polish Copper Mines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malewski, Jerzy

2016-10-01

Polish copper ore deposits, located in the Legnica-Głogów Copper District (LGOM) documented an area of over 200 km2, at a depth of 600-1400 meters. The estimated resources equal to 22.7 million tonnes of copper (proven and probable), or 44.4 million t (measured and indicated), or 8.7 million t (infered), at the criterion of profitability at a cost less than 50 cents per ton of ore. Organization of production takes place in the combine of mining and metallurgy (KGHM). Ore is extracted in three mines: Lubin, Polkowice-Sieroszowice and Rudna. The total production of these mines is about 31 million tonnes/year of ore, from which it receives a 576000 t/y of copper, 1152 t/y of silver, 1066 kg/y of gold, and certain amounts of Pb, Zn, Se, Re, Ni, SO4, H2SO4. The quality (grading) of the ore in exploited deposits is varied, affecting the quality and quantity of produced concentrates, what influence on its market value. The paper presents a brief description of ore deposit and estimates mines revenues and production profit. Calculations show that at today's (June 2016) metal prices each of the mine can expect the following net smelter revenue: Lubin ∼⃒41, P-S ∼⃒70, Rudna ∼⃒75 /t of ore. But estimated cost production differs less, i.e.: 45, 56 and 65/t of ore respectively, because of mining depth.

Study of the Dry Processing of Uranium Ores; ETUDE DES TRAITEMENTS DE MINERAIS D'URANIUM PAR VOIE SECHE

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Guillet, H.

1959-02-01

A description is given of direct fluorination of preconcentrated uranium ores in order to obtain the hexafluoride. After normal sulfuric acid treatment of the ore to eliminate silica, the uranium is precipitated by lime to obtain either impure calcium uranate of medium grade, or containing around 10% of uranium. This concentrate is dried in an inert atmosphere and then treated with a current of elementary fluorine. The uranium hexafluoride formed is condensed at the outlet of the reaction vessel and may be used either for reduction to tetrafluoride and the subsequent manufacture of uranium metal or as the initial productmore » in a diffusion plant. (auth)« less

Regularities of spatial association of major endogenous uranium deposits and kimberlitic dykes in the uranium ore regions of the Ukrainian Shield

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalashnyk, Anna

2015-04-01

During exploration works we discovered the spatial association and proximity time formation of kimberlite dykes (ages are 1,815 and 1,900 Ga for phlogopite) and major industrial uranium deposits in carbonate-sodium metasomatites (age of the main uranium ore of an albititic formation is 1,85-1,70 Ga according to U-Pb method) in Kirovogradsky, Krivorozhsky and Alekseevsko-Lysogorskiy uranium ore regions of the Ukrainian Shield (UkrSh) [1]. In kimberlites of Kirovogradsky ore region uranium content reaches 18-20 g/t. Carbon dioxide is a major component in the formation of hydrothermal uranium deposits and the formation of the sodium in the process of generating the spectrum of alkaline ultrabasic magmas in the range from picritic to kimberlite and this is the connection between these disparate geochemical processes. For industrial uranium deposits in carbonate-sodium metasomatitics of the Kirovogradsky and Krivorozhsky uranium ore regions are characteristic of uranyl carbonate introduction of uranium, which causes correlation between CO2 content and U in range of "poor - ordinary - rich" uranium ore. In productive areas of uranium-ore fields of the Kirovogradsky ore region for phlogopite-carbonate veinlets of uranium ore albitites deep δ13C values (from -7.9 to -6.9o/oo) are characteristic. Isotope-geochemical investigation of albitites from Novokonstantynovskoe, Dokuchaevskoe, Partyzanskoe uranium deposits allowed obtaining direct evidence of the involvement of mantle material during formation of uranium albitites in Kirovogradsky ore region [2]. Petrological characteristics of kimberlites from uranium ore regions of the UkrSh (presence of nodules of dunite and harzburgite garnet in kimberlites, diamonds of peridotite paragenesis, chemical composition of indicator minerals of kimberlite, in particular Gruzskoy areas pyropes (Cr2O3 = 6,1-7,1%, MgO = 19,33-20,01%, CaO = 4,14-4,38 %, the content of knorringite component of most grains > 50mol%), chromites (Cr2O3 = 45,32-62,17%, MgO = 7,3-12,5%) allow us to estimate the depth of generation of kimberlite magmas more than 170-200 km. Ilmenites show two groups according to MgO, Cr2O3 and TiO2 content. Reconstructions of the mantle sections show also two intervals of pressures divided at 4.5 GPa, the upper part is highly metasomatized This high degree metasomatism is determined for almost all mantle columns. It is suggested that large-scale of uranium-bearing mantle fluids may be associated with the ancient degasation during the subduction which is highly enriched in U component . Analysis of the reasons for the marked association kimberlitic dykes and major industrial uranium deposits in carbonate-sodium metasomatic in the UkrSh led to the conclusion that hydrothermal uranium deposits are confined to the supply mantle fluid systems of mantle fault zones exercising brings sodium carbonate solutions enriched uranium from mantle sources. References: 1. Kalashnik A.A. New prognostic-evaluation criteria in technology prognosis of forming industrial endogenous uranium deposits of the Ukrainian Shield, 2014. Scientific proceedings of UkrSGRI, № 2, p. 27-54 (in Russian) 2. Stepanjuk L.M., Bondarenko S.V., Somka V.O. and other, 2012. Source of uranium and uranium-bearing sodium albitites for example of Dokuchaievskogo field of the Ingulsky megablock of the UkrSh: Abstracts of scientific conference "Theoretical issues and research practice metasomatic rocks and ores" (Kyiv, 14-16 March 2012), IGMOF, p.78-80. (in Ukrainian)

Analytical and mineralogical study of a Ghana manganese ore: Quantification of Mn speciation and effect of mechanical activation.

PubMed

He, Hongping; Cao, Jianglin; Duan, Ning

2016-11-01

In-depth understanding of the manganese ore would be beneficial to make the best use more environmental-friendly. A Ghana manganese ore before/after mechanical activation (MA) was therefore extensively characterized in our investigation. Surface Mn(4+)(35.5%), Mn(3+)(35.9%), Mn(2+)(28.6%) were detected by XPS, though XRD only revealed the presence of Mn(2+)-containing minerals. Thermal decomposition curve of manganese ore obtained by TG-DSC was divided into four stages from 373.15 K to 1273.15 K, which were quite consistent with the pattern of generated gases obtained by TG-FTIR and the theoretical thermodynamics analysis of the incorporated components involving ΔGT(θ) and Kp(θ). Mn species distribution showed no difference for manganese ores before/after MA, but quantitative analysis showed the decrease of residual Mn content (cannot be extracted effectively by acid, from about 12% to 1%), and thereby the increased contents of other four Mn species (exchangeables, carbonates, oxides, organics), which was suggested to be correlated with the dissociation of Mn-containing flocs and SiO2 particles witnessed by SEM-EDS. It was also found that MA could obviously promote the Mn dissolution kinetics in acid condition, though the dissolution of manganese ore before/after MA were both diffusion controlled. This investigation gives benignant inspiration for the resource utilization of manganese ore, taking the increasingly severer situation of Mn resource supply into consideration. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Biocatalytic and chemical leaching of a low-grade nickel laterite ore

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ciftci, Hasan; Atik, Suleyman; Gurbuz, Fatma

2018-04-01

Nickel and cobalt recovery from a low-grade nickel laterite ore, supplied from Çaldağ deposit (Manisa, Turkey) were investigated by bio and chemical leaching processes. The fungus, Aspergillus niger was used for biocatalytic leaching experiments. The effects of parameters (solid ratio and sucrose concentration) on the biocatalytic leaching of the ore were initially tested in flasks to obtain the optimum conditions for the A. niger. Then chemical leaching was applied as a comparison to bioleaching, using organic acids (citric, oxalic, acetic and gluconic acids) as well as a mixture of acids. According the results, the maximum dissolution yield of nickel, cobalt and iron were detected respectively as 95.3%, 74.3% and 50.0% by biocatalytic processes which containing 25% (w/v) sucrose and 1% (w/v) solids. The increase in the solid ratio adversely influenced the biocatalytic activity of A. niger. Finally, further tests in reactors (v = 1 and 10 L) were performed using the optimum conditions from the flask tests. The difference in metals recovery between biocatalytic and chemical leaching was significantly important. Bioleaching produced higher Ni and Co extractions (34.3-75.6%) than chemical process.

Geology and origin of epigenetic lode gold deposits, Tintina Gold Province, Alaska and Yukon: Chapter A in Recent U.S. Geological Survey studies in the Tintina Gold Province, Alaska, United States, and Yukon, Canada--results of a 5-year project

USGS Publications Warehouse

Goldfarb, Richard J.; Marsh, Erin E.; Hart, Craig J.R.; Mair, John L.; Miller, Marti L.; Johnson, Craig; Gough, Larry P.; Day, Warren C.

2007-01-01

-rich and 18O-rich crustal fluids, most commonly of low salinity. The older group of ores includes the low-grade intrusion-related gold systems at Fort Knox near Fairbanks and those in Yukon, with fluids exsolved from fractionating melts at depths of 3 to 9 kilometers and forming a zoned sequence of auriferous mineralization styles extending outward to the surrounding metasedimentary country rocks. The causative plutons are products of potassic mafic magmas generated in the subcontinental lithospheric mantle that interacted with overlying lower to middle crust to generate the more felsic ore-related intrusions. In addition, the older ores include spatially associated, high-grade, shear-zonerelated orogenic gold deposits formed at the same depths from upward-migrating metamorphic fluids; the Pogo deposit is a relatively deep-seated example of such. The younger gold ores, restricted to southwestern Alaska, formed in unmetamorphosed sedimentary rocks of the Kuskokwim basin within 1 to 2 kilometers of the surface. Most of these deposits formed via fluid exsolution from shallowly emplaced, highly evolved igneous complexes generated mainly as mantle melts. However, the giant Donlin Creek orogenic gold deposit is a product of either metamorphic devolatilization deep in the basin or of a gold-bearing fluid released from a flysch-melt igneous body.

Cost-effective integrated strategy for the fabrication of hard-magnet barium hexaferrite powders from low-grade barite ore

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanad, M. M. S.; Rashad, M. M.

2016-09-01

Ultrafine barium hexaferrite (BaFe12O19) powders were synthesized from the metallurgical extracts of low-grade Egyptian barite ore via a co-precipitation route. Hydrometallurgical treatment of barite ore was systematically studied to achieve the maximum dissolution efficiency of Fe (~99.7%) under the optimum conditions. The hexaferrite precursors were obtained by the co-precipitation of BaS produced by the reduction of barite ore with carbon at 1273 K and then dissolved in diluted HCl and FeCl3 solution at pH 10 using NaOH as a base; the product was then annealed at 1273 K in an open atmosphere. The effect of Fe3+/Ba2+ molar ratio and the addition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on the phase structure, crystallite size, morphology, and magnetic properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry. Single-phase BaFe12O19 powder was obtained at an Fe3+/Ba2+ molar ratio of 8.00. The formed powders exhibited a hexagonal platelet-like structure. Good maximum magnetization (48.3 A·m2·kg-1) was achieved in the material prepared at an Fe3+/Ba2+ molar ratio of 8.0 in the presence of 5% H2O2 as an oxidizer and at 1273 K because of the formation of a uniform, hexagonal-shaped structure.

Preliminary report on radioactive conglomerates of Middle Precambrian age in the Sierra Madre and Medicine Bow Mountains of southeastern Wyoming

USGS Publications Warehouse

Houston, Robert Stroud; Graff, P.J.; Karlstrom, K.E.; Root, Forrest

1977-01-01

Middle Precambrian miogeosynclinal metasedimentary rocks o# the Sierra Madre and Medicine Bow Mountains of southeastern Wyoming contain radioactive quartz-pebble conglomerates of possible economic interest. These conglomerates do not contain ore-grade uranium in surface outcrops, but an earlier report on the geochemistry of the Arrastre Lake area of the Medicine Bow Mountains shows that ore-grade deposits may be present in the subsurface. This report describes the stratigraphy of the host metasedimentary rocks and the stratigraphic setting of the radioactive conglomerates in both the Sierra Madre and Medicine Bow Mountains, and compares these rock units with those of the Blind River-Elliot Lake uranium district in Canada. The location of radioactive .conglomerates is given so that further exploration may be undertaken by interested parties.

A preliminary report on the rapid fluorimetric determination of uranium in low-grade ores

USGS Publications Warehouse

Grimaldi, F.S.; Levine, Harry

1950-01-01

A simple and very rapid fluorimetric procedure is described for the determination of uranium in low-grade shale and phosphate ores. The best working range is from 0.001 to about 0.04 percent U. The procedure employs batch extraction of uranium nitrate by ethyl acetate, using aluminum nitrate as the salting agent, prior to the visual fluorimetric estimation. The procedure is especially designed to save reagents; only 9.5 g of aluminum nitrate and 10 ml of ethyl acetate being used for one analysis. The solution of the sample by means of a fusion with NaOH-NaNO3 flux is rapid. After fusion the sample is immediately extracted without removing silica and other hydrolytic precipitates. Aluminum nitrate very effectively ties up fluoride and phosphate, thus eliminating steps required for their removal.

Lamtoro charcoal (l. leucocephala) as bioreductor in nickel laterite reduction: performance and kinetics study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petrus, H. T. B. M.; Diga, A.; Rhamdani, A. R.; Warmada, I. W.; Yuliansyah, A. T.; Perdana, I.

2017-04-01

The performance and kinetic of nickel laterite reduction were studied. In this work, the reduction of nickel laterite ores by anthracite coal, representing the high-grade carbon content matter, and lamtoro charcoal, representing the bioreductor, were conducted in air and CO2 atmosphere, within the temperature ranged from 800°C and 1000°C. XRD analysis was applied to observe the performance of anthracite and lamtoro as a reductor. Two models were applied, sphere particle geometry model and Ginstling-Brounhstein diffusion model, to study the kinetic parameters. The results indicated that the type of reductant and the reduction atmosphere used greatly influence the kinetic parameters. The obtained values of activation energy vary in the range of 13.42-18.12 kcal/mol.

Ore Reserve Estimation of Saprolite Nickel Using Inverse Distance Method in PIT Block 3A Banggai Area Central Sulawesi

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khaidir Noor, Muhammad

2018-03-01

Reserve estimation is one of important work in evaluating a mining project. It is estimation of the quality and quantity of the presence of minerals have economic value. Reserve calculation method plays an important role in determining the efficiency in commercial exploration of a deposit. This study was intended to calculate ore reserves contained in the study area especially Pit Block 3A. Nickel ore reserve was estimated by using detailed exploration data, processing by using Surpac 6.2 by Inverse Distance Weight: Squared Power estimation method. Ore estimation result obtained from 30 drilling data was 76453.5 ton of Saprolite with density of 1.5 ton/m3 and COG (Cut Off Grade) Ni ≥ 1.6 %, while overburden data was 112,570.8 tons with waste rock density of 1.2 ton/m3 . Striping Ratio (SR) was 1.47 : 1 smaller than Stripping Ratio ( SR ) were set of 1.60 : 1.

Recovery of Manganese Ore Tailings by High-Gradient Magnetic Separation and Hydrometallurgical Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xiufeng; Tan, Xiumin; Yi, Yuejun; Liu, Weizao; Li, Chun

2017-11-01

With the depletion of high-grade manganese ores, Mn ore tailings are considered valuable secondary resources. In this study, a process combining high-gradient magnetic separation (HGMS) with hydrometallurgical methods is proposed to recycle fine-grained Mn tailings. The Mn tailings were treated by HGMS at 12,500 G to obtain a Mn concentrate of 30% Mn with the recovery efficiency of 64%. The Mn concentrate could be used in the ferromanganese industry. To recover Mn further, the nonmagnetic fraction was leached by SO2 in an H2SO4 solution. Hydrogen peroxide was added to the leachate to oxidize Fe2+ to Fe3+, and the solution pH was adjusted to 5.0-5.5 with ammonia to remove Al, Fe, and Si impurities. The purified solution was reacted with NH4HCO3, and a saleable product of MnCO3 with 97.9% purity was obtained. The combined process can be applied to Mn recovery from finely dispersed weakly magnetic Mn ores or tailings.

The North American iron ore industry: a decade into the 21st century

USGS Publications Warehouse

Jorgenson, John D.; Perez, A. A

2011-01-01

During the 20th century, the iron ore mining industries of Canada and the United States passed through periods of transformation. The beginning of the 21st century has seen another period of transformation, with the failure of a number of steel companies and with consolidation of control within the North American iron ore industry. Canadian and United States iron ore production and the market control structure involved are changing rapidly. Consolidation of ownership, formation of foreign joint ventures, divestitures of upstream activities by steelmakers, and industry changes to ensure availability of feedstocks all played a role in recent developments in the North American iron ore industry. Canadian and U.S. iron ore operations and their strong linkage to downstream production, although isolated, must also be considered within the context of the changing global economy. Projects using new technology to produce direct reduced iron nuggets of 96-98% iron content and other projects designed to produce steel at minesites may once again change the face of the iron ore industry. Social and environmental issues related to sustainable development have had a significant effect on the North American iron ore industry.

Tellurium, a guide to mineral deposits

USGS Publications Warehouse

Watterson, J.R.; Gott, G.B.; Neuerburg, G.J.; Lakin, H.W.; Cathrall, J.B.

1977-01-01

Te dispersion patterns are useful in exploring for different types of mineral deposits and in providing additional information about known ore deposits. The Te content of rocks is given for five mining districts in the western United States: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; Robinson, near Ely, Nevada; Montezuma, Colorado; Crater Creek area, Colorado; Cripple Creek, Colorado. Many of the analyses were obtained by use of a new analytical method sensitive to 0.001 ppm Te. The principal ore deposits in the Coeur d'Alene district, Idaho, are Pb-Zn-Ag replacement veins in Precambrian rocks of the Belt Supergroup. Te dispersion patterns show the outlines of the original mineral belts, the effects of intrusive events, the location of ore deposits, the displacements caused by post-ore faulting, and the borders of the 780-km2 district. The disseminated porphyry Cu deposits of the Robinson mining district, Nevada, are associated with Cretaceous quartz monzonite stocks that have intruded Palaeozoic carbonate rocks. Te is present in rock samples in concentrations as high as 10,000 ppm and forms a halo around the areas containing the Cu deposits. The alteration zones in the porphyry Mo district near Montezuma, Colorado, are developed around several small Tertiary intrusions occurring along a regional shear zone. Te haloes reflect the locations of porphyry intrusives, individual deposits and their ore shoots, and the pattern and intensity of adjacent alteration. The Te content of soils over the Montezuma stock is higher than, and varies independently from, the Te content of adjacent outcrops. Soils generally contain more Te than adjacent outcropping rocks. Soil may collect gaseous Te compounds from mineral deposits. The Crater Creek area is a northwestern extension of the Summitville mining district, Colorado. Te dispersion patterns radiate out from exposed Cu-Pb-Zn veins, from an outcrop of molybdenite stockwork veins and from associated iron-stained altered rock. Te haloes intensify exponentially with proximity to known ore and suggest the presence of Summitville-type chimney deposits. Most of the gold- and silver-telluride ore in the Cripple Creek district, Colorado, is found in fracture fillings within a volcanic subsidence basin. Haloes of Au, Ag and Te all define the mineralized portions of the fissure veins. ?? 1977.

Clean recycle and utilization of hazardous iron-bearing waste in iron ore sintering process.

PubMed

Gan, Min; Ji, Zhiyun; Fan, Xiaohui; Chen, Xuling; Zhou, Yang; Wang, Guojing; Tian, Ye; Jiang, Tao

2018-04-18

Applying recycled iron-bearing waste materials (RIM) into iron ore sintering process is the general disposal approach worldwide, while its use is still a thorny problem. Results showed that adding RIM increased contents of hazardous elements (K, Na, Pb, Zn, and Cl) in sinter product, and also enhanced emission concentration of PM 2.5 in flue gas; increasing reaction temperature, and contents of CaO & coke breeze in raw mixtures improved hazardous elements removal. Based on these features, a novel method through granulating natural iron ores and RIM separately and distributing granulated RIM in bottom sintering layers was proposed for clean RIM cycle. When recycling 5% RIM, granulating RIM separately with higher contents of CaO and coke breeze removed hazardous elements effectively, the contents of which in sinter were reduced to comparable level of the case without RIM. Moreover, distributing RIM in bottom sintering layer reached intensive release of hazardous elements and PM 2.5 during sintering, which reduced the flue gas volume needing purification by about 2/3. Through activated carbon purification, about 60% of PM 2.5 comprised high contents of hazardous elements was removed. Novel technique eliminated the negative impact of RIM and has the prospect to reach clean recycle in sinter-making plants. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

The Effect of Initial Irrigation Conditions on Heap Leaching Efficiency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Briseño Arellano, A. D.; Milczarek, M.; Yao, M.; Brusseau, M. L. L.

2017-12-01

Heap leaching is an unsaturated flow metal recovery process, in which mined ore is irrigated with a lixiviant to dissolve metal contained in the ore. The metal is then extracted from solution. Large scale operations involve stacking ore to depths of 6 to 18 meters on pads that may be hundreds of hectares in area. Heterogeneities within the stacked ore can lead to uneven wetting and the formation of preferential flow pathways, which reduces solution contact and lowers metal recovery. Furthermore, mineral dissolution can cause alteration of the porous media structure and loss of ore permeability. Many mine operators believe that slow initial irrigation rates help minimize permeability loss and increase metal recovery rates. However, this phenomenon has not been studied in detail. Experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of varying initial irrigation rates on leach ore stability. These were conducted with large columns (1.5 m high, 0.5 m in diameter) packed with crushed ore samples that are known to have permeability constraints. The columns were highly instrumented to assess potential changes in material properties both spatially and temporally. Water content was measured with three different methods: capacitance soil moisture sensors placed at 20-cm intervals; a neutron probe to periodically log every 30 cm from four different directions; and electrical resistivity sensors to create a 2-dimensional tomography profile of water content over time. Tensiometers were paired with the soil moisture sensors to measure matric suction and characterize moisture retention characteristics. A non-reactive tracer was used to characterize advective-dispersive transport under unsaturated conditions. A dye solution was introduced at the end of each experiment to map preferential pathways. Continuous monitoring of settling at the surface assisted in measuring consolidation and loss in permeability.

The Effect Of Local Coal And Smelting Sponge Iron On Iron Content Of Pig Iron

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oediyani, Soesaptri; Juwita Sari, Pramita; Hadi P, Djoko

2018-03-01

The new regulation on mineral resources was announced by Ministry of Energy and Mineral resources (ESDM) of Indonesia at 2014 which it called Permen ESDM No 1/2014. Therefore, this research was conducted to add the value of local iron ores by using smelting technology. The objective of the research is to produce pig iron that meet the requirement of the new regulation of mineral resources such as 90% Fe. First, iron ores and coal mixed together with lime as a flux, then smelted in a Electric Arc Furnace at 1800°C. The process variables are (1; 1.25; 1.5; 1.75; 2.0) and the composition of coal (0.8%, 1.6%, 3.0%). The type of coal that used in this research was bituminous coal from Kalimantan and also the iron ores from Kalimantan. The products of the smelting technology are Pig iron and slag. Both pig iron and slag then analyzed by SEM-EDS to measure the iron content. The result shows that the maximum iron content on pig iron is about 95.04% meanwhile the minimum iron content on slag is about 3.66%. This result achieved at 1.6% coal and 2.0.

Chromite and other mineral deposits in serpentine rocks of the Piedmont Upland, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pearre, Nancy C.; Heyl, Allen V.

1960-01-01

The Piedmont Upland in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware is about 160 miles long and at the most 50 miles wide. Rocks that underlie the province are the Baltimore gneiss of Precambrian age and quartzite, gneiss, schist, marble, phyllite, and greenstone, which make up the Glenarm series of early Paleozoic (?) age. These are intruded by granitic, gabbroic, and ultramaflc igneous rocks. Most of the ultramaflc rocks, originally peridotite, pyroxenite, and dunite, have been partly or completely altered to serpentine and talc; they are all designated by the general term serpentine. The bodies of serpentine are commonly elongate and conformable with the enclosing rocks. Many have been extensively quarried for building, decorative, and crushed stone. In addition, chromite, titaniferous magnetite, rutile, talc and soapstone, amphibole asbestos, magnesite, sodium- rich feldspar (commercially known as soda spar), and corundum have been mined or prospected for in the serpentine. Both high-grade massive chromite and lower grade disseminated chromite occur in very irregular and unpredictable form in the serpentine, and placer deposits of chromite are in and near streams that drain areas underlain by serpentine. A group of unusual minerals, among them kammererite, are typical associates of high-grade massive chromite but are rare in lower grade deposits. Chromite was first discovered in the United States at Bare Hills, Md., around 1810. Between 1820 and 1850, additional deposits were discovered and mined in Maryland and Pennsylvania, including the largest deposit of massive chromite ever found in the United States the Wood deposit, in the State Line district. A second period of extensive chromite mining came during the late 1860's and early 1870's. Production figures are incomplete and conflicting. Estimates from the available data indicate that the aggregate production from 27 of 40 known mines before 1900 totaled between 250,000 and 280,000 tons of lode-chromite ore; information is lacking for the other 13. Placer deposits produced considerably more than 15,000 tons of chromite concentrates. Exploratory work in several of the mines and placer deposits during World War I produced about 1,500 long tons of chromite ore, 920 tons of which was sold.Most of the chromite from Maryland and Pennsylvania was used to manufacture chemical compounds, pigments, and dyes before metallurgical and refractory uses for chromite were developed. Available analyses of the ores indicate that they would satisfy modern requirements for chemical-grade chromite. With the exception of such deposits as the Line Pit and Red Pit mines, the chromite contains too much iron for the best metallurgical grade, but many would be satisfactory low-grade metallurgical chromite. Perhaps 30,000 to 50,000 tons of chromite concentrates that would range from 30 to 54 percent Cr2O3 could be obtained from placer deposits in the State Line and Soldiers Delight districts. A small tonnage of chromite remains in dumps at six of the old mines. Lode and placer deposits in the Philadelphia district, placers in Montgomery County, Md., and possible downward extensions of known ore bodies below the floors of high-grade mines now flooded have not been completely explored. Although other chromite deposits probably lie concealed at relatively shallow depths, no practical method of finding them has been developed.Small deposits of titaniferous iron ore in serpentine were mined for iron before 1900, but the titanium content troubled furnace operators. Ore bodies are similar in occurrence to chromite deposits; they are massive or disseminated and are found near the edges of serpentine intrusive rocks. The small size of the deposits and comparatively low titanium content limit their importance as a potential source of titanium. A single rutile deposit in Harford County, Md., has been prospected but not mined. Pockets in schistose chlorite rock, probably altered from pyroxenite, contain as much as 16 percent rutile and average 8 percent. Rutile-bearing rock has been proved to a depth of about 58 feet. Talc and soapstone deposits that have been worked in the State Line and Jarrettsville-Dublin districts are the result of steatitization of serpentine at its contact with intrusive sodium-rich pegmatites. Deposits in the Marriottsville and Philadelphia districts seem to be related to shear or crush zones in the serpentine, which served as channelways for steatitizing solutions. Massive soapstone was extensively used in the 19th century for furnace, fireplace, and stove linings and for washtubs and bathtubs. Every year from 1906 until 1960 talc and soapstone have been produced from one or more of the deposits in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Deposits near Dublin and Marriottsville, Md., have produced steadily for years and production continues. Lava-grade steatite from Dublin, Md., is manufactured into ceramic products for electrical and refractory purposes. Slip-fiber amphibole asbestos deposits were known in the area as early as 1837, but early production was limited. The product was used mostly for linings of safes, boiler covers, and paints. During World War I the demand for domestic asbestos for chemical filters led to further development of deposits in Maryland. Between 1916 and 1940 many small veins of good-quality tremolite and anthophyllite were mined, and the fiber was prepared for market at Woodlawn, Md. Only the upper parts of veins, softened by weathering, were usable. Because prospecting was reportedly fairly thorough and known deposits are said to be mined out, and because demand for amphibole asbestos is limited, the possibility of future asbestos production from the area seems small, except as a byproduct of talc quarrying. Magnesite from several mines in Pennsylvania and Maryland was much in demand between 1828 and 1871 for the manufacture of epsom salt. Exploratory work at the old Goat Hill mines in 1921 indicated that the product could not be profitably prepared for market at that time. Although reportedly high grade, the magnesite veins are thin and small in comparison with other domestic deposits.Sodium-rich feldspar and corundum deposits occur in pegmatites that are unusual because they characteristically contain little or no quartz and mica and because, insofar as known, they are confined to serpentine rocks. Many of the known deposits of sodium-rich feldspar commercial soda-spar are reportedly mined out. It is possible, however, that other commercial deposits will be found in the area. At various times from 1825 until about 1892 in Pennsylvania, corundum mined or found at the surface was used to meet a demand of the abrasives industry. The increased use of artificial abrasives has diminished the demand for natural corundum, and interest in the small, irregular Pennsylvania deposits is at present largely historical or mineralogical.

Manganese oxides and associated minerals as constituents of dispersed mineralization of metasomatic rocks in the Dukat ore field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Filimonova, L. G.; Sivtsov, A. V.; Trubkin, N. V.

2010-08-01

Lithiophorite and coronadite—varieties of vernadite and todorokite—make up finely dispersed colloform mixtures along with minor grains and nanoparticles of aluminosilicates and ore minerals in metasomatic rocks of the Dukat ore field, which were formed in local areas of fluid and hydrothermal-solution discharge at the upper level of the ore-forming system. Fe-vernadite associates with feroxyhyte, magnetite, apatite, K-feldspar, native silver, and acanthite in greisenized granitoids and with epidote, cerianite, plattnerite, and Fe-chlorite in quartz-garnet-chlorite propylites. Todorokite with high Pb, Tl, and Sn contents associates with epidote, albite, bitumen, and native silver in quartz-epidote-chlorite propylites. Al-vernadite, coronadite, and lithiophorite associate with opal, kaolinite, Fe-chlorite, zincite, uraninite, native silver, and acanthite in argillisites. These data allowed us to estimate the conditions of manganese accumulation in the epithermal ore-forming system and deposition conditions of Mn-rich, finely dispersed mineral mixtures in mineralized zones hosted in metasomatic rocks of the ore field.

'Fracking', Induced Seismicity and the Critical Earth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leary, P.; Malin, P. E.

2012-12-01

Issues of 'fracking' and induced seismicity are reverse-analogous to the equally complex issues of well productivity in hydrocarbon, geothermal and ore reservoirs. In low hazard reservoir economics, poorly producing wells and low grade ore bodies are many while highly producing wells and high grade ores are rare but high pay. With induced seismicity factored in, however, the same distribution physics reverses the high/low pay economics: large fracture-connectivity systems are hazardous hence low pay, while high probability small fracture-connectivity systems are non-hazardous hence high pay. Put differently, an economic risk abatement tactic for well productivity and ore body pay is to encounter large-scale fracture systems, while an economic risk abatement tactic for 'fracking'-induced seismicity is to avoid large-scale fracture systems. Well productivity and ore body grade distributions arise from three empirical rules for fluid flow in crustal rock: (i) power-law scaling of grain-scale fracture density fluctuations; (ii) spatial correlation between spatial fluctuations in well-core porosity and the logarithm of well-core permeability; (iii) frequency distributions of permeability governed by a lognormality skewness parameter. The physical origin of rules (i)-(iii) is the universal existence of a critical-state-percolation grain-scale fracture-density threshold for crustal rock. Crustal fractures are effectively long-range spatially-correlated distributions of grain-scale defects permitting fluid percolation on mm to km scales. The rule is, the larger the fracture system the more intense the percolation throughput. As percolation pathways are spatially erratic and unpredictable on all scales, they are difficult to model with sparsely sampled well data. Phenomena such as well productivity, induced seismicity, and ore body fossil fracture distributions are collectively extremely difficult to predict. Risk associated with unpredictable reservoir well productivity and ore body distributions can be managed by operating in a context which affords many small failures for a few large successes. In reverse view, 'fracking' and induced seismicity could be rationally managed in a context in which many small successes can afford a few large failures. However, just as there is every incentive to acquire information leading to higher rates of productive well drilling and ore body exploration, there are equal incentives for acquiring information leading to lower rates of 'fracking'-induced seismicity. Current industry practice of using an effective medium approach to reservoir rock creates an uncritical sense that property distributions in rock are essentially uniform. Well-log data show that the reverse is true: the larger the length scale the greater the deviation from uniformity. Applying the effective medium approach to large-scale rock formations thus appears to be unnecessarily hazardous. It promotes the notion that large scale fluid pressurization acts against weakly cohesive but essentially uniform rock to produce large-scale quasi-uniform tensile discontinuities. Indiscriminate hydrofacturing appears to be vastly more problematic in reality than as pictured by the effective medium hypothesis. The spatial complexity of rock, especially at large scales, provides ample reason to find more controlled pressurization strategies for enhancing in situ flow.

Comparing milled fiber, Quebec ore, and textile factory dust: has another piece of the asbestos puzzle fallen into place?

PubMed

Berman, D Wayne

2010-01-01

Results of a meta-analysis indicate that the variation in potency factors observed across published epidemiology studies can be substantially reconciled (especially for mesothelioma) by considering the effects of fiber size and mineral type, but that better characterization of historical exposures is needed before improved exposure metrics potentially capable of fully reconciling the disparate potency factors can be evaluated. Therefore, an approach for better characterizing historical exposures, the Modified Elutriator Method (MEM), was evaluated to determine the degree that dusts elutriated using this method adequately mimic dusts generated by processing in a factory. To evaluate this approach, elutriated dusts from Grade 3 milled fiber (the predominant feedstock used at a South Carolina [SC] textile factory) were compared to factory dust collected at the same facility. Elutriated dusts from chrysotile ore were also compared to dusts collected in Quebec mines and mills. Results indicate that despite the substantial variation within each sample set, elutriated dusts from Grade 3 fiber compare favorably to textile dusts and elutriated ore dusts compare to dusts from mines and mills. Given this performance, the MEM was also applied to address the disparity in lung cancer mortality per unit of exposure observed, respectively, among chrysotile miners/millers in Quebec and SC textile workers. Thus, dusts generated by elutriation of stockpiled chrysotile ore (representing mine exposures) and Grade 3 milled fiber (representing textile exposures) were compared. Results indicate that dusts from each sample differ from one another. Despite such variation, however, the dusts are distinct and fibers in Grade 3 dusts are significantly longer than fibers in ore dusts. Moreover, phase-contrast microscopy (PCM) structures in Grade 3 dusts are 100% asbestos and counts of PCM-sized structures are identical, whether viewed by PCM or transmission electron microscope (TEM). In contrast, a third of PCM structures in ore dusts are not asbestos and only a third that are counted by PCM are also counted by TEM. These distinctions also mirror the characteristics of the bulk materials themselves. Perhaps most important, when the differences in size distributions and PCM/TEM distinctions in these dusts are combined, the combined difference is sufficient to completely explain the difference in exposure/response observed between the textile worker and miner/miller cohorts. Importantly, however, evidence that such an explanation is valid can only be derived from a meta-analysis (risk assessment) covering a diverse range of epidemiology study environments, which is beyond the scope of the current study. The above findings suggest that elutriator-generated dusts mimic factory dusts with sufficient reliability to support comparisons between historical exposures experienced by the various cohorts studied by epidemiologists. A simulation was also conducted to evaluate the relative degree that the characteristics of dust are driven by the properties of the bulk material processed versus the nature of the mechanical forces applied. That results indicate it is the properties of bulk materials reinforces the theoretical basis justifying use of the elutriator to reconstruct historical exposures. Thus, the elutriator may be a valuable tool for reconstructing historical exposures suitable for supporting continued refinements of the risk models being developed to predict asbestos-related cancer risk.

Biomining: metal recovery from ores with microorganisms.

PubMed

Schippers, Axel; Hedrich, Sabrina; Vasters, Jürgen; Drobe, Malte; Sand, Wolfgang; Willscher, Sabine

2014-01-01

Biomining is an increasingly applied biotechnological procedure for processing of ores in the mining industry (biohydrometallurgy). Nowadays the production of copper from low-grade ores is the most important industrial application and a significant part of world copper production already originates from heap or dump/stockpile bioleaching. Conceptual differences exist between the industrial processes of bioleaching and biooxidation. Bioleaching is a conversion of an insoluble valuable metal into a soluble form by means of microorganisms. In biooxidation, on the other hand, gold is predominantly unlocked from refractory ores in large-scale stirred-tank biooxidation arrangements for further processing steps. In addition to copper and gold production, biomining is also used to produce cobalt, nickel, zinc, and uranium. Up to now, biomining has merely been used as a procedure in the processing of sulfide ores and uranium ore, but laboratory and pilot procedures already exist for the processing of silicate and oxide ores (e.g., laterites), for leaching of processing residues or mine waste dumps (mine tailings), as well as for the extraction of metals from industrial residues and waste (recycling). This chapter estimates the world production of copper, gold, and other metals by means of biomining and chemical leaching (bio-/hydrometallurgy) compared with metal production by pyrometallurgical procedures, and describes new developments in biomining. In addition, an overview is given about metal sulfide oxidizing microorganisms, fundamentals of biomining including bioleaching mechanisms and interface processes, as well as anaerobic bioleaching and bioleaching with heterotrophic microorganisms.

Resource estimation from historical data: Mercury, a test case

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cargill, S.M.; Root, D.H.; Bailey, E.H.

1980-01-01

A simple technique based on historical records of tonnage and grade of ore produced provides a means for calculating how much of a mineral product will be available in the future at various average grades. Estimates made on this basis are independent of geologic considerations or changing economic and political factors, although they are based on mining history, which was largely determined by these factors. The relatively minor element, mercury, was used for the test case reported here, but the method has been found applicable to forecasts of resources for other mineral products. Mercury resources available in ore in which the average grade is as low as 0.1% are estimated to be 53 ??106kg (1.5 ??106flasks) for the United States and 1551 ??106kg (45 ??106flasks) for the world; this amount is more than adequate to meet predicted demand to the year 2000. The expectable price of mercury in 1978 dollars at this 0.1% grade is projected to be $58.75 per kg ($2,025 per flask), but at a 10% annual inflation rate, it would be more than $12,000 per flask. To satisfy just the projected U.S. demand for mercury by 2000, the price is calculated to be $48.96 per kg ($1,688 per flask) in 1978 dollars at an average annual grade of 0.12%. ?? 1980 Plenum Publishing Corporation.

Influence of microwaves on the leaching kinetics of uraninite from a low grade ore in dilute sulfuric acid.

PubMed

Madakkaruppan, V; Pius, Anitha; T, Sreenivas; Giri, Nitai; Sarbajna, Chanchal

2016-08-05

This paper describes a study on microwave assisted leaching of uranium from a low-grade ore of Indian origin. The host rock for uranium mineralization is chlorite-biotite-muscovite-quartzo-feldspathic schist. The dominant presence of siliceous minerals determined leaching of uranium values in sulfuric acid medium under oxidizing conditions. Process parametric studies like the effect of sulfuric acid concentration (0.12-0.50M), redox potential (400-500mV), particle size (600-300μm) and temperature (35°-95°C) indicated that microwave assisted leaching is more efficient in terms of overall uranium dissolution, kinetics and provide relatively less impurities (Si, Al, Mg and Fe) in the leach liquor compared to conventional conductive leaching. The kinetics of leaching followed shrinking core model with product layer diffusion as controlling mechanism. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Remote Sensing Extraction of Stopes and Tailings Ponds in AN Ultra-Low Iron Mining Area

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, B.; Chen, Y.; Li, X.; Wu, L.

2018-04-01

With the development of economy, global demand for steel has accelerated since 2000, and thus mining activities of iron ore have become intensive accordingly. An ultra-low-grade iron has been extracted by open-pit mining and processed massively since 2001 in Kuancheng County, Hebei Province. There are large-scale stopes and tailings ponds in this area. It is important to extract their spatial distribution information for environmental protection and disaster prevention. A remote sensing method of extracting stopes and tailings ponds is studied based on spectral characteristics by use of Landsat 8 OLI imagery and ground spectral data. The overall accuracy of extraction is 95.06 %. In addition, tailings ponds are distinguished from stopes based on thermal characteristics by use of temperature image. The results could provide decision support for environmental protection, disaster prevention, and ecological restoration in the ultra-low-grade iron ore mining area.

Examining longitudinal train dynamics in ore car tipplers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cole, Colin; Spiryagin, Maksym; Bosomworth, Chris

2017-04-01

Train simulation has been adapted in this paper to model the behaviour of indexing operations in ore car tippler operations. An important consideration in simulations at these low speeds (less than 4 km/h) is the increased rolling resistance transitioning from stationary conditions to motion. Most formulations of rolling resistance equations do not include this range although there are empirical values in some railway standards. The indexer control utilised here has a target trapezoidal velocity profile. The indexer to train connection was modelled as a stiff linear spring, a damper and a gap element. A sensitivity analysis was completed considering variations in wagon connections including wedge static friction, preload, coupling slack and tippler slack. Track topography including downhill grades of 0.1% and 0.2% and a valley profile were also investigated. Results showed high sensitivity to draft gear parameters of static friction and preload, but minimal benefit from downhill grades and changes in coupling slack.

Radiometric reconnaissance in the Garfield and Taylor park quadrangles, Chaffee and Gunnison counties, Colorado

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dings, M.G.; Schafer, Max

1953-01-01

During the summer of 1952 most of the mines and prospects in the Garfield and Taylor Park quadrangles of west-central Colorado were examined radiometrically by the U. S. Geological Survey to determine the extent, grade, and mode of occurrence of radioactive substances. The region contains a relatively large number of rock types, chiefly pre-Cambrian schists, gneisses, and granites; large and small isolated areas of sedimentary rocks of Paleozoic and Mesozoic ages; and a great succession of intrusive rocks of Tertiary age that range from andesite to granite and occur as stocks, chonoliths, sills, dikes, and one batholith. The prevailing structures are northwest-trending folds and faults. Ores valued at about $30,000,000 have been produced from this region. Silver, lead, zinc, and gold have accounted for most of this value, but small tonnages of copper, tungsten, and molybdenum have also been produced. The principal ore minerals are sphalerite, silver-bearing galena, cerussite, smithsonite, and gold-bearing pyrite and limonite; they occur chiefly as replacement bodies in limestone and as shoots in pyritic quartz veins. Anomalous radioactivity is uncommon and the four localities at which it is known are widely separated in space. The uranium content of samples from these localities is low. Brannerite, the only uranium-bearing mineral positively identified in the region, occurs sparingly in a few pegmatites and in one quartz-beryl-pyrite vein. Elsewhere radioactivity is associated with (l) black shale seams in the Manitou dolomite, (2) a quartz-pyrite-molybdenite vein, (3) a narrow border zone of oxidized material surrounding a small lead zinc ore body in the Manitou dolomite along a strong fault zone.

Geology and ore deposits of the Section 23 Mine, Ambrosia Lake District, New Mexico

USGS Publications Warehouse

Granger, H.C.; Santos, E.S.

1982-01-01

The section 23 mine is one of about 18 large uranium mines opened in sandstones of the fluvial Westwater Canyon Member of the Jurassic Morrison Formation in the Ambrosia Lake mining district during the early 1960s. The Ambrosia Lake district is one of several mining districts within the Grants mineral belt, an elongate zone containing many uranium deposits along the southern flank of the San Juan basin. Two distinct types of ore occur in the mine. Primary ore occurs as peneconcordant layers of uranium-rich authigenic organic matter that impregnates parts of the reduced sandstone host rocks and which are typically elongate in an east-southeast direction subparallel both to the sedimentary trends and to the present-day regional strike of the strata. These are called prefault or trend ores because of their early genesis and their elongation and alinement. A second type of ore in the mine is referred to as postfault, stacked, or redistributed ore. Its genesis was similar to that of the roll-type deposits in Tertiary rocks of Wyoming and Texas. Oxidation, related to the development of a large tongue of oxidized rock extending from Gallup to Ambrosia Lake, destroyed much of the primary ore and redistributed it as massive accumulations of lower grade ores bordering the redox interface at the edge of the tongue. Host rocks in the southern half of sec. 23 (T. 14 N., R. 10 W.) are oxidized and contain only remnants of the original, tabular, organic-rich ore. Thick bodies of roll-type ore are distributed along the leading edge of the oxidized zone, and pristine primary ore is found only near the north edge of the section. Organic matter in the primary ore was derived from humic acids that precipitated in the pores of the sandstones and fixed uranium as both coffinite and urano-organic compounds. Vanadium, molybdenum, and selenium are also associated with the ore. The secondary or roll-type ores are essentially free of organic carbon and contain uranium both as coffinite and uraninite. They also contain vanadium and selenium but are virtually devoid of molybdenum. Although much has been learned about these deposits since the time this study was conducted, in 1966, a great deal more study will by required to completely elucidate their geologic history.

Assessment of reduction behavior of hematite iron ore pellets in coal fines for application in sponge ironmaking

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kumar, M.; Patel, S.K.

2009-07-01

Studies on isothermal reduction kinetics (with F grade coal) in fired pellets of hematite iron ores, procured from four different mines of Orissa, were carried out in the temperature range of 850-1000C to provide information for the Indian sponge iron plants. The rate of reduction in all the fired iron ore pellets increased markedly with a rise of temperature up to 950C, and thereafter it decreased at 1000C. The rate was more intense in the first 30 minutes. All iron ores exhibited almost complete reduction in their pellets at temperatures of 900 and 950C in 2 hours' heating time duration,more » and the final product morphologies consisted of prominent cracks. The kinetic model equation 1-(1-a){sup 1/3}=kt was found to fit best to the experimental data, and the values of apparent activation energy were evaluated. Reductions of D. R. Pattnaik and M. G. Mohanty iron ore pellets were characterized by higher activation energies (183 and 150 kJ mol{sup -1}), indicating carbon gasification reaction to be the rate-controlling step. The results established lower values of activation energy (83 and 84 kJ mol{sup -1}) for the reduction of G. M. OMC Ltd. and Sakaruddin iron ore pellets, proposing their overall rates to be controlled by indirect reduction reactions.« less

A greener approach for resource recycling: Manganese bioleaching.

PubMed

Ghosh, S; Mohanty, S; Akcil, A; Sukla, L B; Das, A P

2016-07-01

In view of unremitting diminution of mineral resources, rising energy economics along with increasing global consumption of Manganese (Mn), development of environment friendly technologies for tapping alternate sources of Mn has gained importance lately. Mn recovery from mining residues using conventional approaches is extremely expensive due to high capital and energy costs involved. However lean grade ores present in millions of tons awaits the development of competent and cost effective extractive process. Mn recovery by biomining with diverse microbes is thereby recommended as a superior and green alternative to the current pyro metallurgical techniques. The synergistic effects of different factors are known to influence microbial leaching of mineral ores which includes microbiological, mineralogical, physicochemical and process parameters. Bacterial bioleaching is mostly due to enzymatic influence, however fungal bioleaching is non enzymatic. Genomic studies on microbial diversity and an insight of its metabolic pathways provides unique dimension to the mechanism of biomining microorganisms. The extraction of Mn has a massive future prospective and will play a remarkable role in altering the situation of ever-decreasing grades of ore. This review aims to encompass the different aspects of Mn bioleaching, the plethora of organisms involved, the mechanisms driving the process and the recent trends and future prospects of this green technology. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Technological pretreatment of the synchysite non-oxidized ore

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Munkhtsetseg, B.; Burmaa, G.

2013-06-01

Mongolia has rich deposits of rare, precious, and poly-metallic ores. Nowadays, it is important to research separation of rare earth elements oxides concentrates from the ores, analyze their unique physical chemical characteristics, and purified it. Our investigation on raw materials focuses on rare earth non-oxidized ores. Main mineral in this rock sample is Synchysite (LnCa(CO3)2F. We did technological and thermal pretreatment: direct sulphurization (H2SO4), sulphurization with subsequent roasting (800°C+H2SO4), sulphurization prior to roasting (H2SO4+650°C). Sulphurization method based on dissolution of rare earth mineral into sulfuric acid (93%) according to the reaction. The amount of rare earth element oxides is almost 10 times greater (29.16%) after direct sulphurization process, almost 8 times greater (21.14%) after sulphurization with subsequent roasting, and almost 20 times greater (44.62%) after sulphurization prior to roasting process. After those technological pretreatment raw material's micro elements Thorium and Uranium contents are reduced as follows: H2SO4>800°C+H2SO4>H2SO4+650°C. These results show that cerium group rare earth elements have very good solubility in water at +2°C temperature and decreasing micro elements content uranium and thorium good pretreatment condition is prior to roasting (H2SO4+650°C) of synchysite non-oxidized ore.

Colloidal and physical transport textures exhibited by electrum and naumannite in bonanza epithermal veins from western USA, and their significance

USGS Publications Warehouse

Saunders, James A.; Vikre, Peter G.; Unger, Derick L.; Beasley, Lee

2010-01-01

It is reasonably clear that disequilibrium or “far-from equilibrium” conditions lead to the formation of silica colloids and their deposition in many epithermal deposits. This implies ore-forming solutions had elevated concentrations of dissolved silica, well in excess of amorphous silica saturation. We have previously demonstrated that such colloidal silica particles were deposited in epithermal veins as silica gels and opal, which may later progress along a path to crystallize into more thermodynamically favored (less-soluble) silica phases such as quartz and chalcedony. Also, in some deposits, amorphous silica is co-deposited with precious-metal minerals, such as electrum in the banded super-bonanza ores of the Sleeper deposit (NV). Ore-mineral textures from some western USA bonanza epithermal ores indicate that two precious-metal phases (electrum and naumannite, Ag2Se) form colloidal particles that are transported by ore-forming fluids and are deposited either by aggregation (by sticking to other precious metal-particles) to make dendrites, or are deposited on the “lee” side of protrusion along vein walls (or perhaps by both processes). We can infer by analogy to silica that this also implies that ore-forming solutions contained elevated (supersaturated) dissolved concentrations of both gold and silver that formed colloidal particles under disequilibrium (often chaotic) conditions. Thus physical transport and deposition textures seem to indicate the presence of strongly precious-metal-enriched ore forming fluids, which led to (not surprisingly) the bonanza grades of these remarkable ores. What causes such a precious-metal-rich solution is debatable, but that is the subject of our continued investigations.

Application of gold compositional analyses to mineral exploration in the United States

USGS Publications Warehouse

Antweiler, J.C.; Campbell, W.L.

1977-01-01

Native gold is a mineral composed of Au, Ag and Cu in solid solution and it usually contains one or more trace metals as lattice impurities, as mineral inclusions, in grain boundaries or in surface coatings. Alloy proportions of Au, Ag and Cu, together with certain other elements, can be thought of as constituting a gold "signature". Gold is associated with a great variety of ore deposits and has characteristic signatures for each of several types of ore deposits. Signatures for gold derived from igneous-metamorphic, hypothermal, mesothermal and epithermal deposits reflect conditions of ore formation by their content of Ag, Cu and characteristic associated elements. At higher temperatures of ore formation, gold has low Ag and high Cu content, and Bi and Pb are the most abundant trace elements. But at lower temperatures of ore formation, Ag is high, Cu is low, and Pb is the most abundant trace element. The same trend in gold signatures is observable in gold mining districts, such as Central City, Colorado, where zoning as shown by mineral assemblages indicates ore deposition at progressively lower temperatures as the distance from a central high-temperature zone increases. The signatures of gold may be useful in searching for porphyry Cu deposits. Signatures from Butte (Montana), Mineral Park (Arizona) and Cala Abajo (Puerto Rico), on the basis of limited sampling, are similar and distinctive. They are characterized by a similar assemblage of trace elements and are relatively high in both Ag and Cu. Another application of gold compositional data is in tracing placer gold to its bedrock source. For example, the Ag content of placer gold in the Tarryall district of Colorado differed from that of nearly all of the bedrock sources of gold found by early prospectors. However, one lightly prospected area peripheral to the Tertiary quartz monzonite stock at Montgomery Gulch contains gold with a Ag content similar to that of the placer gold. This area is the most likely source of the gold in the productive placers and may be a potential exploration target. Gold signatures may be useful in prospecting for metals other than gold. Several metals of low crustal abundance - notably Sn, W, Mo and the Pt group metals - are detected in analyses of some gold samples and may indicate economic deposits of these metals. ?? 1977.

MICROBIAL ECOLOGY OF POLLUTION ABATEMENT

EPA Science Inventory

My career started with Cliff Dahm at the University of New Mexico. The western United States had been experiencing a new “gold rush” using cyanide to mine previously unextractable, low-grade ore and we studied the potential to stimulate native cyanide-degrading micro...

Origin of the Okrouhlá Radouň episyenite-hosted uranium deposit, Bohemian Massif, Czech Republic: fluid inclusion and stable isotope constraints

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dolníček, Zdeněk; René, Miloš; Hermannová, Sylvie; Prochaska, Walter

2014-04-01

The Okrouhlá Radouň shear zone hosted uranium deposit is developed along the contact of Variscan granites and high-grade metasedimentary rocks of the Moldanubian Zone of the Bohemian Massif. The pre-ore pervasive alteration of wall rocks is characterized by chloritization of mafic minerals, followed by albitization of feldspars and dissolution of quartz giving rise to episyenites. The subsequent fluid circulation led to precipitation of disseminated uraninite and coffinite, and later on, post-ore quartz and carbonate mineralization containing base metal sulfides. The fluid inclusion and stable isotope data suggest low homogenization temperatures (˜50-140 °C during pre-ore albitization and post-ore carbonatization, up to 230 °C during pre-ore chloritization), variable fluid salinities (0-25 wt.% NaCl eq.), low fluid δ18O values (-10 to +2 ‰ V-SMOW), low fluid δ13C values (-9 to -15 ‰ V-PDB), and highly variable ionic composition of the aqueous fluids (especially Na/Ca, Br/Cl, I/Cl, SO4/Cl, NO3/Cl ratios). The available data suggest participation of three fluid endmembers of primarily surficial origin during alteration and mineralization at the deposit: (1) local meteoric water, (2) Na-Ca-Cl basinal brines or shield brines, (3) SO4-NO3-Cl-(H)CO3 playa-like fluids. Pre-ore albitization was caused by circulation of alkaline, oxidized, and Na-rich playa fluids, whereas basinal/shield brines and meteoric water were more important during the post-ore stage of alteration.

Nickel and cobalt distribution in the laterites of the Lomié region, south-east Cameroon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yongue-Fouateu, R.; Ghogomu, R. T.; Penaye, J.; Ekodeck, G. E.; Stendal, H.; Colin, F.

2006-05-01

In the Lomié region (south-east Cameroon), strong weathering of serpentinized ultramafic rocks has produced a thick laterite cover with significant nickel and cobalt contents. The highest concentrations of these elements are located in the middle section of the laterite profiles, in the lower clay horizon, and preferentially along the slopes of the interfluves. The investigation of the composition of the laterite ores (by whole-rock analysis) and of the main components, using SEM/microprobe and XRD, reveals the presence of four main enriched facies: a non-differentiated facies, a layered smectitic facies, a quartz-rich facies and a gibbsitic nodular facies. Nickel, with generally low concentrations (less than 2% NiO), is hosted by several secondary mineral phases (goethite, Mn-oxyhydroxides and smectite locally). Cobalt is generally of higher grade (up to 0.9% CoO), and is associated with cryptocrystalline and crystallized Mn-oxyhydroxides. SEM/microprobe observations suggest that nickel and cobalt concentration in secondary minerals is due to repeated remobilization. This has also favored the formation of mineral phases, of which the best crystallized and most richly mineralized are mainly those of the asbolan-lithiophorite group. The SEM studies indicate that these mineral phases show various morphologies related to their chemical composition: poorly crystallized nipple shaped (Fe, Mn, Ni), fine cross-bedded needles (Mn, Ni) and elongated crystals (Mn, Al, Ni, Co) occur in the layered smectitic facies, while platy and needle-like forms (Mn, Al, Ni, Co) characterize the gibbsitic nodular facies. The predominantly cobaltiferous nature of the Lomié laterite ore deposit is the result of remobilizations and transformations of elements that led to the impoverishment of both the Ni-Co contents of the laterite but most importantly of Ni rather than Co.

Development and application of biotechnologies in the metal mining industry.

PubMed

Johnson, D Barrie

2013-11-01

Metal mining faces a number of significant economic and environmental challenges in the twenty-first century for which established and emerging biotechnologies may, at least in part, provide the answers. Bioprocessing of mineral ores and concentrates is already used in variously engineered formats to extract base (e.g., copper, cobalt, and nickel) and precious (gold and silver) metals in mines throughout the world, though it remains a niche technology. However, current projections of an increasing future need to use low-grade primary metal ores, to reprocess mine wastes, and to develop in situ leaching technologies to extract metals from deep-buried ore bodies, all of which are economically more amenable to bioprocessing than conventional approaches (e.g., pyrometallurgy), would suggest that biomining will become more extensively utilized in the future. Recent research has also shown that bioleaching could be used to process a far wider range of metal ores (e.g., oxidized ores) than has previously been the case. Biotechnologies are also being developed to control mine-related pollution, including securing mine wastes (rocks and tailings) by using "ecological engineering" approaches, and also to remediate and recover metals from waste waters, such as acid mine drainage. This article reviews the current status of biotechnologies within the mining sector and considers how these may be developed and applied in future years.

Bioleaching of manganese by Aspergillus sp. isolated from mining deposits.

PubMed

Mohanty, Sansuta; Ghosh, Shreya; Nayak, Sanghamitra; Das, Alok Prasad

2017-04-01

A comprehensive study on fungus assisted bioleaching of manganese (Mn) was carried out to demonstrate Mn solubilization of collected low grade ore from mining deposits of Sanindipur, Odisha, India. A native fungal strain MSF 5 was isolated and identified as Aspergillus sp. by Inter Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequencing. The identified strain revealed an elevated tolerance ability to Mn under varying optimizing conditions like initial pH (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), carbon sources (dextrose, sucrose, fructose and glucose) and pulp density (2%, 3%, 4%, 5% and 6%). Bioleaching studies carried out under optimized conditions of 2% pulp density of Mn ore at pH 6, temperature 37 °C and carbon dosage (dextrose) resulted with 79% Mn recovery from the ore sample within 20 days. SEM-EDX characterization of the ore sample and leach residue was carried out and the micrographs demonstrated porous and coagulated precipitates scattered across the matrix. The corresponding approach of FTIR analysis regulating the Mn oxide formation shows a distinctive peak of mycelium cells with and without treated Mn, resulting with generalized vibrations like MnO x stretching and CH 2 stretch. Thus, our investigation endeavors' the considerate possible mechanism involved in fungal surface cells onto Mn ore illustrating an alteration in cellular Mn interaction. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Analytical Results for 42 Fluvial Tailings Cores and 7 Stream Sediment Samples from High Ore Creek, Northern Jefferson County, Montana

USGS Publications Warehouse

Fey, David L.; Church, Stan E.

1998-01-01

Metal-mining related wastes in the Boulder River basin study area in northern Jefferson County, Montana have been implicated in their detrimental effects on water quality with regard to acid-generation and toxic-metal solubility. Sediments, fluvial tailings and water from High Ore Creek have been identified as significant contributors to water quality degradation of the Boulder River below Basin, Montana. A study of 42 fluvial tailings cores and 7 stream sediments from High Ore Creek was undertaken to determine the concentrations of environmentally sensitive elements (i.e. Ag, As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) present in these materials, and the mineral phases containing those elements. Two sites of fluvial deposition of mine-waste contaminated sediment on upper High Ore Creek were sampled using a one-inch soil probe. Forty-two core samples were taken producing 247 subsamples. The samples were analyzed by ICP-AES (inductively coupled-plasma atomic emission spectroscopy) using a total mixed-acid digestion. Results of the core analyses show that the elements described above are present at very high concentrations (to 22,000 ppm As, to 460 ppm Ag, to 900 ppm Cd, 4,300 ppm Cu, 46,000ppm Pb, and 50,000 ppm Zn). Seven stream-sediment samples were also analyzed by ICP-AES for total element content and for leachable element content. Results show that the sediment of High Ore Creek has elevated levels of ore-related metals throughout its length, down to the confluence with the Boulder River, and that the metals are, to a significant degree, contained in the leachable phase, namely the hydrous amorphous iron- and manganese-hydroxide coatings on detrital sediment particles.

Mineralogical and geochemical features of the alteration processes of magmatic ores in the Beni Bousera ultramafic massif (north Morocco)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hajjar, Zaineb; Gervilla, Fernando; Essaifi, Abderrahim; Wafik, Amina

2017-08-01

The Beni Bousera ultramafic massif (Internal Rif, Morocco) is characterized by the presence of two types of small-scale magmatic mineralizations (i) a mineralization consisting mainly of chromite and Ni arsenides associated to orthopyroxene and cordierite (Cr-Ni ores), and (ii) a mineralization mainly composed of magmatic Fe-Ni-Cu sulfides containing variable amounts of graphite and chromite associated to phlogopite, clinopyroxène and plagioclase (S-G ores). Theses ores underwent High-T (450-550 °C) and Low-T (150-300 °C) alteration processes. The High-T alteration processes are tentatively related to intrusion of leucogranite dykes. They are preserved in the Galaros Cr-Ni ore deposit where nickeline is partly dissolved and transformed to maucherite, and orthopyroxene alters to phlogopite. Ni and Co were mobilized to the fluid phase, rising up their availability and promoting their diffusion into chromite and phlogopite, which have significantly higher contents in Ni and Co in phlogopite-rich ores than in orthopyroxene- and nickeline-rich ones. The Low-T alteration processes are related to serpentinization/weathering spatially associated with a regional shear zone. They affected both the Cr-Ni and S-G ores. In the Cr-Ni ores, Ni-arsenides were completely leached out while chromite is fractured within a matrix of chlorite, vermiculite and Ni-rich serpentine. In S-G ores, the silicates were altered into amphibole, Fe-rich chlorite and pectolite in clinopyroxene- and plagioclase-bearing ores while sulfides were completely leached out in phlogopite-bearing ores where iron oxides and hydroxides, and Fe-rich vermiculite were deposited. Chromite composition is not affected by the Low-T alteration processes.

Geostatistical Approach to Estimating the Gold Ore Characteristics and Gold Reserves: A Case Study Daksa Area, Quang Nam Province, Viet Nam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luan Truong, Xuan; Luong Le, Van; Quang Truong, Xuan

2015-04-01

Daksa gold deposit is the biggest gold deposits in Vietnam. The Daksa geological structure complicated, distributed mainly metamorphosed sedimentary NuiVu formation (PR3-?1nv2). The sulfide gold ore bodies distributed in quartz schist, quartz - biotite related to faut and distribution wing anticline. The gold ore bodies form circuits, network circuits, circuits lenses; fill the cup surface layer of the developing northeast - southwest; is the less than or west longitude north - SE. The results show that, Au and accompanying elements (Ag, Pb and Zn) have correlated pretty closely. All of its consistent with the logarithmic distribution standard, in accordance with the law of distribution of content mineral rare. The structure functions have nugget effect and spherical models with show that Au and accompanying elements special variation are changes. Au contents shown local anisotropy, no clearly anisotropy (K=1,17) and weakly anisotropy (K=1,4). Intensity mineralization of the ore bodies are quite high with demand spherical conversion coefficient ranging from 0.49 to 0.75 and from 0.66 to 0.97 (for other body). With nugget effects, ore bodies shown that it is consistent with mineralization in the ore bodies study, ore erasable, micro vein, infilling fractures in quartz vein. All of variogram presents local anisotropy, indicated gold mineralization at study area has least two-mineralization stages, consistent with the analysis of mineralography samples. By the results of the structure function study, the authors present the system optimization for exploration deposit and used to evaluate gold reserves by Ordinary Kriging. High accuracy of Kriging estimation results are expressed in the minimum Kriging variance, by compare the results calculated by some other methods (such as distance inverse weighting method, ..) and specially compare to the results of a some blocks have been exploited. Key words: Geostat and gold deposits VN. Daksa and gold mineralization. Geostat and gold mine Daksa.

Mining and beneficiation of lunar ores

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bunch, T. E.; Williams, R. J.; Mckay, D. S.; Giles, D.

1979-01-01

The beneficiation of lunar plagioclase and ilmenite ores to feedstock grade permits a rapid growth of the space manufacturing economy by maximizing the production rate of metals and oxygen. A beneficiation scheme based on electrostatic and magnetic separation is preferred over conventional schemes, but such a scheme cannot be completely modeled because beneficiation processes are empirical and because some properties of lunar minerals have not been measured. To meet anticipated shipping and processing needs, the peak lunar mining rate will exceed 1000 tons/hr by the fifth year of operation. Such capabilities will be best obtained by automated mining vehicles and conveyor systems rather than trucks. It may be possible to extract about 40 kg of volatiles (60 percent H2O) by thermally processing the less than 20 micron ilmenite concentrate extracted from 130 tons of ilmenite ore. A thermodynamic analysis of an extraction process is presented.

Did the Kiruna iron ores form as a result of a metasomatic or igneous process? New U-Pb and Nd data for the iron oxide apatite ores and their host rocks in the Norrbotten region of northern Sweden

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Westhues, A.; Hanchar, J. M.; Whitehouse, M. J.; Fisher, C. M.

2012-12-01

A number of iron deposits near Kiruna in the Norrbotten region of northern Sweden are of the iron oxide apatite (IOA) type of deposits; also referred to as Kiruna-type deposits. They are commonly considered a subgroup or end-member of iron oxide copper gold (IOCG) deposits, containing no economic grades of copper or gold. Both IOCG and IOA deposits are characterized by abundant low-Ti Fe oxides, an enrichment in REE, and intense sodium and potassium wall-rock alteration adjacent to the ores. Deposits of these types are of a great economic importance, not only for iron, but also for other elements such as rare earth elements (REE) or uranium. Kiruna, the type locality of the IOA type of mineral deposits, is the focus of this study. Despite a century-long mining history and 2500 Mt of iron ore produced in the region to date (with grades of 30 to 70 wt.% Fe), the genesis of these deposits is poorly understood: theories of a magmatic vs. a hydrothermal or metasomatic origin have been debated, and the timing of mineralization of the ores in the Norbotten region has never been directly dated. The results anticipated from this study will provide a better understanding of the nature of the IOA type of mineral deposits and their relation to IOCG deposits such as Olympic Dam in Australia. An array of geochemical methods is used in order to gain insights on the emplacement history of the host rocks, their subsequent alteration, and the ore genesis of these deposits. This includes in situ U/Pb geochronology of zircon, monazite, and titanite to constrain the timing between host rock emplacement, alteration and mineralization. Isotopic data from whole rocks and in situ at mineral scale will provide constraints on the involvement of hydrothermal fluids and their possible sources, as well as on the sources of Fe, U, and the REE. Newly obtained Sm-Nd isotopic data points to distinct source differences between host rocks, ore and alteration related samples. Preliminary in situ U-Pb dating of zircon from both host rock and ore samples confirms a previously documented event around 1880 - 1900 Ma in the Norrbotten region. However, U-Pb in monazite from an ore sample suggests a further event at ca. 1650 Ma, a period of known activity in Fennoscandia. Further investigation and more U-Pb data are needed to confirm those dates and how the iron mineralization is related to those two events. The combination of U-Th-Pb ages, tracer isotopes and trace element abundances at mineral scale (e.g., Lu-Hf in zircon, and Sm-Nd in monazite, apatite, titanite), along with the O isotopic composition of zircon, will be used to decipher whether the Kiruna iron ore deposits are of metasomatic or igneous origin. Overall, the study also intends to develop a predictive model for exploration of similar iron oxide apatite deposits worldwide.

Batch study of manganese removal from mine effluent using mixture of ferromanganese ore and humus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamal, Norinsafrina Mustaffa; Aziz, Hamidi Abdul; Sulaiman, Shamsul Kamal; Hussin, Hashim

2017-10-01

Environmental problem related to mining industry always associates with high heavy metal contents in mine effluent. Manganese is among the metals that need to be reduced before the mine effluent entering receiving waterways. In this batch study, mixture of ferromanganese ore and humus had been applied to remove manganese from mine effluent. Effect of particle size of ferromanganese ore, dosage, mix ratio, pH and contact time had been studied to examine the effectiveness of the mixture in removing manganese. Results from the study have shown that optimum manganese removal was 93.54% by using particle size of 0.25-0.5 mm of ferromanganese ore, 3g of dosage mixture, mix ratio of 20%;80%, solution pH of 7 and 210 minutes (3.5 hours) of contact time. Thus, it is proven that mixture of ferromanganese ore and humus has potential to be used for removal of manganese in mine effluent.

Contribution of infrared microscopy to studies of fluid inclusions hosted in some opaque ore minerals: possibilities, limitations, and perspectives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lüders, Volker

2017-06-01

During the past two decades, several studies of fluid inclusions hosted in some opaque ore minerals using near-infrared microscopy have been performed. Results indicated that this method can be applied to several sulfidic ores and metal oxides depending on their electronic band structures and infrared-active vibration modes. Infrared transmittance of individual ore minerals can be best characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Infrared microscopic observations are limited to the near-infrared region to about 2.3 μm depending on the IR sensitivity of the IR camera. The trace element content in ore minerals can be another limiting factor for optical observations in near-infrared light. Still, IR transmittance gradually decreases upon heating caused by shifting of IR absorption edges for higher wavelengths. Possibilities and limitations of studying fluid inclusions hosted in opaque minerals by near-infrared light microthermometry and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) are discussed.

Applied research of shaking table for scandium concentration from a silicate ore

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, P.; Zhang, G. F.; Gao, L.; Shi, B. H.; Shi, Z.; Yang, Y. D.

2018-03-01

A poor magnetite iron ore is a super large independent scandium deposit with over the multi-billion potential utilizable value. Shaking table separation is very useful for impurities removing and scandium content increasing as a follow-up step of high-intensity magnetic separation. In the present study, a satisfactory index, namely scandium content of 83.10 g/t and recovery rate of 79.45 wt%, was obtained by shaking table separation. The good result was achieved under the conditions which the parameters were feed concentrate of 18 wt%, feeding quantity of 11 L/min, stroke frequency of 275 times/min and stroke of 17mm.

QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF THE URANIUM CONTENT OF URANIUM ORES TECHNOLOGICAL PRODUCTS BY ION EXCHANGE-COMPLEXON SEPARATION (in Hungarian)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fodor, M.

An ion exchange-complexion separation meihod was developed for the removal of interfering elements in the determination of the uranium content of recovery solutions. By adding (ethylenediamine)tetraacetic acid to the solution, most of the interfering elements can be brought into an anionic complex. Adjusting the soluiion to pH 7 and letting it pass through an Amberlite IRC-50 type cation exchanger of hydrogen form, the uranium remains on the column whereas the interfering elements pass into the effluent. The method was successfully applied in analyzing the recovery solutions of uranium ores. (auth)

Infrared detection of the mineralogical aspects that influence the processing of calcined kaolin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Groenheide, Stefan; Guatame-Garcia, Adriana; Buxton, Mike; van der Werff, Harald

2017-04-01

Calcined kaolin is an industrial minerals product used in the production of paper, paint, rubber and other specialty applications. It is produced from kaolinite through a series of refinement steps and final calcination at temperatures of above 900°C, with the aim of generating a whiter and more abrasive material. The raw kaolin ore is a mixture of clay minerals, quartz and feldspars, where kaolinite is the main constituent. The optimal kaolin ores to feed the processing plant should ideally have high kaolinite abundance, be free in Fe-bearing mineralogy (to avoid influence in the colour of the product), and the kaolinite itself should be of high crystallinity (to ensure the correct abrasiveness after calcination). This work presents a case study from the kaolin deposits in the St. Austell Granite (South-West England), which are known for their high quality and world-class size. In this area, the kaolin is of primary-hydrothermal origin, with mineral associations that are related to the genetic history. The eventual depletion of the high-quality reserves is bringing now the attention to the lower grade zones, where the amount of impurities increases. As a consequence, it is critical to developing strategies that ensure the supply of high-quality ore to the processing plant. For this, it is necessary to acquire a thorough knowledge of the ore, including relative abundance of the minerals and their textural relationships. Hyperspectral images in the visible-near infrared (VNIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) ranges were collected from drill cores and run-off-mine (ROM) samples, obtained from one of the kaolin pits in the St. Austell area, where the kaolin quality is known to be lower than in the rest of the deposit. A series of mineral maps were generated to assess the distribution, texture and abundance of the Fe-bearing mineralogy and the other kaolin-associated minerals, as well as the variations in the crystallinity of kaolinite. The mineral maps enabled the identification of tourmaline, biotite and hematite as the Fe-bearing mineralogy. Tourmaline was found mainly in veins and sometimes as phenocrysts; biotite was rather scarce, which suggest the advanced alteration degree of the deposit; hematite was present as coating and concentrated along quartz veins. Most of the mineral associations were represented by kaolinite, halloysite, muscovite, illite and montmorillonite. The ground mass was mostly kaolinite, although transition zones from kaolinite to halloysite and kaolinite to mica and montmorillonite were detected. Regarding the kaolinite crystallinity, the pure kaolinite graded from high to very high crystallinity. For the mineral mixtures of kaolinite with montmorillonite or halloysite, the crystallinity could not be determined with confidence. These findings raise the possibility of using hyperspectral imaging as a tool for assisting selective mining, by identifying the areas in the deposit with the highest kaolin quality, thus reducing the amount of waste. In scenarios where selective mining is not possible, the spectral characterisation might provide robust mineralogical information about the content of the ore that can support the decision-making process in higher levels of the kaolin value chain.

40 CFR 98.183 - Calculating GHG emissions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... = Carbon content of the lead ore, from the carbon analysis results (percent by weight, expressed as a... = Carbon content of the lead scrap, from the carbon analysis (percent by weight, expressed as a decimal... (tons). CFlux = Carbon content of the flux materials, from the carbon analysis (percent by weight...

Geological structure and prospects of noble metal ore mineralization of the Khayrkhan gabbroid massif (Western Mongolia)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurumshieva, K. R.; Gertner, I. F.; Tishin, P. A.

2017-12-01

An analysis of the distribution of noble metals in zones of sulfide mineralization makes it possible to justify the isolation of four ore-bearing horizons with a specific geochemical zonation. A rise in the gold content relative to palladium and platinum is observed from the bottom upwards along the section of the stratified series of gabbroids. The study of the mineral phases of sulphides and the noble minerals itself indicates the evolution of hydrothermal solutions, which determines the different activity and mobility of the fluid (mercury, tellurium, sulfur) and ore (copper, nickel, iron, platinum, gold and silver) components.

Resource potential for commodities in addition to Uranium in sandstone-hosted deposits: Chapter 13

USGS Publications Warehouse

Breit, George N.

2016-01-01

Sandstone-hosted deposits mined primarily for their uranium content also have been a source of vanadium and modest amounts of copper. Processing of these ores has also recovered small amounts of molybdenum, rhenium, rare earth elements, scandium, and selenium. These deposits share a generally common origin, but variations in the source of metals, composition of ore-forming solutions, and geologic history result in complex variability in deposit composition. This heterogeneity is evident regionally within the same host rock, as well as within districts. Future recovery of elements associated with uranium in these deposits will be strongly dependent on mining and ore-processing methods.

Metal stocks and sustainability

PubMed Central

Gordon, R. B.; Bertram, M.; Graedel, T. E.

2006-01-01

The relative proportions of metal residing in ore in the lithosphere, in use in products providing services, and in waste deposits measure our progress from exclusive use of virgin ore toward full dependence on sustained use of recycled metal. In the U.S. at present, the copper contents of these three repositories are roughly equivalent, but metal in service continues to increase. Providing today's developed-country level of services for copper worldwide (as well as for zinc and, perhaps, platinum) would appear to require conversion of essentially all of the ore in the lithosphere to stock-in-use plus near-complete recycling of the metals from that point forward. PMID:16432205

Responses of microbial community to pH stress in bioleaching of low grade copper sulfide.

PubMed

Wang, Yuguang; Li, Kai; Chen, Xinhua; Zhou, Hongbo

2018-02-01

The microbial diversity and dynamics in the leachates and on the ore surfaces of different depth of the column were analyzed during bioleaching of low grade copper sulfide at different pH, after inoculation with the same inoculum containing mesophiles and moderate thermophiles. The results indicate that low pH was beneficial to enhance copper extraction. The highest copper extraction (86%) was obtained when pH was controlled at 1.0-1.5. The microbial structures on the ore surfaces were independent of community structures in the leachate, even at the top portion of column. Microbial richness and evenness increased with decreasing pH during bioleaching. pH had significant effects on microbial community structure in the leachate and on the mineral surface of different depth of the column. Leptospirillum ferriphilum accounted for the highest proportions of the community at most times when pH was operated during bioleaching, especially at the end of run. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Leaching under Oxygen Pressure with Carbonate Solution Reduction by Hydrogen; LIXIVIATION OXYDANTE DES PECHBLENDES ET PRECIPITATION DE L'URANIUM PAR L'HYDROGENE. APPLICATION AUX MINERAIS PAUVRES FRANCAIS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Balaceanu, J.C.; Coussemant, F.; Mouret, P.

1959-10-31

A study was made of the basic characteristics of the leaching with carbonate solution under oxygen pressure and of the catalytic hydrogen reduction of low-grade French ores. Pure U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ was used in the investigations on leaching. The effects of oxygen pressure, temperature, initial surface of the oxide, surfuce during the course of the reaction, and concentration of the carbonate solution were determined. It was shown that the heterogeneous reactions involve a constant surface and two steps. A pilot plant experiment was made on a number of low-grade French ores. With ores the leaching is not sensitive to oxygenmore » pressure. Dilute solutions of sodium uranyl carbonate are obtained from the leaching. The uranium can be precipitated as an oxide of a lower valent state by catalytic reduction with hydrogen. The study of this step was made on pure solutions of sodium uranyl carbonate in the presence of nickel and platinum catalysts. The reaction is strongly modified by the presence of even low concentrations of sodium bicarbonate. The reaction velocity increases with hydrogen pressure up to 5 atm, but then becomes independent of the pressure. The precipitation is accelerated by an increase in temperature. (J.S.R.)« less

Origin of stratiform sediment-hosted manganese carbonate ore deposits: Examples from Molango, Mexico, and TaoJiang, China

USGS Publications Warehouse

Okita, P.M.; Shanks, Wayne C.

1992-01-01

Carbonate and sulfide minerals from the Molango, Mexico, and TaoJiang, China, Mn deposits display similar and distinctive ??34S and ??13C patterns in intervals of manganese carbonate mineralization. ??13C-values for Mn-bearing carbonate range from -17.8 to +0.5??? (PDB), with the most negative values occurring in high-grade ore zones that are composed predominantly of rhodochrosite. In contrast, calcite from below, within and above Mn-carbonate zones at Molango has ??13C???0??? (PDB). Markedly negative ??13C data indicate that a large proportion of the carbon in Mn-carbonates was derived from organic matter oxidation. Diagenetic reactions using MnO2 and SO2-4 to oxidize sedimentary organic matter were the principle causes of such 12C enrichment. Pyrite content and sulfide ?? 34S-values also show distinctive variations. In unmineralized rocks, very negative ??34S-values (avg. < -21??? CDT) and abundant pyrite content suggest that pyrite formed from diagenetic, bacteriogenic sulfate reduction. In contrast, Mn-bearing horizons typically contain only trace amounts of pyrite (e.g., <0.5 wt% S with ??34S-values 34S-enriched, in some cases to nearly the value for contemporaneous seawater. 34S-enriched pyrite from the Mn-carbonate intervals indicates sulfide precipitation in an environment that underwent extensive SO2-4 reduction, and was largely a closed system with regard to exchange of sulfate and dissolved sulfide with normal seawater. The occasional occurrence of 34S-depleted pyrite within Mn-carbonate zones dominated by 34S-enriched pyrite is evidence that closed-system conditions were intermittent and limited to local pore waters and did not involve entire sedimentary basins. Mn-carbonate precipitation may have occluded porosity in the surficial sediments, thus establishing an effective barrier to SO2-4 exchange with overlying seawater. Similar isotopic and mineralogic characteristics from both the Molango and TaoJiang deposits, widely separated in geologic time and space, suggest they were formed similarly by MnO2 precipitation at the margins of dysaerobic to anoxic marine basins. Mn-carbonate formed predominantly by early-diagenetic reduction of Mn-oxides via oxidation of organic matter in near-surface sediments. In addition to MnCO3 precipitation, organic matter oxidation reactions resulted in oxidation of FeS to Fe-oxides such as magnetite, maghemite and hematite. The latter process explains anomalously low pyrite content and abundant Fe-oxide minerals in ore zones dominated by rhodochrosite. ?? 1992.

Minor elements in magnetic concentrates from the Syenite-Shonkinite Province, southern Asir, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

USGS Publications Warehouse

Overstreet, W.C.; Day, G.W.; Botinelly, Theodore; VanTrump, George

1987-01-01

Magnetic concentrates from 106 localities in three plutons of syenite and one pluton of shonkinite in the southern Asir were analyzed spectrographically for 31 elements to determine if anomaly-enhancement techniques would identify mineralization not disclosed by conventional geochemical sample media. Positive anomalies are lacking for all elements except vanadium. Vanadium contents as high as 0.7 percent were identified in magnetic concentrates from the syenite pluton to the southeast of Suq al Ithnayn, but magnetite is sparse. This observation indicates a need to reexamine magnetite-rich drill core for possible ore-grade tenors in vanadium from the zoned pluton at Lakathah. Experimental analyses for platinum-group metals in magnetic concentrates from layered mafic plutons at Jabal Sha'i', Jabal al Ashshar, and Hishshat al Hawi should be performed to determine whether micron-size particles of the platinum-group metals are present in mafic rocks of the Arabian Shield.

Extreme variation of sulfur isotopic compositions in pyrite from the Qiuling sediment-hosted gold deposit, West Qinling orogen, central China: An in situ SIMS study with implications for the source of sulfur

USGS Publications Warehouse

Chen, Lei; Li, Xian-hua; Li, Jian-wei; Hofstra, Albert H.; Liu, Yu; Koenig, Alan E.

2015-01-01

High spatial resolution textural (scanning electron microscope (SEM)), chemical (electron microprobe (EMP)) and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spec- trometry (LA-ICP-MS)), and sulfur isotopic (secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS)) analyses of pyrite from the Qiuling sediment-hosted gold deposit (232±4 Ma) in the West Qinling orogen, central China were conducted to distinguish pyrite types and gain insights into the source and evolution of sulfur in hydrothermal fluids. The results reveal an enormous variation (−27.1 to +69.6‰) in sulfur isotopic composition of pyrite deposited during three paragenetic stages. Pre-ore framboidal pyrite, which is characterized by low concentra- tions of As, Au, Cu, Co, and Ni, has negative δ34S values of −27.1 to −7.6‰ that are interpreted in terms of bacterial re- duction of marine sulfate during sedimentation and diagenesis of the Paleozoic carbonate and clastic sequences, the predom- inant lithologies in the deposit area, and the most important hosts of many sediment-hosted gold deposits throughout the West Qinling orogen. The ore-stage hydrothermal pyrite con- tains high concentrations of Au, As, Cu, Sb, Tl, and Bi and hasa relatively narrow range of positive δ34S values ranging from +8.1 to +15.2‰. The sulfur isotope data are comparable to those of ore pyrite from many Triassic orogenic gold deposits and Paleozoic sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX) Pb-Zn de- posits in the West Qinling orogen, both being hosted mainly in the Devonian sequence. This similarity indicates that sulfur, responsible for the auriferous pyrite at Qiuling, was largely derived from the metamorphic devolatization of Paleozoic marine sedimentary rocks. Post-ore-stage pyrite, which is sig- nificantly enriched in Co and Ni but depleted in Au and As, has unusually high δ34S values ranging from +37.4 to +69.6 ‰, that are interpreted to result from thermochemical reduc- tion of evaporite sulfates in underlying Cambrian sedimentary rocks with very high δ34S values. The variations in Au content and sulfur isotopic compositions across a single ore-stage py- rite grain may reflect displacement of indigenous groundwater with low δ34S values by auriferous metamorphic fluids with high δ34S values. The very low-grade metamorphism of the host rocks and the metamorphic derivation of sulfur for the ore pyrite indicate that the Qiuling sediment-hosted gold deposit is an epizonal manifestation of an orogenic gold system in the West Qinling orogen.

Influence of ore processing activity on Hg, As and Sb contamination and fractionation in soils in a former mining site of Monte Amiata ore district (Italy).

PubMed

Protano, Giuseppe; Nannoni, Francesco

2018-05-01

A geochemical study was carried out at the former Abbadia San Salvatore (ASS) mining site of the Monte Amiata ore district (Italy). Hg, As and Sb total contents and fractionation using a sequential extraction procedure were determined in soil and mining waste samples. Ore processing activities provided a different contribution to Hg contamination and concentration in soil fractions, influencing its behaviour as volatility and availability. Soils of roasting zone showed the highest Hg contamination levels mainly due to the deposition of Hg released as Hg 0 by furnaces during cinnabar roasting. High Hg contents were also measured in waste from the lower part of mining dump due to the presence of cinnabar. The fractionation pattern suggested that Hg was largely as volatile species in both uncontaminated and contaminated soils and mining waste, and concentrations of these Hg species increased as contamination increased. These findings were in agreement with the fact that the ASS mining site is characterized by high Hg concentrations in the air and the presence of Hg 0 liquid droplets in soil. Volatile Hg species were also prevalent in uncontaminated soils likely because the Monte Amiata region is an area characterized by anomalous fluxes of gaseous Hg from natural and anthropogenic inputs. At the ASS mining site soils were also contaminated by Sb, while As contents were comparable with its local background in soil. In all soil and waste samples Sb and As were preferentially in residual fraction. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

30 CFR 281.31 - Overriding royalties.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Overriding royalties. 281.31 Section 281.31 Mineral Resources BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT, REGULATION, AND ENFORCEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE... a producing mine, or to make possible the mining of economically marginal or low-grade ore deposits...

30 CFR 581.31 - Overriding royalties.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Overriding royalties. 581.31 Section 581.31 Mineral Resources BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OFFSHORE LEASING OF... possible the mining of economically marginal or low-grade ore deposits. In any case, the total of...

30 CFR 581.31 - Overriding royalties.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Overriding royalties. 581.31 Section 581.31 Mineral Resources BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OFFSHORE LEASING OF... possible the mining of economically marginal or low-grade ore deposits. In any case, the total of...

30 CFR 581.31 - Overriding royalties.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Overriding royalties. 581.31 Section 581.31 Mineral Resources BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OFFSHORE LEASING OF... possible the mining of economically marginal or low-grade ore deposits. In any case, the total of...

Key parameters for low-grade fine-grained iron ore valorization: lower environmental impact through reduced waste.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wagner, Christiane; Orberger, Beate; Tudryn, Alina; Baptiste, Benoît; Wirth, Richard; Morgan, Rachel; Miska, Serge

2016-04-01

In low-grade banded iron formations (BIFs), a large part of the iron is related to micro- and nano- metric iron-bearing inclusions within quartz and/or carbonates, mainly dolomite (~ 20 to 50 μm). Low-grade fine grained iron ore present two types of environmental risks: a) they are often stocked as tailings. For example, the recent disaster (5th of November 2015) in the Minas Gerais district, Brazil, was caused by the collapse of the Fundão tailings dam at an open cast mine; b) during beneficiation significant amounts of dust are generated also leading to metal loss. A laminated BIF studied from a drill core at Àguas Claras Mine, Quadrilátero Ferrífero, Brazil, contains 26.71 wt. % total iron, 0.2 wt. % SiO2, 0.32 wt.% MnO, 15.46 wt. % MgO, 22.32 wt.% CaO, 0.09 wt. % P2O5, < 0.05 wt. % Al2O3, 0.15 wt. % H2O and 34.08 wt. % CO2. Environmental hazardous elements are present as traces (As: 3-20 ppm, Cd: 0-0.7 ppm; Cr: 0.05-60 ppm, Pb: up to 55 ppm; U: up to 8 ppm). Dolomite and quartz bands alternate with hematite bands. Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and FIB-TEM analyses reveal that the micro- and nano- metric inclusions in dolomite are hematite and minor goethite, partly occurring as clusters in voids. Curie Balance analyses were carried out at different heating steps and temperatures on whole rock samples and a synthetic mix of decarbonated sample and pure dolomite. X-ray diffraction on the products of the heating experiments shows that that hematite is stable and new phases: magnesioferrite (MgFe2O4), lime (CaO), periclase (MgO), portlandite (Ca(OH)2) and srebrodoskite (Ca2Fe2O5) were formed between 680 °C and 920 °C. These findings promote the economic use of low grade ores rather than their stockpiling as tailings. The presence of OH-bearing goethite reduces the sintering temperature. After having separated coarse hematite from barren dolomite and quartz, a low temperature sintering of the inclusion-bearing dolomite/quartz leads to transformations into phases with higher magnetic susceptibilities (such as hematite and magnesioferrite). The entire Fe and Fe/Mg oxide feed can then pass through wet-high intensity magnetic separation after crushing. Intelligent processing of these ore types can minimize the two above mentioned risk factors.

UNDERGROUND URANIUM MINING ON COLORADO PLATEAU

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dare, W.L.

1958-10-31

The size and continuity of the Chinie ore bodies in the Big Indian district, Utah, have permitted mine operators in plan a more integrated development and mining system using larger and more specialized equipment. Thick ore and firm backs at the south end of the district than permitted room and pillar mining, using large drill jumbos send diesel-powered haulage equipment. The Gismo loader and draw-chute system has proved efficient. Driving the haulage- way below the stope level is an advantage when pillars are recovered. To the north, thinner ore with weaker backs favor retreat systems and smaller equipment. Here, themore » ore bodies are delineated by a grid system of drifts, send the ore recovered by panel, longwall, or similar mining methods, retreating toward the principal entry. Labor productivity ranges from 8 to 21 tons per man-shift, send direct mining send development costs, excluding initial development, ranges from 75 to 51 per ton. A unique system of mine development is in the Temple Mountain district, Utah, where the shallow Chinie deposits are mined through 36- inch diameter calyx drill holes. Using small diesel-powered ore buggies and bucket hoisting, ore in produced from the two largest mines at a rate of 4.1 tons per man-shift, at a direci cost of 15 a ton. Ambrosia Lake deposits range from 5 to 80 feet thick and occur from 350 to 1,000 feet below the surface. These mines are in development stages. Open, retreat, and top-slice sloping is planned. Adequate ventilation is essential in uranium mining since sufficient air must be coursed through the workings to maintain airborne radioactive concentration at tolerance levels send dilute exhaust gases where diesel-powered equipment is used. Uranium miners have found that radiometric scannning is a quick and efficient method for checking ths grade of the ore produced and in process of development. (auth)« less

Discrimination of iron ore deposits of granulite terrain of Southern Peninsular India using ASTER data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rajendran, Sankaran; Thirunavukkarasu, A.; Balamurugan, G.; Shankar, K.

2011-04-01

This work describes a new image processing technique for discriminating iron ores (magnetite quartzite deposits) and associated lithology in high-grade granulite region of Salem, Southern Peninsular India using visible, near-infrared and short wave infrared reflectance data of Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER). Image spectra show that the magnetite quartzite and associated lithology of garnetiferrous pyroxene granulite, hornblende biotite gneiss, amphibolite, dunite, and pegmatite have absorption features around spectral bands 1, 3, 5, and 7. ASTER band ratios ((1 + 3)/2, (3 + 5)/4, (5 + 7)/6) in RGB are constructed by summing the bands representing the shoulders of absorption features as a numerator, and the band located nearest the absorption feature as a denominator to map iron ores and band ratios ((2 + 4)/3, (5 + 7)/6, (7 + 9)/8) in RGB for associated lithology. The results show that ASTER band ratios ((1 + 3)/2, (3 + 5)/4, (5 + 7)/6) in a Red-Green-Blue (RGB) color combination identifies the iron ores much better than previously published ASTER band ratios analysis. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is applied to reduce redundant information in highly correlated bands. PCA (3, 2, and 1 for iron ores and 5, 4, 2 for granulite rock) in RGB enabled the discrimination between the iron ores and garnetiferrous pyroxene granulite rock. Thus, this image processing technique is very much suitable for discriminating the different types of rocks of granulite region. As outcome of the present work, the geology map of Salem region is provided based on the interpretation of ASTER image results and field verification work. It is recommended that the proposed methods have great potential for mapping of iron ores and associated lithology of granulite region with similar rock units of granulite regions of Southern Peninsular India. This work also demonstrates the ability of ASTER's to provide information on iron ores, which is valuable for mineral prospecting and exploration activities.

Chromite deposits of the north-central Zambales Range, Luzon, Philippines

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rossman, D.L.

1970-01-01

Peridotite and gabbro form an intrusive complex which is exposed over an area about 35 km wide and 150 km long in the center of the Zambales Range of western Luzon. The Zambales Complex is remarkable for its total known resources, mined and still remaining, of about 15 million metric tons of chromite ore. Twenty percent of Free World production was obtained from this area between 1950 and the end of 1964; in 1960 production reached a high of 606,103 metric tons of refractory-grade ore, mostly from the Coto mine near Masinloc, and 128,426 metric tons of metallurgical ore from the Acoje mine. The United States imports 80 to 90 percent of its refractory-grade chromite from the Philippines, and its basic refractory technology has been designed upon the chemical and physical characteristics of Coto high-alumina chromite ore. Continuation of this pattern will depend upon discovery of additional ore reserves to replace those depleted by mining. The Zambales Ultramafic Complex is of the alpine type in which lenticular or podiform deposits of chromite lie in peridotite or dunite, mostly near Contacts with gabbroic rocks. Layered structures, foliation, and lineation commonly are well developed and transect boundaries between major rock units, including chromite deposits, at any angle. Accordingly, these structures cannot be used as guides in exploration and mining as they are used in stratiform complexes such as the Bushveld, where chromite layers extend for many miles. Probably 90 percent of the known deposits in the Zambales Complex are located in two belts in its northern part. One zone containing high-aluminua refractory-grade deposits extends northeast from the Coto mine and Chromite Reservation No. I along a peridotite contact with olivine gabbro, and another of high-chromium metallurgical grade chromite extends south through the Zambales and Acoje properties, and swings westward around the south side of Mount Lanai along a peridotite contact with norite. The textures of ores, association of chromite with dunite as gangue and as halos, and the transecting nature of the layering, foliation, and lineation in relation to chromite, are similar in all deposits regardless of composition of the chromite mineral itself. Textures in chromite ores, and structural relationships between chromite deposits and country rocks, show that layering and related foliation and lineation were formed or modified by flowage. Gabbro is believed to form the upper part of the Complex in general. Geophysical methods have been rather unsuccessful in finding chromite in the Zambales Complex. Gravity surveys, in order to be successful, must correct for all features influencing gravity except for the chromite itself. Too often the uncertainties in position of rock units and in knowledge of rock densities or position of hidden geologic features (dikes, zones of alteration) preclude the possibility of making adequate corrections. Magnetic surveys have failed to reveal any magnetic patterns attributable to the presence of chromite. Exploration for chromite should be guided by the knowledge that chromite occurs only in certain geologic environments. Thus because nearly all known chromite deposits in the Zambales Complex lie in peridotite near the gabbro contact, search for chromite should be concentrated there. Likewise it is evident from structural evidence presented here that there is little relation between layering and distribution of either major rock units or chromite deposits. Thus one is not justified in using the layered structure to predict either the position or attitude of major rock unit contacts, or presence or position of chromite deposits. In such a productive complex it is geologically certain that unknown deposits still remain undiscovered. The most promising areas for exploration are near known groups of large deposits like Acoje and Chromite Reservation No. 1. Underground drilling has been very successful in finding buried tabular

Computer finds ore

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bell, Peter M.

Artificial intelligence techniques are being used for the first time to evaluate geophysical, geochemical, and geologic data and theory in order to locate ore deposits. After several years of development, an intelligent computer code has been formulated and applied to the Mount Tolman area in Washington state. In a project funded by the United States Geological Survey and the National Science Foundation a set of computer programs, under the general title Prospector, was used successfully to locate a previously unknown ore-grade porphyry molybdenum deposit in the vicinity of Mount Tolman (Science, Sept. 3, 1982).The general area of the deposit had been known to contain exposures of porphyry mineralization. Between 1964 and 1978, exploration surveys had been run by the Bear Creek Mining Company, and later exploration was done in the area by the Amax Corporation. Some of the geophysical data and geochemical and other prospecting surveys were incorporated into the programs, and mine exploration specialists contributed to a set of rules for Prospector. The rules were encoded as ‘inference networks’ to form the ‘expert system’ on which the artificial intelligence codes were based. The molybdenum ore deposit discovered by the test is large, located subsurface, and has an areal extent of more than 18 km2.

MR imaging of ore for heap bioleaching studies using pure phase encode acquisition methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fagan, Marijke A.; Sederman, Andrew J.; Johns, Michael L.

2012-03-01

Various MRI techniques were considered with respect to imaging of aqueous flow fields in low grade copper ore. Spin echo frequency encoded techniques were shown to produce unacceptable image distortions which led to pure phase encoded techniques being considered. Single point imaging multiple point acquisition (SPI-MPA) and spin echo single point imaging (SESPI) techniques were applied. By direct comparison with X-ray tomographic images, both techniques were found to be able to produce distortion-free images of the ore packings at 2 T. The signal to noise ratios (SNRs) of the SESPI images were found to be superior to SPI-MPA for equal total acquisition times; this was explained based on NMR relaxation measurements. SESPI was also found to produce suitable images for a range of particles sizes, whereas SPI-MPA SNR deteriorated markedly as particles size was reduced. Comparisons on a 4.7 T magnet showed significant signal loss from the SPI-MPA images, the effect of which was accentuated in the case of unsaturated flowing systems. Hence it was concluded that SESPI was the most robust imaging method for the study of copper ore heap leaching hydrology.

Distribution of radioactive isotopes in rock and ore of Arkhangelskaya pipe from the Arkhangelsk diamond province

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kiselev, G. P.; Yakovlev, E. Yu.; Druzhinin, S. V.; Galkin, A. S.

2017-09-01

The contents of radioactive elements and the uranium isotopic composition of kimberlite in the Arkhangelskaya pipe at the M.V. Lomonosov deposit and of nearby country rocks have been studied. A surplus of 234U isotope has been established in rocks from the near-pipe space. The high γ = 234U/238U ratio is controlled by the geological structure of the near-pipe space. A nonequilibrium uranium halo reaches two pipe diameters in size and can be regarded as a local ore guide for kimberlite discovery. The rocks in the nearpipe space are also characterized by elevated or anomalous U, Th, and K contents with respect to the background.

Characteristics of iron ore sinter with EFB addition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Purwanto, H.; Rozhan, A. N.; Mohamad, A. S.; Zakiyuddin, A.

2018-04-01

Utilization of EFB-derived biochar in sintering of iron ore has been conducted in this work with regards to the porosity of iron sinter. EFB has been heated up in argon atmosphere to 450°C in order to produce biochar. In the present work, the sintering process was conducted at 1150°C with variations of biochar content from 5% to 10%. In this case, the apparent density for iron sinter shows significant decrease as the biochar addition increase. The porosity of iron sinter showed a gradual increment from 5% to 7.5% and escalated at 10% biochar content. The results of porosity and apparent density were in line with the micrograph of iron sinter.

Metal enrichments in solid bitumens: A review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parnell, J.

1988-07-01

The association of oils and solid bitumens with ore deposits is widely recorded. The oils and bitumens may actually be enriched with metals. Unlike oils, metal enrichments within bitumens do not reflect the role of petroleum as a transporting agent for metals. By contrast, they may be a result of the reduction of metal ions on contact with bitumen, and may reach levels so high that ore mineral inclusions are precipitated. Metal determinations of British bitumens suggest that new metal anomalies can be detected by this approach, that some metal anomalies within bitumens may be related to ore mineralization, and that bitumens from different sources may be distinguished by their metal contents. The potential use of bitumen distribution and/or metal enrichment within bitumen for ore exploration is dependent on the metal concerned, and in particular whether the metal is transported by association with organic materials or reduced in the presence of organic materials.

Beneficiation of the gold bearing ore by gravity and flotation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gül, Alim; Kangal, Olgaç; Sirkeci, Ayhan A.; Önal, Güven

2012-02-01

Gold concentration usually consists of gravity separation, flotation, cyanidation, or the combination of these processes. The choice among these processes depends on the mineralogical characterization and gold content of the ore. Recently, the recovery of gold using gravity methods has gained attention because of low cost and environmentally friendly operations. In this study, gold pre-concentrates were produced by the stepwise gravity separation and flotation techniques. The Knelson concentrator and conventional flotation were employed for the recovery of gold. Gold bearing ore samples were taken from Gümüşhane Region, northern east part of Turkey. As a result of stepwise Knelson concentration experiments, a gold concentrate assaying around 620 g/t is produced with 41.4wt% recovery. On the other hand, a gold concentrate about 82 g/t is obtained with 89.9wt% recovery from a gold ore assaying 6 g/t Au by direct flotation.

Natural manganese ore catalyst for low-temperature selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3 in coke-oven flue gas.

PubMed

Zhu, Baozhong; Yin, Shoulai; Sun, Yunlan; Zhu, Zicheng; Li, Jiaxin

2017-11-01

Different types of manganese ore raw materials were prepared for use as catalysts, and the effects of different manganese ore raw materials and calcination temperature on the NO conversion were analyzed. The catalysts were characterized by XRF, XRD, BET, XPS, H 2 -TPR, NH 3 -TPD, and SEM techniques. The results showed that the NO conversion of calcined manganese ore with a Mn:Fe:Al:Si ratio of 1.51:1.26:0.34:1 at 450 °C reached 80% at 120 °C and 98% at 180~240 °C. The suitable proportions and better dispersibility of active ingredients, larger BET surface area, good reductibility, a lot of acid sites, contents of Mn 4+ and Fe 3+ , and surface-adsorbed oxygen played important roles in improving the NO conversion.

Simulation of geochemical processes responsible for the formation of the Zhezqazghan deposit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ryzhenko, B. N.; Cherkasova, E. V.

2014-05-01

Physicochemical computer simulation of water-rock systems at a temperature of 25-150°C and under a pressure of up to 600 bar has been carried out for quantitative description of the mineralization formation conditions at sandstone- and shale-hosted copper deposits. The simulation is based on geological and geochemical information concerning the Zhezqazghan deposit and considers (i) a source of ore matter, (ii) composition of the fluid that transfers ore matter to the ore formation zone, and (iii) factors of ore concentration. It has been shown that extraction of copper from minerals of rocks and its accumulation in aqueous solution are optimal at a high mass ratio of rock to water (R/W > 10), Eh of +200 to -100 mV, and an obligatory content of chloride ions in the aqueous phase. The averaged ore-bearing fluid Cl95SO44//Ca50(Na + K)30Mg19 (eq %), pH ˜ 4, mineralization of up to 400 g/L, is formed by the interaction of red sandstone beds with a sedimentogenic brine (a product of metamorphism of seawater in carbonate rocks enriched in organic matter). The ore concentration proceeds in the course of cooling from 150 to 50°C during filtration of ore-bearing fluid through red sandstone beds in the rock-water system thermodynamically opened with respect to the reductive components.

Potential for cobalt recovery from lateritic ores in Europe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herrington, R.

2012-04-01

Cobalt is one of the 'critical metals' identified under the EU Raw Materials Initiative. Annually the global mine production of cobalt is around 55,000 tonnes,with Europe's industries consuming around 30% of that figure. Currently Europe produces around 27 tonnes of cobalt from mines in Finland although new capacity is planned. Co-bearing nickel laterite ores being mined in Greece, Macedonia and Kosovo where the cobalt is currently not being recovered (ores have typical analyses of 0.055% Co and >1% Ni,). These ores are currently treated directly in pyrometallurgical plants to recover the contained nickel and this process means there is no separate cobalt product produced. Hydrometallurgical treatment of mineralogically suitable laterite ores can recover the cobalt; for example Cuba recovers 3,500 tonnes of cobalt from its laterite mining operations, which are of a similar scale to the current European operations. Implementation of hydrometallurgical techniques is in its infancy in Europe with one deposit in Turkey planning to use atmospheric heap leaching to recover nickel and copper from oxide-dominated ores. More widespread implementation of these methods to mineralogically suitable ore types could unlock the highly significant undeveloped resources (with metal contents >0.04% Co and >1% Ni), which have been defined throughout the Balkans eastwards into Turkey. At a conservative estimate, this region has the potential to supply up to 30% of the EU cobalt requirements.

The effect of smelting time and composition of palm kernel shell charcoal reductant toward extractive Pomalaa nickel laterite ore in mini electric arc furnace

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sihotang, Iqbal Huda; Supriyatna, Yayat Iman; Ismail, Ika; Sulistijono

2018-04-01

Indonesia is a country that is rich in natural resources. Being a third country which has a nickel laterite ore in the world after New Caledonia and Philippines. However, the processing of nickel laterite ore to increase its levels in Indonesia is still lacking. In the processing of nickel laterite ore into metal, it can be processed by pyrometallurgy method that typically use coal as a reductant. However, coal is a non-renewable energy and have high enough levels of pollution. One potentially replace is the biomass, that is a renewable energy. Palm kernel shell are biomass that can be used as a reductant because it has a fairly high fix carbon content. This research aims to make nickel laterite ores become metal using palm kernel shell charcoal as reductant in mini electric arc furnace. The result show that the best smelting time of this research is 60 minutes with the best composition of the reductant is 2,000 gram.

On-line moisture determination of ore concentrates 'a review of traditional methods and introduction of a novel solution'.

PubMed

Cancilla, P A; Barrette, P; Rosenblum, F

2002-12-01

The manual gravimetric drying moisture determination methods currently employed by most mineral processing plants fail to provide timely and accurate information required for automatic control. The costs associated with transporting and handling concentrates still represent a major portion of the overall treatment price. When considering the cash flow of a mining operation that is governed by both the smelter contract, with moisture penalties and the quantity and quality of the concentrates shipped, an efficient method of on-line moisture content would be a welcome tool. A novel on-line determination system for ore concentrate moisture content would replace the tedious manual procedure. Since the introduction of microelectronic-based control systems, operators have strived to reduce the treatment costs to the minimum. Therefore, a representative and timely determination of on-line moisture content becomes vital for control set points and timely feedback. Reliable sensors have long been on the 'wish list' of mineral processors since the problem has always been that you can only control what you can measure. Today, the task of moisture determination is still done by the classical technique of loss in weight utilizing uncontrolled procedures. These same methods were introduced in the earliest base metal concentrators. Generally, it is acceptable to have ore concentrate moisture content vary within a range of 7-9%, but controlling the moisture content below 8% is a difficult task with a manually controlled system. Many times, delays in manually achieving reliable feedback of the moisture content results in the moisture varying from 5-12% before corrective actions can be made. This paper first reviews the traditional and widely available methods for determining moisture content in granular materials by applying physical principles and properties to measure moisture content. All methods are in some form affected when employed on mineral ore concentrates. This paper introduces and describes a novel on-line moisture sensor employed for mineral processing de-watering applications, which not only automates the tedious tasks but also results in reliable moisture feedback that can be used in the optimization of the de-watering process equipment such as pressure or vacuum filters and fuel-fired driers. Finally, two measurement applications will be presented which indicate the usefulness and summarizes the measurement requirements for the proposed method of employing drag force and mechanical properties of the material itself to determine the moisture content. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd.

Temporal Evolution of Volcanic and Plutonic Magmas Related to Porphyry Copper Ores Based on Zircon Geochemistry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dilles, J. H.; Lee, R. G.; Wooden, J. L.; Koleszar, A. M.

2015-12-01

Porphyry Cu (Mo-Au) and epithermal Au-Ag ores are globally associated with shallow hydrous, strongly oxidized, and sulfur-rich arc intrusions. In many localities, long-lived magmatism includes evolution from early andesitic volcanic (v) and plutonic (p) rocks to later dacitic or rhyolitic compositions dominated by plutons. We compare zircon compositions from three igneous suites with different time spans: Yerington, USA (1 m.y., p>v), El Salvador, Chile (4 m.y., p>v), and Yanacocha, Peru (6 m.y., v>p). At Yerington granite dikes and ores formed in one event, at ES in 2 to 3 events spanning 3 m.y., and at Yanacocha in 6 events spanning 5 m.y. At both ES and Yanacocha, high-Al amphiboles likely crystallized at high temperature in the mid-crust and attest to deep magmas that periodically recharged the shallow chambers. At Yanacocha, these amphiboles contain anhydrite inclusions that require magmas were sulfur-rich and strongly oxidized (~NNO+2). The Ti-in-zircon geothermometer provides estimates of 920º to 620º C for zircon crystallization, and records both core to rim cooling and locally high temperature rim overgrowths. Ore-related silicic porphyries yield near-solidus crystallization temperatures of 750-650°C consistent with low zircon saturation temperatures. The latter zircons have large positive Ce/Ce* and small negative Eu/Eu*≥0.4 anomalies attesting to strongly oxidized conditions (Ballard et al., 2001), which we propose result from crystallization and SO2 loss to the magmatic-hydrothermal ore fluid (Dilles et al., 2015). The Hf, REE, Y, U, and Th contents of zircons are diverse in the magma suites, and Th/U vs Yb/Gd plots suggest a dominant role of crystal fractionation with lesser roles for both crustal contamination and mixing with high temperature deep-sourced mafic magma. Ce/Sm vs Yb/Gd plots suggest that magma REE contents at <900°C are dominated by early crystallization of hornblende and apatite, and late crystallization (~<780°C) of titanite. Magma mixing and crustal contamination are most evident in pre-ore magmas, whereas ore-forming intrusions at low temperatures are dominated by crystal fractionation. Thus, zircon provides evidence for cyclic crystallization and mafic recharge that enrich late silicic melts in incompatible ore components water, sulfur, chlorine and metals.

Chapter C: Hydrothermal Enrichment of Gallium in Zones of Advanced Argillic Alteration-Examples from the Paradise Peak and McDermitt Ore Deposits, Nevada

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rytuba, James J.; John, David A.; Foster, Andrea; Ludington, Steven D.; Kotlyar, Boris

2003-01-01

Gallium is produced as a byproduct from bauxite and zinc sulfide ores and rarely from primary Ga ores. High Ga contents (>60 ppm) can occur in zones of advanced argillic alteration consisting of alunite+kaolinite+quartz associated with quartz-alunite (high sulfidation Au-Ag) deposits. In a magmatic-hydrothermal environment, the zones of advanced argillic alteration associated with quartz-alunite (high sulfidation) Au-Ag deposits have the highest Ga contents (max 120 ppm). In these Au deposits, Ga is enriched in the zone of alunite+kaolinite alteration and depleted in the zone of quartz-rich alteration within acid-leached rocks. Peripheral zones of argillic alteration have Ga contents and Al/Ga ratios similar to those in unaltered volcanic rocks. The zones of advanced argillic alteration that formed in a steam-heated environment in association with hot-spring-type Hg-Au deposits are not Ga enriched, and residual silicified zones have very low Ga contents. The McDermitt Hg and Paradise Peak Au-Hg deposits, Nev., have zones of advanced argillic alteration that are Ga enriched. At the Paradise Peak Au-Hg deposits, Ga is enriched in the zone of alunite+jarosite alteration that formed in a magmatic-hydrothermal environment. Ga is depleted in the zone of opal+alunite alteration formed in a steam-heated environment, in residual silicified zones formed in a magmatic-hydrothermal environment, and in zones of supergene jarosite alteration. At the McDermitt Hg deposit, Ga is enriched in the zone of alunite+kaolinite alteration below the zone of adularia-quartz alteration that coincides with the Hg ore body. The spatial relation of Ga enrichment to alunite-kaolinite alteration suggests that formation in a magmatic-hydrothermal environment. X-ray-absorption spectra of Ga-enriched samples from the McDermitt Hg deposit are similar to that of gallium sulfate and support the association of Ga enrichment with alunite alteration.

Early Jurassic mafic dykes from the Aigao uranium ore deposit in South China: Geochronology, petrogenesis and relationship with uranium mineralization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Di; Zhao, Kui-Dong; Chen, Wei; Jiang, Shao-Yong

2018-05-01

Mafic dykes are abundant and widely distributed in many granite-hosted uranium ore deposits in South China. However, their geochronology, petrogenesis and relationship with uranium mineralization were poorly constrained. In this study, apatite U-Pb dating, whole-rock major and trace element and Sr-Nd-Pb isotope analysis were conducted for the dolerite dykes from the Aigao uranium ore deposit. Apatite U-Pb isotopic data indicate that the mafic dykes were emplaced at Early Jurassic (189 ± 4 Ma), which provides new evidence for the rarely identified Early Jurassic magmatism in South China. Pyroxene from the dykes is mainly augite, and plagioclase belongs to albite. The dolerite samples have relatively low SiO2 contents (45.33-46.79 wt%), relatively high total alkali contents (K2O + Na2O = 4.11-4.58 wt%) and Al2O3 contents (13.39-13.80 wt%), and medium MgO contents (4.29-5.16 wt%). They are enriched in Nb, Ta, Ti, rare earth elements and depleted in Rb, K, Sr, Th, showing the typical OIB-like geochemical affinity. All the dolerite samples show homogeneous Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic compositions, with (87Sr/86Sr)i varying from 0.706049 to 0.707137, εNd(t) from +4.6 to +5.2, 206Pb/204Pb from 19.032 to 19.126 and 207Pb/204Pb from 15.641 to 15.653. The mafic dykes in the Aigao deposit should be derived from the partial melting of the asthenospheric mantle and formed in a within-plate extensional environment. The emplacement age of the mafic dykes is older than the uranium mineralization age. Therefore, CO2 in ore-forming fluids couldn't originate from the basaltic magma as suggested by previous studies. The dolerite dykes might only provide a favorable reducing environment to promote the precipitation of uraninite from oxidize hydrothermal fluids.

Genetic Pd, Pt, Au, Ag, and Rh mineralogy in Noril'sk sulfide ores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spiridonov, E. M.; Kulagov, E. A.; Serova, A. A.; Kulikova, I. M.; Korotaeva, N. N.; Sereda, E. V.; Tushentsova, I. N.; Belyakov, S. N.; Zhukov, N. N.

2015-09-01

The undeformed ore-bearing intrusions of the Noril'sk ore field (NOF) cut through volcanic rocks of the Late Permian-Early Triassic trap association folded in brachysynclines. Due to the nonuniform load on the roof of intrusive bodies, most sulfide melts were squeezed, up to the tops of ore-bearing intrusions; readily fusible Ni-Fe-Cu sulfide melts were almost completely squeezed. In our opinion, not only one but two stages of mineralization developed at the Noril'sk deposits: (i) syntrap magmatic and (ii) epigenetic post-trap metamorphic-hydrothermal. All platinum-group minerals (PGM) and minerals of gold are metasomatic in the Noril'sk ores. They replaced sulfide solid solutions and exsolution structures. All types of PGM and Au minerals occur in the ores, varying in composition from pyrrhotite to chalcopyrite, talnakhite, mooihoekite, and rich in galena; they are localized in the inner and outer contact zones and differ only in the quantitative proportions of ore minerals. The aureoles of PGM and Au-Ag minerals are wider than the contours of sulfide bodies and coincide with halos of fluid impact on orebodies and adjacent host rocks. The pneumatolytic PGM and Au-Ag minerals are correlated in abundance with the dimensions of sulfide bodies. Their amounts are maximal in veins of late fusible ore composed of eutectic PbS ss and iss intergrowths, as well as at their contacts. The Pd and Pt contents in eutectic sulfide ores of NOF are the world's highest. In the process of noble-metal mineral formation, the fluids supply Pd, Pt, Au, As, Sb, Sn, Bi, and a part of Te, whereas Fe, Ni, Cu, Pb, Ag, Rh, a part of Te and Pd are leached from the replaced sulfide minerals. The pneumatolytic PGM of the early stage comprises Pd and Pt intermetallic compounds enriched in Au along with Pd-Pt-Fe-Ni-Cu-Sn-Pb(As) and (Pd,Pt,Au)(Sn,Sb,Bi,Te,As) solid solutions. Pneumatolytic PGM and Au minerals of the middle stage are products of solid-phase transformation and recrystallization of early PGM in combination with the newly formed mineral species Sb-paolovite-insizwaite-geversite-maslovite, niggliite, tetraferroplatinum, rustenburgite-atokite-zvyagintsevite, moncheite, majakite, plumbopalladinite, polarite in association with altaite. The late minerals of the middle stage include stannopalladinite, tatianaite-taimyrite, Ag-Pd-Pt tetraauricupride, and cuproauride. PGM and Au-Ag minerals of the late stage are represented by sobolevskite-sudburyite-kotulskite, maslovite-michenerite, low-Sb paolovite, hessite, cabriite, Au-Ag minerals with fineness of 870-003, froodite, Sb-free insizwaite, Bi-free geversite, and Sb-free niggliite. Electrum and küstelite in PGM aggregates are not zoned. Crystals of Au-Ag minerals that grow over PGM minerals are smoothly zoned. Their zoning may be direct (crystal margins are enriched in Ag), inverse, oscillatory, and complex. Despite favorable annealing conditions, exsolution structures are not identified in Au-Ag minerals from the Noril'sk ores. Sperrylite—the latest of pneumatolytic PGM—occurs as metacrysts up to 14 cm in size. Sperrylite, which replaces high-Sb minerals, contains up to 11 wt % Sb. Pneumatolytic noble-metal minerals originated under the effect of the fluids released during crystallization of sulfide melts in an extremely reductive setting and at extremely low fS2; temperature drops from ~450 to ~350°C. Metamorphic-hydrothermal Ag mineralization (native silver, Hg-silver, sulfides and selenides, chalcopyrite-lenaite solid solutions, argentopentlandite), Pd mineralization (vysotskite, palladoarsenide, vincentite, Sb-free Ag-paolovite, malyshevite, native palladium), and Pt mineralization (kharaelakhite, cooperite, native platinum) develop in those parts of orebodies that are affected by low-grade metamorphism.

Development of Technology for Enrichment of Silver Containing Ores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shekiladze, Asmati; Kavtelashvili, Otari; Bagnashvili, Mamuka

2016-10-01

The progress of Georgian economics is substantially associated with a development of new deposits of mineral resources. Among them is the David-Gareji deposit where at present the intensive searching geological works are performed. The work goal involves the elaboration of the technology for processing of silver-containing quartz-barite ores. Without its development the mining of more valuable gold-polymetallic ores is impossible. Because of ore complexity silver and barite are considered in a common technological aspect. The investigations were carried out on the representative samples of quartz-barite ores containing 78-88 g/ton of silver and 27-29 % of silver is a nugget in the form of the simple sulphides and chlorides. The ore is characterized by fine coalescence of barite and ore-generating minerals. Non-ferrous metals haven't any industrial value because of their very low content. Therefore, for the processing of the ores under study the direct selective scheme of flotation enrichment was chosen and the formula of optimal reagent regime was elaborated. Potassium xanthogenate is used as a collector for flotation of silver minerals and pine oil- as a foaming agent. The effect of the pulp - pH and medium temperature on silver flotation was studied. It was established that the silver is actively floats in neutral medium. For barite flotation the various collectors were tested: sulfidezid cotton oil-soap stock, soaps of fatty acids and alkyl sulphates of C12 - C16 row, among the “Baritol” is the most efficient one. Depression of the barren rock was carried out by liquid glass in alkaline medium. The effect of pulp pH on barite flotation has been investigated. The best results were obtained at pH=8.5. The increase of the pulp alkalinity has no essential effect on the indexes of the barite enrichment. Conditional concentrate of the barite is obtained by two fold purification of the main flotation concentrate by the addition of the liquid glass to the re-purification operations. On the basis of laboratory investigations for silver-containing ores of David-Gareji deposit the technological scheme is recommended which implies the ore milling to 82 % class -074 mm, flotation of the silver minerals and the barite flotation from the tails of this operation by two-fold re-purification of the rough concentrate. The optimal parameters of the receipt of the reagent regime are: potassium butylxantogenate and pine oil-in the silver flotation; sodium carbonate, liquid glass, “Baritol”- in the barite main flotation and liquid glass in the repurification operations. Silver concentrate containing 680 g/ton of silver by extraction of 92.21% and barite concentrate, content - 92.11%, extraction - 81.85% are obtained.

Characterisation and classification of solid wastes coming from reductive acid leaching of low-grade manganiferous ore.

PubMed

De Michelis, Ida; Ferella, Francesco; Beolchini, Francesca; Olivieri, Agostino; Vegliò, Francesco

2009-03-15

The present work was focused on the acid leaching process for manganese extraction in reducing environment to low-grade manganiferous ore that comes from Central Italy. The aim of this study was to establish optimum leaching operating conditions to reduce treatment costs of waste or, even better, to allow a waste valorisation as raw materials for other applications. Consequently, the main focus of the work was the characterization and classification of the solid wastes coming from the process carried out at different operating conditions; at the same moment the effect of process parameters on Mn extraction was also analysed. The effect of particles size on the manganese extraction in reductive acid leaching process was investigated, by using lactose as reducing agent. Particle size did not show a large influence on the Mn extraction yields in the investigated process conditions. This aspect suggests the use of the leaching waste for civil and/or environmental application: use of leaching solid wastes like filling material is to be applied, for example, for environmental restoration. The classification of the solid wastes, according to the Italian Laws about Release Test (RT), has demonstrated that the solid waste produced by leaching can be classifiable as "hazardous special waste". An improvement of solid washing let to reduce the SO(4)(2-) and an appropriate treatment is necessary to reduce the dangerousness of these solids. Possible application of ore and waste as raw materials in the ceramic industry was demonstrated not to be feasible.

Escondida Mine, Chile

NASA Image and Video Library

2001-10-22

This ASTER image covers 30 by 37 km in the Atacama Desert, Chile and was acquired on April 23, 2000. The Escondida Cu-Au-Ag open-pit mine is at an elevation of 3050 m, and came on stream in 1990. Current capacity is 127,000 tons/day of ore; in 1999 production totaled 827,000 tons of copper, 150,000 ounces of gold and 3.53 million ounces of silver. Primary concentration of the ore is done on-site; the concentrate is then sent to the coast for further processing through a 170 km long, 9 pipe. Escondida is related geologically to three porphyry bodies intruded along the Chilean West Fissure Fault System. A high grade supergene cap overlies primary sulfide ore. This image is a conventional 3-2-1 RGB composite. Figure 1 displays SWIR bands 4-6-8 in RGB, and highlights lithologic and alteration differences of surface units. The image is located at 24.3 degrees south latitude and 69.1 degrees west longitude. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA11090

The dilemma of the Jiaodong gold deposits: Are they unique?

USGS Publications Warehouse

Goldfarb, Richard J.; Santosh, M.

2013-01-01

The ca. 126–120 Ma Au deposits of the Jiaodong Peninsula, eastern China, define the country's largest gold province with an overall endowment estimated as >3000 t Au. The vein and disseminated ores are hosted by NE- to NNE-trending brittle normal faults that parallel the margins of ca. 165–150 Ma, deeply emplaced, lower crustal melt granites. The deposits are sited along the faults for many tens of kilometers and the larger orebodies are associated with dilatational jogs. Country rocks to the granites are Precambrian high-grade metamorphic rocks located on both sides of a Triassic suture between the North and South China blocks. During early Mesozoic convergent deformation, the ore-hosting structures developed as ductile thrust faults that were subsequently reactivated during Early Cretaceous “Yanshanian” intracontinental extensional deformation and associated gold formation.Classification of the gold deposits remains problematic. Many features resemble those typical of orogenic Au including the linear structural distribution of the deposits, mineralization style, ore and alteration assemblages, and ore fluid chemistry. However, Phanerozoic orogenic Au deposits are formed by prograde metamorphism of accreted oceanic rocks in Cordilleran-style orogens. The Jiaodong deposits, in contrast, formed within two Precambrian blocks approximately 2 billion years after devolatilization of the country rocks, and thus require a model that involves alternative fluid and metal sources for the ores. A widespread suite of ca. 130–123 Ma granodiorites overlaps temporally with the ores, but shows a poor spatial association with the deposits. Furthermore, the deposit distribution and mineralization style is atypical of ores formed from nearby magmas. The ore concentration requires fluid focusing during some type of sub-crustal thermal event, which could be broadly related to a combination of coeval lithospheric thinning, asthenospheric upwelling, paleo-Pacific plate subduction, and seismicity along the continental-scale Tan-Lu fault. Possible ore genesis scenarios include those where ore fluids were produced directly by the metamorphism of oceanic lithosphere and overlying sediment on the subducting paleo-Pacific slab, or by devolatilization of an enriched mantle wedge above the slab. Both the sulfur and gold could be sourced from either the oceanic sediments or the serpentinized mantle. A better understanding of the architecture of the paleo-Pacific slab during Early Cretaceous below the eastern margin of China is essential to determination of the validity of possible models.

Chemical and Sr isotopic characterization of North America uranium ores: Nuclear forensic applications

DOE PAGES

Balboni, Enrica; Jones, Nina; Spano, Tyler; ...

2016-08-31

This study reports major, minor, and trace element data and Sr isotope ratios for 11 uranium ore (uraninite, UO 2+x) samples and one processed uranium ore concentrate (UOC) from various U.S. deposits. The uraninite investigated represent ores formed via different modes of mineralization (e.g., high- and low-temperature) and within various geological contexts, which include magmatic pegmatites, metamorphic rocks, sandstone-hosted, and roll front deposits. In situ trace element data obtained by laser ablation-ICP-MS and bulk sample Sr isotopic ratios for uraninite samples investigated here indicate distinct signatures that are highly dependent on the mode of mineralization and host rock geology. Relativemore » to their high-temperature counterparts, low-temperature uranium ores record high U/Th ratios (>1000), low total rare earth element (REE) abundances (<1 wt%), high contents (>300 ppm) of first row transition metals (Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni), and radiogenic 87Sr/ 86Sr ratios (>0.7200). Comparison of chondrite normalized REE patterns between uraninite and corresponding processed UOC from the same locality indicates identical patterns at different absolute concentrations. Lastly, this result ultimately confirms the importance of establishing geochemical signatures of raw, uranium ore materials for attribution purposes in the forensic analysis of intercepted nuclear materials.« less

Chemical and Sr isotopic characterization of North America uranium ores: Nuclear forensic applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Balboni, Enrica; Jones, Nina; Spano, Tyler

This study reports major, minor, and trace element data and Sr isotope ratios for 11 uranium ore (uraninite, UO 2+x) samples and one processed uranium ore concentrate (UOC) from various U.S. deposits. The uraninite investigated represent ores formed via different modes of mineralization (e.g., high- and low-temperature) and within various geological contexts, which include magmatic pegmatites, metamorphic rocks, sandstone-hosted, and roll front deposits. In situ trace element data obtained by laser ablation-ICP-MS and bulk sample Sr isotopic ratios for uraninite samples investigated here indicate distinct signatures that are highly dependent on the mode of mineralization and host rock geology. Relativemore » to their high-temperature counterparts, low-temperature uranium ores record high U/Th ratios (>1000), low total rare earth element (REE) abundances (<1 wt%), high contents (>300 ppm) of first row transition metals (Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni), and radiogenic 87Sr/ 86Sr ratios (>0.7200). Comparison of chondrite normalized REE patterns between uraninite and corresponding processed UOC from the same locality indicates identical patterns at different absolute concentrations. Lastly, this result ultimately confirms the importance of establishing geochemical signatures of raw, uranium ore materials for attribution purposes in the forensic analysis of intercepted nuclear materials.« less

Arc-related porphyry molybdenum deposit model: Chapter D in Mineral deposit models for resource assessment

USGS Publications Warehouse

Taylor, Ryan D.; Hammarstrom, Jane M.; Piatak, Nadine M.; Seal, Robert R.

2012-01-01

Geoenvironmental concerns are generally low because of low volumes of sulfide minerals. Most deposits are marginally acid-generating to non-acid-generating with drainage waters being near-neutral pH because of the acid generating potential of pyrite being partially buffered by late-stage calcite-bearing veins. The low ore content results in a waste:ore ratio of nearly 1:1 and large tailings piles from the open-pit method of mining.

Comprehensive Utilization of Iron and Phosphorus from High-Phosphorus Refractory Iron Ore

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Yongsheng; Zhang, Qi; Han, Yuexin; Gao, Peng; Li, Guofeng

2018-02-01

An innovative process of coal-based reduction followed by magnetic separation and dephosphorization was developed to simultaneously recover iron and phosphorus from one typical high-phosphorus refractory iron ore. The experimental results showed that the iron minerals in iron ore were reduced to metallic iron during the coal-based reduction and the phosphorus was enriched in the metallic iron phase. The CaO-SiO2-FeO-Al2O3 slag system was used in the dephosphorization of metallic iron. A hot metal of 99.17% Fe and 0.10% P was produced with Fe recovery of 84.41%. Meanwhile, a dephosphorization slag of 5.72% P was obtained with P recovery of 67.23%. The contents of impurities in hot metal were very low, and it could be used as feedstock for steelmaking after a secondary refining. Phosphorus in the dephosphorization slag mainly existed in the form of a 5CaO·P2O5·SiO2 solid solution where the P2O5 content is 13.10%. At a slag particle size of 20.7 μm (90% passing), 94.54% of the P2O5 could be solubilized in citric acid, indicating the slag met the feedstock requirements in phosphate fertilizer production. Consequently, the proposed process achieved simultaneous Fe and P recovery, paving the way to comprehensive utilization of high-phosphorus refractory iron ore.

Occurrence of Uranium Ores in the Schist Formation of the Pre-Ordovician Portugal; OCCURENCE DE MINERAIS D'URANIUM DANS LES FORMATIONS DE SCHISTES ANTE-ORDOVICIENS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lobato, C.P.; Ferrao, C.N.

1959-10-31

The occurrence of uranium ores in concentrations of economical interest in the pre-ordovician schists was noted by the first time, in the region of Pinhel, in November 1958. The occurrence is situated in a zone of graphitic brown-greyish schists which are enclosed in a formation of gneiss with tourmaline near the contact of the latter with the hercinian granite, which constitutes the Beiras' Massif. The uraniferous mineralization is constituted by autunite down to the depth which has been reached by the explorntion work. The radiometric study and the sampling taken nt the depth of about ten meters suggest the continuitymore » of the structure and the persistence of the mineralization associated with it. The structural type and the distribution of the mineralization in the joints and the brecciated zone of the schists suggest that the deposition of uranium ore is not syngenetic, but, rather, that it is attribated to the circulation of mineralized solutions through the breakage produced along the hypothermal veilns, in a posterior reopening connected to the last movements of the alpidic orogenesis. The content obtained in the sampling reveals the existence of an enlarged ore deposit following the directions of the schistosity, wfth an extension of 140 meters and with the medium content of 0.27% U/sub 3/O/ sub 8/. (auth)« less

Preliminary investigation of the elemental variation and diagenesis of a tabular uranium deposit, La Sal Mine, San Juan County, Utah

USGS Publications Warehouse

Brooks, Robert A.; Campbell, John A.

1976-01-01

Ore in the La Sal mine, San Juan County, Utah, occurs as a typical tabular-type uranium deposit of the-Colorado Plateau. Uranium-vanadium occurs in the Salt Wash Member of the Jurassic Morrison Formation. Chemical and petrographic analyses were used to determine elemental variation and diagenetic aspects across the orebody. Vanadium is concentrated in the dark clay matrix, which constitutes visible ore. Uranium content is greater above the vanadium zone. Calcium, carbonate carbon, and lead show greater than fifty-fold increase across the ore zone, whereas copper and organic carbon show only a several-fold increase. Large molybdenum concentrations are present in and above the tabular layer, and large selenium concentrations occur below the uranium zone within the richest vanadium zone. Iron is enriched in the vanadium horizon. Chromium is depleted from above the ore and strongly enriched below. Elements that vary directly with the vanadium content include magnesium, iron, selenium, zirconium, strontium, titanium, lead, boron, yttrium, and scandium. The diagenetic sequence is as follows: (1) formation of secondary quartz overgrowths as cement; (2) infilling and lining of remaining pores with amber opaline material; (3) formation of vanadium-rich clay matrix, which has replaced overgrowths as well as quartz grains; (4) replacement of overgrowths and detrital grains by calcite; (5) infilling of pores with barite and the introduction of pyrite and marcasite.

Medical Experts and Agnotology in the Fumes Controversy of the Huelva Copper Mines (1888–1890)

PubMed Central

Guillem-Llobat, Ximo

2017-01-01

Huelva’s copper mines (Spain) have been active for centuries but in the second half of the nineteenth century extractive activities in Riotinto, Tharsis, and other mines in the region were intensified in order to reach world leadership. The method used in these mines for copper extraction from low grade ores generated continuous emissions of fumes that were extremely controversial. The inhabitants had complained about the fumes for decades but as activity intensified so did complaints. The killing of anti-fumes demonstrators in 1888 led to the passing of a Royal Decree banning the open-air roasting of ore and to the drafting of numerous reports on the hazards of the fumes. Major state and provincial medical institutions, as well as renowned hygienists and engineers, took part in the assessment, contributing to a scientific controversy especially rich in content. In my paper I will analyse the production and circulation of knowledge and ignorance about the impact of fumes on public health, as well as the role of medical experts and expertise in the controversy. The analysis will focus on the reports drafted between the 1888 ban and its 1890 repeal, and will show the changing nature of the expert assessment and the numerous paths followed by experts in producing ignorance. The paper will conclude by considering other stakeholders, who may shed some light on the reasons behind the performance of the medical experts. PMID:28604295

Effect of mineral constituents in the bioleaching of uranium from uraniferous sedimentary rock samples, Southwestern Sinai, Egypt.

PubMed

Amin, Maisa M; Elaassy, Ibrahim E; El-Feky, Mohamed G; Sallam, Abdel Sattar M; Talaat, Mona S; Kawady, Nilly A

2014-08-01

Bioleaching, like Biotechnology uses microorganisms to extract metals from their ore materials, whereas microbial activity has an appreciable effect on the dissolution of toxic metals and radionuclides. Bioleaching of uranium was carried out with isolated fungi from uraniferous sedimentary rocks from Southwestern Sinai, Egypt. Eight fungal species were isolated from different grades of uraniferous samples. The bio-dissolution experiments showed that Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus terreus exhibited the highest leaching efficiencies of uranium from the studied samples. Through monitoring the bio-dissolution process, the uranium grade and mineralogic constituents of the ore material proved to play an important role in the bioleaching process. The tested samples asserted that the optimum conditions of uranium leaching are: 7 days incubation time, 3% pulp density, 30 °C incubation temperature and pH 3. Both fungi produced the organic acids, namely; oxalic, acetic, citric, formic, malonic, galic and ascorbic in the culture filtrate, indicating an important role in the bioleaching processes. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Silver recovery aqueous techniques from diverse sources: Hydrometallurgy in recycling.

PubMed

Syed, S

2016-04-01

The demand of silver is ever increasing with the advance of the industrialized world, whereas worldwide reserves of high grade silver ores are retreating. However, there exist large stashes of low and lean grade silver ores that are yet to be exploited. The main impression of this work was to draw attention to the most advance technologies in silver recovery and recycling from various sources. The state of the art in recovery of silver from different sources by hydrometallurgical and bio-metallurgical processing and varieties of leaching, cementing, reducing agents, peeling, electro-coagulants, adsorbents, electro-dialysis, solvent extraction, ion exchange resins and bio sorbents are highlighted in this article. It is shown that the major economic driver for recycling of depleted sources is for the recovery of silver. In order to develop an nature-friendly technique for the recovery of silver from diverse sources, a critical comparison of existing technologies is analyzed for both economic viability and environmental impact was made in this amendment and silver ion toxicity is highlighted. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Recovery of manganese from manganese oxide ores in the EDTA solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Chao; Wang, Shuai; Cao, Zhan-fang; Zhong, Hong

2018-04-01

A new process has been experimentally and theoretically established for the recovery of manganese from manganese oxide ores, mainly including the reductive leaching of manganese by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), EDTA recovery, and manganese electrolysis. The experimental conditions for this process were investigated. Moderate leaching environment by EDTA with the pH in the range of 5-6 is of benefit to leach manganese from some manganese oxide ores with high-content impurities, such as iron and aluminum. Most of EDTA can be recovered by acidification. A small amount of the residual EDTA in the electrolyte can prevent the generation of anode mud. In addition, trimanganese tetroxide (Mn3O4) can be obtained by the roasting of the EDTA-Mn crystallized product.

LEACHING OF URANIUM ORES USING ALKALINE CARBONATES AND BICARBONATES AT ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE

DOEpatents

Thunaes, A.; Brown, E.A.; Rabbits, A.T.; Simard, R.; Herbst, H.J.

1961-07-18

A method of leaching uranium ores containing sulfides is described. The method consists of adding a leach solution containing alkaline carbonate and alkaline bicarbonate to the ore to form a slurry, passing the slurry through a series of agitators, passing an oxygen containing gas through the slurry in the last agitator in the series, passing the same gas enriched with carbon dioxide formed by the decomposition of bicarbonates in the slurry through the penultimate agitator and in the same manner passing the same gas increasingly enriched with carbon dioxide through the other agitators in the series. The conditions of agitation is such that the extraction of the uranium content will be substantially complete before the slurry reaches the last agitator.

Testing ore deposit models using in situ U-Pb geochronology of hydrothermal monazite: Paleoproterozoic gold mineralization in northern Australia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rasmussen, Birger; Sheppard, Stephen; Fletcher, Ian R.

2006-02-01

The inability to establish absolute ages for gold deposition in the Pine Creek orogen of northern Australia has led to conflicting ore deposit models, ranging from intrusion related, which predict that gold mineralization was synchronous with granite magmatism (ca. 1835 1820 Ma), to orogenic, which place ore deposition nearly 100 m.y. later. Here we present ion microprobe U-Pb geochronology for a mineralized quartz reef from Tom's Gully mine, Mount Bundey, Northern Territory, Australia, and nearby granitic rocks and associated contact aureoles. Isotopic dating of zircon and monazite indicates that intrusion and contact metamorphism occurred ca. 1825 Ma, whereas hydrothermal monazite from the auriferous quartz reef gives a mean 207Pb/206Pb age of 1780 ± 10 Ma, interpreted as the time of gold mineralization. Mineralization therefore postdated intrusion by ˜45 m.y. and preceded a postulated ca. 1740 1730 Ma cratonwide orogenic gold event by ˜50 m.y. Hence, neither the intrusion-related model nor the recently proposed orogenic model is applicable. Combined with a reevaluation of age data from the nearby Goodall gold deposit, our data suggest that mineralization coincides with, and may be related to, an episode of regional low-grade metamorphism, deformation, and fluid circulation (Shoobridge event). Our results demonstrate the importance of high-precision in situ geochronology and detailed petrography for deciphering age relationships in ore deposits, and of testing the veracity of models for ore formation.

A hybrid neural networks-fuzzy logic-genetic algorithm for grade estimation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tahmasebi, Pejman; Hezarkhani, Ardeshir

2012-05-01

The grade estimation is a quite important and money/time-consuming stage in a mine project, which is considered as a challenge for the geologists and mining engineers due to the structural complexities in mineral ore deposits. To overcome this problem, several artificial intelligence techniques such as Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and Fuzzy Logic (FL) have recently been employed with various architectures and properties. However, due to the constraints of both methods, they yield the desired results only under the specific circumstances. As an example, one major problem in FL is the difficulty of constructing the membership functions (MFs).Other problems such as architecture and local minima could also be located in ANN designing. Therefore, a new methodology is presented in this paper for grade estimation. This method which is based on ANN and FL is called "Coactive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System" (CANFIS) which combines two approaches, ANN and FL. The combination of these two artificial intelligence approaches is achieved via the verbal and numerical power of intelligent systems. To improve the performance of this system, a Genetic Algorithm (GA) - as a well-known technique to solve the complex optimization problems - is also employed to optimize the network parameters including learning rate, momentum of the network and the number of MFs for each input. A comparison of these techniques (ANN, Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System or ANFIS) with this new method (CANFIS-GA) is also carried out through a case study in Sungun copper deposit, located in East-Azerbaijan, Iran. The results show that CANFIS-GA could be a faster and more accurate alternative to the existing time-consuming methodologies for ore grade estimation and that is, therefore, suggested to be applied for grade estimation in similar problems.

A hybrid neural networks-fuzzy logic-genetic algorithm for grade estimation

PubMed Central

Tahmasebi, Pejman; Hezarkhani, Ardeshir

2012-01-01

The grade estimation is a quite important and money/time-consuming stage in a mine project, which is considered as a challenge for the geologists and mining engineers due to the structural complexities in mineral ore deposits. To overcome this problem, several artificial intelligence techniques such as Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and Fuzzy Logic (FL) have recently been employed with various architectures and properties. However, due to the constraints of both methods, they yield the desired results only under the specific circumstances. As an example, one major problem in FL is the difficulty of constructing the membership functions (MFs).Other problems such as architecture and local minima could also be located in ANN designing. Therefore, a new methodology is presented in this paper for grade estimation. This method which is based on ANN and FL is called “Coactive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System” (CANFIS) which combines two approaches, ANN and FL. The combination of these two artificial intelligence approaches is achieved via the verbal and numerical power of intelligent systems. To improve the performance of this system, a Genetic Algorithm (GA) – as a well-known technique to solve the complex optimization problems – is also employed to optimize the network parameters including learning rate, momentum of the network and the number of MFs for each input. A comparison of these techniques (ANN, Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System or ANFIS) with this new method (CANFIS–GA) is also carried out through a case study in Sungun copper deposit, located in East-Azerbaijan, Iran. The results show that CANFIS–GA could be a faster and more accurate alternative to the existing time-consuming methodologies for ore grade estimation and that is, therefore, suggested to be applied for grade estimation in similar problems. PMID:25540468

Improvement in gold grade from iron-oxide mineral using reduction roasting and magnetic separation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Hyun-soo; On, Hyun-sung; Lim, Dae-hack; Myung, Eun-ji; Park, Cheon-young

2017-04-01

Microwave has a wide range of applications in mineral technology, metallurgy, etc. It is an established fact that microwave energy has potential for the speedy and efficient heating of minerals and in a commercial context may provide savings in both time and energy. Microwave heating is being developed as a potential thermal pre-treatment process, because of its unique advantages over the differences of ore minerals in absorbing microwaves. The aim of this study was to investigate the improvement in Au grade from iron-oxide mineral using reduction roasting and magnetic separation. The characteristics of iron-oxide mineral were analyzed using chemical, XRD and reflected light microscopy. The reduction roasting using microwave and magnetic separation experiments were examined under various conditions (reducing agent and chemical additive). The results of XRD and reflected light microscopy showed that the iron-oxide mineral mainly composed of illite, quartz and hematite. The iron-oxide mineral had an Au, Ag, Fe contents of 6.4, 35.1 and 155,441.1 mg/kg, respectively. The results demonstrated that the improvement in Au by reduction roasting using microwave (frequency of 2.45GHz, intensity of 5kW) and magnetic separation (magnetic field intensity of 9,000 Gauss) were effective processes. The Au content in iron-oxide mineral from 6.4 mg/kg to 14.2 mg/kg was achieved within microwave exposure time of 10min (reducing agent(PAC) ratio = 50 : 50, 5% of chemical additive(Soda ash)). Acknowledgment : This subject is supported by Korea Ministry of Environment as "Advanced Technology Program for Environmental Industry"

Metamorphism, graphite crystallinity, and sulfide anatexis of the Rampura-Agucha massive sulfide deposit, northwestern India

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishra, Biswajit; Bernhardt, Heinz-Jurgen

2009-02-01

Located adjacent to the Banded Gneissic Complex, Rampura-Agucha is the only sulfide ore deposit discovered to date within the Precambrian basement gneisses of Rajasthan. The massive Zn-(Pb) sulfide orebody occurs within graphite-biotite-sillimanite schist along with garnet-biotite-sillimanite gneiss, calc-silicate gneisses, amphibolites, and garnet-bearing leucosomes. Plagioclase-hornblende thermometry in amphibolites yielded a peak metamorphic temperature of 720-780°C, whereas temperatures obtained from Fe-Mg exchange between garnet and biotite (580-610°C) in the pelites correspond to postpeak resetting. Thermodynamic considerations of pertinent silicate equilibria, coupled with sphalerite geobarometry, furnished part of a clockwise P- T- t path with peak P- T of ˜6.2 kbar and 780°C, attained during granulite grade metamorphism of the major Zn-rich stratiform sedimentary exhalative deposits orebody and its host rocks. Arsenopyrite composition in the metamorphosed ore yielded a temperature [and log f( S 2)] range of 352°C (-8.2) to 490°C (-4.64), thus indicating its retrograde nature. Contrary to earlier research on the retrogressed nature of graphite, Raman spectroscopic studies on graphite in the metamorphosed ore reveal variable degree of preservation of prograde graphite crystals (490 ± 43°C with a maximum at 593°C). The main orebody is mineralogically simple (sphalerite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, galena), deformed and metamorphosed while the Pb-Ag-rich sulfosalt-bearing veins and pods that are irregularly distributed within the hanging wall calc-silicate gneisses show no evidence of deformation and metamorphism. The sulfosalt minerals identified include freibergite, boulangerite, pyrargyrite, stephanite, diaphorite, Mn-jamesonite, Cu-free meneghinite, and semseyite; the last three are reported from Agucha for the first time. Stability relations of Cu-free meneghinite and semseyite in the Pb-Ag-rich ores constrain temperatures at >550°C and <300°C, respectively. Features such as (1) low galena-sphalerite interfacial angles, (2) presence of multiphase sulfide-sulfosalt inclusions, (3) microcracks filled with galena (±pyrargyrite) without any hydrothermal alteration, and (4) high contents of Zn, Ag (and Sb) in galena, indicate partial melting in the PbS-Fe0.96S-ZnS-(1% Ag2S ± CuFeS2) system, which was critical for metamorphic remobilization of the Rampura-Agucha deposit.

Carbothermic Aluminum Production Using Scrap Aluminum As A Coolant

DOEpatents

LaCamera, Alfred F.

2002-11-05

A process for producing aluminum metal by carbothermic reduction of alumina ore. Alumina ore is heated in the presence of carbon at an elevated temperature to produce an aluminum metal body contaminated with about 10-30% by wt. aluminum carbide. Aluminum metal or aluminum alloy scrap then is added to bring the temperature to about 900-1000.degree. C. and precipitate out aluminum carbide. The precipitated aluminum carbide is filtered, decanted, or fluxed with salt to form a molten body having reduced aluminum carbide content.

Wind Transport of Radionuclide- Bearing Dust, Peña Blanca, Chihuahua, Mexico

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Velarde, R.; Goodell, P. C.; Gill, T. E.; Arimoto, R.

2007-05-01

This investigation evaluates radionuclide fractionation during wind erosion of high-grade uranium ore storage piles at Peña Blanca (50km north of Chihuahua City), Chihuahua, Mexico. The aridity of the local environment promotes dust resuspension by high winds. Although active operations ceased in 1983, the Peña Blanca mining district is one of Mexico`s most important uranium ore reserves. The study site contains piles of high grade ore, left loose on the surface, and separated by the specific deposits from which they were derived (Margaritas, Nopal I, and Puerto I). Similar locations do not exist in the United States, since uranium mining sites in the USA have been reclaimed. The Peña Blanca site serves as an analog for the Yucca Mountain project. Dust deposition is collected at Peña Blanca with BSNE sediment catchers (Fryrear, 1986) and marble dust traps (Reheis, 1999). These devices capture windblown sediment; subsequently, the sample data will help quantify potentially radioactive short term field sediment loss from the repository surface and determine sediment flux. Aerosols and surface materials will be analyzed and radioactivity levels established utilizing techniques such as gamma spectroscopy. As a result, we will be able to estimate how much radionuclide contaminated dust is being transported or attached geochemically to fine grain soils or minerals (e.g., clays or iron oxides). The high-grade uranium-bearing material is at secular equilibrium, thus the entire decay series is present. Of resulting interest is not only the aeolian transport of uranium, but also of the other daughter products. These studies will improve our understanding of geochemical cycling of radionuclides with respect to sources, transport, and deposition. The results may also have important implications for the geosciences and homeland security, and potential applications to public health. Funding for this project is provided in part via a NSF grant to Arimoto.

Gold in the Black Hills, South Dakota, and how new deposits might be found

USGS Publications Warehouse

Norton, James Jennings

1974-01-01

Of the recorded production of 34,694,552 troy ounces of gold mined in South Dakota through 1971, about 90 percent has come from Precambrian ore bodies in the Homestake mine at Lead in the northern Black Hills. Most of the rest has come from ore deposited in the Deadwood Formation (Cambrian) by hydrothermal replacement during early Tertiary igneous activity. About 99 percent of the total production has been within a radius of 5 miles (8 km) of Lead. Elsewhere, prospecting has been intense, both in the Precambrian rocks, which are exposed over an area 61 by 26 miles (98 by 42 km), and in nearby Paleozoic rocks. All the known ore bodies have been found either at the surface or in subsurface workings of operating mines. Efforts to find totally new deposits have been modest and sporadic; no comprehensive and systematic program has ever been attempted. Obviously, any exploration program should be aimed at finding a new deposit resembling the Homestake in the Precambrian, but discovery in the Deadwood of a new group of ore bodies containing several hundred thousand ounces of gold would certainly be worthwhile. Evidence has long been available that the Deadwood deposits and the Homestake deposit are somehow related. Current opinion is that (1) the Homestake ore is mainly Precambrian, (2) a trivial amount of Homestake ore is Tertiary, (3)gold in Deadwood basal conglomerate is largely of placer origin, and (4) the gold of replacement deposits in the Deadwood and in other rock units came originally from sources similar to the Homestake deposit or its parent materials. Homestake ore is virtually entirely contained in a unit of iron-formation locally known as the Homestake Formation, which seemingly had more gold in the original sediments than similar rocks exposed elsewhere in the Black Hills. Gold, sulfur, and other constituents were subsequently concentrated in ore shoots in zones of dilation caused by cross folds that deformed earlier major folds. These ore shoots are in metamorphic rocks of a grade just above the garnet isograd, in a zone where the principal iron-magnesium mineral of the iron-formation changes from a carbonate (sideroplesite) to a silicate (cummingtonite). This metamorphic reaction would release carbon dioxide to the fluid that presumably formed the ore bodies. In short, three controls over localization of the ore have been identified: (1) the cross folds; (2) the so-called Homestake Formation, which passes beneath Paleozoic rocks north of Lead and has not been proved to reappear anywhere else in the Black Hills (Other units of iron-formation less enriched in gold might locally become more like the Homestake Formation beneath the cover of Paleozoic rocks.}; (3} proximity to the garnet isograd--nearly all the exposed Precambrian rocks in the Black Hills are at a metamorphic grade higher than this isograd--and occurrence of this isograd zone mostly beneath Paleozoic rocks. In searching for new deposits, one can guess from existing data where Precambrian rocks of suitable nature may be concealed. The usefulness of such guesses can be increased if they are made with information about the distribution of gold in younger rocks. Gold in the Deadwood basal conglomerate would be the simplest indicator of a deposit once exposed on the pre-Deadwood surface. Tertiary replacement deposits in the Deadwood or other rocks, which obtained their gold from Precambrian sources that may be nearby or far away, can also be helpful; they, like anomalies found by geochemical sampling, at least outline the regions of mineralizing activity. A suitable approach to exploration is to make a thorough study of the stratigraphy, the structure, and the metals geochemistry of the Deadwood Formation and associated rocks, chiefly in the northern Black Hills but to a lesser extent elsewhere in localities where the Precambrian geology seems promising and where gold has been found nearby. Such a program, even if it does not yield

High sensitivity of metal footprint to national GDP in part explained by capital formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Xinzhu; Wang, Ranran; Wood, Richard; Wang, Can; Hertwich, Edgar G.

2018-04-01

Global metal ore extraction tripled between 1970 and 2010 as metals are widely used in new infrastructure and advanced technology. Meanwhile, the energy and environmental costs of metal mining increase as lower ore grades are being exploited. The domestic use of metals has been found to reach a plateau when gross domestic product reaches US15,000 per person. Here we present a quantification of the annual metal footprint (that is, the amount of metal ore extracted to satisfy the final demand of a country, including metals used abroad to produce goods that are then imported, and excluding metals used domestically to produce exports) for 43 large economies during 1995-2013. We use a panel analysis to assess short-term drivers of changes in metal footprint, and find that a 1% rise in gross domestic product raises the metal footprint by as much as 1.9% in the same year. Further, every percentage point increase in gross capital formation as a share of gross domestic product increased the metal footprint by 2% when controlling for gross domestic product. Other socioeconomic variables did not significantly influence the metal footprint. Finding ways to break the strong coupling of economic development and investment with metal ore extraction may be required to ensure resource access and a low-carbon future.

The shift of microbial communities and their roles in sulfur and iron cycling in a copper ore bioleaching system.

PubMed

Niu, Jiaojiao; Deng, Jie; Xiao, Yunhua; He, Zhili; Zhang, Xian; Van Nostrand, J D; Liang, Yili; Deng, Ye; Liu, Xueduan; Yin, Huaqun

2016-10-04

Bioleaching has been employed commercially to recover metals from low grade ores, but the production efficiency remains to be improved due to limited understanding of the system. This study examined the shift of microbial communities and S&Fe cycling in three subsystems within a copper ore bioleaching system: leaching heap (LH), leaching solution (LS) and sediment under LS. Results showed that both LH and LS had higher relative abundance of S and Fe oxidizing bacteria, while S and Fe reducing bacteria were more abundant in the Sediment. GeoChip analysis showed a stronger functional potential for S 0 oxidation in LH microbial communities. These findings were consistent with measured oxidation activities to S 0 and Fe 2+ , which were highest by microbial communities from LH, lower by those from LS and lowest form Sediment. Moreover, phylogenetic molecular ecological network analysis indicated that these differences might be related to interactions among microbial taxa. Last but not the least, a conceptual model was proposed, linking the S&Fe cycling with responsible microbial populations in the bioleaching systems. Collectively, this study revealed the microbial community and functional structures in all three subsystems of the copper ore, and advanced a holistic understanding of the whole bioleaching system.

The shift of microbial communities and their roles in sulfur and iron cycling in a copper ore bioleaching system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niu, Jiaojiao; Deng, Jie; Xiao, Yunhua; He, Zhili; Zhang, Xian; van Nostrand, J. D.; Liang, Yili; Deng, Ye; Liu, Xueduan; Yin, Huaqun

2016-10-01

Bioleaching has been employed commercially to recover metals from low grade ores, but the production efficiency remains to be improved due to limited understanding of the system. This study examined the shift of microbial communities and S&Fe cycling in three subsystems within a copper ore bioleaching system: leaching heap (LH), leaching solution (LS) and sediment under LS. Results showed that both LH and LS had higher relative abundance of S and Fe oxidizing bacteria, while S and Fe reducing bacteria were more abundant in the Sediment. GeoChip analysis showed a stronger functional potential for S0 oxidation in LH microbial communities. These findings were consistent with measured oxidation activities to S0 and Fe2+, which were highest by microbial communities from LH, lower by those from LS and lowest form Sediment. Moreover, phylogenetic molecular ecological network analysis indicated that these differences might be related to interactions among microbial taxa. Last but not the least, a conceptual model was proposed, linking the S&Fe cycling with responsible microbial populations in the bioleaching systems. Collectively, this study revealed the microbial community and functional structures in all three subsystems of the copper ore, and advanced a holistic understanding of the whole bioleaching system.

The shift of microbial communities and their roles in sulfur and iron cycling in a copper ore bioleaching system

PubMed Central

Niu, Jiaojiao; Deng, Jie; Xiao, Yunhua; He, Zhili; Zhang, Xian; Van Nostrand, J. D.; Liang, Yili; Deng, Ye; Liu, Xueduan; Yin, Huaqun

2016-01-01

Bioleaching has been employed commercially to recover metals from low grade ores, but the production efficiency remains to be improved due to limited understanding of the system. This study examined the shift of microbial communities and S&Fe cycling in three subsystems within a copper ore bioleaching system: leaching heap (LH), leaching solution (LS) and sediment under LS. Results showed that both LH and LS had higher relative abundance of S and Fe oxidizing bacteria, while S and Fe reducing bacteria were more abundant in the Sediment. GeoChip analysis showed a stronger functional potential for S0 oxidation in LH microbial communities. These findings were consistent with measured oxidation activities to S0 and Fe2+, which were highest by microbial communities from LH, lower by those from LS and lowest form Sediment. Moreover, phylogenetic molecular ecological network analysis indicated that these differences might be related to interactions among microbial taxa. Last but not the least, a conceptual model was proposed, linking the S&Fe cycling with responsible microbial populations in the bioleaching systems. Collectively, this study revealed the microbial community and functional structures in all three subsystems of the copper ore, and advanced a holistic understanding of the whole bioleaching system. PMID:27698381

Techno-Economic Assessment for Integrating Biosorption into Rare Earth Recovery Process

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jiao, Yongqin; Sutherland, John; Jin, Hongyue

The current uncertainty in the global supply of rare earth elements (REEs) necessitates the development of novel extraction technologies that utilize a variety of REE source materials. Herein, we examined the techno-economic performance of integrating a biosorption approach into a large-scale process for producing salable total rare earth oxides (TREOs) from various feedstocks. An airlift bioractor is proposed to carry out a biosorption process mediated by bioengineered rare earth-adsorbing bacteria. Techno-econmic asssements were compared for three distinctive categories of REE feedstocks requiring different pre-processing steps. Key parameters identified that affect profitability include REE concentration, composition of the feedstock, and costsmore » of feedstock pretreatment and waste management. Among the 11 specific feedstocks investigated, coal ash from the Appalachian Basin was projected to be the most profitable, largely due to its high-value REE content. Its cost breakdown includes pre-processing (primarily leaching) (8077.71%), biosorption (1619.04%), and oxalic acid precipitation and TREO roasting (3.35%). Surprisingly, biosorption from the high-grade Bull Hill REE ore is less profitable due to high material cost and low production revenue. Overall, our results confirmed that the application of biosorption to low-grade feedstocks for REE recovery is economically viable.« less

A Late Variscan Sn province: the Arburese region (SW Sardinia, Italy)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naitza, Stefano; Secchi, Francesco; Oggiano, Giacomo; Cuccuru, Stefano

2015-04-01

Late Variscan Sn - rich European provinces (e. g. Erzgebirge, Cornwall) are of particular relevance as they offer key insights into crustal evolution, intrusive processes and ore genesis. In Sardinia (Italy), small Sn deposits are only known in the Arburese historical mining region (SW Sardinia), hosted in low-grade metamorphics close to the contacts with intrusives. This region is characterised by two late variscan intrusions, which differ in age and composition: the Arbus and the Monte Linas pluton, aging 304 ± 1 Ma, and 289 ± 1 Ma respectively. They emplaced at shallow crustal levels and crosscut the basal thrust between the alloctonous prism and the foreland of the Variscan belt of Sardinia. The Arbus Pluton (AP) is a composite intrusion of piroxene- and amphibole- granodiorites hosting minor amounts of monzogabbroic rocks and cordierite-bearing granites with a wide core of leuco-monzogranites. Tourmaline greisens and pegmatites garnish the contact between the border facies and the host metamorphic rocks. The Monte Linas Pluton (MLP) has biotite monzogranite composition. The pluton is internally zoned, from medium grained monzogranite in the core to hololeucocratic fine-grained rock-types at the top, where often F-greisen, fayalite-pegmatite pods and sill are common. In both plutons the igneous associations are high-K ilmenite series, suggesting derivation from low- fO2 magmas possibly linked to a common crustal contribution; however, in the Linas Pluton magnetite in the fine-grained facies may indicate an increase in oxygen fugacity. The AP-related Sn ores consist of high-temperature As-Sn quartz veins. They are vertically zoned, from quartz-chlorite-cassiterite to large quartz-arsenopyrite veins. Ore microscopy and SEM-EDS analyses evidenced a vein texture made of thick idiomorphic and frequently twinned cassiterite crystals, alternated with several generations of banded/geodic quartz. Chlinoclore aggregates are included into the quartz. The arsenopyrite ore shows alternating bands of microgranular to crystalline millimetric arsenopyrite with quartz. Field and analytical data suggest genetic mechanisms dominated by mobilization of residual Sn by chloride and other complexes in reducing, As- and S- rich, low- fO2 juvenile fluids. Cassiterite and successive arsenopyrite precipitation occurred under changing physicochemical conditions (e.g. oxygen contents; temperature decrease; pH). The MLP Sn metallogeny include Sn- Pb-Zn-Cu veins (Canale Serci old mine). Cassiterite occurs as fine-grained corroded crystals. Optical and SEM-EDS analyses evidence a high-temperature oxide stage (quartz-chlorite- cassiterite) followed, after brecciation, by mesothermal sulfide stages, with progressive deposition of sphalerite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite, galena, marcasite. Arsenopyrite is strikingly absent. These evidences indicate possible derivation of the ore from residual, reducing juvenile fluids, capable to carry Sn- complexes from monzogranite magmas from which cassiterite precipitated in consequence of an increasing in fO2. Despite their limited amount, the Sn ores of SW Sardinia have high metallogenic relevance, indicating the persistence, of geochemical conditions,which lasted 15 Ma, favorable to the genesis of a Sn metallogenic province.

Chemical analysis of extracting transition metal oxides from polymetallic ore by sulphate process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Enkh-Uyanga, Otgon-Uul; Munkhtsetseg, Baatar; Urangoo, Urtnasan; Tserendulam, Enkhtur; Agiimaa, Davaadorj

2017-06-01

In this research work we attempt to improve the purity of polymetallic ores in Mongolia whilst developing practical applications of its refinement processes and this paper presents the results of chemical research of extracting transition metal titanium oxides, ferrous oxide and rare earth oxides from polymetallic ore. Thereby, chemical and mineral analysis of polymetallic ore is carried out basis of responses to the support process at various degrees of water whereas transition metal sulphates solubility differ. As a result of sulphate and resulphurization process we have extracted anatase with 62.5 percent titanium dioxide and brookite mineral with 89.6 percent of titanium dioxide as well as mineral with 83.8 percent of ferrous oxide hematite and rare earth oxides with 57.6 percent of cerium oxide. These oxides are identified under various conditions in the thermal processing. The morphology structure and chemical content compound of the mineral has been verified as a result of the XRF, XRD, SEM-EDX analysis.

High-performance reagent modes for flotation recovery of platiniferous copper and nickel sulfides from hard-to-beneficiate ores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matveeva, T. N.; Chanturiya, V. A.

2017-07-01

The paper presents the results of the recent research performed in IPKON Russian Academy of Sciences that deals with development and substantiation of new selective reagents for effective flotation recovery of non-ferrous and noble metals from refractory ores. The choice and development of new selective reagents PTTC, OPDTC, modified butylxanthate (BXm) and modified diethyl-dithiocarbamate (DEDTCm) to float platiniferous copper and nickel sulfide minerals from hard-to-beneficiate ores is substantiated. The mechanism of reagents adsorption and regulation of minerals floatability is discussed. The study of reagent modes indicates that by combining PTTC with the modified xanthate results in 6 - 7 % increase in the recovery of copper, nickel and PGM in the flotation of the low-sulfide platiniferous Cu-Ni ore from the Fedorovo-Panskoye deposit. The substitution of OPDTC for BX makes it possible to increase recovery of Pt by 13 %, Pd by 9 % and 2 - 4 times the noble metal content in the flotation concentrate.

Problems of Determining the Content of Cr(VI) in Raw Materials and Materials Containing Chromite Ore.

PubMed

Stec, Katarzyna

2017-11-02

Materials made with chromite ore are widely applied in the industry metallurgy as well as in the foundry industry. The oxidation number of chromium in these materials is both (III) and (VI). Currently there are no procedures allowing proper determination of chrome in chromite ores and ore-containing materials. The analytical methods applied, which are dedicated to a very narrow range of materials, e.g., cement, and cannot be applied in the case of materials which, apart from trace amounts of Cr(VI), contain mainly compounds of Cr(III), Fe(III) as well as trace compounds of Cu(II), Ni(II) and V(V). In the work particular attention has been paid to the preparation of test samples and creating measurement conditions in which interferences from Cr(III) and Fe(III) spectral lines could be minimized. Two separate instrumental measurement techniques have been applied: Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP AES) and the spectrophotometric method using diphenylcarbazide.

Geological controls on refractory ore in an orogenic gold deposit, Macraes mine, New Zealand

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petrie, B. S.; Craw, D.; Ryan, C. G.

2005-07-01

The Macraes mine is hosted in an orogenic (mesothermal) gold deposit in metasedimentary rocks of the Otago Schist belt. Much gold occurs within altered schist with minimal silica-addition, and this study focuses on altered schist ore types. The unmineralized host schists are chemically and mineralogically uniform in composition, but include two end-member rock types: feldspathic schist and micaceous schist. Both rock types have undergone hydrothermal alteration along a shallow-dipping foliation-parallel shear zone, but their different rheological properties have affected the style of mineralisation. Micaceous schist has been extensively recrystallized and hydrothermally altered during ductile deformation, to form ores characterized by abundant, disseminated millimetre-scale pyrite cubes (typically 1 2 wt% S) and minor silicification. The earliest pyrite contained Ni and/or As in solid solution and no gold was imaged in these pyrites or later arsenopyrite grains. The ore type is refractory and gold recovery by cyanide leaching is less than 50%, with lowest recovery in rocks that have been less affected by later brittle deformation. In contrast, hydrothermally altered feldspathic schist is characterized by mineralised black microshears and veinlets formed during shear-zone related brittle deformation. Microsheared ore has relatively low sulphur content (<0.7 wt%) and muscovite has been illitised during hydrothermal alteration. Pyrite and arsenopyrite in microshears are fractured and deformed, and contain 1 10 μm blebs of gold. Later pyrite veinlets also contain micron- to submicron-scale inclusions of sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena, and gold (≤10 microns). Gold in microsheared ore is more readily recoverable than in the refractory ore, although encapsulation of the fine gold grains inhibits cyanidation. Both microsheared ore and disseminated pyritic ore pass laterally into mineralised black shears, which contain hydrothermal graphite and late-stage cataclastic sulphides. This black, sheared ore releases gold readily, but the gold is then adsorbed on to gangue minerals (preg-robbed) and net cyanidation recovery can be less than 50%. Hence, low gold recovery during cyanidation results from (1) poor liberation of gold encapsulated in microcrystalline quartz and unfractured sulphide grains, and (2) preg-robbing of liberated gold during cyanidation. Introduction of pressure-oxidation of ore prior to cynidation has mitigated these issues.

BOREHOLE NEUTRON ACTIVATION: THE RARE EARTHS.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mikesell, J.L.; Senftle, F.E.

1987-01-01

Neutron-induced borehole gamma-ray spectroscopy has been widely used as a geophysical exploration technique by the petroleum industry, but its use for mineral exploration is not as common. Nuclear methods can be applied to mineral exploration, for determining stratigraphy and bed correlations, for mapping ore deposits, and for studying mineral concentration gradients. High-resolution detectors are essential for mineral exploration, and by using them an analysis of the major element concentrations in a borehole can usually be made. A number of economically important elements can be detected at typical ore-grade concentrations using this method. Because of the application of the rare-earth elements to high-temperature superconductors, these elements are examined in detail as an example of how nuclear techniques can be applied to mineral exploration.

Microbial Beneficiation of Salem Iron Ore Using Penicillium purpurogenum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishra, M.; Pradhan, M.; Sukla, L. B.; Mishra, B. K.

2011-02-01

High alumina and silica content in the iron ore affects coke rate, reducibility, and productivity in a blast furnace. Iron ore is being beneficiated all around the world to meet the quality requirement of iron and steel industries. Choosing a beneficiation treatment depends on the nature of the gangue present and its association with the ore structure. The advanced physicochemical methods used for the beneficiation of iron ore are generally unfriendly to the environment. Biobeneficiation is considered to be ecofriendly, promising, and revolutionary solutions to these problems. A characterization study of Salem iron ore indicates that the major iron-bearing minerals are hematite, magnetite, and goethite. Samples on average contains (pct) Fe2O3-84.40, Fe (total)-59.02, Al2O3-7.18, and SiO2-7.53. Penicillium purpurogenum (MTCC 7356) was used for the experiment . It removed 35.22 pct alumina and 39.41 pct silica in 30 days in a shake flask at 10 pct pulp density, 308 K (35 °C), and 150 rpm. In a bioreactor experiment at 2 kg scale using the same organism, it removed 23.33 pct alumina and 30.54 pct silica in 30 days at 300 rpm agitation and 2 to 3 l/min aeration. Alumina and silica dissolution follow the shrinking core model for both shake flask and bioreactor experiments.

Marine phosphorites as potential resources for heavy rare earth elements and yttrium

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hein, James; Koschinsky, Andrea; Mikesell, Mariah; Mizell, Kira; Glenn, Craig R.; Wood, Ray

2016-01-01

Marine phosphorites are known to concentrate rare earth elements and yttrium (REY) during early diagenetic formation. Much of the REY data available are decades old and incomplete, and there has not been a systematic study of REY distributions in marine phosphorite deposits that formed over a range of oceanic environments. Consequently, we initiated this study to determine if marine phosphorite deposits found in the global ocean host REY concentrations of high enough grade to be of economic interest. This paper addresses continental-margin (CM) and open-ocean seamount phosphorites. All 75 samples analyzed are composed predominantly of carbonate fluorapatite and minor detrital and authigenic minerals. CM phosphorites have low total REY contents (mean 161 ppm) and high heavy REY (HREY) complements (mean 49%), while seamount phosphorites have 4–6 times higher individual REY contents (except for Ce, which is subequal; mean ΣREY 727 ppm), and very high HREY complements (mean 60%). The predominant causes of higher concentrations and larger HREY complements in seamount phosphorites compared to CM phosphorites are age, changes in seawater REY concentrations over time, water depth of formation, changes in pH and complexing ligands, and differences in organic carbon content in the depositional environments. Potential ore deposits with high HREY complements, like the marine phosphorites analyzed here, could help supply the HREY needed for high-tech and green-tech applications without creating an oversupply of the LREY.

Beneficiation of Kulon Progo iron sand by using tabling and magnetic separation methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oediyani, Soesaptri; Ikhlasul Amal, M.; M. Victoriyan, N.; Juniarsih, Andinnie

2018-04-01

There are two types of iron resources such as primary iron ore and iron sand. In general, primary iron ores use as raw materials in iron and steel making because the iron content is high (± 60%) and can reduce directly. On the other and, iron sand is rarely used as a raw material because the iron content is low (20-40%) but the iron sand reserves are very abundant in Indonesia for instance is about 173 million tons in Kulon Progo, Jogyakarta. In addition, the new regulation of Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry required that iron sands must process before are being export. Therefore, the proper beneficiation methods are need to improve the iron content of iron sand. In this research Kulon Progo iron sand was used as a raw materials because not only the reserves very abundant but also the new iron making plant will build here soon. The combine of ore concentration methods such as tabling and magnetic separation used to improve the iron content. Then, the variable process were inclination of the table (2°,3° and 4°), fraction of feed size (-100 mesh, -150 mesh and -200 mesh) and the magnetic intensity (176, 830, 1500 Gauss). The highest recovery was about 96.75% and the concentrate which is contain 59.78 % Fe achieved by using -200 mesh particle size, 4° inclination of table and 1500 Gauss as a magnetic intensity. In conclusion, this concentrate fulfilled raw material requires of iron making (≥ 55%Fe).

Iron Ore Industry Emissions as a Potential Ecological Risk Factor for Tropical Coastal Vegetation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuki, Kacilda N.; Oliva, Marco A.; Pereira, Eduardo G.

2008-07-01

In the coastal zone of the Espírito Santo state, Brazil, fragments of restinga, which form a natural ecosystem, share their space with an increasing number of iron ore industries. The iron ore dust and SO2 originating from the industry processing activities can interfere with the vegetation of the adjacent ecosystems at various levels. This study was undertaken in order to evaluate the effects of industry emissions on representative members of the restinga flora, by measuring physiological and phenological parameters. Foliar samples of Ipomoea pes caprae, Canavalia rosea, Sophora tomentosa, and Schinus terebinthifolius were collected at three increasing distances from an ore industry (1.0, 5.0, and 15.0 km), and were assessed for their dust deposition, chlorophyll, and Fe content. Phenological monitoring was focused on the formation of shoots, flowers, and fruits and was also performed throughout the course of a year. The results showed that the edaphic characteristics and the mineral constitutions of the plants were affected by industry emissions. In addition, the chlorophyll content of the four species increased with proximity to the industry. Phenological data revealed that the reproductive effort, as measured by fruit production, was affected by emissions and S. tomentosa was the most affected species. The use of an integrative approach that combines biochemical and ecological data indicates that the restinga flora is under stress due to industry emissions, which on a long-term basis may put the ecosystem at risk.

Iron ore industry emissions as a potential ecological risk factor for tropical coastal vegetation.

PubMed

Kuki, Kacilda N; Oliva, Marco A; Pereira, Eduardo G

2008-07-01

In the coastal zone of the Espírito Santo state, Brazil, fragments of restinga, which form a natural ecosystem, share their space with an increasing number of iron ore industries. The iron ore dust and SO(2) originating from the industry processing activities can interfere with the vegetation of the adjacent ecosystems at various levels. This study was undertaken in order to evaluate the effects of industry emissions on representative members of the restinga flora, by measuring physiological and phenological parameters. Foliar samples of Ipomoea pes caprae, Canavalia rosea, Sophora tomentosa, and Schinus terebinthifolius were collected at three increasing distances from an ore industry (1.0, 5.0, and 15.0 km), and were assessed for their dust deposition, chlorophyll, and Fe content. Phenological monitoring was focused on the formation of shoots, flowers, and fruits and was also performed throughout the course of a year. The results showed that the edaphic characteristics and the mineral constitutions of the plants were affected by industry emissions. In addition, the chlorophyll content of the four species increased with proximity to the industry. Phenological data revealed that the reproductive effort, as measured by fruit production, was affected by emissions and S. tomentosa was the most affected species. The use of an integrative approach that combines biochemical and ecological data indicates that the restinga flora is under stress due to industry emissions, which on a long-term basis may put the ecosystem at risk.

The Resin-in-pulp Process and Its Application to Ores from Brosses "BRS 10"; LE PROCEDE "RESIN IN PULP" ET SON APPLICATION AUX MINERAIS DES BROSSES "BRS 10"

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kremer, M.

1959-03-01

The resin-in-pulp process is a technical variant of the recovery process of uranium in dilute solution by means of ion exchange resins. An anion resin, XE 123, of a welldefined grain size is placed in direct contact with the pulp produced by sulfuric acid attack on ore with a low uranium content. This process is of particular value in the treatment of pulps that cannot be filtered or decanted, such as those obtained with ore from Brosses. The preparation of the pulp, the elution of the uranium, and its fixation, as well as the various factors encountered in these operations,more » are discussed. (auth)« less

Genesis of the central zone of the Nolans Bore rare earth element deposit, Northern Territory, Australia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schoneveld, Louise; Spandler, Carl; Hussey, Kelvin

2015-08-01

The Nolans Bore rare earth element (REE) deposit consists of a network of fluorapatite-bearing veins and breccias hosted within Proterozoic granulites of the Reynolds Range, Central Australia. Mineralisation is divided into three zones (north, central, and south-east), with the north and south-east zones consisting of massive REE-bearing fluorapatite veins, with minor brecciation and carbonate infill. The central zone is distinctively different in mineralogy and structure; it features extensive brecciation, a high allanite content, and a large, epidote-rich enveloping alteration zone. The central zone is a reworking of the original solid apatite veins that formed during the Chewings Orogeny at ca. 1525 Ma. These original apatite veins are thought to derive from phosphate-rich magmatic-hydrothermal fluid exsolved from as-yet unrecognised alkaline magmatic bodies at depth. We define four ore breccia types (BX1-4) in the central zone on the basis of detailed petrological and geochemical analysis of drillcore and thin sections. BX1 ore comprises fluorapatite with minor crackle brecciation with carbonate infill and resembles ore of the north and south-east zones. Breccia types BX2, BX3, and BX4 represent progressive stages of ore brecciation and development of calc-silicate mineral (amphibole, epidote, allanite, calcite) infill. Comparison of bulk ore sample geochemistry between breccia types indicates that REEs were not mobilised more than a few centimetres during hydrothermal alteration and brecciation. Instead, most of the REEs were partitioned from the original REE fluorapatite into newly formed allanite, REE-poor fluorapatite and minor REE carbonate in the breccias. Negative europium (Eu) anomalies in the breccia minerals are accounted for by a large positive Eu anomaly in epidote from the alteration zones surrounding the ore breccias. This observation provides a direct link between ore recrystallisation and brecciation, and the formation of the alteration halo in the surrounding host rocks. Where allanite and fluorapatite are texturally related, the fluorapatite is relatively depleted in the light rare earth elements (LREEs), whereas allanite is relatively LREE enriched, suggesting co-crystallisation. We tentatively date the BX1 ore stage to 1440 ± 80 Ma based on U-Pb dating of thorianite. Sm-Nd isotope isochrons derived from in situ isotope analysis of cognate apatite and allanite date the BX2 and BX3 events to ca. 400 Ma, while U-Pb dating of late-stage monazite from the BX4 ore stage returned an age of ca. 350 Ma. Therefore, formation of the central zone at Nolans Bore involved multiple alteration/brecciation events that collectively span over 1 billion years in duration. We suggest that the BX1-type veins and breccias were formed from REE-rich, saline (F- and Cl-bearing) fluids that infiltrated the granulite-grade host rocks in association with either shear activation events of the Redbank Shear Zone (1500-1400 Ma) or intrusion of late-stage pegmatites of the Mt Boothby area. BX2, BX3, and BX4 events record deformation and hydrothermal alteration associated with the Alice Springs Orogeny (400-350 Ma). These hydrothermal events occurred at temperatures of 450 to ~600 °C, due to inflow of highly acidic hydrous fluids derived from a magmatic source, or from mixing of meteoric and metamorphic fluids. Our data testify to the long and complex geological history of not only the Nolans Bore REE deposit, but also of the rocks of the eastern Reynolds Range, and demonstrate the great utility of using hydrothermally derived REE minerals to trace the timing of crustal deformation events and source of associated hydrothermal fluids.

Origin of Fe-Ti Oxide Mineralization in the Middle Paleoproterozoic Elet'ozero Syenite-Gabbro Intrusive Complex (Northern Karelia, Russia)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharkov, E. V.; Chistyakov, A. V.; Shchiptsov, V. V.; Bogina, M. M.; Frolov, P. V.

2018-03-01

Magmatic oxide mineralization widely developed in syenite-gabbro intrusive complexes is an important Fe and Ti resource. However, its origin is hotly debatable. Some researchers believe that the oxide ores were formed through precipitation of dense Ti-magnetite in an initial ferrogabbroic magma (Bai et al., 2012), whereas others consider them as a product of immiscible splitting of Fe-rich liquid during crystallization of Fe-Ti basaltic magma (Zhou et al., 2013). We consider this problem with a study of the Middle Paleoproterozoic (2086 ± 30 Ma) Elet'ozero Ti-bearing layered intrusive complex in northern Karelia (Baltic Shield). The first ore-bearing phase of the complex is mainly made up of diverse ferrogabbros, with subordinate clinopyroxenites and peridotites. Fe-Ti oxides (magnetite, Ti-magnetite, and ilmenite) usually account for 10-15 vol %, reaching 30-70% in ore varieties. The second intrusive phase is formed by alkaline and nepheline syenites. Petrographical, mineralogical, and geochemical data indicate that the first phase of the intrusion was derived from a moderately alkaline Fe-Ti basaltic melt, while the parental melt of the second phase was close in composition to alkaline trachyte. The orebodies comprise disseminated and massive ores. The disseminated Fe-Ti oxide ores make up lenses and layers conformable to general layering. Massive ores occur in subordinate amounts as layers and lenses, as well as cross-cutting veins. Elevated Nb and Ta contents in Fe-Ti oxides makes it possible to consider them complex ores. It is shown that the Fe-Ti oxide mineralization is related to the formation of a residual (Fe,Ti)-rich liquid, which lasted for the entire solidification history of the first intrusive phase. The liquid originated through multiple enrichment of Fe and Ti in the crystallization zone of the intrusion owing to the following processes: (1) precipitation of silicate minerals in the crystallization zone with a corresponding increase in the Fe and Ti contents in an interstitial melt; and (2) periodic accumulation of the residual melt in front of this zone. Unlike liquid immiscibility leading to melt splitting into two phases, this liquid dissolved the residual components of the melt. Correspondingly, such an Fe-rich liquid has unusual properties and requires further study.

DISSOLUTION AND ANALYSIS OF YELLOWCAKE COMPONENTS FOR FINGERPRINTING UOC SOURCES

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hexel, Cole R; Bostick, Debra A; Kennedy, Angel K

2012-01-01

There are a number of chemical and physical parameters that might be used to help elucidate the ore body from which uranium ore concentrate (UOC) was derived. It is the variation in the concentration and isotopic composition of these components that can provide information as to the identity of the ore body from which the UOC was mined and the type of subsequent processing that has been undertaken. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in collaboration with Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos National Laboratories is surveying ore characteristics of yellowcake samples from known geologic origin. The data sets are being incorporatedmore » into a national database to help in sourcing interdicted material, as well as aid in safeguards and nonproliferation activities. Geologic age and attributes from chemical processing are site-specific. Isotopic abundances of lead, neodymium, and strontium provide insight into the provenance of geologic location of ore material. Variations in lead isotopes are due to the radioactive decay of uranium in the ore. Likewise, neodymium isotopic abundances are skewed due to the radiogenic decay of samarium. Rubidium decay similarly alters the isotopic signature of strontium isotopic composition in ores. This paper will discuss the chemical processing of yellowcake performed at ORNL. Variations in lead, neodymium, and strontium isotopic abundances are being analyzed in UOC from two geologic sources. Chemical separation and instrumental protocols will be summarized. The data will be correlated with chemical signatures (such as elemental composition, uranium, carbon, and nitrogen isotopic content) to demonstrate the utility of principal component and cluster analyses to aid in the determination of UOC provenance.« less

CO2-rich and CO2-poor ore-forming fluids of porphyry molybdenum systems in two contrasting geologic setting: evidence from Shapinggou and Zhilingtou Mo deposits, South China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ni, P.

2017-12-01

Porphyry deposits are the world most important source of Mo, accounting for more than 95% of world Mo production. Porphyry Mo deposits have been classified into Climax type and Endako type. The Climax type was generally formed in an intra-continental setting, and contain high contents of Mo (0.15-0.45 wt.%) and F (0.5-5 wt.%). In contrast, the Endako type was generated in a continental arc setting and featured by low concentrations of Mo (0.05-0.15 wt.%) and F (0.05-0.15 wt.%). The systematic comparison of ore fluids in two contrasting tectonic environments is still poorly constrained. In this study, the Shapinggou and Zhilingtou Mo deposits in South China were selected to present the contrasting ore-forming fluid features. The fluid inclusion study of Shapinggou Mo deposit suggest: Early barren quartz veins contain fluid inclusions with salinities of 7.9-16.9 wt% NaCl equiv . CO2 contents are high enough to be detected by Raman. Later molybdenite-quartz veins contain vapor-type fluid inclusions with lower salinities (0.1-7.4 wt% NaCl equiv) but higher CO2-contents, coexisting with brine inclusions with 32.9-50.9 wt% NaCl equiv. The fluid inclusion study on Zhilintou Mo deposit suggest : Early barren quartz veins contain mostly intermediate density fluid inclusions with salinities of 5.3-14.1 wt% NaCl equiv, whereas main-stage quartz-molybdenite veins contain vapor-rich fluid inclusions of 0.5-6.2 wt% NaClequiv coexisting with brine inclusions of 38.6-44.8 wt% NaCl equiv. In contrast to the Shapinggou Mo deposit, the fluid inclusions at Shizitou contain only minor amounts of CO2. This study suggests the two porphyry molybdenum deposits experienced a similar fluid evolution trend, from single-phase fluids at the premineralization stage to two-phase fluids at the mineralization stage. Fluid boiling occurred during the ore stage and probably promoted a rapid precipitation of molybdenite. Intensive phyllic alteration, CO2-poor ore-forming fluids, and continental arc setting suggest that the Zhilingtou Mo deposit is likely to be an Endako type porphyry Mo deposit. It is different from Shapinggou Mo deposit, which were formed in an intra-continental setting and characterized by intensive potassic alteration and CO2-rich ore-forming fluids.

Reducing acid leaching of manganiferous ore: effect of the iron removal operation on solid waste disposal.

PubMed

De Michelis, Ida; Ferella, Francesco; Beolchini, Francesca; Vegliò, Francesco

2009-01-01

The process of reducing acid leaching of manganiferous ore is aimed at the extraction of manganese from low grade manganese ores. This work is focused on the iron removal operation. The following items have been considered in order to investigate the effect of the main operating conditions on solid waste disposal and on the process costs: (i) type and quantity of the base agent used for iron precipitation, (ii) effective need of leaching waste separation prior to the iron removal operation, (iii) presence of a second leaching stage with the roasted ore, which might also act as a preliminary iron removal step, and (iv) effect of tailings washing on the solid waste classification. Different base compounds have been tested, including CaO, CaCO3, NaOH, and Na2CO3. The latter gave the best results concerning both the precipitation process kinetics and the reagent consumption. The filtration of the liquor leach prior to iron removal was not necessary, implying significant savings in capital costs. A reduction of chemical consumption and an increase of manganese concentration in the solution were obtained by introducing secondary leaching tests with the previously roasted ore; this additional step was introduced without a significant decrease of global manganese extraction yield. Finally, toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) tests carried out on the leaching solid waste showed: (i) a reduction of arsenic mobility in the presence of iron precipitates, and (ii) the need for a washing step in order to produce a waste that is classifiable as not dangerous, taking into consideration the existing Environmental National Laws.

Porphyry-Style Petropavlovskoe Gold Deposit, the Polar Urals: Geological Position, Mineralogy, and Formation Conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vikentyev, I. V.; Mansurov, R. Kh.; Ivanova, Yu. N.; Tyukova, E. E.; Sobolev, I. D.; Abramova, V. D.; Vykhristenko, R. I.; Trofimov, A. P.; Khubanov, V. B.; Groznova, E. O.; Dvurechenskaya, S. S.; Kryazhev, S. G.

2017-11-01

Geological and structural conditions of localization, hydrothermal metasomatic alteration, and mineralization of the Petropavlovskoe gold deposit (Novogodnenskoe ore field) situated in the northern part of the Lesser Ural volcanic-plutonic belt, which is a constituent of the Middle Paleozoic island-arc system of the Polar Urals, are discussed. The porphyritic diorite bodies pertaining to the late phase of the intrusive Sob Complex play an ore-controlling role. The large-volume orebodies are related to the upper parts of these intrusions. Two types of stringer-disseminated ores have been revealed: (1) predominant gold-sulfide and (2) superimposed low-sulfide-gold-quartz ore markedly enriched in Au. Taken together, they make up complicated flattened isometric orebodies transitory to linear stockworks. The gold potential of the deposit is controlled by pyrite-(chlorite)-albite metasomatic rock of the main productive stage, which mainly develops in a volcanic-sedimentary sequence especially close to the contacts with porphyritic diorite. The relationships between intrusive and subvolcanic bodies and dating of individual zircon crystals corroborate a multistage evolution of the ore field, which predetermines its complex hydrothermal history. Magmatic activity of mature island-arc plagiogranite of the Sob Complex and monzonite of the Kongor Complex initiated development of skarn and beresite alterations accompanied by crystallization of hydrothermal sulfides. In the Early Devonian, due to emplacement of the Sob Complex at a depth of approximately 2 km, skarn magnetite ore with subordinate sulfides was formed. At the onset of the Middle Devonian, the large-volume gold porphyry Au-Ag-Te-W ± Mo,Cu stockworks related to quartz diorite porphyry—the final phase of the Sob Complex— were formed. In the Late Devonian, a part of sulfide mineralization was redistributed with the formation of linear low-sulfide quartz vein zones. Isotopic geochemical study has shown that the ore is deposited from reduced, substantially magmatic fluid, which is characterized by close to mantle values δ34S = 0 ± 1‰, δ13C =-6 to-7‰, and δ18O = +5‰ as the temperature decreases from 420-300°C (gold-sulfide ore) to 250-130°C (gold-(sulfide)-quartz ore) and pressure decreases from 0.8 to 0.3 kbar. According to the data of microanalysis (EPMA and LA-ICP-MS), the main trace elements in pyrite of gold orebodies are represented by Co (up to 2.52 wt %), As (up to 0.70 wt %), and Ni (up to 0.38 wt %); Te, Se, Ag, Au, Bi, Sb, and Sn also occur. Pyrite of the early assemblages is characterized by high Co, Te, Au, and Bi contents, whereas the late pyrite is distinguished by elevated concentrations of As (up to 0.7 wt %), Ni (up to 0.38 wt %), Se (223 ppm), Ag (up to 111 ppm), and Sn (4.4 ppm). The minimal Au content in pyrite of the late quartz-carbonate assemblage is up to 1.7 ppm and geometric average is 0.3 ppm. The significant correlation between Au and As (furthermore, negative-0.6) in pyrite from ore of the Petropavlovskoe deposit is recorded only for the gold-sulfide assemblage, whereas it is not established for other assemblages. Pyrite with higher As concentration (up to 0.7 wt %) is distinguished only for the Au-Te mineral assemblage. Taking into account structural-morphological and mineralogical-geochemical features, the ore-magmatic system of the Petropavlovskoe deposit is referred to as gold porphyry style. Among the main criteria of such typification are the spatial association of orebodies with bodies of subvolcanic porphyry-like intrusive phases at the roof of large multiphase pluton; the stockwork-like morphology of gold orebodies; 3D character of ore-alteration zoning and distribution of ore components; geochemical association of gold with Ag, W, Mo, Cu, As, Te, and Bi; and predominant finely dispersed submicroscopic gold in ore.

URANIUM RECOVERY PROCESS

DOEpatents

Kaufman, D.

1958-04-15

A process of recovering uranium from very low-grade ore residues is described. These low-grade uraniumcontaining hydroxide precipitates, which also contain hydrated silica and iron and aluminum hydroxides, are subjected to multiple leachings with aqueous solutions of sodium carbonate at a pH of at least 9. This leaching serves to selectively extract the uranium from the precipitate, but to leave the greater part of the silica, iron, and aluminum with the residue. The uranium is then separated from the leach liquor by the addition of an acid in sufficient amount to destroy the carbonate followed by the addition of ammonia to precipitate uranium as ammonium diuranate.

Rock-magnetism and ore microscopy of the magnetite-apatite ore deposit from Cerro de Mercado, Mexico

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alva-Valdivia, L. M.; Goguitchaichvili, A.; Urrutia-Fucugauchi, J.; Caballero-Miranda, C.; Vivallo, W.

2001-03-01

Rock-magnetic and microscopic studies of the iron ores and associated igneous rocks in the Cerro de Mercado, Mexico, were carried out to determine the magnetic mineralogy and origin of natural remanent magnetization (NRM), related to the thermo-chemical processes due to hydrothermalism. Chemical remanent magnetization (CRM) seems to be present in most of investigated ore and wall rock samples, replacing completely or partially an original thermoremanent magnetization (TRM). Magnetite (or Ti-poor titanomagnetite) and hematite are commonly found in the ores. Although hematite may carry a stable CRM, no secondary components are detected above 580°, which probably attests that oxidation occurred soon enough after the extrusion and cooling of the ore-bearing magma. NRM polarities for most of the studied units are reverse. There is some scatter in the cleaned remanence directions of the ores, which may result from physical movement of the ores during faulting or mining, or from perturbation of the ambient field during remanence acquisition by inhomogeneous internal fields within these strongly magnetic ore deposits. The microscopy study under reflected light shows that the magnetic carriers are mainly titanomagnetite, with significant amounts of ilmenite-hematite minerals, and goethite-limonite resulting from alteration processes. Magmatic titanomagnetites, which are found in igneous rocks, show trellis, sandwich, and composite textures, which are compatible with high temperature (deuteric) oxy-exsolution processes. Hydrothermal alteration in ore deposits is mainly indicated by martitization in oxide minerals. Grain sizes range from a few microns to >100 mm, and possible magnetic state from single to multidomain, in agreement with hysteresis measurements. Thermal spectra, continuous susceptibility measurements, and IRM (isothermal remanent magnetization) acquisition suggest a predominance of spinels as magnetic carriers, most probably titanomagnetites with low-Ti content. For quantitative modeling of the aeromagnetic anomalies, we used data on bulk susceptibility and natural remanent intensity for quantifying the relative contributions of induced and remanent magnetization components and allow a better control of the geometry of source bodies. The position and geometry of this magnetic source are shown as an ENE-striking tabular body, steeply inclined (75°) to the south.

Soil contamination in the impact zone of mining enterprises in the Bashkir Transural region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Opekunova, M. G.; Somov, V. V.; Papyan, E. E.

2017-06-01

The results of long-term studies of the contents of bulk forms of metals (Cu, Zn, Fe, Ni, Pb, Mn, Co, and Cd) and their mobile compounds in soils of background and human-disturbed areas within the Krasnoural'sk-Sibai-Gai copper-zinc and Baimak-Buribai mixed copper mineralization zones in the Bashkir Transural region are discussed. It is shown that soils of the region are characterized by abnormally high natural total contents of heavy metals (HMs) typomorphic for ore mineralization: Cu, Zn, and Fe for the Sibai province and Cu, Zn, and Ni for the Baimak province. In the case of a shallow depth of the ores, the concentrations of HMs in the soils are close to or higher than the tentative permissible concentration values. The concentrations of mobile HM compounds in soils of background areas and their percentage in the total HM content strongly vary from year to year in dependence on weather conditions, position in the soil catenas, species composition of vegetation, and distance from the source of technogenic contamination. The high natural variability in the content of mobile HM compounds in soils complicates the reliable determination of the regional geochemical background and necessitates annual estimation of background parameters for the purposes of the ecological monitoring of soils. The bulk content of Cu and Zn content in soils near mining enterprises exceeds the regional geochemical background values by 2-12 times and the tentative permissible concentrations of these metals by 2-4 times. Anthropogenic contamination results in a sharp rise in the content of mobile HM compounds in soils. Their highest concentrations exceed the maximum permissible concentrations by 26 times for Cu, 18 times for Zn, and 2 times for Pb. Soil contamination in the impact zone of mining enterprises is extremely dangerous or dangerous. However, because of the high temporal variability in the migration and accumulation of HMs in the soils, the recent decline in the ore mining activities, and the construction of purification facilities, no definite temporal trends in the contents of HMs in the soils have been found in the studied region for the period from 1998 to 2015.

Petrogenesis and metallogenesis of the Wajilitag and Puchang Fe-Ti oxide-rich intrusive complexes, northwestern Tarim Large Igneous Province

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Dongyang; Zhang, Zhaochong; Huang, He; Cheng, Zhiguo; Charlier, Bernard

2018-04-01

The Wajilitag and Puchang intrusive complexes of the Tarim large igneous province (TLIP) are associated with significant resources of Fe-Ti oxide ores. These two mafic-ultramafic intrusions show differences in lithology and mineral chemistry. Clinopyroxenite and melagabbro are the dominant rock types in the Wajilitag complex, whereas the Puchang complex is generally gabbroic and anorthositic in composition with minor plagioclase-bearing clinopyroxenites in the marginal zone. Disseminated Fe-Ti oxide ores are found in the Wajilitag complex and closely associated with clinopyroxenites, whereas the Puchang complex hosts massive to disseminated Fe-Ti oxide ores mainly within its gabbroic rocks. The Wajilitag intrusive rocks are characterized by a restricted range of initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.7038-0.7048) and positive εNd(t) (+0.04 - +3.01), indicating insignificant involvement of continental crustal contamination. The slightly higher initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.7039-0.7059) and lower εNd(t) values (-1.05 - +2.35) of the Puchang intrusive rocks also suggest that the isotopic characteristics was controlled primarily by their mantle source, rather than by crustal contamination. Both complexes have Sr-Nd isotopic compositions close the neighboring kimberlitic rocks and their hosted mantle xenoliths in the TLIP. This indicates that the ferrobasaltic parental magmas were most probably originated from partial melting of a metasomatized subcontinental lithospheric mantle, modified recently with subduction-related materials by the impingement of the ascending mantle plume. The recycled subduction-related materials preserved in the lithospheric mantle could play a key role in the formation of the parental Fe-rich magmas in the context of an overall LIP system. The distinct variations in mineral assemblage for each complex and modeled results indicated that the Wajilitag and Puchang complexes experienced different crystallization path. Fe-Ti oxides in Wajilitag joined the liquidus earlier in the crystallization sequence, especially relative to the crystallization of plagioclase. This is attributed to the relatively high TFeO, TiO2 and initial H2O contents of the parental magma. In combination with definitive field and petrological evidence, the enrichment of highly incompatible elements (e.g., Zr, Hf, Nb and Ta) and the depletion of rare earth elements in the Fe-Ti oxide ores is consistent with the plausible interpretation that the ores could be formed by fractional crystallization and crystal accumulation of the Fe-Ti oxide crystals from the ferrobasaltic parental magmas. A considerable amount of the Fe-Ti oxides in the Puchang has transported and sunk from higher up in the chamber to the underlying unconsolidated silicate crystal pile. The highly dense Fe-Ti oxide crystal slurries further tended to effective accumulate Fe-Ti oxides to form high-grade Fe-Ti oxide ore bodies, and subsequent rapid collapse and intrusive into lower lithologies within the complex under a H2O-rich environment during the late-stage of magmatic differentiation. The development of massive Fe-Ti oxide ores in the case of the Puchang, could plausibly result from a combination of the protracted differentiation history of a Fe highly enriched parental magma and the later addition of external H2O from the country rocks (e.g., carbonates) to the slowly cooling magma chamber.

3D geostatistical modelling for identifying sinkhole disaster potential zones around the Verkhnekamskoye potash deposit (Russia)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Royer, J. J.; Litaudon, J.; Filippov, L. O.; Lyubimova, T.; Maximovich, N.

2017-07-01

This work results from a cooperative scientific program between the Perm State University (Russia) and the University of Lorraine (France). Its objectives are to integrate modern 3D geomodeling in order to improve sustainable mining extraction, especially for predicting and avoiding the formation of sinkholes disaster potential zones. Systematic exploration drill holes performed in the Verkhnekamskoye potash deposit (Perm region, Russia) have been used to build a comprehensive 3D model for better understanding the spatial repartition of the ore quality (geometallurgy). A precise modelling of the mineralized layers allows an estimation of the in-situ ore reserves after interpolating by kriging the potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) contents at the node of a regular centred grid (over a million cells). Total resources in potassium vary according to the cut-off between 4.7Gt @ 16.1 % K2O; 0.32 % MgCl2 for a cut-off grade at 13.1% K2O and 2.06 Gt @ 18.2 % K2O; 0.32 % MgCl2 at a cut-off of 16.5% K2O. Most of reserves are located in the KPI, KPII and KPIII layers, the KPI being the richest, and KPIII the largest in terms of tonnage. A systematic study of the curvature calculated along the roof of the mineralized layers points out the location of potential main faults which play a major role in the formation of sinkhole during exploitation. A risk map is then derived from this attribute.

The Role of Concurrent Chemical and Physical Processes in Determining the Maximum Use Temperature of Thermosetting Polymers for Aerospace Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-04-04

ore purchased f rom Lonz a, AG and used a s-received. Copper(I I) acetoacetonate from R OC/RIC and nony lphenol (Technical Grade) fro m Aldrich...were combined to produce a liquid catalyst. Sample Preparation. Catalyst batc hes were prepared by blending 30 weight parts nony lphenol with

Analysis of material flow in a utillzation technology of low grade manganese ore and sulphur coal complementary

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Bo-Zhi; Deng, Biao; Su, Shi-Jun; Ding, Sang-Lan; Sun, Wei-Yi

2018-03-01

Electrolytic manganese is conventionally produced through low-grade manganese ore leaching in SO2, with the combustion of high sulfur coal. Subsequently the coal ash and manganese slag, produced by the combustion of high sulfur coal and preparation of electrolytic manganese, can be used as raw ingredients for the preparation of sulphoaluminate cement. In order to realize the `coal-electricity-sulfur-manganese-building material' system of complementary resource utilization, the conditions of material inflow and outflow in each process were determined using material flow analysis. The material flow models in each unit and process can be obtained by analyzed of material flow for new technology, and the input-output model could be obtained. Through the model, it is possible to obtain the quantity of all the input and output material in the condition of limiting the quantity of a substance. Taking one ton electrolytic manganese as a basis, the quantity of other input material and cements can be determined with the input-output model. The whole system had thusly achieved a cleaner production level. Therefore, the input-output model can be used for guidance in practical production.

Semi-industrial experimental study on bauxite separation using a cell-column integration process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Ning-ning; Zhou, Chang-chun; Cong, Long-fei; Cao, Wen-long; Zhou, You

2016-01-01

The cyclonic-static micro-bubble flotation column (FCSMC) is a highly efficient mineral processing equipment. In this study, a cell-column (FCSMC) integration process was investigated for the separation of bauxite and its feasibility was analyzed on a theoretical basis. The properties of low-grade bauxite ore from Henan Province, China were analyzed. Parameters such as reagent dosage, scraping bubble time, and pressure of the circulating pump during the sorting process were investigated and optimized to improve the flotation efficiency. On the basis of these parameters, continuous separation experiments were conducted. Bauxite concentrate with an aluminum-to-silicon (A/S) mass ratio of 6.37 and a 77.63wt% recovery rate were achieved via a flow sheet consisting of "fast flotation using a flotation cell, one roughing flotation and one cleaning flotation using flotation columns". Compared with the full-flotation-cells process, the cell-column integration process resulted in an increase of the A/S ratio by 0.41 and the recovery rate by 17.58wt%. Cell-column integration separation technology represents a new approach for the separation of middle-to-low-grade bauxite ore.

Optimization of Quenching Parameters for the Reduction of Titaniferous Magnetite Ore by Lean Grade Coal Using the Taguchi Method and Its Isothermal Kinetic Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarkar, Bitan Kumar; Kumar, Nikhil; Dey, Rajib; Das, Gopes Chandra

2018-06-01

In the present study, a unique method is adopted to achieve higher reducibility of titaniferous magnetite lump ore (TMO). In this method, TMO is initially heated followed by water quenching. The quenching process generates cracks due to thermal shock in the dense TMO lumps, which, in turn, increases the extent of reduction (EOR) using the lean grade coal as a reductant. The optimum combination of parameters found by using Taguchi's L27 orthogonal array (OA) (five factors, three levels) is - 8 + 4 mm of particle size (PS1), 1423 K of quenching temperature (Qtemp2), 15 minutes of quenching time (Qtime3), 3 times the number of quenching {(No. of Q)3}, and 120 minutes of reduction time (Rtime3) at fixed reduction temperature of 1473 K. At optimized levels of the parameters, 92.39 pct reduction is achieved. Isothermal reduction kinetics of the quenched TMO lumps at the optimized condition reveals mixed controlled mechanisms [initially contracting geometry (CG3) followed by diffusion (D3)]. Activation energies calculated are 69.895 KJ/mole for CG3 and 39.084 KJ/mole for D3.

Distribution of leached radioactive material in the Legin Group Area, San Miguel County, Colorado

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rogers, Allen S.

1950-01-01

Radioactivity anomalies, which are small in magnitude, and probably are not caused by extensions of known uranium-vanadium ore bodies, were detected during the gamma-ray logging of diamond-drill holes in the Legin group of claims, southwest San Miguel County, Colo. The positions of these anomalies are at the top surfaces of mudstone strata within, and at the base of, the ore-bearing sandstone of the Salt Wash member of the Morrison formation. The distribution of these anomalies suggests that ground water has leached radioactive material from the ore bodies and has carried it down dip and laterally along the top surfaces of underlying impermeable mudstone strata for distance as great as 300 feet. The anomalies are probably caused by radon and its daughter elements. Preliminary tests indicate that radon in quantities up to 10-7 curies per liter may be present in ground water flowing along sandstone-mudstone contacts under carnotite ore bodies. In comparison, the radium content of the same water is less than 10-10 curies per liter. Further substantiation of the relationship between ore bodies, the movement of water, and the radon-caused anomalies may greatly increase the scope of gamma-ray logs of drill holes as an aid to prospecting.

A conceptual model of the copper-porphyry ore formation based on joint analysis of deep 3D geophysical models: Sorskoe complex (Russia) case study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spichak, Viacheslav V.; Goidina, Alexandra G.

2017-12-01

Joint analysis of deep three-dimensional models of the electrical resistivity, seismic velocity, and density of the complex hosting the Sorskoe Cu-Mo deposit (Russia) is carried out aimed at finding geophysical markers characterizing the areas of ore generation, transportation and deposition. The three-dimensional lithology model of the study area is built based on the empirical relationship between the silica content of the rocks and seismic velocities. It is in agreement with geological and geochemical studies provided in this area earlier and could be used as a basis for forecasting locations of the copper-molybdenum ore deposits at depth. A conceptual model of the copper-porphyry complex explaining the mechanisms of ore generation, transportation from the lower to the upper crust and deposition in the upper crust is suggested. In particular, it is supposed that post-magmatic supercritical gas-water ore-bearing fluids are upwelling through the plastic crust due to the sliding of the fluid films along the cleavage planes of the foliated rocks while at the depths of the brittle upper crust this mechanism could be changed by volumetric fluid transportation along the network of large pores and cracks.

Seaching for a Silver Lining: Using Pb Isotopes to Constrain the Source of Argentiferous Galena at La Isabela

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thibodeau, A. M.; Killick, D. J.; Ruiz, J.; Chesley, J. T.; Baker, M.

2005-12-01

This study investigates the smelting and refining of argentiferous galena at La Isabela, Dominican Republic (1493-1498), the town founded by Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas. Archaeologists recovered approximately 100 kilograms of galena and 200 kilograms of metallurgical slag near the remains of a crude furnace unearthed at the site (Deagan and Cruxent 2002). The purpose of this study was to determine if these remains are evidence that members of Columbus's fleet prospected for silver during his second expedition. Samples of ore and slag were examined as metallographic polished sections, and petrographic thin sections by optical and scanning electron microscopes. The composition of the ore and slag allows us to infer these ores were processed in a two-stage procedure to produce silver metal and a lead silicate slag. Electron microprobe analysis of galena indicates highly variable but low Ag content (50 ppm), which may account for the fact some of the ore was left unprocessed. Lead isotope analysis by multi-collector ICP-MS indicates that the galena likely came from a single source and was not mined within the Caribbean. Instead, the isotopic signature of these ores is consistent with an Old World source, possibly in the Linares-La Carolina Pb-Zn vein field of southwestern Spain.

Metallogeny of The Sierra de Guanajuato Range, Central México

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pedro F., Z. D.

2004-12-01

The Sierra de Guanajuato Range (SGR), trending N315° at Central México, is an orographic feature extending over a distance of 80 km. SGR comprises three well defined lithostratigraphic units: (1) a cretaceous basement including an arc-derived terrane named Guanajuato Arc (GA) made of gabbro, diorite and basaltic pillowed lava, and volcano-sedimentary rocks belonging to Arperos fore-arc basin which are geochemically anomalous in Au (0.15 ppm), Ag (3 ppm), Cu (40 ppm), Pb (50 ppm) and Zn (15 ppm); (2) Early Tertiary intrusive rocks, e.g., Comanja Granite which is affected by the presence of tourmalinized (schörl) aplito-pegmatite dykes mineralized with rare earths elements, and (3) Eocene redbeds (1,500-2000 m) and Oligocene-Miocene volcanics cover. The metallogeny of the SGR shows a multiple origin in time and space: volcano-sedimentary, granitic and volcanic, being possible to define three metallogenic epochs: cretaceous, paleocene and oligocene. Cretaceous epoch includes: (a) volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits (VMS) of bimodal-siliclastic type belonging to León-Guanajuato district; wallrock of VMS is made of felsic-internediate volcanics and black argillite; at Los Gavilanes deposit paragenesis is next: chalcopyrite > sphalerite > galena, pyrite > pyrrhotite > marcasite; grade is as follows: Au: .02-.07 g/t; Ag: 157-18.5 g/t; Cu: 2.24-0.81%, Pb: 4.16-0.03%; Zn: 10.35-3.02 %; (b) lens-shaped stratiform bodies of massive pyrite (i. ex., San Ignacio prospect; ˜ 4,000 ton) of exhalative-sedimentary origin with chalcopyrite and sphalerite microveins. Paleocene epoch includes both quartz-cordierite-sanidine veins and replacement bodies of hydrothermal metamorphic filliation (W +Se-Bi, Pb, Zn, Cu), and pyrometasomatic bodies [Cu, Pb, Zn (Ag), W] which genetically are linked to Comanja Granite emplacement. The wallrock at El Maguey mine (35,000 ton; 0.6% WO3) is made of hornfel and the vein (1.8-3.2m width) has a banding structure made of : \\{quartz & K-feldspar\\}, \\{(schörl) & specular hematite\\} and epidote alternating bands; ore minerals are scheelite and tetradymite. Oligocene epoch includes quartz-calcite-adulaire epithermal veins (Ag-Au) of geothermal-volcanic filliation. At Guanajuato mining District; ore minerals are: Au, electrum, acanthite, aguilarite, naumannite, polybasite, proustite, fischesserite (?); chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena. Ore grade at Las Torres mine are: Ag 300 g/t, Au 2 g/t. At El Cubo mine because of the presence of rhyolitic domes gold grade reaches 100 g/t. Since Early Cretaceous Epoch, metallogenic concepts of heritage and permanence are valid in SG ore deposits.

Direct Reduction of Iron Ore

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Small, M.

1981-04-01

In the search for a pure, available iron source, steelmakers are focusing their attention on Directly Reduced Iron (DRI). This material is produced by the reaction of a low gangue iron ore with a hydrocarbonaceous substance. Commercially, DRI is generated in four different reactors: shaft (moving-bed), rotary kiln, fluidized bed, and retort (fixed-bed). Annual worldwide production capacity approaches 33 million metric tons. Detailed assessments have been made of the uses of DRI, especially as a substitute for scrap in electric furnace (EF) steelmaking. DRI is generally of a quality superior to current grades of scrap, with steels produced more efficiently in the EF and containing lower levels of impurities. However, present economics favor EF steel production with scrap. But this situation could change within this decade because of a developing scarcity of good quality scrap.

Ores and Climate Change - Primary Shareholders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stein, Holly J.; Hannah, Judith L.

2015-04-01

Many in the economic geology community concern themselves with details of ore formation at the deposit scale, whether tallying fluid inclusion data to get at changes in ore-forming fluids or defining structures that aid and abet mineralization. These compilations are generally aimed at interpretation of events at the site of ore formation, with the goal being assignment of the deposit to a sanctioned ore deposit model. While providing useful data, this approach is incomplete and does not, by itself, serve present-day requirements for true interdisciplinary science. The ore-forming environment is one of chaos and disequilibrium at nearly all scales (Stein, 2014). Chaos and complexity are documented by variably altered rocks, veins or disseminated mineralization with multi-generational fluid histories, erratic and unusual textures in host rocks, and the bitumen or other hydrocarbon products entwined within many ore deposits. This should give pause to our drive for more data as a means to find "the answer". The answer lies in the kind of data collected and more importantly, in the way we interpret those data. Rather than constructing an ever-increasing catalog of descriptive mutations on sanctioned ore deposit models (e.g., IOGC or Iron-Oxide Copper Gold deposits), the way forward is to link source and transport of metals, sulfur, and organic material with regional and ultimately whole Earth chemical evolution. Important experimental work provides chemical constraints in controlled and behaved environments. To these data, we add imagination and interpretation, always tying back to field observations. In this paper, several key points are made by way of ore deposit examples: (1) many IOCG deposits are outcomes of profound changes in the chemistry of the Earth's surface, in the interplay of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere; (2) the redox history of Fe in deep earth may be ultimately expressed in the ore-forming sequence; and (3) the formation of many giant Cu-Mo-Au ore deposits may be arrested when the surface is catastrophically breached, as multiple km-scale breccia pipes empty their volatile and metal contents into the atmosphere. The new equation for studying ore geology should be one that reconstructs ore formation from beginning to end, that is, from source, release, and transport, to breach. Of course, detailed measurements and mapping of ore bodies remains essential, but a full understanding of metal migration and budgets can only be achieved if we model what might have been left behind in deeper Earth, and what may have been lost to the atmosphere. To do this, we need to understand much more than the geology at our ore deposit of interest. Stein, H.J. (2014) Dating and Tracing the History of Ore Formation. Treatise on Geochemistry 13: 87-118. Elsevier. Support for time to think - CHRONOS, funded by a consortium of Norwegian petroleum companies.

REE Mineralization in Kiruna-type Magnetite-Apatite Ore Deposits: Magmatism and Metasomatism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harlov, D. E.

2015-12-01

Magnetite-apatite ore bodies of the Kiruna type occur worldwide and are generally associated with volcanic rocks or volcanism. They also show strong evidence of extensive metasomatism over a wide P-T range. Notable examples include the Kiirunavaara ore body, northern Sweden (Harlov et al., 2002, Chem. Geol., 191, 47-72); the Grängesberg ore body, central Sweden (Jonsson et al., 2010, NGF abstracts, vol 1, 88-89); the Mineville ore body, Adirondacks, New York, USA (McKeown and Klemc, 1956, U.S. Geol Sur Bull (1956), pp. 9-23); the Pea Ridge ore body, SE Missouri, USA (Kerr, 1998, MS Thesis, Univ. Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada 113 pp); the Jurassic Marcona ore body in south-central Peru (Chen et al., 2010, Econ Geol, 105, 1441-1456); and a collection of ore bodies from the Bafq Region, central Iran (Daliran et al., 2010, Geol. Assoc. Canada, Short Course Notes, v. 20, p.147-159). In these ore bodies, low Th and U monazite, xenotime, allanite, REE carbonates, and/or REE fluorides are commonly associated with the apatite as inclusions, rim grains, or as independent grains in the surrounding mineral matrix. High contrast BSE imaging, coupled with EMPA and LA-ICPMS, indicates that the apatite has experienced fluid-induced alteration in the form of (Y+REE) + Na + Si + Cl depletion implying that it served as the source for the (Y+REE) (e.g. Kiirunavaara, northern Sweden; Harlov et al., 2002). Formation of monazite and xenotime associated with fluorapatite, as inclusions or rim grains, has experimentally been demonstrated to originate from the fluorapatite as the result of fluid-aided, coupled dissolution-reprecipitation processes (Harlov et al., 2005, Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 150, 268-286). This is explains the low Th and U content of the monazite and xenotime. Fluid sources could range from 700-900 °C, residual, acidic (HCl, H2HSO4) grain boundary fluids, remaining after the last stages of ore body crystallization, to later stage, cooler (< 600 °C) (H2O-CO2-(Na,K)Cl) fluids originating in the surrounding country rock or as fluids associated with metamorphic events such as regional albitization or actinolization. The abundance of (Y+REE)-bearing minerals in these deposits suggests that in addition to being mined for their Fe ore, they could also be economically mined for (Y+REE) as well.

Reduction of phosphate ores by carbon: Part I. Process variables for design of rotary kiln system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mu, Jacob; Leder, Frederic; Park, Won C.; Hard, Robert A.; Megy, Joseph; Reiss, Howard

1986-12-01

Feasibility is established for the reduction of phosphate ores in a rotary kiln, avoiding electric submerged arc furnace technology. This represents a totally new approach to phosphoric acid. Reduction rates of phosphate ore-silica mixtures by carbon in the temperature range of 1100 to 1500 °C under several CO partial pressures in nitrogen were measured in thermogravimetric analyzers. Parameters such as carbon and silica contents, particle and pellet sizes, and gas flow rate were also evaluated with various domestic and foreign phosphate ores. Furthermore, a variety of carbon sources such as subbituminous coals, bituminous coals, anthracite, petroleum coke, and metallurgical coke were tested as reducing agents. Thermodynamic considerations elucidate the temperature dependence of overall conversion as well as the role of excess silica in establishing equilibrium pressure. These findings provide the background for analysis of the kinetics of conversion in Part II of this work. These studies, in conjunction with a previously published work, indicate the importance of intergranular melt phases in the kinetics of otherwise solid state reactions.

Fluid evolution and ore genesis of the Dalingshang deposit, Dahutang W-Cu ore field, northern Jiangxi Province, South China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Ning-Jun; Jiang, Shao-Yong; Xiong, Suo-Fei; Pi, Dao-Hui

2018-02-01

The Dalingshang W-Cu deposit is located in the North section of the Dahutang ore field, northern Jiangxi Province, South China. Vein- and breccia-style tungsten-copper mineralization is genetically associated with Mesozoic S-type granitic rocks. Infrared and conventional microthermometric studies of both gangue and ore minerals show that the homogenization temperatures for primary fluid inclusions in wolframite ( 340 °C) are similar to those in scheelite ( 330 °C), but about 40 °C higher than those of apatite ( 300 °C) and generally 70 °C higher than those in coexisting quartz ( 270 °C). Laser Raman analysis identifies CH4 and N2 without CO2 in fluid inclusions in scheelite and coexisting quartz, while fluid inclusions in quartz of the sulfide stage have variable CO2 content. The ore-forming fluids overall are characterized by high- to medium-temperature, low-salinity, CH4, N2, and/or CO2-bearing aqueous fluids. Chalcopyrite, muscovite, and sphalerite are the most abundant solids recognized in fluid inclusions from different ores. The H-O-S-Pb isotope compositions favor a dominantly magmatic origin for ores and fluids, while some depleted δ34S values (- 14.4 to - 0.9‰) of sulfides from the sulfide stage are most likely produced by an increase of oxygen fugacity, possibly caused by inflow of oxidized meteoric waters. The microthermometric data also indicate that a simple cooling process formed early scheelite and wolframite. However, increasing involvement of meteoric waters and fluid mixing may trigger a successive deposition of base metal sulfides. Fluid-rock interaction was critical for scheelite mineralization as indicated by in-situ LA-ICP-MS analysis of trace elements in scheelite.

Challenges facing the North American iron ore industry

USGS Publications Warehouse

Jorgenson, J.D.

2005-01-01

During the 20th century, the iron ore mining industries of Canada and the United States passed through several periods of transformation. The beginning of the 21st century has seen yet another period of transformation, with the economic failure of a number of steel companies, the acquisition of their facilities by more viable steelmakers, and the consolidation of control within the North American iron ore industry. Changes in Canadian and United States iron ore production and the market control structure involved are analysed. The consolidation of ownership, formation of foreign joint ventures within Nordi America, planned divestitures of upstream activities by steelmakers, and industry changes made to ensure availability of feedstocks will be reviewed. The ttaditional isolation of the Canadian and United States iron ore operations and their strong linkage to downstream steel production will be discussed in the context of a changing global economy. Management-labour conflicts that have taken place and agreements made during 2000 through 2004 will be discussed in the context of the economic environment leading up to these agreements. Cooperative agreements between competing Canadian and United States companies to resolve client needs in processing and blending will be examined. A joint industry-government project designed to use new technology to produce direct reduced iron nuggets of 96 - 98 per cent iron content using non-coking coals will also be assessed. Changes in iron ore transportation methods, ownership and infrastructure will be reviewed for both rail and inland waterway transport between Canadian and United States companies. A brief analysis of social and environmental issues relating to sustainable development of the Canadian-United States iron ore industry will be included.

Four magnetite generations in the Precambrian Varena Iron Ore deposit, SE Lithuania, as a result of rock-fluid interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skridlaite, Grazina; Prusinskiene, Sabina; Siliauskas, Laurynas

2017-04-01

Iron ores in Precambrian crystalline basement of the Varena area, SE Lithuania, were discovered during the detail geological-geophysical exploration in 1982-1992. They are covered with 210-500 m thick sediments. The Varena Iron Ore deposit (VIOD) may yield from 71 to 219.6 million tons of iron ore according to different economic evaluations (Marfin, 1996). They were assumed to be of metasomatic and hydrothermal origin, however several other hypotheses explaining the VIOZ origin, e.g. as a layered mafic or carbonatite intrusions were also suggested. Magnetites of the VIOD were thoroughly investigated by the Cameca SX100 microprobe at the Warsaw University and by the Quanta 250 Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) at the Nature Research Centre in Vilnius, Lithuania. Four generations of magnetite were distinguished in the studied serpentine-magnetite ores (D8 drilling) and were compared with the earlier studied and reference magnetites. The earliest, spinel inclusion-rich magnetite cores (Mag-1) have the highest trace element contents (in wt%): Si (0.032), Al (0.167-0.248), Mg (0.340-0.405), Ti (0.215-0.254), V (0.090-0.138) etc. They might have formed during an early metamorphism and/or related skarn formation. Voluminous second magnetite (Mag-2) replacing olivine, pyroxenes, spinel and other skarn minerals at c. 540o C (Magnetite-Ilmenite geothermometer) has much lower trace element abundances, probably washed out by hydrothermal fluids. The latest magnetites (Mag-3 and Mag-4) overgrow the earlier ones and occur near or within the sulfide veins (Mag-4). As was observed from microtextures, the Mag-3 and Mag-4 have originated from the late thermal reworking by dissolution-reprecipitation processes. To imply an origin of the studied magnetites, they were compared to the earlier studied magmatic-metamorphic (1058 drilling), presumably skarn (982 drilling) magnetites from the studied area and plotted in the major magnetite ore type fields according to Dupuis and Beaudoin (2011). They have similar trace element abundances as skarn magnetites, e.g. are in general Ti-poor. The Mag-1 is more than twice richer in Mg than the porphyry and Kiruna type iron ores. A slight enrichment in Al, Ti and V because of spinel and ilmenite inclusions may have caused the earliest Mag-1 to resemble the porphyry type ores, while the secondary Mag-2 has Al, Ca and Mn contents as low as the Kiruna type ores. Thus, we can consider that fluid-rock interactions have strongly affected chemical compositions of the studied magnetites. Even though there are no precise age constructions for the metamorphic, metasomatic and hydrothermal iron ore formation process, they likely started later than 1.80 Ga (metamorphism of the host rocks; Bogdanova et al., 2015) and lasted until c. 1.50 Ga, when the rocks were intruded by the within-plate AMCG magmatic bodies. Bogdanova, S., Gorbatschev, R., Skridlaite, G., Soesoo, A., Taran, L., Kurlovich, D., 2015. Precambrian Research, 259, 5-33. Dupuis, C., Beaudoin, G., 2011. Mineral Deposita 46, 319-335. Marfinas, S., 1996. Report on the results of the evaluation of the Varena Iron Ore deposit, 2nd book, Vilnius.

Molybdenite Re/Os dating, zircon U-Pb age and geochemistry of granitoids in the Yangchuling porphyry W-Mo deposit (Jiangnan tungsten ore belt), China: Implications for petrogenesis, mineralization and geodynamic setting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mao, Jingwen; Xiong, Bikang; Liu, Jun; Pirajno, Franco; Cheng, Yanbo; Ye, Huishou; Song, Shiwei; Dai, Pan

2017-08-01

The Yangchuling W-Mo deposit, located in the Jiangnan porphyry-skarn (JNB) tungsten ore belt, is the first recognized typical porphyry W-Mo deposit in China in the 1980's. Stockworks and disseminated W-Mo mineralization occur in the roof pendant of a 0.3 km2 monzogranitic porphyry stock that intruded into a granodiorite stock, hosted by Neoproterozoic phyllite and slate. LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb analyses suggest that of the monzogranitic porphyry and granodiorite were formed at 143.8 ± 0.5 Ma and 149.8 ± 0.6 Ma, respectively. Six molybdenite samples yielded a Re-Os weighted mean age of 146.4 ± 1.0 Ma. Geochemical data show that both granodiorite and monzogranitic porphyry are characterized by enrichment of large ion lithophile elements (LILE) relative to high field strength elements (HFSE), indicating a peraluminous nature (A/CNK = 1.01-1.08). Two granitoids are characterized by a negative slope with significant light REE/heavy REE fractionation [(La/Yb)N = 8.38-23.20] and negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.69-0.76). The P2O5 contents of the Yangchuling granitoids range from 0.12% to 0.17% and exhibit a negative correlation with SiO2, reflecting that they are highly fractionated I-type. They have high initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.7104-0.7116), low negative εNd(t) (- 5.05 to - 5.67), and homogeneous εHf(t) between - 1.39 and - 2.17, indicating similar sources. Additionally, two-stage Nd model ages (TDM2) of 1.3-1.4 Ga and two-stage Hf model ages (TDM2) of 1.2-1.3 Ga are consistent, indicating that Neoproterozoic crustal rocks of the Shuangqiaoshan Group could have contributed to form the Yangchuling magmas. Considering the two groups of parallel Late Mesozoic ore belts, namely the Jiangnan porphyry-skarn tungsten belt (JNB) in the south and the Middle-Lower Yangtze River porphyry-skarn Cu-Au-Mo-Fe ore belt (YRB) in the north, the Nanling granite-related W-Sn ore belt (NLB) in the south, the neighboring Qin-Hang porphyry-skarn Cu-Mo-hydrothermal Pb-Zn-Ag ore belt (QHB) in the north, as well as the Southeastern Coast porphyry-skarn Cu-Mo-Au ore belt (SCB) recognized in South China in this paper, we propose that the latest Jurassic to earliest Cretaceous granitoids and associated ores were formed during a tearing of the subducting Izanagi slab. This tearing of the subduction slab caused the upwelling of asthenosphere and the resulting mantle-crust interaction. The granitoid-related W ore systems in JNB resulted from the remelting of the Proterozoic crust. The mafic-ultramafic volcanic rocks of the Shuangqiaoshan Group intercalated with phyllite and slate, ophiolitic mélange and magmatic arc rocks, mainly comprising I-type granite, basalt, andesite, rhyolite, pyroclastics, together with subduction-related metasomatized lithospheric mantle, would have provided additional mantle material. In this case, the partial melting of rocks of the Shuangqiaoshan Group can produce S-, I- and transitional type granitoids. After strong differentiation it formed tungsten-bearing granitoids characterized by enrichment of high alkali, silicon and volatile components. In the Yangchuling mine area the small monzogranitic porphyry stock has stronger fractionation, volatile content and ore-forming components than the older granodiorite, resulting in the development of the porphyry W-Mo ore system.

Simulation of primary-slag melting behavior in the cohesive zone of a blast furnace, considering the effect of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, Fe{sub t}O, and basicity in the sinter ore

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hino, Mitsutaka; Nagasaka, Tetsuya; Katsumata, Akitoshi

1999-08-01

The alumina content in the iron ore imported to Japan is increasing year by year, and some problems in blast furnace operation, due to the use of the high-alumina-containing sinter, have already been reported. In order to clarify the mechanism of the harmful effect of alumina on the blast furnace operation, the behavior of the primary melt, which is formed in the sinter at the cohesive zone of the blast furnace, has been simulated by dripping slag through an iron or oxide funnel. The effects of basicity, Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, and Fe{sub t}O contents in the five slag systems onmore » the dripping temperature and weight of slag remaining on the funnel have been discussed. It was found that the eutectic melt formed in the sinter would play an important role in the dripping behavior of the slag in the blast furnace through the fine porosity of the reduced iron and ore particles. Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} increased the weight of the slag remaining on the funnel, and its effect became very significant in the acidic and low-Fe{sub t}O-containing slag. It was estimated that the increase of the weight of the slag remaining on the funnel by Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} in the ore could result in a harmful effect on the permeability resistance and an indirect reduction rate of the sinter in the blast furnace.« less

Copper isotopic zonation in the Northparkes porphyry Cu-Au deposit, SE Australia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Weiqiang; Jackson, Simon E.; Pearson, Norman J.; Graham, Stuart

2010-07-01

Significant, systematic Cu isotopic variations have been found in the Northparkes porphyry Cu-Au deposit, NSW, Australia, which is an orthomagmatic porphyry Cu deposit. Copper isotope ratios have been measured in sulfide minerals (chalcopyrite and bornite) by both solution and laser ablation multi-collector inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). The results from both methods show a variation in δ 65Cu of hypogene sulfide minerals of greater than 1‰ (relative to NIST976). Significantly, the results from four drill holes through two separate ore bodies show strikingly similar patterns of Cu isotope variation. The patterns are characterized by a sharp down-hole decrease from up to 0.8‰ (0.29 ± 0.56‰, 1 σ, n = 20) in the low-grade peripheral alteration zones (phyllic-propylitic alteration zone) to a low of ˜-0.4‰ (-0.25 ± 0.36‰, 1 σ, n = 30) at the margins of the most mineralized zones (Cu grade >1 wt%). In the high-grade cores of the systems, the compositions are more consistent at around 0.2‰ (0.19 ± 0.14‰, 1 σ, n = 40). The Cu isotopic zonation may be explained by isotope fractionation of Cu between vapor, solution and sulfides at high temperature, during boiling and sulfide precipitation processes. Sulfur isotopes also show an isotopically light shell at the margins of the high-grade ore zones, but these are displaced from the low δ 65Cu shells, such that there is no correlation between the Cu and S isotope signatures. Fe isotope data do not show any discernable variation along the drill core. This work demonstrates that Cu isotopes show a large response to high-temperature porphyry mineralizing processes, and that they may act as a vector to buried mineralization.

Gold deposits and occurrences of the Greater Caucasus, Georgia Republic: Their genesis and prospecting criteria

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kekelia, S.A.; Kekelia, M.A.; Kuloshvili, S.I.; Sadradze, N.G.; Gagnidze, N.E.; Yaroshevich, V.Z.; Asatiani, G.G.; Doebrich, J.L.; Goldfarb, R.J.; Marsh, E.E.

2008-01-01

The south-central part of the Greater Caucasus region, Georgia Republic, represents an extremely prospective region for significant orogenic gold deposits. Gold-bearing quartz veins are concentrated in two extensive WNW-trending belts, the Mestia-Racha and Svaneti districts, within the northern margin of the Southern Slope Zone of the Great Caucasus orogen. This metalliferous region is dominated by Early to Middle Jurassic slates, which are part of a terrane that likely accreted to the continental margin from late Paleozoic to Jurassic. The slates were subsequently intruded by both Middle to Late Jurassic and Neogene granitoids. Quartz veins in the more carbonaceous slate units are most consistently enriched in As, Au, Hg, Sb, and W, and show mineralization styles most consistent with typical orogenic gold deposits. Quartz veins in the Mestia-Racha district were mined in Soviet times for As, Sb, and W, but many of these are now being recognized as gold resource targets. The veins occur in the footwall of a thrust fault between the Southern Slope zone and an earlier accreted terrane, the Main Zone, to the north. Many veins in the district continue along strike for > 1??km and some cut Neogene intrusions, constraining ore formation to the most recent 4 to 5??million years. Gold deposition thus correlates with final collision of the Arabian plate to the south and uplift of the ore-hosting Greater Caucasus. The Zopkhito deposit, previously mined for antimony, contains an estimated 55??t Au at a cutoff grade of 0.5??g/t. The veins are localized in an area where smaller-order structures show a major change in strike from N-S to more E-W trends. A pyrite-arsenopyrite ore stage includes gold concentrated in both sulfide phases; it is overprinted by a later stibnite-dominant stage. Fluid-inclusion studies of ore samples from the Zopkhito deposit indicate minimum trapping temperatures of 300 to 350????C and 200 to 300????C for the two stages, respectively, and minimum trapping pressures of 0.2 to 0.5??kbar. Ore-forming fluids, with approximately 5 to 20??mol% non-aqueous gas, evolved from N2-dominant to CO2-dominant during evolution of the hydrothermal system. ??34S values of + 1 to + 4??? for ore-related sulfides at Zopkhito are consistent with a sedimentary rock source for the sulfur, and ??18O quartz measurements of 16 to 21??? are consistent with either a magmatic or metamorphic fluid. More than 60 gold-bearing lodes and placers in the Svaneti district occur along the thrust between the Southern Slope and Main Zones. Lode gold potential was first recognized in the historic placer district in the 1980s, with many auriferous quartz veins cutting Middle Jurassic igneous rocks. Brecciated veins in the 18??t Au Lukhra deposit cut a small granodioritic to dioritic stock; the latter intrudes Devonian schist immediately north of the thrust. Presently, there are three recognized ore zones in the deposit, with the most significant occurring over an area 140??m in length and 12??m-wide, with typical grades of 7 to 9??g/t Au. Reconnaissance fluid-inclusion studies of ore samples from the Lukhra deposit indicate minimum trapping temperatures of 220????C. Measurements of ??18Oquartz of about 10??? suggest buffering of isotopic composition by the igneous host rocks.

Ore deposits and epithermal evidences associated with intra-magmatic faults at Aïn El Araâr-Oued Belif ring structure (NW of Tunisia)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aissa, Wiem Ben; Aissa, Lassaâd Ben; Amara, Abdesslem Ben Haj; Tlig, Said; Alouani, Rabah

2017-03-01

Hydrothermal ore deposits at Aïn El Araâr-Oued Belif location are classified as epithermal deposits type. The ore bodies are hosted by upper Turonian (8-9 M.y) volcanic rhyodacitic complex. Polymetallic sulfide orebodies are mainly concentrated within intra-magmatic faults. Petrographic, XRD, and TEM-STEM investigations revealed that ore minerals are essentially, arsenopyrite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, hematite, goethite and magnetite with Au, Ag and Pt trace metals. Gangue minerals are mainly adularia, quartz, sericite, alunite, tridymite, chlorite, phlogopite and smectite. Epithermal alteration is well zoned with four successive characteristic zones: (1) zone of quartz-adularia-sericite and rare alunite; (2) zone of kaolinite and plagioclase albitization; (3) intermediate zone of illite-sericite; (4) sapropelic alteration type zone of chlorite-smectite and rare illite. This can be interpreted as a telescoping of two different acidity epithermal phases; low sulfidation (adularia-sericite) and high sulfidation (quartz-alunite), separated in time or due to a gradual increase of fluids acidity and oxicity within the same mineralization phase. Brecciated macroscopic facies with fragments hosting quartz-adularia-sericite minerals (low-sulfidation phase) without alunite, support the last hypothesis. Geodynamic context and mineral alteration patterns are closely similar to those of Maria Josefa gold mine at SE of Spain which exhibit a volcanic-hosted epithermal ore deposit in a similar vein system, within rhyolitic ignimbrites, altered to an argillic assemblage (illite-sericite abundant and subordinate kaolinite) that grades outwards into propylitic alteration (Sanger-von Oepen et al. (1990)). Mineralogical and lithologic study undertaken in the volcanic host rock at Aïn El Araâr-Oued Belif reveals a typical epithermal low-sulfidation and high-sulfidation ore deposits with dominance of low-sulfidation. Host rocks in these systems range from silicic to intermediate for adularia-sericite type (low sulfidation) to rhyodacite for quartz-alunite type (high sulfidation).

Novel Binders and Methods for Agglomeration of Ore

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

S. K. Kawatra; T. C. Eisele; K. A. Lewandowski

2006-09-30

Heap leaching is one of the methods being used to recover metal from low grade ore deposits. The main problem faced during heap leaching is the migration of fine grained particles through the heap, forming impermeable beds which result in poor solution flow. The poor solution flow leads to less contact between the leach solution and the ore, resulting in low recovery rates. Agglomeration of ore into coarse, porous masses prevents fine particles from migrating and clogging the spaces and channels between the larger ore particles. Currently, there is one facility in the United States which uses agglomeration. This operationmore » agglomerates their ore using leach solution (raffinate), but is still experiencing undesirable metal recovery from the heaps due to agglomerate breakdown. The use of a binder, in addition to the leach solution, during agglomeration would help to produce stronger agglomerates that did not break down during processing. However, there are no known binders that will work satisfactorily in the acidic environment of a heap, at a reasonable cost. As a result, operators of many facilities see a large loss of process efficiency due to their inability to take advantage of agglomeration. Increasing copper recovery in heap leaching by the use of binders and agglomeration would result in a significant decrease in the amount of energy consumed. Assuming that 70% of all the leaching heaps would convert to using agglomeration technology, as much as 1.64*10{sup 12} BTU per year would be able to be saved if a 25% increase in copper recovery was experienced, which is equivalent to saving approximately 18% of the energy currently being used in leaching heaps. For every week a leach cycle was decreased, a savings of as much as 1.23*10{sup 11} BTU per week would result. This project has identified several acid-resistant binders and agglomeration procedures. These binders and experimental procedures will be able to be used for use in improving the energy efficiency of heap leaching.« less

Use of structural geology in exploration for and mining of sedimentary rock-hosted Au deposits

USGS Publications Warehouse

Peters, Stephen G.

2001-01-01

Structural geology is an important component in regional-, district- and orebody-scale exploration and development of sedimentary rock-hosted Au deposits.Identification of timing of important structural events in an ore district allows analysis and classification of fluid conduits and construction of genetic models for ore formation.The most practical uses of structural geology deal with measurement and definition of various elements that comprise orebodies, which can then be directly applied to ore-reserve estimation,ground control,grade control, safety issues,and mine planning.District- and regional-scale structural studies are directly applicable to long-term strategic planning,economic analysis,and land ownership. Orebodies in sedimentary rock-hosted Au deposits are discrete, hypogene, epigenetic masses usually hosted in a fault zone,breccia mass, or lithologic bed or unit. These attributes allow structural geology to be directly applied to the mining and exploration of sedimentary rock-hosted Au deposits. Internal constituents in orebodies reflect unique episodes relating to ore formation.The main internal constituents in orebodies are ore minerals, gangue, and alteration minerals that usually are mixed with one another in complex patterns, the relations among which may be used to interpret the processes of orebody formation and control.Controls of orebody location and shape usually are due to structural dilatant zones caused by changes in attitude, splays, lithologic contacts,and intersections of the host conduit or unit.In addition,conceptual parameters such as district fabric,predictable distances, and stacking also are used to understand the geometry of orebodies.Controls in ore districts and location and geometry of orebodies in ore districts can be predicted to various degrees by using a number of qualitative concepts such as internal and external orebody plunges,district plunge, district stacking, conduit classification, geochemical, geobarometric and geothermal gradients, and tectonic warps. These concepts have practical and empirical application in most mining districts where they are of use in the exploration for ore, but are of such broad and general application that they may not represent known or inferred ore formation processes. Close spatial relation among some sedimentary rock- hosted Au deposits and their host structures suggests that the structures and the orebodies are genetically linked because they may have shared the same developmental history. Examples of probable syn-deformational genesis and structural control of sedimentary rock-hosted Au deposits are in the large Betze deposit in the Carlin trend, Nevada and in the Lannigou, Jinlongshan, and Maanqiao Au deposits, China.

Geostatistical and GIS analysis of the spatial variability of alluvial gold content in Ngoura-Colomines area, Eastern Cameroon: Implications for the exploration of primary gold deposit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takodjou Wambo, Jonas Didero; Ganno, Sylvestre; Djonthu Lahe, Yannick Sthopira; Kouankap Nono, Gus Djibril; Fossi, Donald Hermann; Tchouatcha, Milan Stafford; Nzenti, Jean Paul

2018-06-01

Linear and nonlinear geostatistic is commonly used in ore grade estimation and seldom used in Geographical Information System (GIS) technology. In this study, we suggest an approach based on geostatistic linear ordinary kriging (OK) and Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques to investigate the spatial distribution of alluvial gold content, mineralized and gangue layers thicknesses from 73 pits at the Ngoura-Colomines area with the aim to determine controlling factors for the spatial distribution of mineralization and delineate the most prospective area for primary gold mineralization. Gold content varies between 0.1 and 4.6 g/m3 and has been broadly grouped into three statistical classes. These classes have been spatially subdivided into nine zones using ordinary kriging model based on physical and topographical characteristics. Both mineralized and barren layer thicknesses show randomly spatial distribution, and there is no correlation between these parameters and the gold content. This approach has shown that the Ngoura-Colomines area is located in a large shear zone compatible with the Riedel fault system composed of P and P‧ fractures oriented NE-SW and NNE-SSW respectively; E-W trending R fractures and R‧ fractures with NW-SE trends that could have contributed significantly to the establishment of this gold mineralization. The combined OK model and GIS analysis have led to the delineation of Colomines, Tissongo, Madubal and Boutou villages as the most prospective areas for the exploration of primary gold deposit in the study area.

The uranium-bearing nickel-cobalt-native silver deposits in the Black Hawk district, Grant County, New Mexico

USGS Publications Warehouse

Gillerman, Elliot; Whitebread, Donald H.

1953-01-01

The Black Hawk (Bullard Peak) district, Grant County, N. Mex., is 21 miles by road west of Silver City. From 1881 to 1893 more than $1,000,000.00 of high-grade silver ore is reported to have been shipped from the district. Since 1893 there has been no mining in the district except during a short period in 1917 when the Black Hawk mine was rehabilitated. Pre-Cambrian quartz diorite gneiss, which contains inclusions of quartzite, schist, monzonite, and quartz monzonite, is the most widespread rock in the district. The quartz diorite gneiss is intruded by many pre-Cambrian and younger rocks, including diorite granite, diabase, monzonite porphyry and andesite and is overlain by the Upper Cretaceous Beartooth quartzite. The monzonite porphyry, probably of late Cretaceous or early Tertiary age, forms a small stock along the northwestern edge of the district and numerous dikes and irregular masses throughout the district. The ore deposits are in fissure veins that contain silver, cobalt, and uranium. The ore minerals, which include native silver, niccolite, millerite, skutterudite, nickel skutterudite, bismuthinite, pitchblende, and sphalerite, are in a carbonate gangue in narrow, persistent veins, most of which trend northeasterly. Pitchblende has been identified in the Black Hawk and the Alhabra deposits and unidentified radioactive minerals were found at five other localities. The deposits that contain the radioactive minerals constitude a belt 600 to 1,500 feet wide that trends about N. 45° E., and is approximately parallel to the southeastern boundary of the monzonite porphyry stock. All the major ore deposits are in the quartz diorite gneiss in close proximity to the monzonite porphyry. The ore deposits are similar to the deposits at Great Bear Lake, Canada, and Joachimstahl, Czechoslovakia.

A hydrogeologic model of stratiform copper mineralization in the Midcontinent Rift System, Northern Michigan, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Swenson, J.B.; Person, M.; Raffensperger, Jeff P.; Cannon, W.F.; Woodruff, L.G.; Berndt, M.E.

2004-01-01

This paper presents a suite of two-dimensional mathematical models of basin-scale groundwater flow and heat transfer for the middle Proterozoic Midcontinent Rift System. The models were used to assess the hydrodynamic driving mechanisms responsible for main-stage stratiform copper mineralization of the basal Nonesuch Formation during the post-volcanic/pre-compressional phase of basin evolution. Results suggest that compaction of the basal aquifer (Copper Harbor Formation), in response to mechanical loading during deposition of the overlying Freda Sandstone, generated a pulse of marginward-directed, compaction-driven discharge of cupriferous brines from within the basal aquifer. The timing of this pulse is consistent with the radiometric dates for the timing of mineralization. Thinning of the basal aquifer near White Pine, Michigan, enhanced stratiform copper mineralization. Focused upward leakage of copper-laden brines into the lowermost facies of the pyrite-rich Nonesuch Formation resulted in copper sulfide mineralization in response to a change in oxidation state. Economic-grade mineralization within the White Pine ore district is a consequence of intense focusing of compaction-driven discharge, and corresponding amplification of leakage into the basal Nonesuch Formation, where the basal aquifer thins dramatically atop the Porcupine Mountains volcanic structure. Equilibrium geochemical modeling and mass-balance calculations support this conclusion. We also assessed whether topography and density-driven flow systems could have caused ore genesis at White Pine. Topography-driven flow associated with the Ottawan orogeny was discounted because it post-dates main-stage ore genesis and because recent seismic interpretations of basin inversion indicates that basin geometry would not be conductive to ore genesis. Density-driven flow systems did not produce focused discharge in the vicinity of the White Pine ore district.

Reducing acid leaching of manganiferous ore: Effect of the iron removal operation on solid waste disposal

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

De Michelis, Ida; Ferella, Francesco; Beolchini, Francesca

2009-01-15

The process of reducing acid leaching of manganiferous ore is aimed at the extraction of manganese from low grade manganese ores. This work is focused on the iron removal operation. The following items have been considered in order to investigate the effect of the main operating conditions on solid waste disposal and on the process costs: (i) type and quantity of the base agent used for iron precipitation, (ii) effective need of leaching waste separation prior to the iron removal operation, (iii) presence of a second leaching stage with the roasted ore, which might also act as a preliminary ironmore » removal step, and (iv) effect of tailings washing on the solid waste classification. Different base compounds have been tested, including CaO, CaCO{sub 3}, NaOH, and Na{sub 2}CO{sub 3}. The latter gave the best results concerning both the precipitation process kinetics and the reagent consumption. The filtration of the liquor leach prior to iron removal was not necessary, implying significant savings in capital costs. A reduction of chemical consumption and an increase of manganese concentration in the solution were obtained by introducing secondary leaching tests with the previously roasted ore; this additional step was introduced without a significant decrease of global manganese extraction yield. Finally, toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) tests carried out on the leaching solid waste showed: (i) a reduction of arsenic mobility in the presence of iron precipitates, and (ii) the need for a washing step in order to produce a waste that is classifiable as not dangerous, taking into consideration the existing Environmental National Laws.« less

Bauxite and Kaolin Deposits of the Irwinton district, Georgia

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lang, Walter B.; Warren, Walter C.; Thompson, Raymond M.; Overstreet, Elizabeth F.

1965-01-01

The Irwinton district is in the central part of Georgia at the inner margin of the Coastal Plain province. The oldest rocks exposed in the district are crystalline rocks of the Piedmont province. They are unconformably overlain by nonmarine sedimentary strata of Late Cretaceous age, including gravel, micaceous sand, and lenses of kaolin. Bauxite has been found in a few of the kaolin lenses near the top of the sequence of these strata. During a long period prior to deposition of the over- lying marine beds of the Claiborne and Jackson Groups (middle and upper Eocene), the Upper Cretaceous strata were subjected to subaerial erosion. The bauxite deposits are considered to have formed during this period. They range in thickness from a few inches to more than 10 feet and occupy areas ranging from a few square feet to more than 5 acres. Most of the known bauxite deposits lie along the valleys of Commissioners Creek and Big Sandy Creek in Wilkinson County. The kaolin lenses are much larger than the bauxite deposits; some of the lenses underlie more than 200 acres and are more than 20 feet thick. Bauxite was discovered in the district in 1907 and was mined from 1910 to 1928. A few additional carloads of ore were shipped in 1941 and 1942, but no ore has been mined since that time. Reserves of high-grade bauxite are very small. Reserves of all grades of bauxite plus bauxitic clay may be about 400,000 long tons. The Irwinton district is the principal source of high-grade kaolin in the United States. The presence of kaolin here has been known since early colo- nial time, and it has been mined continuously since 1897. Production in 1959 was 1,940,279 short tons. The reserves of kaolin are very large but have never been adequately measured. Reserves of first and second grade kaolin may be 67 to 84 million short tons. Kaolin of lower grade is present in larger quantity.

Titanium minerals of placer deposits as a source for new materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kotova, Olga; Ponaryadov, Alexey

2015-04-01

Heavy mineral deposits are a source of the economic important element titanium, which is contained in ilmenite and leucoxene. The mineral composition of placer titanium ore and localization pattern of ore minerals determine their processing and enriching technologies. New data on the mineralogy of titanium ores from modern coastal-marine placer in Stradbroke Island, Eastern Australia, and Pizhma paleoplacer in Middle Timan, Russia, and materials on their basis are presented. The samples were studied by the following methods: optical-mineralogical (stereomicroscope MBS-10, polarizing microscope POLAM L-311), semiquantitative x-ray phase analysis (x-ray difractometer X'Pert PRO MPD). Besides microprobe (VEGA 3 TESCAN) and x-ray fluorescent analysis (XRF-1800 Shimadzu) were used. By the mineralogical composition ores of the both deposits are complex: enriched by valuable minerals. Apart from main ore concentrates it is possible to obtain accompanying nonmetallic products. This will increase the efficiency of deposit exploitation. Ilmenite dominates in ore sands of Stradbroke Island, and leucoxene dominates in the ores of the Pizhma titanium deposit. Australian ilmenite and its altered varieties are mainly characterized by a very high MnO content (from 5.24 to 11.08 %). The irregular distribution of iron oxides, titanium and manganese in the altered ilmenite was shown in the paper. E.g., in the areas of substitution of ilmenite by pseudorutile the concentrations of the given elements are greatly various due to various ratios of basic components in each grain. Their ratios are equal in the area of rutile evolution. Moreover, the high content of gold, diamonds and also rare earth elements (REE) and rare metals (their forms are not determined) were studied. We found native copper on the surface of minerals composing titanium-bearing sandstones of the Pizhma placer. According to the technological features of rocks (density and magnetic) studied placers are close. The obtained results of physical studies, mineral composition features, morphostructural characteristics and degree of alteration of titanium minerals from the placers specify a high potential of physical methods of processing (gravitational and magnetic separation, flotation) and possible application of combined methods of processing. Production of pigment titanium dioxide for further production of titanium white, paper, plastics etc is the usual application area of titanium concentrates. Titanium dioxide of high chemical purity is used to produce optically transparent glass, fiber optics, electronics (iPad), piezoceramics, in medical and food industry. We designed photocatalysts based on leucoxene from Pizhma placer. The results showed that the photocatalysts based on rutile, synthesized from leucoxene from Pizhma deposit, can be applied to decay phenols in water.

Geochemical barriers for environment protection and recovery of nonferrous metals.

PubMed

Chanturiya, Valentine; Masloboev, Vladimir; Makarov, Dmitriy; Nesterov, Dmitriy; Bajurova, Julia; Svetlov, Anton; Men'shikov, Yuriy

2014-01-01

A study of natural minerals, ore tailings and their products as materials for artificial geochemical barriers is presented. In particular, it focuses on interaction between calcite and dolomite and sulfate solutions containing nickel, copper and iron under static conditions. Calcite of -0.1 mm fraction has been shown to perform well as a barrier when added to water phases of tailing dumps and natural reservoirs. Experiments under dynamic conditions have revealed a high potential of thermally activated copper-nickel tailings as barriers. After a 500-day precipitating period on a geochemical barrier, the contents of nickel and copper in ore dressing tailings were found to increase 12- and 28-fold, respectively. An effective sorbent of copper, iron and nickel ions is a brucite-based product of hydrochloric acid treatment of vermiculite ore tailings. Its sorption capacity can be essentially increased through thermal activation.

The copper-cobalt deposits of the Quartzburg district, Grant County, Oregon

USGS Publications Warehouse

Vhay, John Stewart

1960-01-01

The copper- and cobalt-bearing veins of part of the Quartzburg district are in fracture zones trending about N. 70 degrees E. in folded Permian (?) metavolcanic rocks on the southwest side of a quartz diorite stock. Along many of the veins fine-grained tourmaline and quartz have replaced the country rock. The primary ore minerals are chalcopyrite, glaucodot, safflorite, and cobaltite. The copper- and cobalt-rich parts of the deposits appear to be in separate ore shoots. Gold content is generally higher in the cobalt-bearing parts of the veins than in the copper-rich parts. The Standard mine has developed part of one vein zone. Several other vein zones that crop out may contain as much copper as the Standard vein zone. Further bulldozing and diamond drilling on the surface, and more geologic mapping, sampling, and diamond drilling underground are suggested as means to explore for more ore deposits.

Contrast Characteristics of the Muscovitic Quartzite from Karelia, Russia - Determining the Possibility of Intensification of the Beneficiation Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bubnova, Tatyana; Skamnitskaya, Lubov; Gorbunova, Elena; Chertov, Alexandr

2017-12-01

The use of muscovite is determined by its industrial look and quality. Sheet mica is traditionally used as electrically insulating material. Crushed mica dry or wet grinding and scrap (waste from the production of sheet mica) are used as electrical insulating material (for example, mica paper), filler in the manufacture of various kinds of fillers, grout and paint etc. In addition, today there is a steady demand for micronized muscovite for the production of decorative coatings and cosmetics. On the territory of the Republic of Karelia (Russian Federation) there is a significant number of deposits and occurrences moscoviticarum rocks. Promising target small iron-poor Muscovite is the manifestation of the Eastern Hitware identified in 1999. The average mineral composition of rocks of the productive series: quartz - 10-71%; Muscovite - 8-42%; plagioclase - 1,5-28%; kyanite - 2-13,5%; biotite, and 0.1-8%; ore (pyrite, sphalerite) and 1.5 - 11%. Enrichment of this type of mineral raw materials may be carried out using traditional methods - gravity, magnetic separation, flotation. Textural-structural and mineralogical features, a high degree of secondary changes (thin intergrowths of muscovite with graphite, ferritization, the decrease of the strength characteristics) and the availability of areas and dedicated silicification abundant pyrite mineralization and its vein type significantly impoverish muscovite ore, necessitate the adjustment of technological schemes and modes of enrichment. Possibilities of improvement of processes of pretreatment and subsequent enrichment is possible using the methods of pre-sorting that represent rational and cost-effective alternative to traditional beneficiation processes. To explore the possibility of using the optical methods being preconcentration, experimental study of the contrast of properties of samples of the original ore. The study was carried out on crushed material, graded by size: -10+5; -20+10; -40+20 -60 and+40 mm. the results revealed the main search area colour shades in images of mineral samples in the colour system HLS - grey, brown, bright yellow-orange and purple. The correlation between the colour characteristics of the individual pieces and the content of muscovite. To implement the sort method of photometric separation, the threshold separation can be determined by one of the highlighted areas of the gamut or in their entirety. Next, the sorted ore with the same mineralogical and structural properties can effectively be enriched with gravitational methods. In the complex process of enrichment, it is possible to obtain, in addition to muscovite, quartz and kyanite products, which undoubtedly will increase the output of marketable products.

Biogeochemical aspects of uranium mineralization, mining, milling, and remediation

USGS Publications Warehouse

Campbell, Kate M.; Gallegos, Tanya J.; Landa, Edward R.

2015-01-01

Natural uranium (U) occurs as a mixture of three radioactive isotopes: 238U, 235U, and 234U. Only 235U is fissionable and makes up about 0.7% of natural U, while 238U is overwhelmingly the most abundant at greater than 99% of the total mass of U. Prior to the 1940s, U was predominantly used as a coloring agent, and U-bearing ores were mined mainly for their radium (Ra) and/or vanadium (V) content; the bulk of the U was discarded with the tailings (Finch et al., 1972). Once nuclear fission was discovered, the economic importance of U increased greatly. The mining and milling of U-bearing ores is the first step in the nuclear fuel cycle, and the contact of residual waste with natural water is a potential source of contamination of U and associated elements to the environment. Uranium is mined by three basic methods: surface (open pit), underground, and solution mining (in situ leaching or in situ recovery), depending on the deposit grade, size, location, geology and economic considerations (Abdelouas, 2006). Solid wastes at U mill tailings (UMT) sites can include both standard tailings (i.e., leached ore rock residues) and solids generated on site by waste treatment processes. The latter can include sludge or “mud” from neutralization of acidic mine/mill effluents, containing Fe and a range of coprecipitated constituents, or barium sulfate precipitates that selectively remove Ra (e.g., Carvalho et al., 2007). In this chapter, we review the hydrometallurgical processes by which U is extracted from ore, the biogeochemical processes that can affect the fate and transport of U and associated elements in the environment, and possible remediation strategies for site closure and aquifer restoration.This paper represents the fourth in a series of review papers from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on geochemical aspects of UMT management that span more than three decades. The first paper (Landa, 1980) in this series is a primer on the nature of tailings and radionuclide mobilization from them. The second paper (Landa, 1999) includes coverage of research carried out under the U.S. Department of Energy’s Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Program (UMTRA). The third paper (Landa, 2004) reflects the increased focus of researchers on biotic effects in UMT environs. This paper expands the focus to U mining, milling, and remedial actions, and includes extensive coverage of the increasingly important alkaline in situ recovery and groundwater restoration.

Boron isotope evidence for the involvement of non-marine evaporites in the origin of the Broken Hill ore deposits

USGS Publications Warehouse

Slack, J.F.; Palmer, M.R.; Stevens, B.P.J.

1989-01-01

IDENTIFYING the palaeogeographic setting and mode of origin of stratabound ore deposits can be difficult in high-grade metamorphic terranes, where the effects of metamorphism may obscure the nature of the protoliths. Here we report boron isotope data for tourmalines from the early Proterozoic Broken Hill block, in Australia, which hosts giant lead-zinc-silver sulphide deposits. With one exception the 11B/10B ratios are lower than those for all other tourmalines from massive sulphide deposits and tour-malinites elsewhere in the world. We propose that these low ratios reflect leaching of boron from non-marine evaporitic borates by convecting hydrothermal fluids associated with early Proterozoic continental rifting. A possible modern analogue is the Salton Sea geothermal field in California. ?? 1989 Nature Publishing Group.

Chalcopyrite—bearer of a precious, non-precious metal

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kimball, Bryn E.

2013-01-01

The mineral chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) is the world's most abundant source of copper, a metal component in virtually every piece of electrical equipment. It is the main copper mineral in several different ore deposit types, the most important of which are porphyry deposits. Chalcopyrite is unstable at the Earth's surface, so it weathers from sulphide outcrops and mine waste piles, contributing acid and dissolved copper to what is known as acid rock drainage. If not prevented, dissolved copper from chalcopyrite weathering will be transported downstream, potentially harming ecosystems along the way. Pristine areas are becoming targets for future copper supply as we strive to meet ever-increasing demands for copper by developed and developing nations. Additionally, our uses for copper are expanding to include technology such as solar energy production. This has lead to the processing of increasingly lower grade ores, which is possible, in part, due to advances in bio-leaching (i.e. metal extraction catalysed by micro-organisms). Although copper is plentiful, it is still a nonrenewable resource. Future copper supply promises to fall short of demand and the volatility of the copper market may continue if we do not prioritize copper use and improve copper recycling and ore extraction efficiency.

Escondida Mine, Chile

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2001-01-01

[figure removed for brevity, see original site] Figure 1 Click on image for larger version

This ASTER image covers 30 by 37 km in the Atacama Desert, Chile and was acquired on April 23, 2000. The Escondida Cu-Au-Ag open-pit mine is at an elevation of 3050 m, and came on stream in 1990. Current capacity is 127,000 tons/day of ore; in 1999 production totaled 827,000 tons of copper, 150,000 ounces of gold and 3.53 million ounces of silver. Primary concentration of the ore is done on-site; the concentrate is then sent to the coast for further processing through a 170 km long, 9 pipe. Escondida is related geologically to three porphyry bodies intruded along the Chilean West Fissure Fault System. A high grade supergene cap overlies primary sulfide ore. This image is a conventional 3-2-1 RGB composite. Figure 1 displays SWIR bands 4-6-8 in RGB, and highlights lithologic and alteration differences of surface units. The image is located at 24.3 degrees south latitude and 69.1 degrees west longitude.

The U.S. science team is located at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. The Terra mission is part of NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

Effects of Low-temperature Pre-oxidation on the Titanomagnetite Ore Structure and Reduction Behaviors in a Fluidized Bed

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adetoro, Ajala Adewole; Sun, Haoyan; He, Shengyi; Zhu, Qingshan; Li, Hongzhong

2018-04-01

With respect to high efficient utilization of low-grade iron ore resource, the behavior of low-temperature "973 K to 1123 K (700 °C to 850 °C)" oxidation, on the phase transition of SA TTM ore (South African titanomagnetite), and its effect on subsequent reduction was investigated. The results showed that hematite and rutile are the oxidation product below 1048 K (775 °C), while pseudobrookite is the stable phase above 1073 K (800 °C). With the increase in temperature and oxidation time, there is a competitive relationship between the amount of hematite and pseudobrookite generated. The reduction efficiency of SA TTM was significantly improved by oxidation pretreatment, primarily due to the dissociation of titania-ferrous oxides to more easily reducible hematite. But the generation of pseudobrookite phase decreases the amount of free hematite available for reduction, which weakens the improvement effect of pre-oxidation. The equilibrium relationship between the metallization degree and the gas reduction potential for TTM ore with pre-oxidation treatment has been built. Finally, the reduction metallization degree for the first and second step can be improved averagely by 16.67 and 3.45 pct, respectively, for sample pre-oxidized at 1098 K (825 °C) for 15 and 90 minutes, while 26.96 and 7.4 pct, improvement is achieved for sample pre-oxidized at a lower temperature of 1048 K (775 °C) for 120 minutes.

BLENDING LOW ENRICHED URANIUM WITH DEPLETED URANIUM TO CREATE A SOURCE MATERIAL ORE THAT CAN BE PROCESSED FOR THE RECOVERY OF YELLOWCAKE AT A CONVENTIONAL URANIUM MILL

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schutt, Stephen M.; Hochstein, Ron F.; Frydenlund, David C.

2003-02-27

Throughout the United States Department of Energy (DOE) complex, there are a number of streams of low enriched uranium (LEU) that contain various trace contaminants. These surplus nuclear materials require processing in order to meet commercial fuel cycle specifications. To date, they have not been designated as waste for disposal at the DOE's Nevada Test Site (NTS). Currently, with no commercial outlet available, the DOE is evaluating treatment and disposal as the ultimate disposition path for these materials. This paper will describe an innovative program that will provide a solution to DOE that will allow disposition of these materials atmore » a cost that will be competitive with treatment and disposal at the NTS, while at the same time recycling the material to recover a valuable energy resource (yellowcake) for reintroduction into the commercial nuclear fuel cycle. International Uranium (USA) Corporation (IUSA) and Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. (NFS) have entered into a commercial relationship to pursue the development of this program. The program involves the design of a process and construction of a plant at NFS' site in Erwin, Tennessee, for the blending of contaminated LEU with depleted uranium (DU) to produce a uranium source material ore (USM Ore{trademark}). The USM Ore{trademark} will then be further processed at IUC's White Mesa Mill, located near Blanding, Utah, to produce conventional yellowcake, which can be delivered to conversion facilities, in the same manner as yellowcake that is produced from natural ores or other alternate feed materials. The primary source of feed for the business will be the significant sources of trace contaminated materials within the DOE complex. NFS has developed a dry blending process (DRYSM Process) to blend the surplus LEU material with DU at its Part 70 licensed facility, to produce USM Ore{trademark} with a U235 content within the range of U235 concentrations for source material. By reducing the U235 content to source material levels in this manner, the material will be suitable for processing at a conventional uranium mill under its existing Part 40 license to remove contaminants and enable the product to re-enter the commercial fuel cycle. The tailings from processing the USM Ore{trademark} at the mill will be permanently disposed of in the mill's tailings impoundment as 11e.(2) byproduct material. Blending LEU with DU to make a uranium source material ore that can be returned to the nuclear fuel cycle for processing to produce yellowcake, has never been accomplished before. This program will allow DOE to disposition its surplus LEU and DU in a cost effective manner, and at the same time provide for the recovery of valuable energy resources that would be lost through processing and disposal of the materials. This paper will discuss the nature of the surplus LEU and DU materials, the manner in which the LEU will be blended with DU to form a uranium source material ore, and the legal means by which this blending can be accomplished at a facility licensed under 10 CFR Part 70 to produce ore that can be processed at a conventional uranium mill licensed under 10 CFR Part 40.« less

Evidence that Arrhenius high-temperature aging behavior for an EPDM o-ring does not extrapolate to lower temperatures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gillen, K.T.; Wise, J.; Celina, M.

1997-09-01

Because of the need to significantly extend the lifetimes of weapons, and because of potential implications of environmental O-ring failure on degradation of critical internal weapon components, the authors have been working on improved methods of predicting and verifying O-ring lifetimes. In this report, they highlight the successful testing of a new predictive method for deriving more confident lifetime extrapolations. This method involves ultrasensitive oxygen consumption measurements. The material studied is an EPDM formulation use for the environmental O-ring the W88. Conventional oven aging (155 C to 111 C) was done on compression molded sheet material; periodically, samples were removedmore » from the ovens and subjected to various measurements, including ultimate tensile elongation, density and modulus profiles. Compression stress relaxation (CSR) measurements were made at 125 C and 111 C on disc shaped samples (12.7 mm diameter by 6 mm thick) using a Shawbury Wallace Compression Stress Relaxometer MK 2. Oxygen consumption measurements were made versus time, at temperatures ranging from 160 C to 52 C, using chromatographic quantification of the change in oxygen content caused by reaction with the EPDM material in sealed containers.« less

Linking leach chemistry and microbiology of low-grade copper ore bioleaching at different temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jia, Yan; Sun, He-yun; Tan, Qiao-yi; Gao, Hong-shan; Feng, Xing-liang; Ruan, Ren-man

2018-03-01

The effects of temperature on chalcocite/pyrite oxidation and the microbial population in the bioleaching columns of a low-grade chalcocite ore were investigated in this study. Raffinate from the industrial bioleaching heap was used as an irrigation solution for columns operated at 20, 30, 45, and 60°C. The dissolution of copper and iron were investigated during the bioleaching processes, and the microbial community was revealed by using a high-throughput sequencing method. The genera of Ferroplasma, Acidithiobacillus, Leptospirillum, Acidiplasma, and Sulfobacillus dominated the microbial community, and the column at a higher temperature favored the growth of moderate thermophiles. Even though microbial abundance and activity were highest at 30°C, the column at a higher temperature achieved a much higher Cu leaching efficiency and recovery, which suggested that the promotion of chemical oxidation by elevated temperature dominated the dissolution of Cu. The highest pyrite oxidation percentage was detected at 45°C. Higher temperature resulted in precipitation of jarosite in columns, especially at 60°C. The results gave implications to the optimization of heap bioleaching of secondary copper sulfide in both enhanced chalcocite leaching and acid/iron balance, from the perspective of leaching temperature and affected microbial community and activity.

A review of zinc oxide mineral beneficiation using flotation method.

PubMed

Ejtemaei, Majid; Gharabaghi, Mahdi; Irannajad, Mehdi

2014-04-01

In recent years, extraction of zinc from low-grade mining tailings of oxidized zinc has been a matter of discussion. This is a material which can be processed by flotation and acid-leaching methods. Owing to the similarities in the physicochemical and surface chemistry of the constituent minerals, separation of zinc oxide minerals from their gangues by flotation is an extremely complex process. It appears that selective leaching is a promising method for the beneficiation of this type of ore. However, with the high consumption of leaching acid, the treatment of low-grade oxidized zinc ores by hydrometallurgical methods is expensive and complex. Hence, it is best to pre-concentrate low-grade oxidized zinc by flotation and then to employ hydrometallurgical methods. This paper presents a critical review on the zinc oxide mineral flotation technique. In this paper, the various flotation methods of zinc oxide minerals which have been proposed in the literature have been detailed with the aim of identifying the important factors involved in the flotation process. The various aspects of recovery of zinc from these minerals are also dealt with here. The literature indicates that the collector type, sulfidizing agent, pH regulator, depressants and dispersants types, temperature, solid pulp concentration, and desliming are important parameters in the process. The range and optimum values of these parameters, as also the adsorption mechanism, together with the resultant flotation of the zinc oxide minerals reported in the literature are summarized and highlighted in the paper. This review presents a comprehensive scientific guide to the effectiveness of flotation strategy. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Integrate metalogenic database with GIS geological project (deposite Au-Ag Far East Russia). WEB-GIS approach.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kucharenko, Evgeniy; Asavin, Alex

2015-04-01

Resource depletion has forced us to search for new ore deposit and reanalyze old mineral deposits. This is the main aim of metallogenic studies. Synthesis information about features resources work out deposit and emerging fields will play a key role in future. Development of metallogeny databases is one of the most difficult tasks for Earth sciences. Database needs to enter a large number of parameters describing the object of study - mine or ore occurrence. Majority of these parameters belong to different areas of geological knowledge. It can be ore mineralogy, geochemistry, lithology of host rocks, tectonic characteristics ore-controlling structures, geochemical parameters of ore processes, geochronological data on age of geological formations and processes of ore formation and some others. However, the cartographic materials of various scales apart from diverse documentation and numerical information are of a great importance. The adopted framework for the analysis of large-scale metallogeny has several levels: 1. The ore body (usually 1: 50000, 1: 100000) 2. The ore field, the field (1: 200000) 3. The ore cluster (1: 500000) Researchers can vary scheme and scale values, but fundamentally three levels of scale describing the location and geological structures controlling the placement of ore are included at least. Attention should be pay to the system of description the ore deposit. It is necessary to create the universal scheme for development of metallogeny information systems and set up the universal algorithm of ore deposit description. There is its own order of importance of used features and a form of description for each type of deposits and ore and genetic group and ore element. Lack of definition in the classification of a particular metallogenic object makes the choice of algorithm description justified quite weakly. It is quite notable that available features which used for description of different deposit (even of the same genetic group) are not of the same type or detailed enough. Waste deposit usually takes as a reference object with the most complete description in opposite to the recently discovered deposit not enough studied and with quite limited list of information indicators. There are following most actual tasks for information metallogeny system: 1. Search summarizing the characteristics of different objects 2. Select the most informative group of features 3. Show the links of groups of signs and analyze it as far as genesis of deposits. The actual task's list could be continued but it is enough to start. Essentially mentioned problems put us in a situation when deposit's metallogenic database is not available. There is only limited number of typical databases (for certain types of minerals) characterized nothing more than name of the fields and basic indicators of its economic importance (stocks, component content, ore types). The additional information: the age of host rock or ores or geochemistry features of some geological objects uses quite rarely. There is no systematic data for all objects in the database. Database of carbonatite deposits is the most well-developed. It should be also mentioned some works [Woolley & Kjarsgaard 2009; Bagdasarov et al.,2001; Burmistrov et al., 2008]. Unfortunately, such important characteristics as geological maps are not included there as

Platinum-group element abundance and distribution in chromite deposits of the Acoje Block, Zambales Ophiolite Complex, Philippines

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bacuta, G.C.; Kay, R.W.; Gibbs, A.K.; Lipin, B.R.

1990-01-01

Platinum-group elements (PGE) occur in ore-grade concentration in some of the chromite deposits related to the ultramafic section of the Acoje Block of the Zambales Ophiolite Complex. The deposits are of three types: Type 1 - associated with cumulate peridotites at the base of the crust; Type 2 - in dunite pods from the top 1 km of mantle harzburgite; and Type 3 - like Type 2, but in deeper levels of the harzburgite. Most of the deposites have chromite compositions that are high in Cr with Cr/(Cr + Al) (expressed as chromium index, Cr#) > 0.6; high-Al (Cr# Pd, thought to be characteristic of PGE-barren deposits) and positive slope (Ir < Pd, characteristic of PGE-rich deposits). Iridium, Ru and Os commonly occur as micron-size laurite (sulfide) inclusions in unfractured chromite. Laurite and native Os are also found as inclusions in interstitial sulfides. Platinum and Pd occur as alloy inclusions (and possibly as solid solution) in interstitial Ni-Cu sulfides and as tellurobismuthides in serpentine and altered sulfides. Variability of PGE distribution may be explained by alteration, crystal fractionation or partial melting processes. Alteration and metamorphism were ruled out, because PGE contents do not correlate with degree of serpentinization or the abundance and type (hydroxyl versus non-hydroxyl) of silicate inclusions in chromite. Preliminary Os isotopic data do not support crustal contamination as a source of the PGEs in the Acoje deposits. The anomalous PGE concentrations in Type 1 high-Cr chromite deposits are attributed to two stages of enrichment: an early enrichment of their mantle source from previous melting events and a later stage of sulfide segregation accompanying chromite crystallization. High-Al chromite deposits which crystallized from basalts derived from relatively low degrees of melting owe their low PGE content to partitioning of PGEs in sulfides and alloys that remain in the mantle. High-Cr deposits crystallized from melts that were previously enriched with PGEs during early melting events of their mantle source; Pt and Pd ore concentrations (ppm levels) are attained by segregation of magmatic sulfides. The Acoje deposits indicate that ophiolites are a potential economic source of the PGEs. ?? 1990.

Photosynthesis and oxidative stress in the restinga plant species Eugenia uniflora L. exposed to simulated acid rain and iron ore dust deposition: potential use in environmental risk assessment.

PubMed

Neves, Natália Rust; Oliva, Marco Antonio; da Cruz Centeno, Danilo; Costa, Alan Carlos; Ribas, Rogério Ferreira; Pereira, Eduardo Gusmão

2009-06-01

The Brazilian sandy coastal plain named restinga is frequently subjected to particulate and gaseous emissions from iron ore factories. These gases may come into contact with atmospheric moisture and produce acid rain. The effects of the acid rain on vegetation, combined with iron excess in the soil, can lead to the disappearance of sensitive species and decrease restinga biodiversity. The effects of iron ore dust deposition and simulated acid rain on photosynthesis and on antioxidant enzymes were investigated in Eugenia uniflora, a representative shrub species of the restinga. This study aimed to determine the possible utility of this species in environmental risk assessment. After the application of iron ore dust as iron solid particulate matter (SPM(Fe)) and simulated acid rain (pH 3.1), the 18-month old plants displayed brown spots and necrosis, typical symptoms of iron toxicity and injuries caused by acid rain, respectively. The acidity of the rain intensified leaf iron accumulation, which reached phytotoxic levels, mainly in plants exposed to iron ore dust. These plants showed the lowest values for net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration, chlorophyll a content and electron transport rate through photosystem II (PSII). Catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were decreased by simulated acid rain. Peroxidase activity and membrane injury increased following exposure to acid rain and simultaneous SPM(Fe) application. Eugenia uniflora exhibited impaired photosynthetic and antioxidative metabolism in response to combined iron and acid rain stresses. This species could become a valuable tool in environmental risk assessment in restinga areas near iron ore pelletizing factories. Non-invasive evaluations of visual injuries, photosynthesis and chlorophyll a fluorescence, as well as invasive biochemical analysis could be used as markers.

Organic matter in hydrothermal metal ores and hydrothermal fluids

USGS Publications Warehouse

Orem, W.H.; Spiker, E. C.; Kotra, R.K.

1990-01-01

Massive polymetallic sulfides are currently being deposited around active submarine hydrothermal vents associated with spreading centers. Chemoautolithotrophic bacteria are responsible for the high production of organic matter also associated with modern submarine hydrothermal activity. Thus, there is a significant potential for organic matter/metal interactions in these systems. We have studied modern and ancient hydrothermal metal ores and modern hydrothermal fluids in order to establish the amounts and origin of the organic matter associated with the metal ores. Twenty-six samples from modern and ancient hydrothermal systems were surveyed for their total organic C contents. Organic C values ranged from 0.01% to nearly 4.0% in these samples. Metal ores from modern and ancient sediment-covered hydrothermal systems had higher organic C values than those from modern and ancient hydrothermal systems lacking appreciable sedimentary cover. One massive pyrite sample from the Galapagos spreading center (3% organic C) had stable isotope values of -27.4% (??13C) and 2.1% (??15N), similar to those in benthic siphonophors from active vents and distinct from seep sea sedimentary organic matter. This result coupled with other analyses (e.g. 13C NMR, pyrolysis/GC, SEM) of this and other samples suggests that much of the organic matter may originate from chemoautolithotrophic bacteria at the vents. However, the organic matter in hydrothermal metal ores from sediment covered vents probably arises from complex sedimentary organic matter by hydrothermal pyrolysis. The dissolved organic C concentrations of hydrothermal fluids from one site (Juan de Fuca Ridge) were found to be the same as that of background seawater. This result may indicate that dissolved organic C is effectively scavenged from hydrothermal fluids by biological activity or by co-precipitation with metal ores. ?? 1990.

Geology of the Midnite uranium mine, Stevens County, Washington; a preliminary report

USGS Publications Warehouse

Nash, J. Thomas; Lehrman, Norman J.

1975-01-01

The Midnite mine is one of only two mines in the United States currently producing uranium from discordant deposits in crystalline host rocks. Ore bodies are in metamorphosed steeply dipping Precambrian pelitic and calcareous rocks of a roof pendant adjacent to a Cretaceous(?) porphyritic quartz monzonite pluton. Production during 14 years, of operation has been about 8 million pounds of U3O8 from oxidized and reduced ores averaging 0.23 percent U3O8. Uranium deposits are generally tabular in form and dimensions range up to 380 m long, 210 m wide, and 50 m thick. Deposits are bounded on at least one side by unmineralized intrusive ribs of granitic rock, and thickest mineralized zones invariably occur at depressions in the intrusive contact. Upper limits of some deposits are nearly horizontal, and upper elevations of adjacent mineralized zones separated by ribs of granite are similar. Near surface ore is predominantly autunite, but ore at depth consists of pitchblende and coffinite with abundant pyrite and marcasite. Uranium minerals occur as .disseminations along foliation, replacements, and stockwork fracture-fillings. No stratigraphic controls on ore deposition are recognized. Rather, mineralized zones cut across lithologic boundaries if permeability is adequate. Most ore is in muscovite schist and mica phyllite, but important deposits occur in calc-silicate hornfels. Amphibolite sills and mid-Tertiary dacite dikes locally, carry ore where intensely fractured. High content of iron and sulfur, contained chiefly in FeS2, appear to be an important feature of favorable host rocks. Geometry of deposits, structural, and geochemical features suggest that uranium minerals were deposited over a span of time from late Cretaceous to late Tertiary. Ore occurs in but is not offset by a shear zone that displaces mid-Tertiary rocks.. Economic zones of uranium are interpreted to have been secondarily enriched in late Tertiary time by downward and lateral migration of uranium into permeable zones where deposition was influenced by ground water controls and minerals that could reduce or neutralize uranium-bearing solutions.

Le gisement Ag sbnd Hg de Zgounder (Jebel Siroua, Anti-Atlas, Maroc) : un épithermal néoprotérozoïque de type Imiter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marcoux, Éric; Wadjinny, Ahmed

2005-12-01

The Zgounder ore deposit (Anti-Atlas, Morocco), is hosted in a PII-PIII Proterozoic volcanosedimentary series. Disseminated mineralization is dominated by mercuriferous native silver (2 to 30 wt.% Hg), with few silver sulfosalts (acanthite, pearceite), arsenopyrite and base-metal sulfides. Arsenic grade of arsenopyrite and homogenisation temperatures of fluid inclusions indicate initial conditions of high temperature (above 400 °C). Lead isotope compositions comfort a Late-Proterozoic age and a crustal origin for metals. Similarities are obvious with the neighbouring silver ore deposit of Imiter and lead to consider Zgounder as another example of Neoproterozoic epithermal deposit in the Anti-Atlas of Morocco, a region that appears more and more as a silver metallogenic province. To cite this article: É. Marcoux, A. Wadjinny, C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).

Cobalt-copper deposits of the Blackbird district, Lemhi County, Idaho

USGS Publications Warehouse

Vhay, J. S.

1947-01-01

The report contains brief descriptions of all the accessible workings in the district, of which the most important are Calera, Brown Bear, Uncle Sam, and Hawkeye mines. In the Calera adit, about 1,700 feet of the mineralized zone, ranging in width from 3 feet to 40 feet and averaging about 15 feet; have been explored (August 1946); the zone lies on a wide northwest-striking shear zone dipping moderately ( 60° ±) northeast. The Brown Bear adit is in a wide, mineralized, north-south shear zone in which are higher-grade pods plunging 25° to 35° north. The Uncle Sam mine explores a relatively narrow north-south shear zone in which are two or three north-plunging ore shoots. The Hawkeye mine is in a broad zone of mineralized schist in which are several north-plunging lenses of ore.

Resource availability at Taurus-Littrow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haskin, Larry A.; Colson, R. O.

1992-01-01

Early lunar technologies will probably use a common lunar material as ore. They will be robust to minor fluctuations in feedstock composition and will not require appreciable feedstock beneficiation such as rock grinding or mineral concentration. Technologies using unprocessed soil and indifferent to its composition will have the advantage. Nevertheless, the size and grade of the ore body must be confirmed for even the most indiscriminate process. Simple uses such as heaping unprocessed lunar soil for thermal insulation or radiation shielding onto a habitat require that we know the depth of the regolith, the size distributions of its soils, the locations of large boulders, and the ease of excavation. Costs of detailed site surveys trade against restrictions on site selection and conservative engineering design to accommodate unknown conditions of a poorly explored site. Given the above considerations, we consider briefly some abundant lunar materials, their proposed uses, and technologies for their preparation, with particular attention to the Taurus-Littrow site.

Physical, chemical and antimicrobial characterization of copper-bearing material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Bowen; Hwang, Jiann-Yang; Drelich, Jaroslaw; Popko, Domenic; Bagley, Susan

2010-12-01

Arsenic, cadmium, copper, mercury, silver, and zinc are elements with strong antimicrobial properties. Among them, copper is more environmentally friendly and has both good antibacterial and antifungal properties. It has been shown that copper can even be effective against new viruses such as avian influenza (H5N1). Development of copper-bearing materials for various applications, therefore, is receiving increased attention. The Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan was the largest native copper mining regions of North America at the turn of the 20th century. Copper was extracted by mining the copper-rich basaltic rock, and steamdriven stamp mills were used to process a great volume of low-grade ores, resulting in huge amounts of crushed waste ore called stamp sands. Approximately 500 million tons of stamp sand were discarded. This material is investigated in this study as an example for the development of antimicrobial materials.

Application of plurigaussian simulation to delineate the layout of alteration domains in Sungun copper deposit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Talebi, Hassan; Asghari, Omid; Emery, Xavier

2013-12-01

An accurate estimation of mineral grades in ore deposits with heterogeneous spatial variations requires defining geological domains that differentiate the types of mineralogy, alteration and lithology. Deterministic models define the layout of the domains based on the interpretation of the drill holes and do not take into account the uncertainty in areas with fewer data. Plurigaussian simulation (PGS) can be an alternative to generate multiple numerical models of the ore body, with the aim of assessing the uncertainty in the domain boundaries and improving the geological controls in the characterization of quantitative attributes. This study addresses the application of PGS to Sungun porphyry copper deposit (Iran), in order to simulate the layout of four hypogene alteration zones: potassic, phyllic, propylitic and argillic. The aim of this study is to construct numerical models in which the alteration structures reflect the evolution observed in the geology.

Cross-Comparison of Leaching Strains Isolated from Two Different Regions: Chambishi and Dexing Copper Mines

PubMed Central

Ngom, Baba; Liang, Yili; Liu, Xueduan

2014-01-01

A cross-comparison of six strains isolated from two different regions, Chambishi copper mine (Zambia, Africa) and Dexing copper mine (China, Asia), was conducted to study the leaching efficiency of low grade copper ores. The strains belong to the three major species often encountered in bioleaching of copper sulfide ores under mesophilic conditions: Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, and Leptospirillum ferriphilum. Prior to their study in bioleaching, the different strains were characterized and compared at physiological level. The results revealed that, except for copper tolerance, strains within species presented almost similar physiological traits with slight advantages of Chambishi strains. However, in terms of leaching efficiency, native strains always achieved higher cell density and greater iron and copper extraction rates than the foreign microorganisms. In addition, microbial community analysis revealed that the different mixed cultures shared almost the same profile, and At. ferrooxidans strains always outcompeted the other strains. PMID:25478575

The geology, mineralogy and paragenesis of the Castrovirreyna lead-zinc-silver deposits, Peru

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lewis, Richard Wheatley

1964-01-01

The Castrovirreyna mining district lies in the Andean Cordillera of South Central Peru, and has been worked sporadically since its discovery in 1591. Supergene silver ores were first mined. Currently the district produces about 20,000 tons of lead-zinc ore and 5000 tons of silver ore annually. The district is underlain by Tertiary andesitic rocks interbedded with basalts and intruded by small bodies of quartz latite porphyry. The terrane reflects recent glaciation and is largely covered by glacial debris. The ore deposits are steeply dipping veins that strike N. 60? E. to S. 50? E., and average 60 centimeters wide and 300 meters long. The principal veins are grouped around three centers, lying 5 kilometers apart along a line striking N. 55? E. They are, from east to west: San Genaro, Caudalosa, and La Virreyna. A less important set of veins, similarly aligned, lies 2 kilometers to the north. Most of the veins were worked to depths of about 30 meters, the limit of supergene enrichment; but in the larger veins hypogene ores have been worked to depths of over 150 meters. Galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, and tetrahedrite are common to all veins, but are most abundant in the westernmost veins at La Virreyna. In the center of the district, around Caudalosa, land sulfantimonides are the commonest ore minerals, and at the eastern end, around San Genaro and Astohuaraca, silver sulfosalts predominate. Supergene enrichment of silver is found at shallow depths in all deposits. Silver at San Genaro, however, was concentrated towards the surface by migration along hypogene physico-chemical gradients in time and space, as vein material was reworked by mineralizing fluids. The pattern of wallrock alteration throughout the district grades from silicification and scricitization adjacent to the veins, through argillization and propylitization, to widespread chloritization farther away. Mineralization can be divided into three stages: 1) Preparatory stage, characterized by silicification and pyritization; 2) Depositional stage, characterized by the deposition of base-metal sulfides; and 3) Reworking stage, characterized by the formation of lead sulfantimonides from galena at Caudalosa, and the deposition of silver sulfide and sulfosalts at San Genaro. Maximum temperatures, indicated by the wurtzite-sphalerite, famatinite-energite and chalcopyrite-sphalerite assemblages, did not exceed 350? C. The low iron content of sphalerite suggests that most of the base-metal sulfides were deposited below 250? C. The colloidal habits of pyrite and quartz in the preparatory and reworking stages imply relatively low temperatures of deposition, probably between 50? C and 100? C. Mineralization was shallow and pressures ranged from 17 atmospheres in the silver deposits to over 45 atmospheres in the lead sulfantimonide deposits. Mineralization at Castrovirreyna represents an open chemical system in which mineralizing fluids constantly modified the depositional environment while they themselves underwent modification. The deposits formed under nonequilibrium conditions from fluids containing complex ions and colloids. Reworking and migration along persistent physico-chemical gradients in time and space, from a deep source to the west concentrated base-metal sulfides in the western half, lead-antimony minerals in the center, and silver-antimony minerals in the eastern part of the district. Silver, antimony, and bismuth were kept in solution as complex ions until low temperature and pressure prevailed. They document in situ reworking by reacting with existing minerals. Physico-chemical gradients controlled the type of minerals deposited, whereas vein structure controlled the quantity deposited. Vein fissures formed by the equivalent of from east-west compression during Andean orogenesis and mineralization probably came from the underlying Andean Batholith.

Mineralogy and ore fluid chemistry of the Roc Blanc Ag deposit, Jebilet Hercynian massif, Morocco

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Essarraj, Samira; Boiron, Marie-Christine; Cathelineau, Michel; Tarantola, Alexandre; Leisen, Mathieu; Hibti, Mohamed

2017-03-01

The Roc Blanc Ag deposit is located about 20 km north of Marrakesh city (Morocco) in the Jebilet Hercynian massif. The ore bodies consist of N-S to NE-SW quartz (±carbonates) veins hosted by the Sarhlef marine sediments. These series, deposited in a Devonian-Carboniferous rift basin context, were deformed during the Hercynian orogeny, and submitted to low-grade regional metamorphism. Two major stages of fluid circulation and metal deposition are distinguished on the basis of mineralogical and paleo-fluid studies carried out on quartz and dolomite (microthermometry, Raman spectroscopy, LA-ICP-MS on individual inclusions, and O, H stable isotope data): (i) an early Fe-As stage, characterized by the circulation of metamorphic aqueous-carbonic fluids, under P-T conditions lower than 200 MPa ± 20 MPa and 400 °C respectively, along N-S structures; (ii) the ore stage, characterized by the circulation of a Na-Mg-K ± Ca high salinity brine, poor in gas but rich in metals such as Fe, Sr, Ba, Zn, Pb, ± Cu (salinity ranging from 19.6 wt% to likely more than 30 wt% NaCl equiv.) and the deposition of a sphalerite/dolomite-calcite assemblage; such a fluid likely evolved to a Na-K-(Ca-Mg)-Ag brine, with significant Pb and Sb concentrations and lower Sr, Ba and Zn concentrations than in the preceding fluid (salinity up to 19.4 wt% NaCl equiv.). The Ag content of the second mineralizing brine ranges from 0.9 mmol/kg to 9.4 mmol/kg solution (100 ppm-1000 ppm), whereas the base metal brine is generally Ag poor (up to 1.3 mmol/kg solution: 140 ppm). Dilution of the Ag brine by low salinity fluids (<6 wt% NaCl equiv., and Th from 130° to 230 °C) seems to be the main driving mechanism for the Ag ore deposition at Roc Blanc, with a possible involvement of cooling and reduction reactions in black schists. Base metal and Ag fluids may have circulated at average temperatures around 200 ± 30 °C or slightly higher and under hydrostatic pressures, along dominant E-W structures. The ore forming model proposed for the Roc Blanc deposit is: (i) the penetration of sedimentary brines coming from the adjacent basins into the basement (i.e. Hercynian formations), where they extracted Ag probably from abundant mafic rocks; ii) the ore deposition in structural traps below the post Hercynian unconformity thanks to brine mixing with low salinity fluids. The fluid circulation probably is related to the Atlasic rifting coeval with the Atlantic Triassic opening. Such a model contrasts with the previous one relating the Roc Blanc to the Hercynian granitic intrusions in the Jebilet. Ag deposition occurred during reworking of the early structures associated with the Hercynian orogenic events and metamorphic fluid circulation which led to the early Fe-As uneconomic stages forming the main N-S quartz veins. Similarities between The Roc Blanc Ag deposit and the major Ag deposits from Anti-Atlas south of Morocco strongly suggest that they resulted from a unique and large fluid circulation event and a major period of metal deposition.

Manipulation of a Senescence-Associated Gene Improves Fleshy Fruit Yield1[OPEN

PubMed Central

Gramegna, Giovanna; Trench, Bruna A.; Alves, Frederico R.R.; Silva, Eder M.; Silva, Geraldo F.F.; Thirumalaikumar, Venkatesh P.; Lupi, Alessandra C.D.; Demarco, Diego; Nogueira, Fabio T.S.; Freschi, Luciano

2017-01-01

Senescence is the process that marks the end of a leaf’s lifespan. As it progresses, the massive macromolecular catabolism dismantles the chloroplasts and, consequently, decreases the photosynthetic capacity of these organs. Thus, senescence manipulation is a strategy to improve plant yield by extending the leaf’s photosynthetically active window of time. However, it remains to be addressed if this approach can improve fleshy fruit production and nutritional quality. One way to delay senescence initiation is by regulating key transcription factors (TFs) involved in triggering this process, such as the NAC TF ORESARA1 (ORE1). Here, three senescence-related NAC TFs from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) were identified, namely SlORE1S02, SlORE1S03, and SlORE1S06. All three genes were shown to be responsive to senescence-inducing stimuli and posttranscriptionally regulated by the microRNA miR164. Moreover, the encoded proteins interacted physically with the chloroplast maintenance-related TF SlGLKs. This characterization led to the selection of a putative tomato ORE1 as target gene for RNA interference knockdown. Transgenic lines showed delayed senescence and enhanced carbon assimilation that, ultimately, increased the number of fruits and their total soluble solid content. Additionally, the fruit nutraceutical composition was enhanced. In conclusion, these data provide robust evidence that the manipulation of leaf senescence is an effective strategy for yield improvement in fleshy fruit-bearing species. PMID:28710129

Ore microscopy of the Paoli silver-copper deposit, Oklahoma

USGS Publications Warehouse

Thomas, C.A.; Hagni, R.D.; Berendsen, P.

1991-01-01

The Paoli silver-copper deposit is located in south-central Oklahoma, 56 km south-southeast from Norman, Oklahoma. It was mined for high-grade silver-copper near the beginning of this century, and intensive exploratory drilling during the early 1970's delineated unmined portions of the deposit. A collaborative study between the U.S.G.S., the Kansas Geological Survey, and the University of Missouri-Rolla was undertaken to provide new information on the character of red bed copper deposits of the Midcontinent region. The Paoli deposit has been interpreted to occur as a roll-front type of deposit. The silver and copper mineralization occurs within paleochannels in the Permian Wellington Formation. The silver-copper interfaces appear to be controlled by oxidation-reduction interfaces that are marked by grey to red color changes in the host sandstone. Ore microscopic examinations of polished thin sections show that unoxidized ore consists of chalcocite, digenite, chalcopyrite, covellite and pyrite; and oxidized ores are characterized by covellite, bornite, hematite and goethite. In sandstone-hosted ores, chalcocite and digenite replace dolomite and border clastic quartz grains. In siltstone-hosted ores, the copper sulfide grains have varied shapes; most are irregular in shape and 5-25 ??m across, others have euhedral shapes suggestive of pyrite crystal replacements, and some are crudely spherical and are 120-200 ??m across. Chalcopyrite is the predominant copper sulfide at depth. Covellite and malachite replace chalcocite and digenite near the surface. Silver only occurs as native silver; most as irregularly shaped grains 40-80 ??m across, but some as cruciform crystals that are up to 3.5 mm across. The native silver has been deposited after copper sulfides, and locally replaces chalcocite. Surficial nodules of pyrite, malachite and hematite locally are present in outcrops at the oxidation-reduction fronts. Polished sections of the nodules show that malachite forms a cement around quartz sand grains, and brecciated pyrite grains are surrounded by rims of hematite and goethite. Dolomite is the principal sandstone cement. Cathodoluminescence microscopic study of the mineral has shown that it was deposited during seven periods before the copper sulfide mineralization. ?? 1991.

Origin of the Lengshuigou porphyry-skarn Cu deposit in the Zha-Shan district, South Qinling, central China, and implications for differences between porphyry Cu and Mo deposits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Guiqing; Mao, Jingwen; Wang, Ruiting; Meng, Deming; Sun, Jia; Dai, Junzhi; Ren, Tao; Li, Jianbi; Zhao, Haijie

2017-04-01

Porphyry Cu and Mo deposits are two economically important types of metal deposits worldwide, but factors controlling their difference remain enigmatic. Compared with the well-studied large porphyry Mo province in the south margin of the North China Block (S-NCB), the origin of newly discovered porphyry Cu deposits in the South Qinling (SQB) is poorly constrained. Integrated zircon LA-ICPMS U-Pb and molybdenite Re-Os ages and geological evidence indicate three stages of magmatism at Lengshuigou: (1) late Neoproterozoic (718 to 704 Ma) quartz diorite + albitite + granite association during the pre-ore stage, (2) 146 to 145 Ma granodiorite porphyry during the syn-ore stage, and (3) 145 Ma granite porphyry during the post-ore stage. Elemental and Sr-Nd isotopic evidence provide important constraints on their magma source. Pre-ore Neoproterozoic quartz diorite + albitite + granite was derived by re-melting of a mixture of crustal and juvenile mantle materials, and stronger fractional crystallization was involved in these ore-hosting intrusions than in contemporary granitoids hosted in the Douling Group. Syn-ore granodiorite porphyry was derived from mantle-derived magma with contributions from different proportions of crustal components. Post-ore granite porphyry was derived mainly from a crustal source. Nearly contemporaneous porphyry Cu and Mo systems were identified in Qinling Province, including the 147-139 Ma porphyry Mo systems in the S-NCB and 150-146 Ma porphyry Cu systems in the SQB. Granitic stocks related to porphyry Cu systems in the SQB are characterized by moderate SiO2 contents (58.01-69.07 %) and less radiogenic Nd-Hf isotopes (ɛNd(t) = -3.8 to -6.3, ɛHf(t) = -4.5 to +1.6), whereas the granitic stocks related to porphyry Mo deposits in the S-NCB have high SiO2 concentrations (64.00-76.00 %) and more radiogenic Nd-Hf isotopes (ɛNd(t) = -18.0 to -11.6, ɛHf(t) = -26.3 to -13.5). In addition, molybdenite from the Chigou and Lengshuigou porphyry Cu deposits in the S-NCB show higher Re contents (77.50-394.3 ppm) than those from nearly contemporaneous porphyry Mo deposits (9.34-49.7 ppm) in the S-NCB. These lines of evidence indicate that a higher proportion of mantle component was involved in the formation of porphyry Cu deposits in the SQB than nearly contemporaneous porphyry Mo deposits in the S-NCB. It is most likely that the nature of the magma source plays an essential role in the differences between porphyry Cu and Mo deposits.

Recovery of Tungsten and Molybdenum from Low-Grade Scheelite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yongli; Yang, Jinhong; Zhao, Zhongwei

2017-10-01

With most high-quality tungsten ores being exhausted, the enhancement of low-grade scheelite concentrates processing has attracted a great deal of attention. The objective of this study is to develop a method to maximize the recovery tungsten and molybdenum from a low-grade scheelite via a new acid leaching process followed by solvent extraction. Under optimal conditions (350 g/L H2SO4, 95°C, and 2 h), approximately 99.8% of tungsten and 98% of molybdenum were leached out. In the subsequent solvent extraction process, more than 99% of the tungsten and molybdenum were extracted with a co-extraction system (50% TBP, 30% HDEHP, and 10% 2-octanol in kerosene) using a three-stage cross-flow extraction. The raffinate can be recycled for the next leaching process after replenishing the H2SO4 to the initial value (approximately 350 g/L). Based on these results, a conceptual flowsheet is presented to recover tungsten and molybdenum from the low-grade scheelite.

The South: Birmingham Case Study, and The South as a Region. Grade Five (Unit IV). Resource Unit. Project Social Studies.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Minnesota Univ., Minneapolis. Project Social Studies Curriculum Center.

A case study on Birmingham is presented in the first part of this resource unit on regional studies designed for fifth graders. The objective of the sequent occupance unit is to illustrate the impact which the discovery and utilization of a large natural resource, namely, iron ore, can have on the development of a city, in the hope that students…

Mineralogy and trace element geochemistry of the Co- and Cu-bearing sulfides from the Shilu Fe-Co-Cu ore district in Hainan Province of South China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zhilin; Xu, Deru; Zhang, Zhaochong; Zou, Fenghui; Wang, Li; Yu, Liangliang; Hu, Mingyue

2015-12-01

Hosted within the metamorphosed, neritic siliciclastic rocks and sedimentary carbonates of the Proterozoic Shilu Group, the Shilu Fe-Co-Cu ore district in Hainan Province of South China comprises the upper Fe- and the lower Co-Cu ore layers. Combined with the field observation, the mineralogical and geochemical studies of sulfides using electron microprobe and laser ablation ICP-MS analyses recognized three types of Co-Cu ores. Type I is represented by massive ores and mainly comprises the first generation of pyrite (PyI) which occurred either as recrystallized, subhedral to euhedral microcrystal aggregates (PyIa) or as elongated, fine-grained euhedral grains (PyIb) with an orientated alignment parallel to S1 foliation. Type II is banded, disseminated and brecciated ores, and composed of the second generation of pyrite (PyII) which displays internal rhythmic growth zoning, the first generations of chalcopyrite (CcpI) and pyrrhotite (PoI), and associated Co-(Ni)-(As)-sulfide minerals. Type III occurring as veins or veinlets mainly consists of the third generation of pyrite (PyIII) and the second generations of chalcopyrite (CcpII) and pyrrhotite (PoII), of which PyIII appears as subhedral to euhedrall grains or as rims of composite pyrite. The moderate Co and As, and high Ni contents as well as the low Co/Ni ratios (∼2-5) in PyI indicate a sedimentary-metamorphic origin for Type I ores. The higher Co, Ni and As concentrations in PyIb relative to PyIa likely was related to an inhomogeneous deformation-metamorphism. The highest Co (av. 51,195 ppm) in PyII and Ni (av. 3374 ppm) in PoI most likely were linked to the preferred incorporation of Co into pyrite and Ni into pyrrhotite. Combined with the high Ag concentrations in CcpI (av. 266 ppm) and PyII (av. 13.32 ppm), the high Co/Ni ratios in PyII (av. 1241) suggest the derivation of Type II ores from a Co-Cu-Ni-Ag-rich hydrothermal fluid. Further, up to 9 wt.% Co concentrations in PyII show a temperature condition of 310-400 °C. In contrast, the depletion of trace elements in CcpII and PyIII, and the lower Co/Ni ratios (av. 46) in PyIII suggest a Co-poor but Cu-bearing hydrothermal fluid for origin of Type III ores. The complex texture and chemical composition of sulfides combined with previous work confirm a four-stage metallogenesis for the Shilu Co-Cu ores. From early to late, these include: (1) the ca. 1075-880 Ma deposition of the primary Co-Cu ore source beds which most likely were derived from submarine, metalliferous hydrothermal fluids, (2) the syn-structural metamorphism which led to Type I ores due to the South China Caledonian Orogeny, (3) the first stage of hydrothermalism which produced Type II ores and most likely was associated with Indosinian magmatism, and (4) the second stage of hydrothermalism which yielded Type III ores and likely was related to Yanshanian magmatism. The first stage of hydrothermalism was considered to be significant for the Co-Cu enrichment. The Shilu Co-Cu ores thus are better attributed to a BIF origin, but greatly reworked and enriched by late structural deformation and hydrothermal activities.

Chemistry and phase evolution during roasting of toxic thallium-bearing pyrite.

PubMed

Lopez-Arce, Paula; Garcia-Guinea, Javier; Garrido, Fernando

2017-08-01

In the frame of a research project on microscopic distribution and speciation of geogenic thallium (Tl) from contaminated mine soils, Tl-bearing pyrite ore samples from Riotinto mining district (Huelva, SW Spain) were experimentally fired to simulate a roasting process. Concentration and volatility behavior of Tl and other toxic heavy metals was determined by quantitative ICP-MS, whereas semi-quantitative mineral phase transitions were identified by in situ thermo X-Ray Diffraction (HT-XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analyses after each firing temperature. Sample with initial highest amount of quartz (higher Si content), lowest quantity of pyrite and traces of jarosite (lower S content) developed hematite and concentrated Tl (from 10 up to 72 mg kg -1 ) after roasting at 900 °C in an oxidizing atmosphere. However, samples with lower or absent quartz content and higher pyrite amount mainly developed magnetite, accumulating Tl between 400 and 500 °C and releasing Tl from 700 up to 900 °C (from 10-29 mg kg -1 down to 4-1 mg kg -1 ). These results show the varied accumulative, or volatile, behaviors of one of the most toxic elements for life and environment, in which oxidation of Tl-bearing Fe sulfides produce Fe oxides wastes with or without Tl. The initial chemistry and mineralogy of pyrite ores should be taken into account in coal-fired power stations, cement or sulfuric acid production industry involving pyrite roasting processes, and steel, brick or paint industries, which use iron ore from roasted pyrite ash, where large amounts of Tl entail significant environmental pollution. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of temperature in the selective reduction process of limonite nickel ore

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mayangsari, W.; Febriana, Eni; Prasetyo, A. B.

2018-05-01

Temperature is the main factor for the reduction process that influence to reduction degree, phase and morphology transformation. In order to determine these effects which is caused by reduction temperature, this study was conducted. Limoniticnickel ore was prepared by drying and size reduction. A part of prepared limonitewas characterized with XRF to determine the chemical composition. The other part was mixed with reducing agent and CaSO4 to produce pellet. A series of selective reduction processes were conducted to the pellet by using graphite crucible in the muffle furnace carbolite at 800° - 1100°C for 60 minutes. Reduced ore characterized by using XRD and SEM analysis. Based on the result study, weight loss and reduction degree increase as temperature raised along with CaSO4 addition. Moreover, it caused decomposition and transformation to the metallic phase of kamacite and iron up to 7.51% and 41.44% respectively in the reduction process at 1100°C for 60 minutes. Furthermore, particle size growth as metallic phase content increased.

Environmental impacts of iron ore tailings—The case of Tolo Harbour, Hong Kong

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wong, M. H.

1981-03-01

Disposal of iron ore tailings along the shore of Tolo Harbour, Hong Kong has altered the adjacent environment. Due to the ever-expanding population, the vast development of various industries, and the lack of sanitary control, the existing pollution problem of Tolo Harbour is serious. The iron ore tailings consist of a moderate amount of various heavy metals, e.g., copper, iron, manganese, lead, zinc, and a lower level of macronutrients. A few living organisms have been found colonizing this manmade habitat. Higher metal contents were also found in the tissue of Paphia sp. (clam); Scopimera intermedia (crab); Chaetomorpha brychagona (green alga); Enteromorpha crinita (green alga); and Neyraudia reynaudiana (grass). The area can be reclaimed by surface amelioration using inert materials, soils, or organic substrates, and by direct seeding, using nontolerant and tolerant plant materials. Reclamation of the tailings would improve the amenity of the adjacent environment and also mitigate pollution escaping to the sea.

Precipitation of lead-zinc ores in the Mississippi Valley-type deposit at Treves, Cevennes region of southern France

USGS Publications Warehouse

Leach, D.; Macquar, J.-C.; Lagneau, V.; Leventhal, J.; Emsbo, P.; Premo, W.

2006-01-01

The Trèves zinc–lead deposit is one of several Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) deposits in the Cévennes region of southern France. Fluid inclusion studies show that the ore was deposited at temperatures between approximately 80 and 150°C from a brine that derived its salinity mainly from the evaporation of seawater past halite saturation. Lead isotope studies suggest that the metals were extracted from local basement rocks. Sulfur isotope data and studies of organic matter indicate that the reduced sulfur in the ores was derived from the reduction of Mesozoic marine sulfate by thermochemical sulfate reduction or bacterially mediated processes at a different time or place from ore deposition. The large range of δ34S values determined for the minerals in the deposit (12.2–19.2‰ for barite, 3.8–13.8‰ for sphalerite and galena, and 8.7 to −21.2‰ for pyrite), are best explained by the mixing of fluids containing different sources of sulfur. Geochemical reaction path calculations, based on quantitative fluid inclusion data and constrained by field observations, were used to evaluate possible precipitation mechanisms. The most important precipitation mechanism was probably the mixing of fluids containing different metal and reduced sulfur contents. Cooling, dilution, and changes in pH of the ore fluid probably played a minor role in the precipitation of ores. The optimum results that produced the most metal sulfide deposition with the least amount of fluid was the mixing of a fluid containing low amounts of reduced sulfur with a sulfur-rich, metal poor fluid. In this scenario, large amounts of sphalerite and galena are precipitated, together with smaller quantities of pyrite precipitated and dolomite dissolved. The relative amounts of metal precipitated and dolomite dissolved in this scenario agree with field observations that show only minor dolomite dissolution during ore deposition. The modeling results demonstrate the important control of the reduced sulfur concentration on the Zn and Pb transport capacity of the ore fluid and the volumes of fluid required to form the deposit. The studies of the Trèves ores provide insights into the ore-forming processes of a typical MVT deposit in the Cévennes region. However, the extent to which these processes can be extrapolated to other MVT deposits in the Cévennes region is problematic. Nevertheless, the evidence for the extensive migration of fluids in the basement and sedimentary cover rocks in the Cévennes region suggests that the ore forming processes for the Trèves deposit must be considered equally viable possibilities for the numerous fault-controlled and mineralogically similar MVT deposits in the Cévennes region.

Geology of the Shinarump No. 1 uranium mine, Seven Mile Canyon area, Grand County, Utah

USGS Publications Warehouse

Finch, Warren Irvin

1954-01-01

The geology of the Shinarump No. 1 uranium mine, located about 12 miles northwest of Moab, Utah, in the Seven Mile Canyon area, Grand County, Utah, was studied to determine the habits, ore controls, and possible origin of the deposit. Rocks of Permian, Triassic, and Jurassic age crop out in the area mapped, and uranium deposits are found in three zones in the lower 25 feet of the Chinle formation of Late Triassic age. The Shinarump No. 1 mine, which is in the lowermost zone, is located on the west flank of the Moab anticline near the Moab fault. The Shinarump No. 1 uranium deposit consists of discontinuous lenticular layers of mineralized rock, irregular in outline, that, in general, follow the bedding. Ore minerals, mainly uraninite, impregnate the rock. High-grade ore seams of uraninite and chalcocite occur along bedding planes. Uraninite formed later than, or simultaneous with, most sulfides, and the chalcocite may be of two ages, with some being later than uraninite. Uraninite and chalcocite are concentrated in the more poorly sorted parts of siltstones. In the Seven Mile Canyon area guides to ore inferred from the study of the Shinarump No. 1 deposit are the presence of bleached siltstone, carbonaceous matter, and copper sulfides. Results of spectrographic analysis indicate that the mineralizing solutions contained important amounts of barium, vanadium, uranium, and copper, as well as lesser amounts of strontium, chromium, boron, yttrium, lead, and zinc. The origin of the Shinarump No. 1 deposit is thought to be hydrothermal.

Enhanced stabilization of Pb, Zn, and Cd in contaminated soils using oxalic acid-activated phosphate rocks.

PubMed

Zhang, Zhuo; Guo, Guanlin; Wang, Mei; Zhang, Jia; Wang, Zhixin; Li, Fasheng; Chen, Honghan

2018-01-01

Phosphate amendments, especially phosphate rock (PR), are one of the most commonly used materials to stabilize heavy metals in contaminated soils. However, most of PR reserve consists of low-grade ore, which limits the efficiency of PR for stabilizing heavy metals. This study was to enhance the stabilization of heavy metals through improving the available phosphorous (P) release of PR by oxalic acid activation. Raw PR and activated PR (APR) were characterized by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface analysis, and laser diffraction to determine the changes of structure and composition of APR. The stabilization effectiveness of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) in soils by APR was investigated through toxicity leaching test and speciation analysis. The results indicated that after treatment by oxalic acid, (1) the crystallinity of the fluorapatite phase of PR transformed into the weddellite phase; (2) the surface area of PR increased by 37%; (3) the particle size of PR became homogenized (20-70 μm); and (4) the available P content in PR increased by 22 times. These changes of physicochemical characteristics of PR induced that APR was more effective to transform soil heavy metals from the non-residual fraction to the residual fraction and enhance the stabilization efficiency of Pb, Zn, and Cd than PR. These results are significant for the future use of low-grade PR to stabilize heavy metals.

Application of gamma spectrometry in the Kola peninsula (in Russian)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Golovin, I.V.; Kolesnik, N.I.; Antipov, V.S.

1973-01-01

The methodology used and results obtained in gamma spectrometric studies of pre-Cambrian formations of some nickel-bearing regions of the Kola Penlnsula are described. The radioactive element contents of typical metamorphic and magmatic complexes and sulfide ores are presented. (au-trans)

40 CFR 436.180 - Applicability; description of the phosphate rock subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... phosphate rock subcategory. 436.180 Section 436.180 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION... SOURCE CATEGORY Phosphate Rock Subcategory § 436.180 Applicability; description of the phosphate rock... bearing rock, ore or earth for the phosphate content. [43 FR 9809, Mar. 10, 1978] ...

40 CFR 436.180 - Applicability; description of the phosphate rock subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... phosphate rock subcategory. 436.180 Section 436.180 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION... SOURCE CATEGORY Phosphate Rock Subcategory § 436.180 Applicability; description of the phosphate rock... bearing rock, ore or earth for the phosphate content. [43 FR 9809, Mar. 10, 1978] ...

40 CFR 436.180 - Applicability; description of the phosphate rock subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... phosphate rock subcategory. 436.180 Section 436.180 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION... SOURCE CATEGORY Phosphate Rock Subcategory § 436.180 Applicability; description of the phosphate rock... bearing rock, ore or earth for the phosphate content. [43 FR 9809, Mar. 10, 1978] ...

Manganese deposits in the Drum Mountains, Juab and Millard Counties, Utah

USGS Publications Warehouse

Crittenden, Max D.; Straczek, John A.; Roberts, Ralph Jackson

1961-01-01

The Drum Mountains are in west-central Utah 30 miles northwest of Delta, between the Sevier Desert on the east and Whirlwind Valley on the west. It is a typically barren desert range comprising a westward-tilted structural unit in which is exposed as much as 9,000 feet of quartzite (Cambrian and Precambrian?) and 3,000 feet of carbonate rocks of Cambrian age. These beds, which strike northward and dip west, are cut by myriad east- to northeast-trending faults with displacements of a few feet to a few thousand feet. Quartz monzonite dikes, pebble dikes, and vein deposits are present locally along the faults. The Cambrian rocks are overlain unconformably by volcanic rocks of probable Tertiary age. Bodies of manganese carbonate ore were formed by replacement of two 20-foot beds of impure dolomite at the base of the sequence of carbonate rocks, along their intersection with certain preore faults. The feeding fissures locally contain veins in which rhodochrosite is associated with base metal sulfides. Downward- moving meteoric water has oxidized the ore bodies to a depth of 100 to 200 feet except where they are sealed off by structural or stratigraphic traps.From 1925 to 1953, 72,462 long tons of manganese ore with an average grade of about 25 percent Mn were shipped.

Audio-magnetotelluric investigation of allochthonous iron formations in the Archaean Reguibat shield (Mauritania): structural and mining implications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bronner, G.; Fourno, J. P.

1992-11-01

The M'Haoudat range, considered as an allochthonous unit amid the strongly metamorphosed Archaean basement (Tiris Group), belongs to the Lower Proterozoic Ijil Group, weakly metamorphosed, constituted mainly by iron quartzites including red jaspers and high grade iron ore. Audio-magnetotelluric (AMT) soundings (frequency range 1-7500 HZ) were performed together with the systematic survey of the range (SNIM mining company). The non-linear least squares method was used to perform a smoothness-constrained data model. The obvious AMT resistivity contrasts between the M'Haoudat Unit (150-3500 ohm. m) and the Archaean basement (20 000 ohm. m) allow to state precisely that the two thrust surfaces, on both sides of the range, join together at a depth which increases from North-West to South-East, as the ore bodies. Inside the steeply dipping M'Haoudat Unit, the main beds of iron quartzites (1500-3500 ohm. m), schists (1000-1500 ohm. m) and hematite ores (150-300 ohm. m) were distinguished when their thickness exceeded 30 to 50 m. The existence of an hydrostatic level (1-50 ohm. m) and the steeply dipping architecture, very likely responsible for the lack of resistivity contrast on the upper part of some profiles, complicate the interpretation at high frequencies the thin layers being poorly defined.

In a quest for engineering acidophiles for biomining applications: challenges and opportunities.

PubMed

Gumulya, Yosephine; Boxall, Naomi J; Khaleque, Himel N; Santala, Ville; Carlson, Ross P; Kaksonen, Anna H

2018-02-21

Biomining with acidophilic microorganisms has been used at commercial scale for the extraction of metals from various sulfide ores. With metal demand and energy prices on the rise and the concurrent decline in quality and availability of mineral resources, there is an increasing interest in applying biomining technology, in particular for leaching metals from low grade minerals and wastes. However, bioprocessing is often hampered by the presence of inhibitory compounds that originate from complex ores. Synthetic biology could provide tools to improve the tolerance of biomining microbes to various stress factors that are present in biomining environments, which would ultimately increase bioleaching efficiency. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art tools to genetically modify acidophilic biomining microorganisms and the limitations of these tools. The first part of this review discusses resilience pathways that can be engineered in acidophiles to enhance their robustness and tolerance in harsh environments that prevail in bioleaching. The second part of the paper reviews the efforts that have been carried out towards engineering robust microorganisms and developing metabolic modelling tools. Novel synthetic biology tools have the potential to transform the biomining industry and facilitate the extraction of value from ores and wastes that cannot be processed with existing biomining microorganisms.

In a Quest for Engineering Acidophiles for Biomining Applications: Challenges and Opportunities

PubMed Central

Gumulya, Yosephine; Boxall, Naomi J; Khaleque, Himel N; Santala, Ville; Carlson, Ross P; Kaksonen, Anna H

2018-01-01

Biomining with acidophilic microorganisms has been used at commercial scale for the extraction of metals from various sulfide ores. With metal demand and energy prices on the rise and the concurrent decline in quality and availability of mineral resources, there is an increasing interest in applying biomining technology, in particular for leaching metals from low grade minerals and wastes. However, bioprocessing is often hampered by the presence of inhibitory compounds that originate from complex ores. Synthetic biology could provide tools to improve the tolerance of biomining microbes to various stress factors that are present in biomining environments, which would ultimately increase bioleaching efficiency. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art tools to genetically modify acidophilic biomining microorganisms and the limitations of these tools. The first part of this review discusses resilience pathways that can be engineered in acidophiles to enhance their robustness and tolerance in harsh environments that prevail in bioleaching. The second part of the paper reviews the efforts that have been carried out towards engineering robust microorganisms and developing metabolic modelling tools. Novel synthetic biology tools have the potential to transform the biomining industry and facilitate the extraction of value from ores and wastes that cannot be processed with existing biomining microorganisms. PMID:29466321

Escondida Mine, Chile

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

Full resolution visible and near-infrared image (1.4 MB) Full resolution shortwave infrared image (1.6 MB) This Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) image covers 30 by 23 km (full images 30 x 37 km) in the Atacama Desert, Chile, and was acquired on April 23, 2000. The Escondida copper, gold, and silver open-pit mine is at an elevation of 3050 m, and began operations in 1990. Current capacity is 127,000 tons/day of ore; in 1999 production totaled 827,000 tons of copper, 150,000 ounces of gold, and 3.53 million ounces of silver. Primary concentrate of the ore is done on-site; the concentrate is then sent to the coast for further processing through a 170 km long, 9-inch pipe. Escondida is related geologically to three porphyry bodies intruded along the Chilean West Fissure Fault System. A high grade supergene cap overlies primary sulfide ore. The top image is a conventional 3-2-1 (near infrared, red, green) RGB composite. The bottom image displays shortwave infrared bands 4-6-8 (1.65um, 2.205um, 2.33um) in RGB, and highlights the different rock types present on the surface, as well as the changes caused by mining. Image courtesy NASA/GSFC/MITI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team

Continuous Steelmaking Directly from Ore

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Warner, Noel A.

2014-12-01

In-line continuous processing of high-grade hematite ore (crushed ore or fines) with a pure hydrogen reductant is assessed. An appraisal is made of the rate controlling mechanisms involved in the reduction of a pure layer of molten wustite being transported by floating on a molten carrier iron carbon-free medium at temperatures just in excess of the iron melting point. Published research clearly indicates that under these conditions the kinetics are principally controlled by molecular gaseous diffusion. Thus, the rate is essentially not influenced by total gas pressure above 1 atmosphere. Accordingly, on safety grounds it is recommended that high pressure should not be used for hydrogen steelmaking in the future, but the operation should be conducted close to atmospheric pressure with low pressure steam encapsulation of the plant items involved. Using hydrogen as the reductant means that sub-surface nucleation of CO bubbles cannot disrupt continuous processing. The operation is then no different to processing a normal liquid phase. The off-gases from the reduction zone of a melt circulation loop are super-clean and only contaminated with iron vapor. Accordingly, the best available technology becomes available for energy conservation without risk of non-fusible solids deposition. The net result is that the energy requirements are expected to be superior to other potential processes.

A brief history of the American radium industry and its ties to the scientific community of its early twentieth century

USGS Publications Warehouse

Landa, E.R.

1993-01-01

Federally funded remedial action projects are presently underway in New Jersey and Colorado at sites containing 226Ra and other radionuclides from radium-uranium ore extraction plants that operated during the early twentieth century. They are but the latest chapter in the story of an American industry that emerged and perished in the span of three decades. Major extraction plants were established in or near Denver (CO), Pittsburgh (PA), and New York City (NY) to process radium from ore that came largely from the carnotite deposits of western Colorado and eastern Utah. The staffs of these plants included some of the finest chemists and physicists in the nation, and the highly-refined radium products found a variety of uses in medicine and industry. The discovery of high-grade pitchblende ores in the Belgian Congo and the subsequent opening of an extraction plant near Antwerp, Belgium, in 1992, however, created an economic climate that put an end to the American radium industry. The geologic, chemical, and engineering information gathered during this era formed the basis of the uranium industry of the later part of the century, while the tailings and residues came to be viewed as environmental problems during the same period.

Variations in the uranium isotopic compositions of uranium ores from different types of uranium deposits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uvarova, Yulia A.; Kyser, T. Kurt; Geagea, Majdi Lahd; Chipley, Don

2014-12-01

Variations in 238U/235U and 234U/238U ratios were measured in uranium minerals from a spectrum of uranium deposit types, as well as diagenetic phosphates in uranium-rich basins and peraluminous rhyolites and associated autunite mineralisation from Macusani Meseta, Peru. Mean δ238U values of uranium minerals relative to NBL CRM 112-A are 0.02‰ for metasomatic deposits, 0.16‰ for intrusive, 0.18‰ for calcrete, 0.18‰ for volcanic, 0.29‰ for quartz-pebble conglomerate, 0.29‰ for sandstone-hosted, 0.44‰ for unconformity-type, and 0.56‰ for vein, with a total range in δ238U values from -0.30‰ to 1.52‰. Uranium mineralisation associated with igneous systems, including low-temperature calcretes that are sourced from U-rich minerals in igneous systems, have low δ238U values of ca. 0.1‰, near those of their igneous sources, whereas uranium minerals in basin-hosted deposits have higher and more variable values. High-grade unconformity-related deposits have δ238U values around 0.2‰, whereas lower grade unconformity-type deposits in the Athabasca, Kombolgie and Otish basins have higher δ238U values. The δ234U values for most samples are around 0‰, in secular equilibrium, but some samples have δ234U values much lower or higher than 0‰ associated with addition or removal of 234U during the past 2.5 Ma. These δ238U and δ234U values suggest that there are at least two different mechanisms responsible for 238U/235U and 234U/238U variations. The 234U/238U disequilibria ratios indicate recent fluid interaction with the uranium minerals and preferential migration of 234U. Fractionation between 235U and 238U is a result of nuclear-field effects with enrichment of 238U in the reduced insoluble species (mostly UO2) and 235U in oxidised mobile species as uranyl ion, UO22+, and its complexes. Therefore, isotopic fractionation effects should be reflected in 238U/235U ratios in uranium ore minerals formed either by reduction of uranium to UO2 or chemical precipitation in the form of U6+ minerals. The δ238U values of uranium ore minerals from a variety of deposits are controlled by the isotopic signature of the uranium source, the efficiency of uranium reduction in the case of UO2 systems, and the degree to which uranium was previously removed from the fluid, with less influence from temperature of ore formation and later alteration of the ore. Uranium isotopes are potentially superb tracers of redox in natural systems.

Imaging near surface mineral targets with ambient seismic noise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dales, P.; Audet, P.; Olivier, G.

2017-12-01

To keep up with global metal and mineral demand, new ore-deposits have to be discovered on a regular basis. This task is becoming increasingly difficult, since easily accessible deposits have been exhausted to a large degree. The typical procedure for mineral exploration begins with geophysical surveys followed by a drilling program to investigate potential targets. Since the retrieved drill core samples are one-dimensional observations, the many holes needed to interpolate and interpret potential deposits can lead to very high costs. To reduce the amount of drilling, active seismic imaging is sometimes used as an intermediary, however the active sources (e.g. large vibrating trucks or explosive shots) are expensive and unsuitable for operation in remote or environmentally sensitive areas. In recent years, passive seismic imaging using ambient noise has emerged as a novel, low-cost and environmentally sensitive approach for exploring the sub-surface. This technique dispels with active seismic sources and instead uses ambient seismic noise such as ocean waves, traffic or minor earthquakes. Unfortunately at this point, passive surveys are not capable of reaching the required resolution to image the vast majority of the ore-bodies that are being explored. In this presentation, we will show the results of an experiment where ambient seismic noise recorded on 60 seismic stations was used to image a near-mine target. The target consists of a known ore-body that has been partially exhausted by mining efforts roughly 100 years ago. The experiment examined whether ambient seismic noise interferometry can be used to image the intact and exhausted ore deposit. A drilling campaign was also conducted near the target which offers the opportunity to compare the two methods. If the accuracy and resolution of passive seismic imaging can be improved to that of active surveys (and beyond), this method could become an inexpensive intermediary step in the exploration process and result in a large decrease in the amount of drilling required to investigate and identify high-grade ore deposits.

Mineralogical, textural, sulfur and lead isotope constraints on the origin of Ag-Pb-Zn mineralization at Bianjiadayuan, Inner Mongolia, NE China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhai, Degao; Liu, Jiajun; Cook, Nigel J.; Wang, Xilong; Yang, Yongqiang; Zhang, Anli; Jiao, Yingchun

2018-04-01

The Bianjiadayuan Ag-Pb-Zn deposit (4.81 Mt. @157.4 g/t Ag and 3.94% Pb + Zn) is located in the Great Hinggan Range Pb-Zn-Ag-Cu-Mo-Sn-Fe polymetallic metallogenic belt, NE China. Vein type Pb-Zn-Ag ore bodies are primarily hosted by slate, adjacent to a Sn ± Cu ± Mo mineralized porphyry intrusion. The deposit is characterized by silver-rich ores with Ag grades up to 3000 g/t. Four primary paragenetic sequences are recognized: (I) arsenopyrite + pyrite + quartz, (II) main sulfide + quartz, (III) silver-bearing sulfosalt + quartz, and (IV) boulangerite + calcite. A subsequent supergene oxidation stage has also been identified. Hydrothermal alteration consists of an early episode of silicification, two intermediate episodes (propylitic and phyllic), and a late argillic episode. Silver mineralization primarily belongs to the late paragenetic sequence III. Freibergite is the dominant and most important Ag-mineral in the deposit. Detailed ore mineralogy of Bianjiadayuan freibergite reveals evidence of chemical heterogeneity down to the microscale. Silver-rich sulfosalts in the late paragenetic sequence III are largely derived from a series of retrograde and solid-state reactions that redistribute Ag via decomposition and exsolution during cooling, illustrating that documentation of post-mineralization processes is essential for understanding silver ore formation. Sulfur and lead isotope compositions of sulfides, and comparison with those of local various geological units, indicate that the ore-forming fluids, lead, and other metals have a magmatic origin, suggesting a close genetic association between the studied Ag-Pb-Zn veins and the local granitic intrusion. Fluid cooling coupled with decreases in fO2 and fS2 are the factors inferred to have led to a decrease of silver solubility in the hydrothermal fluid, and successively promoted extensive Ag deposition.

Temporal evolution of the giant Salobo IOCG deposit, Carajás Province (Brazil): constraints from paragenesis of hydrothermal alteration and U-Pb geochronology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

deMelo, Gustavo H. C.; Monteiro, Lena V. S.; Xavier, Roberto P.; Moreto, Carolina P. N.; Santiago, Erika S. B.; Dufrane, S. Andrew; Aires, Benevides; Santos, Antonio F. F.

2017-06-01

The giant Salobo copper-gold deposit is located in the Carajás Province, Amazon Craton. Detailed drill core description, petrographical studies, and U-Pb SHRIMP IIe and LA-ICP-MS geochronology unravel its evolution regarding the host rocks, hydrothermal alteration and mineralization. Within the Cinzento Shear Zone, the deposit is hosted by orthogneisses of the Mesoarchean Xingu Complex (2950 ± 25 and 2857 ± 6.7 Ma) and of the Neoarchean Igarapé Gelado suite (2763 ± 4.4 Ma), which are crosscut by the Old Salobo granite. Remnants of the Igarapé Salobo metavolcanic-sedimentary sequence are represented by a quartz mylonite with detrital zircon populations (ca. 3.1-3.0, 2.95, 2.86, and 2.74 Ga). High-temperature calcic-sodic hydrothermal alteration (hastingsite-actinolite) was followed by silicification, iron-enrichment (almandine-grunerite-magnetite), tourmaline formation, potassic alteration with biotite, copper-gold ore formation, and later Fe-rich hydrated silicate alteration. Myrmekitic bornite-chalcocite and magnetite comprise the bulk of copper-gold ore. All these alteration assemblages have been overprinted by post-ore hematite-bearing potassic and propylitic alteration, which is also recognized in the Old Salobo granite. In the central zone of the deposit the mylonitized Igarapé Gelado suite rocks yield an age of 2701 ± 30 Ma. Zircon ages of 2547 ± 5.3 and 2535 ± 8.4 Ma were obtained for the Old Salobo granite and for the high-grade copper ore, respectively. A U-Pb LA-ICP-MS monazite age (2452 ± 14 Ma) from the copper-gold ore indicates hydrothermal activity and overprinting in the Siderian. Therefore, a protracted tectono-thermal event due to the reactivation of the Cinzento Shear Zone is proposed for the evolution of the Salobo deposit.

Production of thermal insulation blocks from bottom ash of fluidized bed combustion system.

PubMed

Mandal, A K; Sinha, O P

2017-08-01

The issues of disposal and environmental problems are increased by the generation of bottom ash from the thermal power plants day by day; hence, its recycling is required. The present study aimed to make thermal insulation blocks using as raw material bottom ash and iron ore slime as a binder and to characterize their engineering properties. Two different fineness values of bottom ash were considered with varying amounts of iron ore slime (0-10%) to make the blocks. Blocks were dried followed by firing at 1000, 1100 and 1200°C, respectively. Cold crushing strength, density and thermal conductivity of these fired blocks showed increasing behaviour with firing temperature, fineness of bottom ash and iron ore slime content. In contrast, a reverse trend was observed in the case of porosity. With increasing firing temperature, the formation of lower melting phases like iron silicate followed by iron aluminium silicate was observed, which imparts the strength inside the blocks. The coarser particles of bottom ash increase the interparticle spaces, which enhances the apparent porosity, resulting in higher thermal insulation property in the blocks. Blocks having better thermal insulation property could be possible to make effectively from coarse bottom ash by adding iron ore slime as a binder.

Effect of Tourmaline-Doped on the Far Infrared Emission of Iron Ore Tailings Ceramics.

PubMed

Liu, Jie; Meng, Junping; Liang, Jinsheng; Zhang, Hongchen; Gu, Xiaoyang

2016-04-01

Iron ore tailings as secondary resources have been of great importance to many countries in the world. Their compositions are similar to that of infrared emission ceramics, but there are few reports about it. In addition, tourmaline has high infrared emission properties due to its unique structure. With the purpose of expanding functional utilization of iron ore tailings, as well as reducing the production cost of far infrared ceramics, a new kind of far infrared emission ceramics was prepared by using iron ore tailings, calcium carbonate, silica, and natural tourmaline. The ceramics powders were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscope, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The results show that after being sintered at 1065 °C, the percentage of pseudobrookite and lattice strain of samples increased with increasing the elbaite content. Furthermore, the added tourmaline was conducive to the densification sintering of ceramics. The appearance of Li-O vibration at 734.73 cm-1, as well as the strengthened Fe-O vibration at 987.68 cm-1 were attributed to the formation of Li0.375Fe1.23Ti1.4O5 solid solution, which led the average far infrared emissivity of ceramics increase from 0.861 to 0.906 within 8-14 µm.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kuzmina, L.A.

A method has been developed for determining uranium, thorium, and ionium (Th/sup 230/) in sea silt from a single sample. The completeness of isolation and radiochemical purity of thorium isotopes have been tested by means of tracers. The method has been proved on samples of sea silt as well as of rocks, ores, and minerals. It is applicable at thorium content from 5 x 10/sup -5/ to x x 10/sup - 4/% when uranium content is x x 10/sup -4/ % and at uranium content up to 70% when ionium contert is x x 10/sup -4/% (uranium equivalent). (tr-auth)

Graphite

USGS Publications Warehouse

Robinson, Gilpin R.; Hammarstrom, Jane M.; Olson, Donald W.; Schulz, Klaus J.; DeYoung,, John H.; Seal, Robert R.; Bradley, Dwight C.

2017-12-19

Graphite is a form of pure carbon that normally occurs as black crystal flakes and masses. It has important properties, such as chemical inertness, thermal stability, high electrical conductivity, and lubricity (slipperiness) that make it suitable for many industrial applications, including electronics, lubricants, metallurgy, and steelmaking. For some of these uses, no suitable substitutes are available. Steelmaking and refractory applications in metallurgy use the largest amount of produced graphite; however, emerging technology uses in large-scale fuel cell, battery, and lightweight high-strength composite applications could substantially increase world demand for graphite.Graphite ores are classified as “amorphous” (microcrystalline), and “crystalline” (“flake” or “lump or chip”) based on the ore’s crystallinity, grain-size, and morphology. All graphite deposits mined today formed from metamorphism of carbonaceous sedimentary rocks, and the ore type is determined by the geologic setting. Thermally metamorphosed coal is the usual source of amorphous graphite. Disseminated crystalline flake graphite is mined from carbonaceous metamorphic rocks, and lump or chip graphite is mined from veins in high-grade metamorphic regions. Because graphite is chemically inert and nontoxic, the main environmental concerns associated with graphite mining are inhalation of fine-grained dusts, including silicate and sulfide mineral particles, and hydrocarbon vapors produced during the mining and processing of ore. Synthetic graphite is manufactured from hydrocarbon sources using high-temperature heat treatment, and it is more expensive to produce than natural graphite.Production of natural graphite is dominated by China, India, and Brazil, which export graphite worldwide. China provides approximately 67 percent of worldwide output of natural graphite, and, as the dominant exporter, has the ability to set world prices. China has significant graphite reserves, and China’s graphite production is expected to increase, although rising labor costs and some mine production problems are developing. China is expected to continue to be the dominant exporter for the near future. Mexico and Canada export graphite mainly to the United States, which has not had domestic production of natural graphite since the 1950s. Most graphite deposits in the United States are too small, low-grade, or remote to be of commercial value in the near future, and the likelihood of discovering larger, higher-grade, or favorably located domestic deposits is unlikely. The United States is a major producer of synthetic graphite.

San Rafael, Peru: geology and structure of the worlds richest tin lode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mlynarczyk, Michael S. J.; Sherlock, Ross L.; Williams-Jones, Anthony E.

2003-08-01

The San Rafael mine exploits an unusually high grade, lode-type Sn-Cu deposit in the Eastern Cordillera of the Peruvian Central Andes. The lode is centered on a shallow-level, Late Oligocene granitoid stock, which was emplaced into early Paleozoic metasedimentary rocks. It has a known vertical extent exceeding 1,200 m and displays marked vertical primary metal zoning, with copper overlying tin. The tin mineralization occurs mainly as cassiterite-quartz-chlorite veins and as cassiterite in breccias. The bulk of it is hosted by a K-feldspar megacrystic, biotite- and cordierite-bearing leucomonzogranite, which is the most distinctive phase of the pluton. Copper mineralization occurs predominantly in the veins that straddle the metasedimentary rock-intrusion contact or are hosted entirely by slates. Both tin and copper mineralization are associated with strong chloritic alteration, which is superimposed on an earlier episode of sericitization and tourmaline-quartz veining. Based on the distribution of alteration and ore mineralogy, cassiterite deposition and subsequent chalcopyrite precipitation are believed to have been the result of a single, prolonged hydrothermal event. The source of the metals is inferred to be a highly evolved, peraluminous magma, related to the leucomonzogranitic phase of the San Rafael pluton. Preliminary fluid inclusion microthermometry suggests that ore deposition took place during the mixing of moderate and low salinity fluids, which were introduced in a series of pulses. Several large fault-jogs, created by sinistral-normal, strike-slip movement, are interpreted to have focused synkinematic magmatic fluids and permitted their effective mixing with meteoric waters. It is proposed that this mixing led to rapid oxidation of Sn (II) chloride species and caused supersaturation of the fluids in cassiterite, resulting in the development of localized, high-grade ore shoots. A favorable structural regime that promoted large-scale mixing of two fluids originating under very different physico-chemical conditions appears to have been the key factor responsible for the unusual richness of the deposit.

Sulfur isotope and trace element data from ore sulfides in the Noranda district (Abitibi, Canada): implications for volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit genesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharman, Elizabeth R.; Taylor, Bruce E.; Minarik, William G.; Dubé, Benoît; Wing, Boswell A.

2015-06-01

We examine models for volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) mineralization in the ~2.7-Ga Noranda camp, Abitibi subprovince, Superior Province, Canada, using a combination of multiple sulfur isotope and trace element data from ore sulfide minerals. The Noranda camp is a well-preserved, VMS deposit-rich area that is thought to represent a collapsed volcanic caldera. Due to its economic value, the camp has been studied extensively, providing a robust geological framework within which to assess the new data presented in this study. We explore previously proposed controls on mineralization within the Noranda camp and, in particular, the exceptional Au-rich Horne and Quemont deposits. We present multiple sulfur isotope and trace element compositional data for sulfide separates representing 25 different VMS deposits and "showings" within the Noranda camp. Multiple sulfur isotope data for this study have δ34SV-CDT values of between -1.9 and +2.5 ‰, and Δ33SV-CDT values of between -0.59 and -0.03 ‰. We interpret the negative Δ33S values to be due to a contribution of sulfur that originated as seawater sulfate to form the ore sulfides of the Noranda camp VMS deposits. The contribution of seawater sulfate increased with the collapse and subsequent evolution of the Noranda caldera, an inference supported by select trace and major element analyses. In particular, higher concentrations of Se occur in samples with Δ33S values closer to 0 ‰, as well as lower Fe/Zn ratios in sphalerite, suggesting lower pressures and temperatures of formation. We also report a relationship between average Au grade and Δ33S values within Au-rich VMS deposits of the Noranda camp, whereby higher gold grades are associated with near-zero Δ33S values. From this, we infer a dominance of igneous sulfur in the gold-rich deposits, either leached from the volcanic pile and/or directly degassed from an associated intrusion.

Constraints on the origin of adakites and porphyry Cu-Mo mineralization in Chongjiang, Southern Gangdese, the Tibetan Plateau

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Yong-bin; Liu, Ji-qiang; Ling, Ming-xing; Liu, Yan; Ding, Xing; Liu, Dun-yi; Sun, Wei-dong

2017-11-01

Chongjiang is a low-grade porphyry Cu deposit, located in the Gangdese belt, south Tibet. The petrogenesis and geodynamic settings of the Miocene intrusions associated with the deposit remain controversial. This study presents new results on in situ zircon Hf-O isotopic compositions and U-Pb ages, whole rock major and trace elements, and Sr-Nd isotopes for the adakitic intrusions from Chongjiang deposit. The ore-bearing biotite monzogranite porphyry has adakitic characteristics, with enriched large-ion-lithophile elements (LILE) and light rare earth elements (LREE), and depleted in high-field-strength elements (HFSE), P and Ti. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating indicates that the ore-bearing and barren adakites were emplaced at 14.9 ± 0.3 Ma and 12.9 ± 0.3 Ma, respectively. The porphyry is characterized by relatively high initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.7059 to 0.7066), and negative whole-rock εNd(t) values (- 3.8 to - 2.6). Zircon δ18O is slightly higher than mantle values (5.0 to 7.2‰), with varied εHf(t) (- 1.0 to 7.6). Most of the in situ zircon Hf-O isotopic data plot in a binary mixing trend between MORB and lower continental crust-derived melts. These results indicate contributions from mixing of a mantle-like source (e.g., slab melts) with continental crust. Interestingly, most of the samples plot in the field defined by Dabie adakites (representing partial melting of the lower continental crust), with several samples near/in the circum-Pacific adakite field (representing partial melting of subducted oceanic slabs), which seemingly indicates that Chongjiang adakites mostly formed through partial melting of lower continental crust, with a small amount derived from oceanic slab melts. These may be plausibly explained by plagioclase retention in the thickened Tibetan continental crust, which lowers Sr contents in the magmas during crustal assimilation. Such a model is supported by other adakite discrimination diagrams, which all point towards slab melting. Crustal contamination can compellingly explain the low grade of the Chongjiang deposit. Considering the temporal-spatial distribution of porphyry Cu deposits, geochemical characteristics and high oxygen fugacity, we propose that the subducting Ninetyeast Ridge probably played a critical role in controlling the formation of Miocene adakites and porphyry copper deposits in the eastern Gangdese belt.

Genesis of sediment-hosted stratiform copper cobalt deposits, central African Copperbelt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cailteux, J. L. H.; Kampunzu, A. B.; Lerouge, C.; Kaputo, A. K.; Milesi, J. P.

2005-07-01

The Neoproterozoic central African Copperbelt is one of the greatest sediment-hosted stratiform Cu-Co provinces in the world, totalling 140 Mt copper and 6 Mt cobalt and including several world-class deposits (⩾10 Mt copper). The origin of Cu-Co mineralisation in this province remains speculative, with the debate centred around syngenetic-diagenetic and hydrothermal-diagenetic hypotheses. The regional distribution of metals indicates that most of the cobalt-rich copper deposits are hosted in dolomites and dolomitic shales forming allochthonous units exposed in Congo and known as Congolese facies of the Katangan sedimentary succession (average Co:Cu = 1:13). The highest Co:Cu ratio (up to 3:1) occurs in ore deposits located along the southern structural block of the Lufilian Arc. The predominantly siliciclastic Zambian facies, exposed in Zambia and in SE Congo, forms para-autochthonous sedimentary units hosting ore deposits characterized by lower a Co:Cu ratio (average 1:57). Transitional lithofacies in Zambia (e.g. Baluba, Mindola) and in Congo (e.g. Lubembe) indicate a gradual transition in the Katangan basin during the deposition of laterally correlative clastic and carbonate sedimentary rocks exposed in Zambia and in Congo, and are marked by Co:Cu ratios in the range 1:15. The main Cu-Co orebodies occur at the base of the Mines/Musoshi Subgroup, which is characterized by evaporitic intertidal-supratidal sedimentary rocks. All additional lenticular orebodies known in the upper part of the Mines/Musoshi Subgroup are hosted in similar sedimentary rocks, suggesting highly favourable conditions for the ore genesis in particular sedimentary environments. Pre-lithification sedimentary structures affecting disseminated sulphides indicate that metals were deposited before compaction and consolidation of the host sediment. The ore parageneses indicate several generations of sulphides marking syngenetic, early diagenetic and late diagenetic processes. Sulphur isotopic data on sulphides suggest the derivation of sulphur essentially from the bacterial reduction of seawater sulphates. The mineralizing brines were generated from sea water in sabkhas or hypersaline lagoons during the deposition of the host rocks. Changes of Eh-pH and salinity probably were critical for concentrating copper-cobalt and nickel mineralisation. Compressional tectonic and related metamorphic processes and supergene enrichment have played variable roles in the remobilisation and upgrading of the primary mineralisation. There is no evidence to support models assuming that metals originated from: (1) Katangan igneous rocks and related hydrothermal processes or; (2) leaching of red beds underlying the orebodies. The metal sources are pre-Katangan continental rocks, especially the Palaeoproterozoic low-grade porphyry copper deposits known in the Bangweulu block and subsidiary Cu-Co-Ni deposits/occurrences in the Archaean rocks of the Zimbabwe craton. These two sources contain low grade ore deposits portraying the peculiar metal association (Cu, Co, Ni, U, Cr, Au, Ag, PGE) recorded in the Katangan sediment-hosted ore deposits. Metals were transported into the basin dissolved in water. The stratiform deposits of Congo and Zambia display features indicating that syngenetic and early diagenetic processes controlled the formation of the Neoproterozoic Copperbelt of central Africa.

Trace and minor elements in sphalerite from metamorphosed sulphide deposits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lockington, Julian A.; Cook, Nigel J.; Ciobanu, Cristiana L.

2014-12-01

Sphalerite is a common sulphide and is the dominant ore mineral in Zn-Pb sulphide deposits. Precise determination of minor and trace element concentrations in sulphides, including sphalerite, by Laser-Ablation Inductively-Coupled-Plasma Mass-Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is a potentially valuable petrogenetic tool. In this study, LA-ICP-MS is used to analyse 19 sphalerite samples from metamorphosed, sphalerite-bearing volcanic-associated and sedimentary exhalative massive sulphide deposits in Norway and Australia. The distributions of Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Ga, Se, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Hg, Tl, Pb and Bi are addressed with emphasis on how concentrations of these elements vary with metamorphic grade of the deposit and the extent of sulphide recrystallization. Results show that the concentrations of a group of trace elements which are believed to be present in sphalerite as micro- to nano-scale inclusions (Pb, Bi, and to some degree Cu and Ag) diminish with increasing metamorphic grade. This is interpreted as due to release of these elements during sphalerite recrystallization and subsequent remobilization to form discrete minerals elsewhere. The concentrations of lattice-bound elements (Mn, Fe, Cd, In and Hg) show no correlation with metamorphic grade. Primary metal sources, physico-chemical conditions during initial deposition, and element partitioning between sphalerite and co-existing sulphides are dominant in defining the concentrations of these elements and they appear to be readily re-incorporated into recrystallized sphalerite, offering potential insights into ore genesis. Given that sphalerite accommodates a variety of trace elements that can be precisely determined by contemporary microanalytical techniques, the mineral has considerable potential as a geothermometer, providing that element partitioning between sphalerite and coexisting minerals (galena, chalcopyrite etc.) can be quantified in samples for which the crystallization temperature can be independently constrained.

Environmental Assessment Report. Saxon Harbor Operation and Maintenance Activities and Harbor Related Shoreline Erosion, Iron County, Wisconsin.

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-05-01

Extensive deposits of low-grade ore ( taconite ) remain in the county, and redevelopment of mining in Iron County is a possibility, utilizing modern technology...shale-derived sediments at the advent of the continental glaciation. The resistant sides of the trough (the present Minnesota shore, the Keweenaw...glacier retreated, a high terminal moraine associated with high ground on the Minnesota and Hichigan sides allowed a glacial lake to develop. The

Armor-Piercing Shot Processed from Molybdenum Bearing Tungsten Carbide

DTIC Science & Technology

1959-03-01

study were of the same contour aa WC cores employed in all previous scale model terminal ballistic studies of the effect of core composition on...Pennsylvania, by cold pressing and sintering techniques from their composition WS12. This composition is reduced from low grade western ores without the...removal of Mo and results in a product of the following composition after the tungsten is carburized and the binder is added: WC 87.4% Co. 12% Mo

Separation of Zirconium and Hafnium: A Review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, L.; Xiao, Y.; van Sandwijk, A.; Xu, Q.; Yang, Y.

Zirconium is an ideal material for nuclear reactors due to its low absorption cross-section for thermal neutrons, whereas the typically contained hafnium with strong neutron-absorption is very harmful for zirconium. This paper provides an overview of the processes for separating hafnium from zirconium. The separation processes are roughly classified into hydro- and pyrometallurgical routes. The current dominant zirconium production route involves pyrometallurgical ore cracking, multi-step hydrometallurgical liquid-liquid extraction for hafnium removal and the reduction of zirconium tetrachloride to the pure metal by the Kroll process. The lengthy hydrometallurgical Zr-Hf separation operations leads to high production cost, intensive labour and heavy environmental burden. Using a compact pyrometallurgical separation method can simplify the whole production flowsheet with a higher process efficiency. The known separation methods are discussed based on the following reaction features: redox characteristics, volatility, electrochemical properties and molten salt extraction. The commercially operating extractive distillation process is a significant advance in Zr-Hf separation technology but it suffers from high process maintenance cost. The recently developed new process based on molten salt-metal equilibrium for Zr-Hf separation shows a great potential for industrial application, which is compact for nuclear grade zirconium production starting from crude ore. In the present paper, the available separation technologies are compared. The advantages and disadvantages as well as future directions of research and development for nuclear grade zirconium production are discussed.

The future of Yellowcake: a global assessment of uranium resources and mining.

PubMed

Mudd, Gavin M

2014-02-15

Uranium (U) mining remains controversial in many parts of the world, especially in a post-Fukushima context, and often in areas with significant U resources. Although nuclear proponents point to the relatively low carbon intensity of nuclear power compared to fossil fuels, opponents argue that this will be eroded in the future as ore grades decline and energy and greenhouse gas emissions (GGEs) intensity increases as a result. Invariably both sides fail to make use of the increasingly available data reported by some U mines through sustainability reporting - allowing a comprehensive assessment of recent trends in the energy and GGE intensity of U production, as well as combining this with reported mineral resources to allow more comprehensive modelling of future energy and GGEs intensity. In this study, detailed data sets are compiled on reported U resources by deposit type, as well as mine production, energy and GGE intensity. Some important aspects included are the relationship between ore grade, deposit type and recovery, which are crucial in future projections of U mining. Overall, the paper demonstrates that there are extensive U resources known to meet potential short to medium term demand, although the future of U mining remains uncertain due to the doubt about the future of nuclear power as well as a range of complex social, environmental, economic and some site-specific technical issues. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Experimental Determination of the HPGe Spectrometer Efficiency Calibration Curves for Various Sample Geometry for Gamma Energy from 50 keV to 2000 keV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saat, Ahmad; Hamzah, Zaini; Yusop, Mohammad Fariz; Zainal, Muhd Amiruddin

2010-07-01

Detection efficiency of a gamma-ray spectrometry system is dependent upon among others, energy, sample and detector geometry, volume and density of the samples. In the present study the efficiency calibration curves of newly acquired (August 2008) HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry system was carried out for four sample container geometries, namely Marinelli beaker, disc, cylindrical beaker and vial, normally used for activity determination of gamma-ray from environmental samples. Calibration standards were prepared by using known amount of analytical grade uranium trioxide ore, homogenized in plain flour into the respective containers. The ore produces gamma-rays of energy ranging from 53 keV to 1001 keV. Analytical grade potassium chloride were prepared to determine detection efficiency of 1460 keV gamma-ray emitted by potassium isotope K-40. Plots of detection efficiency against gamma-ray energy for the four sample geometries were found to fit smoothly to a general form of ɛ = AΕa+BΕb, where ɛ is efficiency, Ε is energy in keV, A, B, a and b are constants that are dependent on the sample geometries. All calibration curves showed the presence of a "knee" at about 180 keV. Comparison between the four geometries showed that the efficiency of Marinelli beaker is higher than cylindrical beaker and vial, while cylindrical disk showed the lowest.

A provenance study of iron archaeological artefacts by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry multi-elemental analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Desaulty, Anne-Marie; Mariet, Clarisse; Dillmann, Philippe; Joron, Jean Louis; Fluzin, Philippe

2008-11-01

Raw materials and wastes (i.e. ore, slag and laitier) from ironmaking archaeological sites have been analyzed in order to understand the behavior of the trace elements in the ancient ironmaking processes and to find the significant-most elements to characterize an iron making region. The ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) appears to be an excellent technique for this type of studies. The comparison between the ICP-MS results obtained with the Standard Addition method and the INAA (Instrumental Neutron Activation Analyses) results proved that Sc, Co, (Ni), Rb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Yb, Hf, Th, U contents in the ores, slag and laitiers, and Co and Ni contents in the cast iron can be successfully determined by ICP-MS after wet acid digestion (low detection limits, good sensitivity and precision). By using significant trace element pairs (Yb/Ce, Ce/Th, La/Sc, U/Th, Nb/Y) present in the ores, laitiers and slag, it is possible to discriminate different French ironmaking regions as the Pays de Bray, Lorraine and Pays d'Ouche. These results open the way to further studies on the provenance of iron objects. The comparison between the ICP-MS results obtained with the Standard Calibration Curves method and the INAA results shows that matrices rich in iron, affect the ICP-MS analyses by suppressing the analytes signal. Further studies are necessary to improve understanding matrix effects.

Magma Fertility is the First-Order Factor for the Formation of Porphyry Cu±Au Deposits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, J. W.; Campbell, I. H.; Malaviarachchi, S. P. K.; Cocker, H.; Nakamura, E.; Kay, S. M.

2017-12-01

Magma fertility, the metal abundance in magma, has been considered to be one of the key factors for the formation of porphyry Cu±Au deposits. In this study we provide clear evidence to support the hypothesis that the platinum group element (PGE) can be used to distinguish barren from ore-bearing Cu±Au felsic suites. We determined the PGE contents of three barren volcanic and subvolcanic suites from Argentina and Japan, and compare the results with two porphyry Cu-bearing subvolcanic suites from Chile and two porphyry Cu-Au-bearing suites from Australia. The barren suites are significantly depleted in PGE abundances by the time of fluid exsolution, which is attributed to early sulfide saturation at mid to lower crust depths or assimilation of chalcophile element-poor crustal materials. Barren magma, produced by melting continental crust, may have been initially deficient in chalcophile elements. In contrast, the Cu±Au ore-bearing suites contain at least an order of magnitude higher PGE contents than those of the barren suites by the time of fluid saturation. They are characterized by late sulfide saturation in a shallow magma chamber, which allows the chalcophile elements to concentrate in the fractionating magma from which they are sequestered by ore-forming fluids. We suggest the Pd/MgO and Pd/Pt ratios of igneous rocks can be used as magma fertility indicators, and to distinguish between barren, porphyry Cu and porphyry Cu-Au magmatic systems.

Chemical and mineralogical characterization of chromite ore processing residue from two recent Indian disposal sites.

PubMed

Matern, Katrin; Kletti, Holger; Mansfeldt, Tim

2016-07-01

Chromite ore processing residue (COPR) is a hazardous waste. Nevertheless, deposition of COPR in uncontrolled surface landfills is still common practice in some countries. Whereas old (between at least 40 and 180 years) COPR from the temperate zone has been intensively investigated, information on COPR in other regions is restricted. Relatively young (<25 years) COPR samples obtained from two abandoned landfill sites in India were investigated by a modified total microwave digestion method, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in order to determine their chemical and mineralogical nature. By the use of microwave digestion with acid mixtures of HNO3, H3PO4, and HBF4 (5:3:2 vol), COPR was completely dissolved and element contents similar to those obtained by X-ray fluorescence were found. Total Cr contents of the two COPR accounted for 81 and 74 g kg(-1), of which 20 and 13% were present in the carcinogenic hexavalent form (CrVI). Apart from the common major mineral phases present in COPR reported earlier, a further Cr host mineral, grimaldiite [CrO(OH)], could be identified by XRPD and SEM. Additionally, well soluble Na2CrO4 was present. Improving the effectiveness of chromite ore processing and preventing the migration of Cr(VI) into water bodies are the main challenges when dealing with these COPR. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Genesis of Middle Miocene Yellowstone hotspot-related bonanza epithermal Au-Ag deposits, Northern Great Basin, USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saunders, J. A.; Unger, D. L.; Kamenov, G. D.; Fayek, M.; Hames, W. E.; Utterback, W. C.

2008-09-01

Epithermal deposits with bonanza Au-Ag veins in the northern Great Basin (NGB) are spatially and temporally associated with Middle Miocene bimodal volcanism that was related to a mantle plume that has now migrated to the Yellowstone National Park area. The Au-Ag deposits formed between 16.5 and 14 Ma, but exhibit different mineralogical compositions, the latter due to the nature of the country rocks hosting the deposits. Where host rocks were primarily of meta-sedimentary or granitic origin, adularia-rich gold mineralization formed. Where glassy rhyolitic country rocks host veins, colloidal silica textures and precious metal-colloid aggregation textures resulted. Where basalts are the country rocks, clay-rich mineralization (with silica minerals, adularia, and carbonate) developed. Oxygen isotope data from quartz (originally amorphous silica and gels) from super-high-grade banded ores from the Sleeper deposit show that ore-forming solutions had δ 18O values up to 10‰ heavier than mid-Miocene meteoric water. The geochemical signature of the ores (including their Se-rich nature) is interpreted here to reflect a mantle source for the “epithermal suite” elements (Au, Ag, Se, Te, As, Sb, Hg) and that signature is preserved to shallow crustal levels because of the similar volatility and aqueous geochemical behavior of the “epithermal suite” elements. A mantle source for the gold in the deposits is further supported by the Pb isotopic signature of the gold ores. Apparently the host rocks control the mineralization style and gangue mineralogy of ores. However, all deposits are considered to have derived precious metals and metalloids from mafic magmas related to the initial emergence of the Yellowstone hotspot. Basalt-derived volatiles and metal(loid)s are inferred to have been absorbed by meteoric-water-dominated geothermal systems heated by shallow rhyolitic magma chambers. Episodic discharge of volatiles and metal(loid)s from deep basaltic magmas mixed with heated meteoric water to create precious metal ore-forming fluids. Colloidal nanoparticles of Au-Ag alloy (electrum), naumannite (Ag2Se), silica, and adularia, likely nucleated at depth, traveled upward, and deposited where they grew large enough to aggregate along vein walls. Silica and gold colloids have been reported in hot springs from Yellowstone National Park, suggesting that such processes may continue to some extent to the present. However, it is possible that the initial development of the mantle plume led to a major but short-lived “distillation” process which led to the mid-Miocene bonanza ore-forming event.

Paragenetic and minor- and trace-element studies of Mississippi Valley-type ore deposits of the Silesian-Cracow district, Poland

USGS Publications Warehouse

Viets, J.G.; Leach, D.L.; Lichte, F.E.; Hopkins, R.T.; Gent, C.A.; Powell, J.W.

1996-01-01

Paragenetic and minor- and trace-element studies were conducted on samples of epigenetic ore and gangue minerals collected from mines and drill core in the Silesian-Cracow (S-C) district of southern Poland. Four discrete mineral suites representing four mineralizing stages can be identified throughout the district. The earliest epigenetic minerals deposited during stage 1 consist of a late dolomite cement together with minor pyrite and marcasite. Stage 2 was the first ore-forming stage and included repetitive deposition of sphalerite and galena in a variety of morphologies. Stage 3 abruptly followed the first ore stage and deposited marcasite and pyrite with variable amounts of late sphalerite and galena. In the samples studied, minerals deposited during stage 3 are predominately marcasite-pyrite with minor sphalerite and galena in the Pomorzany and Olkusz mines, whereas, at the Trzebionka mine, stage 3 mineralization deposited mostly galena and sphalerite with little marcasite or pyrite. Stage 4 minerals include contains barite, followed by calcite, with very minor pyrite and a rare, late granular sphalerite. Compared to other major Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) districts of the world, the Silesian-Cracow district contains sphalerite with the second largest range in Ag concentrations and the largest range in Fe and Cd concentrations of any district. Unlike in other districts, very wide ranges in minor- and trace-element concentrations are also observed in paragenetically equivalent samples collected throughout the district. This wide range indicates that the minor- and trace-element content of the ore-forming environment was highly variable, both spatially and temporally, and suggests that the hydrologic system that the ore fluids traversed from their basinal source was very complex. Throughout the district, a significant increase in Tl, Ge, and As concentrations is accompanied by a lightening of sulfur isotopes between stage 2 and stage 3 minerals. This change appears to record a major district-scale hydrologic event that probably reflects the introduction of fluids with significantly different geochemistry than that of earlier ore-forming fluids.

Characterization of Uranium Ore Concentrate Chemical Composition via Raman Spectroscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Su, Yin-Fong; Tonkyn, Russell G.; Sweet, Lucas E.

Uranium Ore Concentrate (UOC, often called yellowcake) is a generic term that describes the initial product resulting from the mining and subsequent milling of uranium ores en route to production of the U-compounds used in the fuel cycle. Depending on the mine, the ore, the chemical process, and the treatment parameters, UOC composition can vary greatly. With the recent advent of handheld spectrometers, we have chosen to investigate whether either commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) handheld devices or laboratory-grade Raman instruments might be able to i) identify UOC materials, and ii) differentiate UOC samples based on chemical composition and thus suggest themore » mining or milling process. Twenty-eight UOC samples were analyzed via FT-Raman spectroscopy using both 1064 nm and 785 nm excitation wavelengths. These data were also compared with results from a newly developed handheld COTS Raman spectrometer using a technique that lowers background fluorescence signal. Initial chemometric analysis was able to differentiate UOC samples based on mine location. Additional compositional information was obtained from the samples by performing XRD analysis on a subset of samples. The compositional information was integrated with chemometric analysis of the spectroscopic dataset allowing confirmation that class identification is possible based on compositional differences between the UOC samples, typically involving species such as U3O8, α-UO2(OH)2, UO4•2H2O (metastudtite), K(UO2)2O3, etc. While there are clearly excitation λ sensitivities, especially for dark samples, Raman analysis coupled with chemometric data treatment can nicely differentiate UOC samples based on composition and even mine origin.« less

Chiquicamata Mine, Chile

NASA Image and Video Library

2016-08-24

Chuquicamata, in Chile's Atacama Desert, is the largest open pit copper mine in the world, by excavated volume. The copper deposits were first exploited in pre-Hispanic times. Open pit mining began in the early 20th century when a method was developed to work low grade oxidized copper ores. The image was acquired September 2, 2007, covers an area of 19.5 by 29.3 km, and is located at 22.1 degrees south, 68.9 degrees west. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA20973

A Radioactivity Based Quantitative Analysis of the Amount of Thorium Present in Ores and Metallurgical Products; ANALYSE QUANTITATIVE DU THORIUM DANS LES MINERAIS ET LES PRODUITS THORIFERES PAR UNE METHODE BASEE SUR LA RADIOACTIVITE

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Collee, R.; Govaerts, J.; Winand, L.

1959-10-31

A brief resume of the classical methods of quantitative determination of thorium in ores and thoriferous products is given to show that a rapid, accurate, and precise physical method based on the radioactivity of thorium would be of great utility. A method based on the utilization of the characteristic spectrum of the thorium gamma radiation is presented. The preparation of the samples and the instruments needed for the measurements is discussed. The experimental results show that the reproducibility is very satisfactory and that it is possible to detect Th contents of 1% or smaller. (J.S.R.)

Factors affecting the partitioning of Cu, Zn and Pb in boulder coatings and stream sediments in the vicinity of a polymetallic sulfide deposit

USGS Publications Warehouse

Filipek, L.H.; Chao, T.T.; Carpenter, R.H.

1981-01-01

A sequential extraction scheme is utilized to determine the geochemical partitioning of Cu, Zn and Pb among hydrous Mn- and Fe-oxides, organics and residual crystalline silicates and oxides in the minus-80-mesh ( Fe-oxides > Mn-oxides; Zn, Mn-oxides {reversed tilde equals} organics > Fe-oxides; Pb, Fe-oxides > organics > Mn-oxides. In the sediments, organics are the most efficient scavengers of all three ore metals. These results emphasize the importance of organics as sinks for the ore metals, even in environments with high concentrations of Mn- and Fe-oxides. Of the ore metals, Zn appears to be the most mobile, and is partitioned most strongly into the coatings. However, anomaly contrast for hydromorphic Zn, normalized to the MnFe-oxide or organic content, is similar in sediments and coatings. Cu shows the highest anomaly on the boulder coatings, probably due to precipitation of a secondary Cu mineral. In contrast, detrital Pb in the pan concentrates shows a better anomaly than any hydromorphic Pb component. ?? 1981.

Copper Recovery from Yulong Complex Copper Oxide Ore by Flotation and Magnetic Separation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Junwei; Xiao, Jun; Qin, Wenqing; Chen, Daixiong; Liu, Wei

2017-09-01

A combined process of flotation and high-gradient magnetic separation was proposed to utilize Yulong complex copper oxide ore. The effects of particle size, activators, Na2S dosage, LA (a mixture of ammonium sulfate and ethylenediamine) dosage, activating time, collectors, COC (a combination collector of modified hydroxyl oxime acid and xanthate) dosage, and magnetic intensity on the copper recovery were investigated. The results showed that 74.08% Cu was recovered by flotation, while the average grade of the copper concentrates was 21.68%. Another 17.34% Cu was further recovered from the flotation tailing by magnetic separation at 0.8 T. The cumulative recovery of copper reached 91.42%. The modifier LA played a positive role in facilitating the sulfidation of copper oxide with Na2S, and the combined collector COC was better than other collectors for the copper flotation. This technology has been successfully applied to industrial production, and the results are consistent with the laboratory data.

Potash ore reserves in the proposed Waste Isolation Pilot Plant area, Eddy County, southeastern New Mexico

USGS Publications Warehouse

John, Charles B.; Cheeseman, R.J.; Lorenz, J.C.; Millgate, M.L.

1978-01-01

The proposed Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) area includes about 18,960 acres in Tps. 22 and 23 S., Rs. 30 and 31 E., New Mexico Principal Meridian, Eddy County, southeastern New Mexico. It is located within the Carlsbad Mining District about 25 miles east of Carlsbad. The WIPP area is immediately south of the Capitan Limestone subcrop, which formed the northern margin of the Delaware basin in Permian time. During Late Permian (Ochoan) time, gypsum, anhydrite, and halite were deposited in the seas of the Delaware basin to form the Castile Formation. These deposits have a maximum thickness of about 2,000 feet and grade upward into the more argillaceous beds of the Salado Formation. The Salado Formation contains abundant sulfate minerals, notably anhydrite and polyhalite. The potash ore minerals, langbeinite and sylvite, occur in the upper part of the Salado Formation in the McNutt potash zone, a local name applied to a potassium-rich zone.

Integrating geological uncertainty in long-term open pit mine production planning by ant colony optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gilani, Seyed-Omid; Sattarvand, Javad

2016-02-01

Meeting production targets in terms of ore quantity and quality is critical for a successful mining operation. In-situ grade uncertainty causes both deviations from production targets and general financial deficits. A new stochastic optimization algorithm based on ant colony optimization (ACO) approach is developed herein to integrate geological uncertainty described through a series of the simulated ore bodies. Two different strategies were developed based on a single predefined probability value (Prob) and multiple probability values (Pro bnt) , respectively in order to improve the initial solutions that created by deterministic ACO procedure. Application at the Sungun copper mine in the northwest of Iran demonstrate the abilities of the stochastic approach to create a single schedule and control the risk of deviating from production targets over time and also increase the project value. A comparison between two strategies and traditional approach illustrates that the multiple probability strategy is able to produce better schedules, however, the single predefined probability is more practical in projects requiring of high flexibility degree.

Mercury - Its occurrence and economic trends

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bailey, Edgar H.; Smith, Roscoe M.

1964-01-01

price will be a predictable increase in production. If the price averages $300 a flask for 1 year or more, annual production may increase to a rate of 30,000-35,000 flasks in 1966 or 1967. If the price averages $400 a flask, production may increase to 45,000-50,000 flasks a year after a timelag of two or three years. New ore bodies would have to be found however, to attain these rates of production, and the mining of lower grade ores would be needed to sustain them for more than a few years. By 1966 the U.S. economy will require at least 67 000 flasks, and the domestic demand for mercury thereafter will continue to increase. The probability that domestic mines will continue to supply a fourth or more of the domestic consumption is dependent upon the price of mercury for the next few years. The outlook for the long-term supply is reassuring, but it is dependent, not only upon price, but upon continued progress in new techniques of discovery.

A synthesis of mineralization styles with an integrated genetic model of carbonatite-syenite-hosted REE deposits in the Cenozoic Mianning-Dechang REE metallogenic belt, the eastern Tibetan Plateau, southwestern China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yan; Hou, Zengqian

2017-04-01

The Cenozoic Mianning-Dechang (MD) rare earth element (REE) belt in eastern Tibet is an important source of light REE in southwest China. The belt is 270 km long and 15 km wide. The total REE resources are >3 Mt of light rare earth oxides (REO), including 3.17 Mt of REO at Maoniuping (average grade = 2.95 wt.%), 81,556 t at Dalucao (average grade = 5.21 wt.%), 0.1 Mt at Muluozhai (average grade = 3.97 wt.%), and 5764 t of REO at Lizhuang (average grade = 2.38 wt.%). Recent results from detailed geological surveys, and studies of petrographic features, ore-forming ages, ore forming conditions, and wallrock alteration are synthesized in this paper. REE mineralization within this belt is associated with carbonatite-syenite complexes, with syenites occurring as stocks intruded by carbonatitic sills or dikes. The mineralization is present as complex vein systems that contain veinlet, stringer, stockwork, and brecciated pipe type mineralization. Carbonatites in these carbonatite-related REE deposits (CARDs) are extremely rich in light REEs, Sr (>5000 ppm), and Ba (>1000 ppm), and have low Sr/Ba and high Ba/Th ratios, and radiogenic Sr-Nd isotopic compositions. These fertile magmas, which may lead to the formation of REE deposits, were generated by the partial melting of sub-continental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) that was metasomatized by REE- and CO2-rich fluids derived from subducted marine sediments. We suggest that this refertilization occurred along cratonic margins and, in particular, at a convergent margin where small-volume carbonatitic melts ascended along trans-lithospheric faults and transported REEs into the overlying crust, leading to the formation of the CARDs. The formation of fertile carbonatites requires a thick lithosphere and/or high pressures (>25 kbar), a metasomatized and enriched mantle source, and favorable pathways for magma to ascend into the overlying crust where REE-rich fluids exsolve from cooling magma. The optimal combination of these three factors only occurs along the margins of a craton with a continental root, rather than in modern subduction zones where the lithosphere is relatively thin. U-Pb zircon dating indicates that the Maoniuping, Lizhuang, and Muluozhai alkali igneous complexes in the northern part of the belt formed at 27-22 Ma, whereas the Dalucao complex in the southern part of the belt formed at 12-11 Ma. Biotite and arfvedsonite in Lizhuang and Maoniuping REE deposit have 40Ar/39Ar ages of 30.8 ± 0.4 Ma (MSWD = 0.98) and 27.6 ± 2.0 Ma (MSWD = 0.06), respectively. Biotitaion alteration in syenite and fenitization caused by the relatively amount of carbonatite on syenite and host rocks is the main alteration along the whole belt. Initial Sr (0.7059-0.7079), 143Nd/144Nd (0.5123-0.5127), and 207Pb/204Pb (15.601-15.628) and 208Pb/204Pb (38.422-38.604) isotopic compositions of fluorite, barite, celestite, and calcite in the MD belt are similar to those of the associated syenite and carbonatite. Given the relatively high contents of Cl, F, SO42-, and CO2 in the rocks of the complexes, it is likely that the REEs were transported by these ligands within hydrothermal fluids, and the presence of bastnäsite indicates that the REEs were precipitated as fluorocarbonates. Petrographic, fluid inclusion, and field studies of the ores indicate that bastnäsite and other REE minerals formed during the final stages (<300 °C) of the evolution of magmatic-hydrothermal systems in the belt. The mineralization formed from magmatic and meteoric fluids containing CO2 derived from the decarbonation of carbonatite, as indicated by C-O isotopic values of hydrothermal calcite and bastnäsite (δ13C = -4.8 to -8.7 and δ18O = 5.8 to 12.5‰) and O-H isotopic values of quartz (330 °C) and arfvedsonite (260 °C), which correspond to fluid isotope compositions of δ18O = 0.3-9.8‰ and δD = -70.0 to -152.8‰ in the belt. This study indicates that formation the largest REE deposits are related to voluminous carbonatite-syenite complexes, compositionally similar ore-forming fluids, extensive alteration, multiple stages of REE mineralization, and tectonic setting.

Data trimming, nuclear emissions, and climate change.

PubMed

Shrader-Frechette, Kristin Sharon

2009-03-01

Ethics requires good science. Many scientists, government leaders, and industry representatives support tripling of global-nuclear-energy capacity on the grounds that nuclear fission is "carbon free" and "releases no greenhouse gases." However, such claims are scientifically questionable (and thus likely to lead to ethically questionable energy choices) for at least 3 reasons. (i) They rely on trimming the data on nuclear greenhouse-gas emissions (GHGE), perhaps in part because flawed Kyoto Protocol conventions require no full nuclear-fuel-cycle assessment of carbon content. (ii) They underestimate nuclear-fuel-cycle releases by erroneously assuming that mostly high-grade uranium ore, with much lower emissions, is used. (iii) They inconsistently compare nuclear-related GHGE only to those from fossil fuels, rather than to those from the best GHG-avoiding energy technologies. Once scientists take account of (i)-(iii), it is possible to show that although the nuclear fuel cycle releases (per kWh) much fewer GHG than coal and oil, nevertheless it releases far more GHG than wind and solar-photovoltaic. Although there may be other, ethical, reasons to support nuclear tripling, reducing or avoiding GHG does not appear to be one of them.

Strength and Microstructure of Concrete with Iron Ore Tailings as Replacement for River Sand

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Umara Shettima, Ali; Ahmad, Yusof; Warid Hussin, Mohd; Zakari Muhammad, Nasiru; Eziekel Babatude, Ogunbode

2018-03-01

River Sand is one of the basic ingredients used in the production of concrete. Consequently, continuous consumption of sand in construction industry contributes significantly to depletion of natural resources. To achieve more sustainable construction materials, this paper reports the use of iron ore tailings (IOT) as replacement for river sand in concrete production. IOT is a waste product generated from the production of iron ore and disposed to land fill without any economic value. Concrete mixtures containing different amount of IOT were designed for grade C30 with water to cement ratio of 0.60. The percentage ratios of the river sand replacements by IOT were 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. Concrete microstructure test namely, XRD and Field Emission Scanned Electron Microscopic/Energy dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (FESEM/EDX) were conducted for control and IOT concretes in order to determine the interaction and performance of the concrete containing IOT. Test results indicated that the slump values of 130 mm and 80 to 110 mm were recorded for the control and IOT concretes respectively. The concrete sample of 50% IOT recorded the highest compressive strength of 37.7 MPa at 28 days, and the highest flexural strength of 5.5 MPa compared to 4.7 MPa for reference concrete. The texture of the IOT is rough and angular which was able to improve the strength of the concrete.

Ferric minerals and organic matter change arsenic speciation in copper mine tailings.

PubMed

Wang, Peng; Liu, Yunjia; Menzies, Neal W; Wehr, J Bernhard; de Jonge, Martin D; Howard, Daryl L; Kopittke, Peter M; Huang, Longbin

2016-11-01

Arsenic (As) is commonly associated with Cu ore minerals, with the resultant risk that As can be released offsite from mine tailings. We used synchrotron-based fluorescence X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) imaging to provide in situ, laterally-resolved speciation of As within tailings which differed in magnetite content (5-12%) and organic matter content (0-5%). Although the total As content was lower in tailings with low magnetite (LM), the soluble (pore water) As was actually 7-times higher in LM tailings than in high magnetite (HM) tailings. Additionally, amendment with 5% sugarcane mulch residues (SMR) (for revegetation) further increased soluble As due to the dissolution and oxidation of arsenopyrite or orpiment. Indeed, in HM tailings, arsenopyrite and orpiment initially accounted for 88% of the total As, which decreased to 48% upon the addition of SMR - this being associated with an increase in As V -ferrihydrite from 12% to 52%. In LM tailings, the pattern of As distribution and speciation was similar, with As as As V -ferrihydrite increasing from 57% to 75% upon the addition of SMR. These findings indicate that changes in ore processing technology, such as the recovery of magnetite could have significant environmental consequences regarding the As mobilisation and transformation in mine tailings. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Selenium content in sulfide ores from the Chalkidiki peninsula, Greece.

PubMed

Nicolaidou, A E

1998-01-01

Selenium (Se) was assessed in galena, sphalerite, and pyrite samples. These are components of mixed sulfide ores from the Olympias and Madem Lakkos-Mavres Petres deposits and the Skouries porphyry-copper deposit. We used atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) with a hydride generator system. The highest concentration of Se (516 ppm) was found in the fine-grained galena at the -135 level of the Olympias deposits. In the Madem Lakkos-Mavres Petres deposit, the highest concentration of Se (33 ppm) was found in the pyrites of the level 30. The concentration of Se in the arsenopyrites and chalcopyrites is lower than the detection limit of the analytical method (< 100 ppb). The concentrated chalcopyrite from the porphyry copper deposit at Skouries exhibits a significant Se content (average 200 ppm) in contrast to the chalcopyrite from the Olympias and the Madem Lakkos-Mavres Petres. Variations in the Se content of the sulfide minerals studied could be caused by redox-pH and/or temperature conditions, as well as by the difference in crystal structure. The Se found in the areas studied may positively affect the environment. Sulfide minerals are oxidized by microorganisms, infiltrate in the soil-water in the form of selenate or selenite ion, and directly or indirectly influence the human organism.

Experimental and Theoretical Studies on the Viscosity-Structure Correlation for High Alumina-Silicate Melts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Talapaneni, Trinath; Yedla, Natraj; Pal, Snehanshu; Sarkar, Smarajit

2017-06-01

Blast furnaces are encountering high Alumina (Al2O3 > 25 pct) in the final slag due to the charging of low-grade ores. To study the viscosity behavior of such high alumina slags, synthetic slags are prepared in the laboratory scale by maintaining a chemical composition of Al2O3 (25 to 30 wt pct) CaO/SiO2 ratio (0.8 to 1.6) and MgO (8 to 16 wt pct). A chemical thermodynamic software FactSage 7.0 is used to predict liquidus temperature and viscosity of the above slags. Experimental viscosity measurements are performed above the liquidus temperature in the range of 1748 K to 1848 K (1475 °C to 1575 °C). The viscosity values obtained from FactSage closely fit with the experimental values. The viscosity and the slag structure properties are intent by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy. It is observed that increase in CaO/SiO2 ratio and MgO content in the slag depolymerizes the silicate structure. This leads to decrease in viscosity and activation energy (167 to 149 kJ/mol) of the slag. Also, an addition of Al2O3 content increases the viscosity of slag by polymerization of alumino-silicate structure and activation energy from 154 to 161 kJ/mol. It is witnessed that the activation energy values obtained from experiment closely fit with the Shankar model based on Arrhenius equation.

The Genesis of Precious and Base Metal Mineralization at the Miguel Auza Deposit, Zacatecas, Mexico

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Findley, A. A.; Olivo, G. R.; Godin, L.

2009-05-01

The Miguel Auza mine located in Zacatecas State, Mexico, is a vein-type polymetallic epithermal deposit hosted in deformed argillite, siltstone and, greywacke of the Cretaceous Caracol Formation. Silver-rich base metal veins (0.2 m to >1.5 m wide) are spatially associated with the NE-striking, steeply SE- dipping (70-80°) Miguel Auza fault over a strike length of 1.6 km and a depth of 460 m. A 2 km2 monzonitic stock located in the proximity of the mineralized zones, has previously been interpreted as the source of the mineralizing fluids. Four distinct structural stages are correlated with hydrothermal mineral deposition: (I) The Pre-ore stage is characterized by normal faulting, fracturing of host rock, and rotation of bedding planes. This stage consists of quartz, illite, chlorite, +/- pyrite alteration of sedimentary wall rocks. (II) The Pyrite-vein stage is associated with reverse-sense reactivation of early normal faults, dilation of bedding planes/fractures, and deposition of generally barren calcite + pyrite veinlets. (III) The Main-ore stage is related to the development of reverse-fault- hosted massive sulphide veins. During this stage three phases of mineral deposition are recorded: early pyrite and arsenopyrite, intermediate chalcopyrite, pyrite, arsenopyrite, and base metals, and late base metals and Ag-bearing minerals. Associated gangue minerals during the main ore stage are quartz, muscovite, calcite and chlorite. (IV) The Post-ore stage involves late NW-SE striking block faulting, brecciation and calcite veining. Later supergene oxidation of veins led to deposition of Fe-oxides and hydroxides, commonly filling fractures or replacing early-formed sulphide assemblages. The various vein types display classic epithermal textures including open space filling, banding, comb quartz and brecciation. The Ag-bearing minerals comprise pyrargyrite [Ag3(Sb,As)S3], argentotennantite [(Cu,Ag)10(Zn,Fe)2(Sn,As)4S13], polybasite-pearceite [(Ag,Cu)16(Sb,As)2S11], and acanthite [AgS2]; associated sulphides include galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite and pyrite. In the main ore zone, base metal sulphides are commonly intergrown with the Ag-bearing sulfosalts. Analyses of galena show no significant silver values indicating that silver grades are exclusively associated with the Ag-bearing sulfosalts and sulphides. The distribution of the Sb/(Sb + As) ratios in the silver sulfosalts indicate that the ore forming fluid(s) was consistently antimony-rich during the Ag-rich ore deposition with no significant variation laterally, vertically, or along strike of the vein systems. However, Ag/(Ag + Cu) values in argentotennantite decrease along-strike from NE to SW and with depth. Compositions of argentotennantite + pyrargyrite + sphalerite indicate a primary depositional temperature around 325-350° C for the late phase of the Main-ore stage. Compositions of sphalerite also show an increasing trend in FeS (mol %) along strike of the deposit from NE to SW. The geometric relationship between the various structures, vein types, and the regional Miguel Auza fault zone suggest episodic reverse-sense reactivation of normal faults. It is argued that the structural evolution of the area, and, in particular, the Main-ore stage, provided transport pathways for metal-rich fluids and controlled the orientations of ore-bearing veins. Variations in mineral chemistry suggest that the rocks in the NE sector interacted with hotter fluids than in the SW part of the deposit.

Ultrafine particles derived from mineral processing: A case study of the Pb-Zn sulfide ore with emphasis on lead-bearing colloids.

PubMed

Mikhlin, Yuri; Vorobyev, Sergey; Romanchenko, Alexander; Karasev, Sergey; Karacharov, Anton; Zharkov, Sergey

2016-03-01

Although mining and mineral processing industry is a vast source of heavy metal pollutants, the formation and behavior of micrometer- and nanometer-sized particles and their aqueous colloids entered the environment from the technological media has received insufficient attention to date. Here, the yield and characteristics of ultrafine mineral entities produced by routine grinding of the Pb-Zn sulfide ore (Gorevskoe ore deposit, Russia) were studied using laser diffraction analysis (LDA), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential measurement, microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, with most attention given to toxic lead species. It was revealed, in particular, that the fraction of particles less that 1 μm in the ground ore typical reaches 0.4 vol. %. The aquatic particles in supernatants were micrometer size aggregates with increased content of zinc, sulfur, calcium as compared with the bulk ore concentrations. The hydrodynamic diameter of the colloidal species decreased with time, with their zeta potentials remaining about -12 mV. The colloids produced from galena were composed of 20-50 nm PbS nanoparticles associated with lead sulfate and thiosulfate, while the surface oxidation products at precipitated galena were largely lead oxyhydroxides. The size and zeta potential of the lead-bearing colloids decreased with time down to about 100 nm and from -15 mV to -30 mV, respectively. And, conversely, lead sulfide nanoparticles were mobilized before the aggregates during redispersion of the precipitates in fresh portions of water. The potential environmental impact of the metal-bearing colloids, which is due to the large-scale production and relative stability, is discussed. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Geological and geochemical studies of the Shujiadian porphyry Cu deposit, Anhui Province, Eastern China: Implications for ore genesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Shiwei; Zhou, Taofa; Yuan, Feng; Fan, Yu; White, Noel C.; Lin, Fengjie

2015-05-01

Most porphyry deposits in the world occur in magmatic arc settings and are related to subduction of oceanic plates. A small proportion of porphyry deposits occur in intracontinental settings, however they are still poorly understood. Shujiadian, a newly-discovered porphyry Cu deposit, is located in the Middle-Lower Yangtze River Valley metallogenic belt and belongs to the intracontinental class. The deposit has classic alteration zones defined by a core of potassic alteration and local Ca-silicate alteration, which is overprinted by a feldspar-destructive alteration zone and cut by veins containing epidote and chlorite. Wallrocks of the deposit are unreactive quartz-rich sedimentary rocks. Three main paragenetic stages have been recognized based on petrographic observations; silicate stage, quartz-sulfide stage, and sulfide-carbonate stage. Quartz + pyrite + chalcopyrite ± molybdenite veins, and quartz + chalcopyrite + pyrite veins of the quartz-sulfide stage contribute most of the copper, and chalcopyrite + chlorite ± pyrite ± pyrrhotite ± quartz ± illite veins of the sulfide-carbonate stage also contribute part of the copper; all the mineralized veins are associated with feldspar-destructive alteration. Investigations on the fluid inclusions in Shujiadian indicate that the ore-forming fluids had four evolutionary episodes: immiscibility and overpressure in the silicate stage, boiling in the quartz-sulfide stage and mixing with meteoric water in the sulfide-carbonate stage. Sulfur and strontium isotope studies suggest that ore metals were mainly derived from magmatic-hydrothermal fluids, and combined with our study of fluid inclusions, we infer that decompression, changes in oxygen fugacity and sulfur content were the main factors that caused Cu precipitation. Compared with porphyry deposits in magmatic arc settings, there are some differences in the ore-bearing rock, alteration, and the composition of ore-forming fluids.

Soil quality changes in response to their pollution by heavy metals, Georgia.

PubMed

Matchavariani, Lia; Kalandadze, Besik; Lagidze, Lamzira; Gokhelashvili, Nino; Sulkhanishvili, Nino; Paichadze, Nino; Dvalashvili, Giorgi

2015-01-01

The present study deals with the composition, migration and accumulation of heavy metals in irrigated soils, plants and partially natural waters; and also, establishing the possible sources of pollution and their impact on environmental situation. The content of toxic elements in the irrigated soils adjacent to ore mining and processing enterprise were studied. Content of toxic elements in the irrigated soils adjacent to ore mining, showed that more than half of territory was seriously polluted by copper and zinc. Some part of the area were considered catastrophically polluted. Expressed technogenesis taking place influenced irrigation. Heavy metals like copper, zinc and manganese negative by effected the properties of soil, thus composition and soil-forming processes taking place in the soil. It was especially well represented in the deterioration of hydro-physical potential of the soil. Irrigation of agricultural land plots by water, polluted with heavy metals changed the pH. Balanced correlation among solid, liquid and gas phases was disrupted. In highly polluted soil, the cementing processes took place that sharply increased the bulk density of the soil, deteriorated the porosity of soil and reduced water permeability critically.

Remote quantitative analysis of minerals based on multispectral line-calibrated laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS).

PubMed

Wan, Xiong; Wang, Peng

2014-01-01

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a feasible remote sensing technique used for mineral analysis in some unapproachable places where in situ probing is needed, such as analysis of radioactive elements in a nuclear leak or the detection of elemental compositions and contents of minerals on planetary and lunar surfaces. Here a compact custom 15 m focus optical component, combining a six times beam expander with a telescope, has been built, with which the laser beam of a 1064 nm Nd ; YAG laser is focused on remote minerals. The excited LIBS signals that reveal the elemental compositions of minerals are collected by another compact single lens-based signal acquisition system. In our remote LIBS investigations, the LIBS spectra of an unknown ore have been detected, from which the metal compositions are obtained. In addition, a multi-spectral line calibration (MSLC) method is proposed for the quantitative analysis of elements. The feasibility of the MSLC and its superiority over a single-wavelength determination have been confirmed by comparison with traditional chemical analysis of the copper content in the ore.

Variations of trace element concentration of magnetite and ilmenite from the Taihe layered intrusion, Emeishan large igneous province, SW China: Implications for magmatic fractionation and origin of Fe-Ti-V oxide ore deposits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

She, Yu-Wei; Song, Xie-Yan; Yu, Song-Yue; He, Hai-Long

2015-12-01

In situ LA-ICP-MS trace elemental analysis has been applied to magnetite and ilmenite of the Taihe layered intrusion, Emeishan large igneous province, SW China, in order to understand better fractionation processes of magma and origin of Fe-Ti-V oxide ore deposits. The periodic reversals in Mg, Ti, Mn in magnetite and Mg, Sc in ilmenite are found in the Middle Zone of the intrusion and agree with fractionation trends as recorded by olivine (Fo), plagioclase (An) and clinopyroxene (Mg#) compositions. These suggest the Taihe intrusion formed from open magma chamber processes in a magma conduit with multiple replenishments of more primitive magmas. The V and Cr of magnetite are well correlated with V and Cr of clinopyroxene indicating that they became liquidus phases almost simultaneously at an early stage of magma evolution. Ilmenite from the Middle and Upper Zones shows variable Cr, Ni, V, Mg, Nb, Ta and Sc contents indicating that ilmenite at some stratigraphic levels crystallized slightly earlier than magnetite and clinopyroxene. The early crystallization of magnetite and ilmenite is the result of the high FeOt and TiO2 contents in the parental magma. The ilmenite crystallization before magnetite in the Middle and Upper Zones can be attributed to higher TiO2 content of the magma due to the remelting of pre-existing ilmenite in a middle-level magma chamber. Compared to the coeval high-Ti basalts, the relatively low Zr, Hf, Nb and Ta contents in both magnetite and ilmenite throughout the Taihe intrusion indicate that they crystallized from Fe-Ti-(P)-rich silicate magmas. Positive correlations of Ti with Mg, Mn, Sc and Zr of magnetite, and Zr with Sc, Hf and Nb of ilmenite also suggest that magnetite and ilmenite crystallized continuously from the homogeneous silicate magma rather than an immiscible Fe-rich melt. Therefore, frequent replenishments of Fe-Ti-(P)-rich silicate magma and gravitational sorting and settling are crucial for the formation the massive and apatite-rich disseminated ores in the Lower and Middle Zones of the Taihe intrusion.

The Nature and Use of Copper Reserve and Resource Data

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cox, Dennis P.; Wright, Nancy A.; Coakley, George J.

1981-01-01

Copper reserve, resource, and production data can be combined to produce disaggregated resource estimates and trends and, when combined with demand forecasts, can be used to predict future exploration and development requirements. Reserve estimates are subject to uncertainties due mainly to incomplete exploration and rapidly changing economic conditions. United States' reserve estimates in the past have been low mainly because knowledge of the magnitude of very large porphyry-copper deposits has been incomplete. Present estimates are considerably more reliable because mining firms tend to drill out deposits fully before mining and to release their reserve estimates to the public. The sum of reserves and past production yields an estimate of the total ore, total metal contained in ore, and average grade of ore originally in each of the deposits known in the United States. For most deposits, estimates of total copper in ore are low relative to the total copper in mineralized rock, and many estimates are strongly affected by the economic behavior of mining firms. A better estimate of the real distribution of copper contained in deposits can be obtained by combining past production data with resource estimates. Copper resource data are disaggregated into categories that include resources in undeveloped deposits similar to those mined in the past, resources in mines closed because of unfavorable economic conditions, resources in deep deposits requiring high-cost mining methods, arid resources in deposits located in areas where environmental restrictions have contributed to delays in development. The largest resource is located in the five largest porphyry deposits. These deposits are now being mined but the resources are not included in the present mining plan. Resources in this last category will not contribute to supply until some future time when ores presently being mined are depleted. A high correlation exists between total copper contained in deposits and annual production from deposits. This correlation can be used to predict roughly the potential production from undeveloped deposits. Large deposits annually produce relatively less metal per ton of copper contained than do medium and small deposits. Dividing reserves by annual production gives a depletion date for each copper mine. The sum of annual production capacity of all mines not yet depleted at any year of interest gives the minimum production capacity for that year. A graph of minimum production capacity by year combined with curves representing potential capacity from undeveloped identified resources can be compared with various demand scenarios to yield a measure of copper requirements from new sources. Since 1950 reserves have been developed in the United States at a rate of about 1 million tons of copper per year. Since 1960 the number of deposits developed per 10-year period has greatly increased without a commensurate increase in tonnage of copper. This is in part due to the fact that recent exploration successes have been increasingly represented by smaller and (or) lower grade deposits containing less metal.

A validation study concerning the effects of interview content, retention interval, and grade on children's recall accuracy for dietary intake and/or physical activity.

PubMed

Baxter, Suzanne D; Hitchcock, David B; Guinn, Caroline H; Vaadi, Kate K; Puryear, Megan P; Royer, Julie A; McIver, Kerry L; Dowda, Marsha; Pate, Russell R; Wilson, Dawn K

2014-12-01

Practitioners and researchers are interested in assessing children's dietary intake and physical activity together to maximize resources and minimize subject burden. Our aim was to investigate differences in dietary and/or physical activity recall accuracy by content (diet only; physical activity only; diet and physical activity), retention interval (same-day recalls in the afternoon; previous-day recalls in the morning), and grade (third; fifth). Children (n=144; 66% African American, 13% white, 12% Hispanic, 9% other; 50% girls) from four schools were randomly selected for interviews about one of three contents. Each content group was equally divided by retention interval, each equally divided by grade, each equally divided by sex. Information concerning diet and physical activity at school was validated with school-provided breakfast and lunch observations, and accelerometry, respectively. Dietary accuracy measures were food-item omission and intrusion rates, and kilocalorie correspondence rate and inflation ratio. Physical activity accuracy measures were absolute and arithmetic differences for moderate to vigorous physical activity minutes. For each accuracy measure, linear models determined effects of content, retention interval, grade, and their two-way and three-way interactions; ethnicity and sex were control variables. Content was significant within four interactions: intrusion rate (content×retention-interval×grade; P=0.0004), correspondence rate (content×grade; P=0.0004), inflation ratio (content×grade; P=0.0104), and arithmetic difference (content×retention-interval×grade; P=0.0070). Retention interval was significant for correspondence rate (P=0.0004), inflation ratio (P=0.0014), and three interactions: omission rate (retention-interval×grade; P=0.0095), intrusion rate, and arithmetic difference (both already mentioned). Grade was significant for absolute difference (P=0.0233) and five interactions mentioned. Content effects depended on other factors. Grade effects were mixed. Dietary accuracy was better with same-day than previous-day retention interval. Results do not support integrating dietary intake and physical activity in children's recalls, but do support using shorter rather than longer retention intervals to yield more accurate dietary recalls. Additional validation studies need to clarify age effects and identify evidence-based practices to improve children's accuracy for recalling dietary intake and/or physical activity. Copyright © 2014 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Stream-Sediment Geochemistry in Mining-Impacted Drainages of the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River, Custer County, Idaho

USGS Publications Warehouse

Frost, Thomas P.; Box, Stephen E.

2009-01-01

This reconnaissance study was undertaken at the request of the USDA Forest Service, Region 4, to assess the geochemistry, in particular the mercury and selenium contents, of mining-impacted sediments in the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River in Custer County Idaho. The Yankee Fork has been the site of hard-rock and placer mining, primarily for gold and silver, starting in the 1880s. Major dredge placer mining from the 1930s to 1950s in the Yankee Fork disturbed about a 10-kilometer reach. Mercury was commonly used in early hard-rock mining and placer operations for amalgamation and recovery of gold. During the late 1970s, feasibility studies were done on cyanide-heap leach recovery of gold from low-grade ores of the Sunbeam and related deposits. In the mid-1990s a major open-pit bulk-vat leach operation was started at the Grouse Creek Mine. This operation shut down when gold values proved to be lower than expected. Mercury in stream sediments in the Yankee Fork ranges from below 0.02 ppm to 7 ppm, with the highest values associated with old mill locations and lode and placer mines. Selenium ranges from below the detection limit for this study of 0.2 ppm to 4 ppm in Yankee Fork sediment samples. The generally elevated selenium content in the sediment samples reflect the generally high selenium contents in the volcanic rocks that underlie the Yankee Fork and the presence of gold and silver selenides in some of the veins that were exploited in the early phases of mining.

Towards Data Repository Interoperability: The Data Conservancy Data Packaging Specification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

DiLauro, T.; Duerr, R.; Thessen, A. E.; Rippin, M.; Pralle, B.; Choudhury, G. S.

2013-12-01

A modern data archive must support a variety of functions and services for a broad set of stakeholders over a variety of content. Data producers need to deposit this content; data consumers need to find and access it; journal publishers need to link to and from it; funders need to ensure that it is protected and its value enhanced; research institutions need to track it; and the archive itself needs to manage and preserve it. But there is not an optimal information model that supports all of these tasks. The attributes needed to manage format transformations for long-term preservation are different from, for example, those needed to understand provenance relationships among the various entities modeled in the archive. Exposing all possible properties to every function burdens users and makes it difficult to maintain a separation of concerns among the functional components. The Data Conservancy Software (DCS) manages these overlapping information needs by defining strict interfaces between components and providing mappers between the layers of the architecture. Still, work remains to make deposit more intuitive. Currently, depositing content into a DCS instance requires either very simple objects (e.g., one file equals one data item), significant manual effort, or detailed knowledge of DCS-internal data model serializations. And if one were to deposit that content into another type of archive, it would be necessary to repeat this effort. To allow data producers and consumers to interact with data in a more natural manner, the Data Conservancy[1] is developing a packaging approach that eases this burden and allows a semantic overlay atop the directory/folder and file metaphor that is more familiar. The standards-based packaging scheme augments the payload and validation capabilities of Bagit[2] with the relationship and resource description capabilities of the Open Archives Initiative (OAI) Object Reuse and Exchange (ORE)[3] model. In the absence of the ORE resource description, the DCS instance will be able to provide default mappings for the directories and files within the package payload and enable support for deposited content at a lower level of service. Internally, the DCS will map these hybrid package serializations to its own internal business objects and their properties. Thus, this approach is highly extensible, as other packaging formats could be mapped in a similar manner. In addition, this scheme supports establishing the fixity of the payload while still supporting update of the semantic overlay data. This allows a data producer with scarce resources or an archivist who acquires a researcher's data to package the data for deposit with the intention of augmenting the resource description in the future. The Data Conservancy is partnering with the Sustainable Environment Actionable Data[4] project to test the interoperability of this new packaging mechanism. [1] Data Conservancy: http://dataconservancy.org/ [2] BagIt: https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/draft-kunze-bagit/ [3] OAI-ORE: http://www.openarchives.org/ore/1.0/ [4] SEAD: http://sead-data.net/

A case in support of implementing innovative bio-processes in the metal mining industry.

PubMed

Sánchez-Andrea, Irene; Stams, Alfons J M; Weijma, Jan; Gonzalez Contreras, Paula; Dijkman, Henk; Rozendal, Rene A; Johnson, D Barrie

2016-06-01

The metal mining industry faces many large challenges in future years, among which is the increasing need to process low-grade ores as accessible higher grade ores become depleted. This is against a backdrop of increasing global demands for base and precious metals, and rare earth elements. Typically about 99% of solid material hauled to, and ground at, the land surface currently ends up as waste (rock dumps and mineral tailings). Exposure of these to air and water frequently leads to the formation of acidic, metal-contaminated run-off waters, referred to as acid mine drainage, which constitutes a severe threat to the environment. Formation of acid drainage is a natural phenomenon involving various species of lithotrophic (literally 'rock-eating') bacteria and archaea, which oxidize reduced forms of iron and/or sulfur. However, other microorganisms that reduce inorganic sulfur compounds can essentially reverse this process. These microorganisms can be applied on industrial scale to precipitate metals from industrial mineral leachates and acid mine drainage streams, resulting in a net improvement in metal recovery, while minimizing the amounts of leachable metals to the tailings storage dams. Here, we advocate that more extensive exploitation of microorganisms in metal mining operations could be an important way to green up the industry, reducing environmental risks and improving the efficiency and the economy of metal recovery. © FEMS 2016. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Spatial-temporal and genetic relationships between gold and antimony mineralization at gold-sulfide deposits of the Ob-Zaisan folded zone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalinin, Yu. A.; Naumov, E. A.; Borisenko, A. S.; Kovalev, K. R.; Antropova, A. I.

2015-05-01

The Ob-Zaisan folded zone is a fragment of a single structure composed of Paleozoic sedimentary and volcanogenic rocks (mainly black shale), which was formed at the margin of the Siberian continent and features a common set of magmatic complexes and mineral systems. However, there are some differences that determine the specific geological and metallogenic features of the Irtysh-Zaisan and Kolyvan-Tomsk fragments of the Ob-Zaisan folded zone. In the gold deposits of the West Kalba and Kolyvan-Tomsk auriferous belt, the main gold-sulfide mineralization is controlled by zones of shearing and dynamic metamorphism in carbonaceous carbonate-terrigenous rocks. This type of mineralization was formed in tectonic blocks in a compressional setting. Antimony mineralization is characterized by brecciated textures and the vein-like morphology of ore bodies, reflecting extensional tectonics. At some deposits (Zherek, Mirazh, Dalny), Sb mineralization is spatially separated from the main gold-sulfide ores and shows cross-cutting relations to the principal ore-controlling structures. In other gold deposits, stibnite is spatially associated with disseminated gold-sulfide ores and forms mineral assemblages with Ni, Co, Au, Pb, and Fe (Alimbet, Zhanan, Legostaevskoe, Semiluzhenskoe, and Kamenskoe deposits). This study reveals no direct correlation between Au and Sb in gold-sulfide ores of these deposits. SEM analysis indicated the absence of free gold in stibnite veins. However, atomic absorption and electron microprobe analysis indicated the presence of "invisible gold" from a few ppm to several tens of ppm in the stibnite. High gold contents in the gold-sulfide ores overprinted by antimony mineralization (Suzdalskoe, Zhanan, and Legostaevskoe deposits) can be explained by the processes of regeneration and redeposition. The results of microstructural observations, isotope geochronology, studies of mineral assemblages and fluid inclusions in the ores from gold deposits of the Ob-Zaisan folded zone suggest that antimony mineralization was formed at gold-polysulfide stage, which was separated from the early ore pyrite-arsenopyrite stage by a 30 Ma time gap. It can be assumed that the essentially stibnite mineralization was formed at a separate stage and was separated from the gold-polysulfide mineralization by a 7 Ma interval of tectonic activity. Our Ar-Ar data on sericite from ore samples, combined with U-Pb data on zircons from igneous rocks and previous data from the literature show that there were two major stages of ore formation: the Early Permian (282-270 Ma) and the Early Triassic (250-240 Ma). Most researchers suggest that these stages of mineralization can be related to the epochs of intraplate magmatism that led to the formation of the Tarim (280 Ma) and Siberian (250 Ma) large igneous provinces. These global geological events are generally connected with the influence of Tarim and Siberian mantle plumes.

Large-scale high density 3D AMT for mineral exploration — A case history from volcanic massive sulfide Pb-Zn deposit with 2000 AMT sites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, R.; Chen, S.; He, L.; Yao, H.; Li, H.; Xi, X.; Zhao, X.

2017-12-01

EM method plays a key role in volcanic massive sulfide (VMS) deposit which is with high grade and high economic value. However, the performance of high density 3D AMT in detecting deep concealed VMS targets is not clear. The size of a typical VMS target is less than 100 m x 100 m x 50 m, it's a challenge task to find it with large depth. We carried a test in a VMS Pb-Zn deposit using high density 3D AMT with site spacing as 20 m and profile spacing as 40 - 80 m. About 2000 AMT sites were acquired in an area as 2000 m x 1500 m. Then we used a sever with 8 CPUs (Intel Xeon E7-8880 v3, 2.3 GHz, 144 cores), 2048 GB RAM, and 40 TB disk array to invert above 3D AMT sites using integral equation forward modeling and re-weighted conjugated-gradient inversion. The depth of VMS ore body is about 600 m and the size of the ore body is about 100 x 100 x 20m with dip angle about 45 degree. We finds that it's very hard to recover the location and shape of the ore body by 3D AMT inversion even using the data of all AMT sites and frequencies. However, it's possible to recover the location and shape of the deep concealed ore body if we adjust the inversion parameters carefully. A new set of inversion parameter needs to be find for high density 3D AMT data set and the inversion parameters working good for Dublin Secret Model II (DSM 2) is not suitable for our real data. This problem may be caused by different data density and different number of frequency. We find a set of good inversion parameter by comparing the shape and location of ore body with inversion result and trying different inversion parameters. And the application of new inversion parameter in nearby area with high density AMT sites shows that the inversion result is improved greatly.

The Content Analysis of Sixth Grade Computer Textbooks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keser, Hafize; Aydin, Burcu

2007-01-01

In this study, the content analysis' categories and sub topics were drawn up for sixth and seventh grade computer textbooks in order to compare visual and verbal contents of these textbooks. Totally nine sixth and seventh grade computer textbooks which were chosen by Ministry of National Education were included in this study. These nine textbooks…

Connecting Content, Context, and Communication in a Sixth-Grade Social Studies Class through Political Cartoons

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gallavan, Nancy P.; Webster-Smith, Angela; Dean, Sheila S.

2012-01-01

Sixth-grade students are challenged in understanding social studies content relevant to particular contexts, then connecting the content and context to their contemporary lives while communicating new knowledge to peers and teachers. Using political cartoons published after September 11, 2001, one sixth-grade social studies teacher designed…

[Analysis of commercial grades of Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus based on schisantherin].

PubMed

Wang, Zhen-Heng; Jin, Ling; Ma, Yi; Cui, Zhi-Jia; Li, Qian; Huang, De-Dong

2017-10-01

Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus, from different producing areas, were collected and divided into three grades. The moisture content and total ash were determined on the basis of the pharmacopoeia method, and schisantherin was determined by UPLC. The study is aimed to find the commercial specifications and grades of Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus based on schisantherin content. The results showed that the content of water, total ash and schisantherin of Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus from different producing areas qualified. There was no significant difference between different grades of schisandrin content, but the second-class were the highest, first-class and third-class were lower. It means that schisandrin content is not positive correlation to commercial grade. The study will be helpful to the production, management and clinical practice of Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus. Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

Extraction of nickel from Ramu laterite by sulphation roasting-water leaching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Weiwei; Du, Shangchao; Liu, Guo; Tang, Jianwen; Lu, Yeda; Lv, Dong

2017-08-01

Recovery of nickel from a PNG nickel laterite with high content of iron by a sulphation roasting-water leaching has been studied. The influences of sulfuric acid/ore ratio, temperature of roasting and water on recovery efficiency were investigated. The effective separation of nickel over the co-existed elements including iron was achieved by the process with mixing, curing, roasting and leaching stages. Near 100% of nickel was leached from the roasted laterite by water at 80°C in an atmospheric air, while co-leaching of about 2% of iron, under the optimal pre-treatment conditions with the ratio of acid: ore around 0.45:1 and the roasting temperature about 650°C. The advantages and disadvantages of sulphation atmospheric leaching are compared with pressure acid leaching with engineering consideration.

Carbonatites of the World, Explored Deposits of Nb and REE - Database and Grade and Tonnage Models

USGS Publications Warehouse

Berger, Vladimir I.; Singer, Donald A.; Orris, Greta J.

2009-01-01

This report is based on published tonnage and grade data on 58 Nb- and rare-earth-element (REE)-bearing carbonatite deposits that are mostly well explored and are partially mined or contain resources of these elements. The deposits represent only a part of the known 527 carbonatites around the world, but they are characterized by reliable quantitative data on ore tonnages and grades of niobium and REE. Grade and tonnage models are an important component of mineral resource assessments. Carbonatites present one of the main natural sources of niobium and rare-earth elements, the economic importance of which grows consistently. A purpose of this report is to update earlier publications. New information about known deposits, as well as data on new deposits published during the last decade, are incorporated in the present paper. The compiled database (appendix 1; linked to right) contains 60 explored Nb- and REE-bearing carbonatite deposits - resources of 55 of these deposits are taken from publications. In the present updated grade-tonnage model we have added 24 deposits comparing with the previous model of Singer (1998). Resources of most deposits are residuum ores in the upper part of carbonatite bodies. Mineral-deposit models are important in exploration planning and quantitative resource assessments for two reasons: (1) grades and tonnages among deposit types vary significantly, and (2) deposits of different types are present in distinct geologic settings that can be identified from geologic maps. Mineral-deposit models combine the diverse geoscience information on geology, mineral occurrences, geophysics, and geochemistry used in resource assessments and mineral exploration. Globally based deposit models allow recognition of important features and demonstrate how common different features are. Well-designed deposit models allow geologists to deduce possible mineral-deposit types in a given geologic environment, and the grade and tonnage models allow economists to estimate the possible economic viability of these resources. Thus, mineral-deposit models play a central role in presenting geoscience information in a useful form to policy makers. The foundation of mineral-deposit models is information about known deposits. This publication presents the latest geologic information and newly developed grade and tonnage models for Nb- and REE-carbonatite deposits in digital form. The publication contains computer files with information on deposits from around the world. It also contains a text file allowing locations of all deposits to be plotted in geographic information system (GIS) programs. The data are presented in FileMaker Pro as well as in .xls and text files to make the information available to a broadly based audience. The value of this information and any derived analyses depends critically on the consistent manner of data gathering. For this reason, we first discuss the rules used in this compilation. Next, the fields of the database are explained. Finally, we provide new grade and tonnage models and analysis of the information in the file.

Science Content Standards for California Public Schools: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bruton, Sheila, Ed.; Ong, Faye, Ed.; Geeting, Greg, Ed.

This document represents the content of science education in California and includes the essential skills and knowledge students will need to be scientifically literate citizens in the 21st century. The standards include grade-level specific content for kindergarten through grade 8. A significant feature is the focus on earth science in the 6th…

Mix Proportion Design of Asphalt Concrete

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Xianhu; Gao, Lingling; Du, Shoujun

2017-12-01

Based on the gradation of AC and SMA, this paper designs a new type of anti slide mixture with two types of advantages. Chapter introduces the material selection, ratio of ore mixture ratio design calculation, and determine the optimal asphalt content test and proportioning design of asphalt concrete mix. This paper introduces the new technology of mix proportion.

Geology, geochemistry, and genesis of the Greens Creek massive sulfide deposit, Admiralty Island, southeastern Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Taylor, Cliff D.; Johnson, Craig A.

2010-01-01

In 1996, a memorandum of understanding was signed by representatives of the U.S. Geological Survey and Kennecott Greens Creek Mining Company to initiate a cooperative applied research project focused on the Greens Creek massive sulfide deposit in southeastern Alaska. The goals of the project were consistent with the mandate of the U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program to maintain a leading role in national mineral deposits research and with the need of Kennecott Greens Creek Mining Company to further development of the Greens Creek deposit and similar deposits in Alaska and elsewhere. The memorandum enumerated four main research priorities: (1) characterization of protoliths for the wall rocks, and elucidation of their alteration histories, (2) determination of the ore mineralogy and paragenesis, including metal residences and metal zonation within the deposit, (3) determination of the ages of events important to ore formation using both geochronology and paleontology, and (4) development of computer models that would allow the deposit and its host rocks to be examined in detail in three dimensions. The work was carried out by numerous scientists of diverse expertise over a period of several years. The written results, which are contained in this Professional Paper, are presented by 21 authors: 13 from the U.S. Geological Survey, 4 from Kennecott Greens Creek Mining Company, 2 from academia, and 2 from consultants. The Greens Creek deposit (global resource of 24.2 million tons at an average grade of 13.9 percent zinc, 5.1 percent lead, 0.15 troy ounce per ton gold, and 19.2 troy ounces per ton silver at zero cutoff) formed in latest Triassic time during a brief period of rifting of the Alexander terrane. The deposit exhibits a range of syngenetic, diagenetic, and epigenetic features that are typical of volcanogenic (VMS), sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX), and Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) genetic models. In the earliest stages of rifting, formation of precious-metal-rich silica-barite-carbonate white ores began at low temperature in a shallow, subaqueous setting, probably a thin carbonate shelf on the flanks of the Alexander landmass. Epigenetic carbonate replacement textures in the footwall dolostones are overlain by stratiform silica-carbonate-barite-rich ores and indicate that early mineralization formed at and just beneath the paleo sea floor by mixing of a reduced, precious-metal-rich, base-metal-poor hydrothermal fluid with oxygenated seawater. As rifting intensified, the shelf was downfaulted and isolated as a graben. Isolation of the basin and onset of starved-basin shale sedimentation was concurrent with emplacement of mafic-ultramafic intrusives at shallow levels in the rift, resulting in an increasingly higher temperature and progressively more anoxic ore-forming environment. The formation of the main stage of massive sulfide ores began as the supply of bacterially reduced sulfur increased in the accumulating shales. As the main-stage mineralization intensified, shale sedimentation inundated the hydrothermal system, eventually forming a cap. Biogenic sulfate reduction supplied reduced sulfur to the base of the shales where mixing occurred with hot, base-metal-rich hydrothermal fluids. Ore deposition continued by destruction and epigenetic replacement of the early white ores in proximal areas and by inflation and diagenetic replacement of unlithified shale at the interface between the white ores and the base of the shale cap. Ore deposition waned as the shales became lithified and as the supply of bacterially reduced sulfur to the site of ore deposition ceased. The final stages of rifting resulted in the emplacement of mafic-ultramafic intrusive rocks into the Greens Creek system and extrusion of voluminous basaltic flows at the top of the Triassic section. Greenschist facies metamorphism during the Jurassic-Cretaceous accretion of the Alexander terrane to the continental margin resulted in recrystalli

Alligator ridge district, East-Central Nevada: Carlin-type gold mineralization at shallow depths

USGS Publications Warehouse

Nutt, C.J.; Hofstra, A.H.

2003-01-01

Carlin-type deposits in the Alligator Ridge mining district are present sporadically for 40 km along the north-striking Mooney Basin fault system but are restricted to a 250-m interval of Devonian to Mississippian strata. Their age is bracketed between silicified ca. 45 Ma sedimentary rocks and unaltered 36.5 to 34 Ma volcanic rocks. The silicification is linked to the deposits by its continuity with ore-grade silicification in Devonian-Mississippian strata and by its similar ??18O values (_e1???17???) and trace element signature (As, Sb, Tl, Hg). Eocene reconstruction indicates that the deposits formed at depths of ???300 to 800 m. In comparison to most Carlin-type gold deposits, they have lower Au/Ag, Au grades, and contained Au, more abundant jasperoid, and textural evidence from deposition of an amorphous silica precursor in jasperoid. These differences most likely result from their shallow depth of formation. The peak fluid temperature (_e1???230??C) and large ??18OH2O value shift from the meteroric water line (_e1???20???) suggest that ore fluids were derived from depths of 8 km or more. A magnetotelluric survey indicates that the Mooney Basin fault system penetrates to mid-crustal depths. Deep circulation of meteoric water along the Mooney Basin fault system may have been in response to initial uplift of the East Humboldt-Ruby Mountains metamorphic core complex; convection also may have been promoted by increased heat flow associated with large magnitude extension in the core complex and regional magmatism. Ore fluids ascended along the fault system until they encountered impermeable Devonian and Mississippian shales, at which point they moved laterally through permeable strata in the Devonian Guilmette Formation, Devonian-Mississippian Pilot Shale, Mississippian Joana Limestone, and Mississippian Chainman Shale toward erosional windows where they ascended into Eocene fluvial conglomerates and lake sediments. Most gold precipitated by sulfidation of host-rock Fe and mixing with local ground water in zones of lateral fluid flow in reactive strata, such as the Lower Devonian-Mississippian Pilot Shale.

Genetic relationship of high-Mg dioritic pluton to iron mineralization: A case study from the Jinling skarn-type iron deposit in the North China Craton

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Ziliang; Zhang, Zhaochong; Hou, Tong; Santosh, M.; Han, Liu

2015-12-01

The Jinling complex is spatially and temporally associated with the Jinling skarn-type iron deposit. The complex is composed of biotite diorite, hornblende diorite, monzonite and quartz diorite. U-Pb dating of zircons from the biotite diorite and monzonite using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) yields ages of 126 ± 1.9 Ma and 128 ± 1.4 Ma, respectively. The unaltered rocks in the complex are characterized by variable contents of SiO2 (54.6-65.3 wt.%), MgO (2.7-9.2 wt.%), total FeO (3.5-8.8 wt.%), Na2O + K2O (5.2-8.9 wt.%), high Mg# values (73-88), Cr (103-452 ppm) and Ni (49-212 ppm) contents. The altered monzonite has lower MgO (2.1-3.7 wt.%), total FeO (1.2-2.6 wt.%) and higher Na2O + K2O (8.5-9.9 wt.%) contents. The initial (87Sr/86Sr)t ranges from 0.70450 to 0.70555 and εNd(t) shows a range of -3.0 to -8.0. The geochemical characteristics suggest that the primary magma witnessed the interaction between the partial melts of relatively oxidized delaminated ancient crust and mantle peridotite. Fractional crystallization and crustal contamination during the magmatic ascent and emplacement are also indicated. The Jinling skarn-type Fe deposit is of hydrothermal origin and the Fe enrichment can be ascribed to multiple factors. The delaminated ancient crustal source contributed to the high oxygen fugacity of the primary magma. Two-stage Fe-enrichment process involving fractional crystallization of the primary magma giving rise to high Cl and Fe contents in the magmatic hydrothermal fluid and later Fe-leaching process, accounts for the high-grade ore bodies.

Application and research of block caving in Pulang copper mine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ge, Qifa; Fan, Wenlu; Zhu, Weigen; Chen, Xiaowei

2018-01-01

The application of block caving in mines shows significant advantages in large scale, low cost and high efficiency, thus block caving is worth promoting in the mines that meets the requirement of natural caving. Due to large scale of production and low ore grade in Pulang copper mine in China, comprehensive analysis and research were conducted on rock mechanics, mining sequence, undercutting and stability of bottom structure in terms of raising mine benefit and maximizing the recovery mineral resources. Finally this study summarizes that block caving is completely suitable for Pulang copper mine.

Extremophiles in Mineral Sulphide Heaps: Some Bacterial Responses to Variable Temperature, Acidity and Solution Composition

PubMed Central

Watling, Helen R.; Shiers, Denis W.; Collinson, David M.

2015-01-01

In heap bioleaching, acidophilic extremophiles contribute to enhanced metal extraction from mineral sulphides through the oxidation of Fe(II) and/or reduced inorganic sulphur compounds (RISC), such as elemental sulphur or mineral sulphides, or the degradation of organic compounds derived from the ore, biota or reagents used during mineral processing. The impacts of variable solution acidity and composition, as well as temperature on the three microbiological functions have been examined for up to four bacterial species found in mineral sulphide heaps. The results indicate that bacteria adapt to sufficiently high metal concentrations (Cu, Ni, Co, Zn, As) to allow them to function in mineral sulphide heaps and, by engaging alternative metabolic pathways, to extend the solution pH range over which growth is sustained. Fluctuating temperatures during start up in sulphide heaps pose the greatest threat to efficient bacterial colonisation. The large masses of ores in bioleaching heaps mean that high temperatures arising from sulphide oxidation are hard to control initially, when the sulphide content of the ore is greatest. During that period, mesophilic and moderately thermophilic bacteria are markedly reduced in both numbers and activity. PMID:27682094

Ore genesis constraints on the Idaho Cobalt Belt from fluid inclusion gas, noble gas isotope, and ion ratio analyses

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hofstra, Albert H.; Landis, Gary P.

2012-01-01

The Idaho cobalt belt is a 60-km-long alignment of deposits composed of cobaltite, Co pyrite, chalcopyrite, and gold with anomalous Nb, Y, Be, and rare-earth elements (REEs) in a quartz-biotite-tourmaline gangue hosted in Mesoproterozoic metasedimentary rocks of the Lemhi Group. It is the largest cobalt resource in the United States with historic production from the Blackbird Mine. All of the deposits were deformed and metamorphosed to upper greenschist-lower amphibolite grade in the Cretaceous. They occur near a 1377 Ma anorogenic bimodal plutonic complex. The enhanced solubility of Fe, Co, Cu, and Au as chloride complexes together with gangue biotite rich in Fe and Cl and gangue quartz containing hypersaline inclusions allows that hot saline fluids were involved. The isotopes of B in gangue tourmaline are suggestive of a marine source, whereas those of Pb in ore suggest a U ± Th-enriched source. The ore and gangue minerals in this belt may have trapped components in fluid inclusions that are distinct from those in post-ore minerals and metamorphic minerals. Such components can potentially be identified and distinguished by their relative abundances in contrasting samples. Therefore, we obtained samples of Co and Cu sulfides, gangue quartz, biotite, and tourmaline and post-ore quartz veins as well as Cretaceous metamorphic garnet and determined the gas, noble gas isotope, and ion ratios of fluid inclusion extracts by mass spectrometry and ion chromatography. The most abundant gases present in extracts from each sample type are biased toward the gas-rich population of inclusions trapped during maximum burial and metamorphism. All have CO2/CH4 and N2/Ar ratios of evolved crustal fluids, and many yield a range of H2-CH4-CO2-H2S equilibration temperatures consistent with the metamorphic grade. Cretaceous garnet and post-ore minerals have high RH and RS values suggestive of reduced sulfidic conditions. Most extracts have anomalous 4He produced by decay of U and Th and 38Ar produced by nucleogenic production from 41K. In contrast, some ore and gangue minerals yield significant SO2 and have low RH and RS values of a more oxidized fluid. Three extracts from gangue quartz have high helium R/RA values indicative of a mantle source and neon isotope compositions that require nucleogenic production of 22Ne in fluorite from U ± Th decay. Two extracts from gangue quartz have estimated 40K/40Ar that permit a Precambrian age. Extracts from gangue quartz in three different ore zones are biased toward the hypersaline population of inclusions and have a tight range of ion ratios (Na, K, NH4, Cl, Br, F) suggestive of a single fluid. Their Na, Cl, Br ratios suggest this fluid was a mixture of magmatic and basinal brine. Na-K-Ca temperatures (279°-347°C) are similar to homogenization temperatures of hypersaline inclusions. The high K/Na of the brine may be due to albitization of K silicate minerals in country rocks. Influx of K-rich brines is consistent with the K metasomatism necessary to form gangue biotite with high Cl. An extract from a post-ore quartz vein is distinct and has Na, Cl, Br ratios that resemble metamorphic fluids in Cretaceous silver veins of the Coeur d'Alene district in the Belt Basin. The results show that in some samples, for certain components, it is possible to "see through" the Cretaceous metamorphic overprint. Of great import for genetic models, the volatiles trapped in gangue quartz have 3He derived from a mantle source and 22Ne derived from fluorite, both of which may be attributed to nearby ~1377 Ma basalt-rhyolite magmatism. The brine trapped in gangue quartz is a mixture of magmatic fluid and evaporated seawater. The former requires a granitic intrusion that is present in the bimodal intrusive complex, and the latter equatorial paleolatitudes that existed in the Mesoproterozoic. The results permit genetic models involving heat and fluids from the neighboring bimodal plutonic complex and convection of basinal brine in the Lemhi Group. While the inferred fluid sources in the Idaho cobalt belt are similar in many respects to those in iron oxide copper-gold deposits, the fluids were more reduced such that iron was fixed in biotite and tourmaline instead of iron oxides.

Manganese

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cannon, William F.; Kimball, Bryn E.; Corathers, Lisa A.; Schulz, Klaus J.; DeYoung,, John H.; Seal, Robert R.; Bradley, Dwight C.

2017-12-19

Manganese is an essential element for modern industrial societies. Its principal use is in steelmaking, where it serves as a purifying agent in iron-ore refining and as an alloy that converts iron into steel. Although the amount of manganese consumed to make a ton of steel is small, ranging from 6 to 9 kilograms, it is an irreplaceable component in the production of this fundamental material. The United States has been totally reliant on imports of manganese for many decades and will continue to be so for at least the near future. There are no domestic reserves, and although some large low-grade resources are known, they are far inferior to manganese ores readily available on the international market. World reserves of manganese are about 630 million metric tons, and annual global consumption is about 16 million metric tons. Current reserves are adequate to meet global demand for several decades. Global resources in traditional land-based deposits, including both reserves and rocks sufficiently enriched in manganese to be ores in the future, are much larger, at about 17 billion metric tons. Manganese resources in seabed deposits of ferromanganese nodules and crusts are larger than those on land and have not been fully quantified. No production from seabed deposits has yet been done, but current research and development activities are substantial and may bring parts of these seabed resources into production in the future. The advent of economically successful seabed mining could substantially alter the current scenario of manganese supply by providing a large new source of manganese in addition to traditional land-based deposits.From a purely geologic perspective, there is no global shortage of proven ores and potential new ores that could be developed from the vast tonnage of identified resources. Reserves and resources are very unevenly distributed, however. The Kalahari manganese district in South Africa contains 70 percent of the world’s identified resources and about 25 percent of its reserves. South Africa, Brazil, and Ukraine together accounted for nearly 65 percent of reserves in 2013. The combination of total import reliance for manganese, the mineral commodity’s essential uses in our industrialized society, and the potential for supply disruptions because of the limited sources of the ore makes manganese among the most critical minerals for the United States.Manganese is the 12th most abundant element in Earth’s crust. Its concentration varies among common types of rocks, mostly in the range of from 0.1 to 0.2 percent. The highest quality manganese ores contain from 40 to 45 percent manganese. The formation of these ores requires specialized geologic conditions that concentrate manganese at several hundred times its average crustal abundance. The dominant processes in forming the world’s principal deposits take place in the oceans. As a result, most important manganese deposits occur in ancient marine sedimentary rocks that are now exposed on continents as a result of subsequent tectonic uplift and erosion. In many cases, other processes have further enriched these manganiferous sedimentary rocks to form some of today’s highest grade ores. Modern seabed resources of ferromanganese nodules cover vast areas of the present ocean floor and are still forming by complex interactions of marine microorganisms, manganese dissolved in seawater, and chemical processes on the seabed.Manganese is ubiquitous in soil, water, and air. It occurs most often in solid form but can become soluble under acidic conditions. Manganese mining, like any activity that disturbs large areas of Earth’s surface, has the potential to produce increases in manganese concentrations that could be harmful to humans or the environment if not properly controlled. Although manganese is an essential nutrient for humans and most other organisms, overexposure can lead to neurotoxicity in humans. Workers at manganese mining and processing facilities have the greatest potential to inhale manganese-rich dust. Without proper protective equipment, these workers may develop a permanent neurological disorder known as manganism. Each manganese mine is unique and presents its own suite of potential hazards and preventative measures. Likewise, various nations have their own sets of standards to ensure safe mining, isolation of mine waste, treatment of mine waters, and mine closure and restoration. Interest in mining trace metals contained in ferromanganese nodules and crusts on the seabed has increased rapidly in the past decade. Prime areas for future research include overcoming the technological challenges presented by mining as deep as 6,500 meters below sea level and understanding and mitigating the potential impacts of seabed mining on marine ecosystems.

Copper Deposits in Sedimentary and Volcanogenic Rocks

USGS Publications Warehouse

Tourtelot, Elizabeth B.; Vine, James David

1976-01-01

Copper deposits occur in sedimentary and volcanogenic rocks within a wide variety of geologic environments where there may be little or no evidence of hydrothermal alteration. Some deposits may be hypogene and have a deep-seated source for the ore fluids, but because of rapid cooling and dilution during syngenetic deposition on the ocean floor, the resulting deposits are not associated with hydrothermal alteration. Many of these deposits are formed at or near major tectonic features on the Earth's crust, including plate boundaries, rift valleys, and island arcs. The resulting ore bodies may be stratabound and either massive or disseminated. Other deposits form in rocks deposited in shallow-marine, deltaic, and nonmarine environments by the movement and reaction of interstratal brines whose metal content is derived from buried sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Some of the world's largest copper deposits were probably formed in this manner. This process we regard as diagenetic, but some would regard it as syngenetic, if the ore metals are derived from disseminated metal in the host-rock sequence, and others would regard the process as epigenetic, if there is demonstrable evidence of ore cutting across bedding. Because the oxidation associated with diagenetic red beds releases copper to ground-water solutions, red rocks and copper deposits are commonly associated. However, the ultimate size, shape, and mineral zoning of a deposit result from local conditions at the site of deposition - a logjam in fluvial channel sandstone may result in an irregular tabular body of limited size; a petroleum-water interface in an oil pool may result in a copper deposit limited by the size and shape of the petroleum reservoir; a persistent thin bed of black shale may result in a copper deposit the size and shape of that single bed. The process of supergene enrichment has been largely overlooked in descriptions of copper deposits in sedimentary rocks. However, supergene processes may be involved during erosion of any primary ore body and its ultimate displacement and redeposition as a secondary deposit. Bleached sandstone at the surface may indicate significant ore deposits near the water table.

Sediment-hosted micro-disseminated gold mineralization constrained by basin paleo-topographic highs in the Youjiang basin, South China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Jianming; Ye, Jie; Ying, Hanlong; Liu, Jiajun; Zheng, Minghua; Gu, Xuexiang

2002-06-01

The Youjiang basin is a Devonian-Triassic rift basin on the southern margin of the Yangtze Craton in South China. Strong syndepositional faulting defined the basin-and-range style paleo-topography that further developed into isolated carbonate platforms surrounded by siliciclastic filled depressions. Finally, thick Triassic siliciclastic deposits covered the platforms completely. In the Youjiang basin, numerous sediment-hosted, micro-disseminated gold (SMG) deposits occur mainly in Permian-Triassic chert and siliciclastic rocks. SMG ores are often auriferous sedimentary rocks with relatively low sulfide contents and moderate to weak alteration. Similar to Carlin-type gold ores in North America, SMG ores in the Youjiang basin are characterized by low-temperature mineral assemblages of pyrite, arsenopyrite, realgar, stibnite, cinnabar, marcasite, chalcedony and carbonate. Most of the SMG deposits are remarkably distributed around the carbonate platforms. Accordingly, there are platform-proximal and platform-distal SMG deposits. Platform-proximal SMG deposits often occur in the facies transition zone between the underlying platform carbonate rocks and the overlying siliciclastic rocks with an unconformity (often a paleo-karst surface) in between. In the ores and hostrocks there are abundant synsedimentary-syndiagenetic fabrics such as lamination, convolute bedding, slump texture, soft-sediment deformation etc. indicating submarine hydrothermal deposition and syndepositional faulting. Numerous fluid-escape and liquefaction fabrics imply strong fluid migration during sediment basin evolution. Such large-scale geological and fabric evidence implies that SMG ores were formed during basin evolution, probably in connection with basinal fluids. It is well known that basinal fluids (especially sediment-sourced fluids) will migrate generally (1) upwards, (2) towards basin margins or basin topographic highs, (3) and from thicker towards thinner deposits during basin evolution. The isolated carbonate platform (as a basin paleo-high) and related syndepositional fault system, together with the unconformity-related facies succession, may have controlled the migration pathway of ore-forming basinal fluids and subsequently determined the location of SMG deposits in the Youjiang basin. Unlike Carlin-type gold deposits, SMG mineralization in the Youjiang basin may represent an integral aspect of the dynamic evolution of extensional basins along divergent continental margins.

Chemical Equilibrium of the Dissolved Uranium in Groundwaters From a Spanish Uranium-Ore Deposit

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Garralon, Antonio; Gomez, Paloma; Turrero, Maria Jesus

2007-07-01

The main objectives of this work are to determine the hydrogeochemical evolution of an uranium ore and identify the main water/rock interaction processes that control the dissolved uranium content. The Mina Fe uranium-ore deposit is the most important and biggest mine worked in Spain. Sageras area is located at the north part of the Mina Fe, over the same ore deposit. The uranium deposit was not mined in Sageras and was only perturbed by the exploration activities performed 20 years ago. The studied area is located 10 Km northeast of Ciudad Rodrigo (Salamanca) at an altitude over 650 m.a.s.l. Themore » uranium mineralization is related to faults affecting the metasediments of the Upper Proterozoic to Lower Cambrian schist-graywacke complex (CEG), located in the Centro-Iberian Zone of the Hesperian Massif . The primary uranium minerals are uraninite and coffinite but numerous secondary uranium minerals have been formed as a result of the weathering processes: yellow gummite, autunite, meta-autunite, torbernite, saleeite, uranotile, ianthinite and uranopilite. The water flow at regional scale is controlled by the topography. Recharge takes place mainly in the surrounding mountains (Sierra Pena de Francia) and discharge at fluvial courses, mainly Agueda and Yeltes rivers, boundaries S-NW and NE of the area, respectively. Deep flows (lower than 100 m depth) should be upwards due to the river vicinity, with flow directions towards the W, NW or N. In Sageras-Mina Fe there are more than 100 boreholes drilled to investigate the mineral resources of the deposit. 35 boreholes were selected in order to analyze the chemical composition of groundwaters based on their depth and situation around the uranium ore. Groundwater samples come from 50 to 150 m depth. The waters are classified as calcium-bicarbonate type waters, with a redox potential that indicates they are slightly reduced (values vary between 50 to -350 mV). The TOC varies between <0.1 and 4.0 mgC/L and the dissolved uranium has a maximum value of 7.7 mg/L. According the analytical data of dissolved uranium, the mineral closest to equilibrium seems to be UO{sub 2}(am). The tritium contents in the groundwaters vary between 1.5 and 7.3 T.U. Considering that the mean value of tritium in rainwater from the studied area has a value of 4 T.U., it can be concluded that the residence times of the groundwaters are relatively short, not longer than 50 years in the oldest case. (authors)« less

Ore genesis of the Wusihe carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb deposit in the Dadu River Valley district, Yangtze Block, SW China: evidence from ore geology, S-Pb isotopes, and sphalerite Rb-Sr dating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiong, Suo-Fei; Gong, Yong-Jun; Jiang, Shao-Yong; Zhang, Xiao-Jing; Li, Qian; Zeng, Guo-Ping

2018-01-01

The Wusihe carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb deposit (3.7 Mt. Zn + Pb at a grade of 8.6% Zn and 2.0% Pb) is the largest deposit in the Dadu River Valley district of the Sichuan-Yunnan-Guizhou metallogenic province of southwest China. Three types of orebodies occur: (1) stratiform, banded and lamellar, within dolomite of the Neoproterozoic Dengying Formation; (2) vein type; and (3) breccia type. Four stages of mineralization are distinguished: (i) pyrite stage, (ii) pyrite-pyrrhotite-galena-sphalerite-bitumen stage, (iii) sphalerite-galena stage, and (iv) bitumen-calcite stage. Sphalerite and galena from stages II and III show δ34S ranges from +7.1 to +9.7‰ and +9.1 to +13.1‰, respectively. High-precision in situ lead isotope analyses of sulfides show 208Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, and 206Pb/204Pb ratios of 37.938 to 38.336, 15.579 to 15.682, and 17.951 to 18.195, respectively, which suggest a mixing of lead from the basement and the host rocks. Rb-Sr isotope analyses for six sphalerite samples of stage II yielded an isochron age of 411 ± 10 Ma (MSWD = 1.4). Combining all available ore geology and geochemical data, together with fluid inclusion data reported previously, we suggest that the Wusihe deposit is a Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) deposit.

Thermal analysis of calcium sulfate dihydrate sources used to manufacture gypsum wallboard

DOE PAGES

Engbrecht, Dick C.; Hirschfeld, Deidre A.

2016-07-27

Gypsum wallboard has been used for over 100 years as a barrier to the spread of fire in residential and commercial structures. The gypsum molecule, CaSO 4·2H 2O, provides two crystalline waters that are released upon heating providing an endothermic effect. Manufacturers have recognized that the source of the gypsum ore is a factor that affects all aspects of its performance; thus, it is hypothesized that the impurities present in the gypsum ore are the causes of the performance differences. Differential Thermal Analysis/Thermogravimetric Analysis (DTA/TGA) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) were used in this paper to compare and characterize samples ofmore » gypsum ore representing sources of natural, synthetic from a Flue Gas Desulfurization process (FGD) and blends thereof. The hemihydrate phase of representative natural, FGD, and reagent grade calcium sulfate were rehydrated with distilled water and evaluated by DTA/TGA. Analysis of the data shows distinct areas of similarity separated by the conversion to anhydrite ~250 °C. Compositional reconstructions based on DTA/TGA and XRD data were compared and although, the results were comparable, the DTA/TGA suggests thermally active compounds that were not detected by XRD. Anhydrite, silica and halite were reported by XRD but were not thermally reactive in the temperature range evaluated by DTA/TGA (ambient to 1050 °C). Finally, the presence of carbonate compounds (e.g., calcite and dolomite) were indicated by XRD and estimated from the thermal decomposition reaction ~700 °C.« less

Assessment of environmental mercury discharge at a four-year-old artisanal gold mining area on Lombok Island, Indonesia.

PubMed

Krisnayanti, Baiq Dewi; Anderson, Christopher W N; Utomo, Wani Hadi; Feng, Xinbin; Handayanto, Eko; Mudarisna, Nurul; Ikram, Hadiman; Khususiah

2012-10-26

Indonesian artisanal and small-scale gold mining activities (ASGM) have been described for the islands of Borneo (Kalimantan) and Sulawesi. But the increased gold price over recent years has seen operations extend to the islands of Lombok and Sumbawa. For the current research, an environmental assessment was conducted across three new ASGM locations. Gold is recovered by miners through a two-stage process of whole-ore amalgamation and cyanidation. Waste (tailings) is discharged to land or sea with no concern for contaminants in the tailings. The gold grade of ore is up to 5000 mg kg(-1). The mean gold grade of the amalgamation tailings is 7 mg kg(-1), dropping to 1.2 mg kg(-1) for the cyanidation tailings. The mean mercury concentration of the amalgamation tailings is about 3000 mg kg(-1) and greater than 1600 mg kg(-1) for the cyanidation tailings. Samples of paddy rice grain collected adjacent to cyanidation tailings ponds showed methyl mercury concentrations greater than 100 ng g(-1). This is five times above the Chinese permissible level for total mercury in food crops. The mean total mercury concentration in hair of Lombok ASGM workers was greater than that in a non-exposed population; however there was no difference in methyl mercury concentration. This indicates the primary pathway of mercury exposure is inhalation of volatile mercury in the atmosphere. Future exposure may come from ingestion of methyl mercury contaminated rice where discharge of cyanide tailings to paddies continues. To protect the environment and to enhance the sustainability of ASGM, appropriate tailings management must be implemented. The gold grade of the tailings indicates that the residual value might be recoverable with appropriate technology. Ongoing research is investigating systems such as phytoextraction that might assist ASGM operators in Lombok and Sumbawa to improve their environmental performance.

Noble gas data from Goldfield and Tonopah epithermal Au-Ag deposits, ancestral Cascades Arc, USA: Evidence for a primitive mantle volatile source

USGS Publications Warehouse

Manning, Andrew H.; Hofstra, Albert H.

2017-01-01

The He, Ne, and Ar isotopic composition of fluid inclusions in ore and gangue minerals were analyzed to determine the source of volatiles in the high-grade Goldfield and Tonopah epithermal Au-Ag deposits in southwestern Nevada, USA. Ar and Ne are mainly atmospheric, whereas He has only a minor atmospheric component. Corrected 3He/4He ratios (with atmospheric He removed) range widely from 0.05 to 35.8 times the air 3He/4He ratio (RA), with a median of 1.43 RA. Forty-one percent of measured 3He/4He ratios are ≥4 RA, corresponding to ≥50% mantle He assuming a mantle ratio of 8 RA. These results suggest that mafic magmas were part of the magmatic-hydrothermal system underlying Goldfield and Tonopah, and that associated mantle-sourced volatiles may have played a role in ore formation. The three highest corrected 3He/4He ratios of 17.0, 23.7, and 35.8 RAindicate a primitive mantle He source and are the highest yet reported for any epithermal-porphyry system and for the Cascades arc region. Compiled 3He/4He measurements from epithermal-porphyry systems in subduction-related magmatic arcs around the world (n = 209) display a statistically significant correlation between 3He/4He and Au-Ag grade. The correlation suggests that conditions which promote higher fluid inclusion 3He/4He ratios (abundance of mantle volatiles and focused upward volatile transport) have some relation to conditions that promote higher Au-Ag grades (focused flow of metal-bearing fluids and efficient chemical traps). Results of this and previous investigations of He isotopes in epithermal-porphyry systems are consistent with the hypothesis posed in recent studies that mafic magmas serve an important function in the formation of these deposits.

U-Pb isotope systematics and age of uranium mineralization, Midnite mine, Washington.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ludwig, K. R.; Nash, J.T.; Naeser, C.W.

1981-01-01

Uranium ores at the Midnite mine, near Spokane, Washington, occur in phyllites and calcsilicates of the Proterozoic Togo Formation, near the margins of an anomalously uraniferous, porphyritic quartz monzonite of Late Cretaceous age. The present geometry of the ore zones is tabular, with the thickest zones above depressions in the pluton-country rock contact. Analyses of high-grade ores from the mine define a 207 Pb/ 204 Pb- 235 U/ 204 Pb isochron indicating an age of mineralization of 51.0 + or - 0.5 m.y. This age coincides with a time of regional volcanic activity (Sanpoil Volcanics), shallow intrusive activity, erosion, and faulting. U-Th-Pb isotopic ages of zircons from the porphyritic quartz monzonite in the mine indicate an age of about 75 m.y., hence the present orebodies were formed about 24 m.y. after its intrusion. The 51-m.y. time of mineralization probably represents a period of mobilization and redeposition of uranium by supergene ground waters, perhaps aided by mild heating and ground preparation and preserved by a capping of newly accumulated, impermeable volcanic rocks. It seems most likely that the initial concentration of uranium occurred about 75 m.y. ago, probably from relatively mild hydrothermal fluids in the contact-metamorphic aureole of the U-rich porphyritic quartz monzonite.Pitchblende, coffinitc, pyrite, marcasite, and hisingerite are the most common minerals in the uranium-bearing veinlets, with minor sphalerite and chalcopyrite. Coffinitc with associated marcasite is paragenetically later than pitchblende, though textural and isotopic evidence suggests no large difference in the times of pitchblende and colfinite formation.The U-Pb isotope systematics of total ores and of pitchblende-coffinite and pyrite-marcasite separates show that whereas open system behavior for U and Pb is essentially negligible for large (200-500 g) ore samples, Pb migration has occurred on a scale of 1 to 10 mm (out of pitchblende and coffinite and into pyrite and marcasite). Also, long-term continuous leakage of radioactive daughters of 238 U (probably 222 Rn) has occurred on scales of from approximately 100 mu m approximately 10 cm. The isotopic composition of unsupported radiogenic Pb in pyrite-marcasite seems to depend on the mineralogical microenvironment of the grains, so that the radiogenic Pb in pyrite-marcasite intimately intermixed with pitchblende-coffinite tends to be deficient in 206 Pb, and the radiogenic Pb in pyrite-marcasite in gangue tends to have excess 206 Pb. These systematics probably reflect differences between the average distances of Pb and 222 Rn diffusion since the formation of the ores.

REORGANIZED SCIENCE CURRICULUM, 8, GRADE EIGHT SUPPLEMENT.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Minneapolis Special School District 1, Minn.

THE FOURTEENTH IN A SERIES OF 17 VOLUMES, THIS VOLUME PROVIDES THE EIGHTH GRADE TEACHER WITH A GUIDE TO THE REORGANIZED SCIENCE CURRICULUM OF THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE MATERIALS ARE AUGMENTED AND REVISED AS THE NEED ARISES. A CHART INDICATES CONCEPT BRIEF SUMMARY OF SUBJECT MATTER CONTENT FOR GRADE 8, AND A CHART OF THE GRADE CONTENT FOR…

Social Studies and Grade Level Content Expectations in Michigan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DeChano-Cook, Lisa M.

2012-01-01

In 2007 the Michigan Department of Education (MDOE) unveiled Social Studies Grade Level Content Expectations (GLCEs) that went into implementation during the 2008-2009 academic year. The purpose of this research was to examine social studies teaching in grades K-8 and what effects, if any, the GLCEs had on the curriculum in these grades.…

CHESS upgrade 1995: Improved radiation shielding (abstract)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Finkelstein, K. D.

1996-09-01

The Cornell Electron Storage Ring (CESR) stores electrons and positrons at 5.3 GeV for the production and study of B mesons, and, in addition, it supplies synchrotron radiation for CHESS. The machine has been upgraded for 300 mA operation. It is planned that each beam will be injected in about 5 minutes and that particle beam lifetimes will be several hours. In a cooperative effort, staff members at CHESS and LNS have studied sources in CESR that produce radiation in the user areas. The group has been responsible for the development and realization of new tunnel shielding walls that provide a level of radiation protection from 20 to ≳100 times what was previously available. Our experience has indicated that a major contribution to the environmental radiation is not from photons, but results from neutrons that are generated by particle beam loss in the ring. Neutrons are stopped by inelastic scattering and absorption in thick materials such as heavy concrete. The design for the upgraded walls, the development of a mix for our heavy concrete, and all the concrete casting was done by CHESS and LNS personnel. The concrete incorporates a new material for this application, one that has yielded a significant cost saving in the production of over 200 tons of new wall sections. The material is an artificially enriched iron oxide pellet manufactured in vast quantities from hematite ore for the steel-making industry. Its material and chemical properties (iron and impurity content, strength, size and uniformity) make it an excellent substitute for high grade Brazilian ore, which is commonly used as heavy aggregate in radiation shielding. Its cost is about a third that of the natural ore. The concrete has excellent workability, a 28 day compressive strength exceeding 6000 psi and a density of 220 lbs/cu.ft (3.5 gr/cc). The density is limited by an interesting property of the pellets that is motivated by efficiency in the steel-making application. The pellets are made to be porous, with about 28% of the volume consisting of connected pores of size typically from 1-10 microns. The porosity may have some useful implications for neutron radiation shielding including the possibility of holding a lot more water than a conventional mix, and the opportunity to impregnate the pellets with a good neutron absorber such as boron. This paper will discuss these developments and report the latest results on the effectiveness of the upgraded shielding at Cornell.

Application of Research on the Metallogenic Background in the Assessment of Mineral Resources Potentiality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jia, D.; Feng, Y.; Liu, J.; Yao, X.; Zhang, Z.; Ye, T.

2017-12-01

1. Working BackgroundCurrent Status of Geological Prospecting: Detecting boundaries and bottoms, making ore search nearby; Seeing the stars, not seeing the Moon; Deep prospecting, undesirable results. The reasons of these problems are the regional metallogenic backgroud unclear and the metallogenic backgroud of the exploration regions unknown. Accordingly, Development and Research Center, CGS organized a geological setting research, in detail investigate metallogenic geological features and acquire mineralization information. 2. Technical SchemeCore research content is prediction elements of Metallogenic Structure. Adopt unified technical requirements from top to bottom, and technical route from bottom to top; Divide elements of mineral forecast and characteristics of geological structure into five elements for research and expression; Make full use of geophysical, geochemical and remote sensing inferences for the interpretation of macro information. After eight years the great project was completed. 3. Main AchievementsInnovation of basic maps compilation content of geological background, reinforce of geological structure data base of potentiality valuation. Preparation of geotectonic facies maps in different scales and professions, providing brand-new geologic background for potentiality assessment, promoting Chinese geotectonic research to the new height. Preparation of 3,375 geological structure thematic base maps of detecting working area in 6 kinds of prediction methods, providing base working maps, rock assemblage, structure of the protolith of geologic body / mineralization / ore controlling for mineral prediction of 25 ores. Enrichment and development of geotectonic facies analysis method, establishment of metallogenic background research thoughts and approach system for assessment of national mineral resources potentiality for the first time. 4. Application EffectOrientation——More and better results with less effort. Positioning——Have a definite object in view. Heart calm down——Confidence.

Thallium dispersal and contamination in surface sediments from South China and its source identification.

PubMed

Liu, Juan; Wang, Jin; Chen, Yongheng; Shen, Chuan-Chou; Jiang, Xiuyang; Xie, Xiaofan; Chen, Diyun; Lippold, Holger; Wang, Chunlin

2016-06-01

Thallium (Tl) is a non-essential element in humans and it is considered to be highly toxic. In this study, the contents, sources, and dispersal of Tl were investigated in surface sediments from a riverine system (the western Pearl River Basin, China), whose catchment has been contaminated by mining and roasting of Tl-bearing pyrite ores. The isotopic composition of Pb and total contents of Tl and other relevant metals (Pb, Zn, Cd, Co, and Ni) were measured in the pyrite ores, mining and roasting wastes, and the river sediments. Widespread contamination of Tl was observed in the sediments across the river, with the highest concentration of Tl (17.3 mg/kg) measured 4 km downstream from the pyrite industrial site. Application of a modified Institute for Reference Materials and Measurement (IRMM) sequential extraction scheme in representative sediments unveiled that 60-90% of Tl and Pb were present in the residual fraction of the sediments. The sediments contained generally lower (206)Pb/(207)Pb and higher (208)Pb/(206)Pb ratios compared with the natural Pb isotope signature (1.2008 and 2.0766 for (206)Pb/(207)Pb and (208)Pb/(206)Pb, respectively). These results suggested that a significant fraction of non-indigenous Pb could be attributed to the mining and roasting activities of pyrite ores, with low (206)Pb/(207)Pb (1.1539) and high (208)Pb/(206)Pb (2.1263). Results also showed that approximately 6-88% of Tl contamination in the sediments originated from the pyrite mining and roasting activities. This study highlights that Pb isotopic compositions could be used for quantitatively fingerprinting the sources of Tl contamination in sediments. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Komatiites and nickel sulfide ores of the Black Swan area, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. 4. Platinum group element distribution in the ores, and genetic implications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barnes, Stephen J.

2004-11-01

The Black Swan komatiite sequence, in the Eastern Goldfields province of the Archaean Yilgarn Craton in Western Australia, is a body of dominantly olivine-rich cumulates with lesser volumes of spinifex textured rocks, interpreted as a section through an extensive komatiite lava flow field. The sequence hosts a number of nickel sulfide orebodies, including the Silver Swan massive shoot and the Cygnet and Black Swan disseminated orebodies. The massive sulfide orebodies of the Black Swan Succession are pervasively depleted in all platinum group elements (PGEs), particularly Pt and Pd, despite very high Ni contents. This depletion cannot be explained by R-factor variations, which would also require relatively low Ni tenors. The PGE depletion could be explained in part if the ores are enriched in a monosulfide solid solution (MSS) cumulate component, but requires some additional fractional segregation of sulfide melt upstream from the site of deposition. The Silver Swan orebody shows a remarkably consistent vertical zonation in PGE contents, particularly in Ir, Ru, Rh, Os, which increase systematically from very low levels at the stratigraphic base of the sulfide body to maxima corresponding roughly with the top of a lower layer of the orebody rich in silicate inclusions. Platinum shows the opposite trend, but is somewhat modified by remobilisation during talc carbonate alteration. A similar pattern is also observed in the adjacent White Swan orebody. This zonation is interpreted and modelled as the result of fractional crystallisation of MSS from the molten sulfide pool. The strong IPGE depletion towards the base of the orebody may be a consequence of sulfide liquid crystallisation in an inverted thermal gradient, between a thin rapidly cooling upper rind of komatiite lava and a hot substrate.

Microbial leaching of chromite overburden from Sukinda mines, Orissa, India using Aspergillus niger

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Biswas, Supratim; Samanta, Saikat; Dey, Rajib; Mukherjee, Siddhartha; Banerjee, Pataki C.

2013-08-01

Leaching of nickel and cobalt from two physical grades (S1, 125-190 μm, coarser and S3, 53-75 μm, finer) of chromite overburden was achieved by treating the overburden (2% pulp density) with 21-d culture filtrate of an Aspergillus niger strain grown in sucrose medium. Metal dissolution increases with ore roasting at 600°C and decreasing particle size due to the alteration of microstructural properties involving the conversion of goethite to hematite and the increase in surface area and porosity as evident from X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (DT-TGA), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). About 65% Ni and 59% Co were recovered from the roasted S3 ore employing bioleaching against 26.87% Ni and 31.3% Co using an equivalent amount of synthetic oxalic acid under identical conditions. The results suggest that other fungal metabolites in the culture filtrate played a positive role in the bioleaching process, making it an efficient green approach in Ni and Co recovery from lateritic chromite overburden.

Petrogenesis of ore-bearing porphyry in non-subduction setting: a case study of the Eocene potassic intrusions in the western Yangtze Block

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Zheng; Liao, Shi-Yong; Zhou, Qing; Zhang, Xin

2018-05-01

In the western Yangtze Block, abundant Eocene ( 38-34 Ma) potassic adakite-like intrusions and associated porphyry copper deposits are exposed in non-subduction setting, including Machangjing, Beiya, Binchuan, Habo and Tongchang intrusions. All these ore-bearing porphyries share many geochemical characteristics of adakite such as depletion in heavy rare earth elements (HREEs), enrichment in Sr and Ba, absence of negative Eu anomalies, high SiO2, Al2O3, Sr/Y, La/Yb and low Y, Yb contents. They also exhibit affinities of potassic rocks, e.g., alkali-rich, high K2O/Na2O ratios and enrichment in light rare earth elements (LREEs) and large ion lithophile elements (LILEs). Their Sr-Nd isotopic ratios are similar to coeval shoshonitic lamprophyres. Geochemical data indicate that they were probably produced by partial melting of newly underplated potassic rocks sourced from a modified and enriched lithospheric mantle. These underplated rocks have elevated oxygen fugacity, water and copper contents, with high metallogenic potential. We propose that all the studied potassic rocks were emplaced in a post-collisional setting, associated with the local removal of lithospheric mantle.

A pilot study of the effects of interview content, retention interval, and grade on accuracy of dietary information from children

PubMed Central

Baxter, Suzanne Domel; Hitchcock, David B; Guinn, Caroline H; Royer, Julie A; Wilson, Dawn K; Pate, Russell R; McIver, Kerry L; Dowda, Marsha

2013-01-01

Objective Investigate differences in dietary recall accuracy by interview content (diet-only; diet-and-physical-activity), retention interval (same-day; previous-day), and grade (3rd; 5th). Methods Thirty-two children observed eating school-provided meals and interviewed once each; interview content and retention interval randomly assigned. Multivariate analysis of variance on rates for omissions (foods observed but unreported) and intrusions (foods reported but unobserved); independent variables—interview content, retention interval, grade. Results Accuracy differed by retention interval (P = .05; better for same-day [omission rate, intrusion rate: 28%, 20%] than previous-day [54%, 45%]) but not interview content (P > .48; diet-only: 41%, 33%; diet-and-physical-activity: 41%, 33%) or grade (P > .27; 3rd: 48%, 42%; 5th: 34%, 24%). Conclusions and Implications Although the small sample limits firm conclusions, results provide evidence-based direction to enhance accuracy; specifically, to shorten the retention interval. Larger validation studies need to investigate the combined effect of interview content, retention interval, and grade on accuracy. PMID:23562487

7 CFR 51.2561 - Average moisture content.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 2 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Average moisture content. 51.2561 Section 51.2561... STANDARDS) United States Standards for Grades of Shelled Pistachio Nuts § 51.2561 Average moisture content. (a) Determining average moisture content of the lot is not a requirement of the grades, except when...

Radioactivity of phosphate ore, superphosphate, and phosphogypsum in Abu-Zaabal phosphate plant, Egypt

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hussein, E.M.

1994-09-01

A measurement of the radioactivity content of phosphate ore material, phosphatic fertilizer (superphosphate), and by-product phosphogypsum in the Abu-Zaabal phosphate plant, Egypt, has been carried out. According to the results of gamma-ray spectroscopy analysis, {sup 238}U was found in concentrations of 523, 473, and 134 Bq kg{sup {minus}1}; {sup 226}Ra in concentrations of 514, 301, and 411 Bq kg{sup {minus}1}; {sup 232}Th in concentrations of 37, 24, and 19 Bq kg{sup {minus}1}; and {sup 40}K in concentrations of 19, 3, and 16 Bq kg{sup {minus}1} for the analyzed materials, respectively. The data are discussed and compared with those given inmore » the literature for some other countries in light of permissible radiation dose rates. 11 refs., 3 tabs.« less

Robotic complex for the development of thick steeply-inclined coal seams and ore deposits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nikitenko, M. S.; Malakhov, Yu V.; Neogi, Biswarup; Chakraborty, Pritam; Banerjee, Dipesu

2017-09-01

Proposal for the formulation of robotic complexes for steeply inclined coal seams as a basis of the supportive-enclosing walking module and power support with a controlled outlet for mining industry has been represented in this literature. In mining industry, the available resource base reserves and mineral deposits are concentrated deep down the earth crust leading towards a complicated geological condition i.e. abrupt ore bedding and steeply inclined strata with the high gas content and fire hazard of thick coal stratum, heading against an unfavorable and sometimes human labor life risk during subversive mining. Prevailing towards the development of effective robotic complexes based on the means of “unmanned technologies” for extraction of minerals from hard-to-reach deposits and make sure the safety of underground staff during sublevel mining technology.

Geology and Fluorspar Deposits of the Levias-Keystone and Dike-Eaton Areas, Crittenden County, Kentucky

USGS Publications Warehouse

Trace, Robert Denny

1962-01-01

The fault systems of the Levias-Keystone and Dike-Eaton areas, in the Kentucky-Illinois fiuorspar district, are a complex northeastward-trending sys- tem and a simple northwestward-trending system of steeply dipping normal faults, associated in part with a lamprophyre dike. Fluorspar mining started in the area about 1900 and, as of 1945, more than 200,000 tons of crude ore probably has been mined; most of the ore was from the Levias-Keystone area. A small quantity of zinc and lead ore also is present in the Dike-Eaton area. The deposits are localized along faults that displace fiat-lying or low-dipping limestones, sandstones, and shales of the Meramec and Chester series of Missis- sippian age. Movement along most of the faults was principally vertical, with displacement as much as 600 feet. Some horizontal movement occurred along at least one fault. Geologic mapping of the surface and data from underground workings have revealed 13 faults in an area of four-fifths of a square mile. Only a few of these faults are known to contain economically important deposits of fiuorspar. The most abundant vein minerals are calcite and fiuorite with subordinate quantities of sphalerite, galena, barite, and quartz. Some weathering products of sphalerite and galena are present also. The veins are dominantly calcite that contains fiuorite lenses but in places are mainly fiuorite having lesser quantities of calcite. Sphalerite- and galena-bearing deposits are present in the Dike-Eaton area. The ore bodies mainly are the result of fissure filling and replacement of calcite by fiuorite; in addition a small amount of limestone wallrock probably has been replaced. Residual concentrations of high-grade fluorspar in the overburden above faults have yielded some so-called gravel fiuorspar. The position of the veins within the faults may be related to one or more factors such as type of wallrock, change in dip of the fault, and amount of displacement.

Sediment matrix characterization as a tool for evaluating the environmental impact of heavy metals in metal mining, smelting, and ore processing areas.

PubMed

Ružičková, Silvia; Remeteiová, Dagmar; Mičková, Vladislava; Dirner, Vojtech

2018-02-21

In this work, the matrix characterization (mineralogy, total and local chemical composition, and total organic (TOC) and inorganic carbon (TIC) contents) of different types of sediments from mining- and metallurgy-influenced areas and the assessment of the impact of the matrix on the association of potentially hazardous metals with the mineral phases of these samples, which affect their mobility in the environment, are presented. For these purposes, sediment samples with different origins and from different locations in the environment were analyzed. Anthropogenic sediments from metal-rich post-flotation tailings (Lintich, Slovakia) represent waste from ore processing, natural river sediments from the Hornád River (Košice, Slovakia) represent areas influenced predominantly by the metallurgical industry, and lake sediments from a water reservoir Ružín (inflow from the Hornád and Hnilec Rivers, Slovakia) represent the impact of the metallurgical and/or mining industries. The total metal contents were determined by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis, the local chemical and morphological microanalysis by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and the TOC and TIC contents by infrared (IR) spectrometry. The mobility/bioavailability of Cu, Pb, and Zn in/from sediments at the studied areas was assessed by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and acetic acid (AA) extraction and is discussed in the context of the matrix composition. The contents of selected potentially hazardous elements in the extracts were determined by the high-resolution continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS FAAS).

Leaching characteristics of rare metal elements and chlorine in fly ash from ash melting plants for metal recovery.

PubMed

Jung, Chang-Hwan; Osako, Masahiro

2009-05-01

In terms of resource recovery and environmental impact, melting furnace fly ash (MFA) is attracting much attention in Japan due to its high metal content. The study aims to obtain fundamental information on using a water extraction method not only to concentrate valuable rare metals but also to remove undesirable substances such as chlorine for their recovery from MFA. The composition and leaching characteristics of MFA was investigated. The results revealed that the metal content in MFA is nearly equal to raw ore quality. The content of Ag, In, Pd, Pb, and Zn is, in fact, higher than the content of raw ore. As for leaching behavior, Ag, Bi, In, Ga, Ge, Sb, Sn, and Te showed the lowest release at a neutral pH range. Pd was leached constantly regardless of pH, but its concentration was quite low. On the other hand, most of the Tl was easily leached, revealing that water extraction is not appropriate for Tl recovery from MFA. Major elements Cl, Ca, Na, and K, occupying about 70% of MFA, were mostly leached regardless of pH. Base metal elements Cu, Pb, and Zn showed minimum solubility at a neutral pH. The leaching ratio of target rare metal elements and base metal elements suggests that the optimal pH for water extraction is 8-10, at which the leaching concentration is minimized. The water extraction process removed most of the Cl, Ca, Na, and K, and the concentration of rare metals and base metals increased by four or five times.

Corrosion-induced release of the main alloying constituents of manganese-chromium stainless steels in different media.

PubMed

Herting, Gunilla; Wallinder, Inger Odnevall; Leygraf, Christofer

2008-09-01

The main focus of this paper is the assessment of release rates of chromium, nickel, iron and manganese from manganese-chromium stainless steel grades of low nickel content. The manganese content varied between 9.7 and 1.5 wt% and the corresponding nickel content between 1 and 5 wt%. All grades were exposed to artificial rain and two were immersed in a synthetic body fluid of similar pH but of different composition and exposure conditions. Surface compositional studies were performed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) in parallel to correlate the metal release process with changes in surface oxide properties. All grades, independent of media, revealed a time-dependent metal release process with a preferential low release of iron and manganese compared to nickel and chromium while the chromium content of the surface oxide increased slightly. Manganese was detected in the surface oxide of all grades, except the grade of the lowest manganese bulk content. No nickel was observed in the outermost surface oxide. Stainless steel grades of the lowest chromium content (approximately 16 wt%) and highest manganese content (approximately 7-9 wt%), released the highest quantity of alloy constituents in total, and vice versa. No correlation was observed between the release rate of manganese and the alloy composition. Released main alloy constituents were neither proportional to the bulk alloy composition nor to the surface oxide composition.

Toward an integrated genetic model for vent-distal SEDEX deposits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sangster, D. F.

2018-04-01

Although genetic models have been proposed for vent-proximal SEDEX deposits, an equivalent model for vent-distal deposits has not yet appeared. In view of this, it is the object of this paper to present a preliminary integrated vent-distal genetic model through exploration of four major components: (i) nature of the ore-forming fluid, (ii) role of density of the unconsolidated host sediments, (iii) dynamics of sulfate reduction and (iv) depositional environment. Two sub-groups of SEDEX Pb-Zn deposits, vent-proximal and vent-distal, are widely recognized today. Of the two, the latter is by far the largest in terms of metal content with each of the 13 largest containing in excess of 7.5 M (Zn+Pb) metal. In contrast, only one vent-proximal deposit (Sullivan) falls within this size range. Vent-proximal deposits are characteristically underlain by local networks of sulfide-filled veins (commonly regarded as feeder veins) surrounded by a discordant complex of host rock alteration. These attributes are missing in vent-distal deposits, which has led to the widespread view that vent-distal ore-forming fluids have migrated unknown distances away from their vent sites. Because of the characteristic fine grain size of ore minerals, critical fluid inclusion data are lacking for vent-distal ore-stage sulfides. Consequently, hypothetical fluids such as those which formed MVT deposits (120 °C, 20% NaCl equiv.) are considered to represent vent-distal fluids as well. Such high-salinity fluids are capable of carrying significant concentrations of Pb and Zn as chloride complexes while the relatively low temperatures preclude high Cu contents. Densities of such metalliferous brines result in bottom-hugging fluids that collect in shallow saucer-shaped depressions (collector basins). Lateral metal zoning in several deposits reveals the direction from which the brines came. Relative densities of the ore-forming fluid and sediment determine whether the ore-forming fluid stabilizes on top of the sediment column or sinks into it. Metal sulfide precipitation occurs when bacterially produced H2S, diffusing upward from anoxic conditions within the sediment, reacts with metal-bearing chloride complexes in the ore-forming fluid. Since H2S is produced by bacterial sulfate reduction within the first 2 m of the sediment column even where overlain by oxic water, sulfide precipitation will always occur within the anoxic sediment regardless of where the ore-forming fluid comes to rest. Because of the high porosity of the sediment, replacement is precluded as a mechanism of sulfide emplacement in favour of void filling. Detailed textural analyses of the HYC and Howards Pass deposits have demonstrated the abundance of pre-exhalative framboidal pyrite and provide evidence for sulfate-reducing bacteria operating in these basins under normal steady-state conditions before arrival of the ore-forming fluids. The sudden presence of ore-forming fluid, however, dramatically changes the formerly steady-state situation of the local bacterial environment. A major result of this new condition is recorded in the sulfur isotope compositions of the sulfides. Whereas pre-exhalative framboidal pyrite is isotopically light, ore-stage sulfides are significantly heavier and display a reduced fractionation relative to contemporaneous seawater sulfate. Much of the reduced fractionation is linked to the increase in H2S production by sulfate-reducing bacteria. The major factor contributing to this increase is the life-saving action of sulfate-reducing bacteria during which the metal toxicity is mitigated by removal of the toxic ions by precipitating them out as sulfides. Several scenarios representing hypothetical thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR) conditions convincingly demonstrate the extreme improbability that TSR played a role in formation of vent-distal deposits. A wide range of depositional environments is suggested by host rocks which range from impure carbonate to calcareous or dolomitic siliciclastics to normal siltstones and greywackes to calcareous and siliceous siliciclastics to highly siliceous (cherty) shales. Using the analyses of Mo concentrations as a proxy indicator of euxinia in ancient bottom waters in three vent-distal deposits ranging from Late Cambrian to Early Silurian, euxinia was excluded in all three cases. Regardless of the redox condition of the water column, however, the overriding necessary condition for vent-distal deposits to form is that the water column be quiescent to permit the establishment of a pre-exhalative sulfate-reducing bacterial community. The paper concludes with a six-stage genetic model beginning with exhalation of a dense brine and concluding with sulfide preservation in anoxic sediment.

Uranium deposits in Grant County, New Mexico

USGS Publications Warehouse

Granger, Harry C.; Bauer, Herman L.; Lovering, Tom G.; Gillerman, Elliot

1952-01-01

The known uranium deposits of Grant county, N. Mex., are principally in the White Signal and Black Hawk districts. Both districts are within a northwesterly-trending belt of pre-Cambrian rocks, composed chiefly of granite with included gneisses, schists, and quartzites. Younger dikes and stocks intrude the pre-Cambrian complex. The White Signal district is on the southeast flanks of the Burro Mountains; the Black Hawk district is about 18 miles northwest of the town of White Signal. In the White Signal district the seconday uranium phosphates--autunite and torbernite--occur as fracture coatings and disseminations in oxidized parts of quartz-pyrite veins, and in the adjacent mafic dikes and granites; uraniferous limonite is common locally. Most of the known uraniferous deposits are less that 50 feet in their greatest dimension. The most promising deposits in the district are on the Merry Widow and Blue Jay claims. The richest sample taken from the Merry Widow mine contained more than 2 percent uranium and a sample from the Blue Jay property contained as much as 0.11 percent; samples from the other properties were of lower grade. In the Black Hawk district pitchblende is associated with nickel, silver, and cobalt minerals in fissure veins. The most promising properties in the Black Hawk district are the Black Hawk, Alhambra, and Rose mines. No uranium analyses from this district were available in 1951. There are no known minable reserves of uranium ore in either district, although there is some vein material at the Merry Widow mine of ore grade, if a market were available in the region.

Geochemistry and economic potential of massive sulfide deposits from the eastern Pacific Ocean

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bischoff, James L.; Rosenbauer, R.J.; Aruscavage, P. J.; Baedecker, P.A.; Crock, J.G.

1983-01-01

Bulk chemical analyses are performed for major and minor elements using a variety of techniques on a suite of 9 samples of sea floor massive sulfide deposits from 21?N EPR, Juan de Fuca Ridge and Galapagos Rift. Results indicate that deposits at 21?N and Juan de Fuca are very similar despite a geographic separation of 2300 km and are composed primarily of Zn, Fe, and S, with important minor concentrations of Ag, As, Cd and Ge. The Galapagos Rift massive sulfide is primarily Fe, Cu and S and with important minor contents of only Co and Mo. Au is low, ranging from below detection up to 0.17 ppm. Pt group metals are very low, and average about 0.001 ppm. Consideration of enrichment factors and relative metal abundance suggests that MORB is a sufficient source for all the metals enriched in the sea floor deposits. The economically important metals for the 21?N and Juan de Fuca deposits are primarily Zn and Ag, (97%) with potential by-products of Cu, Cd and possibly, Ge. For the Galapagos Rift, the primary value is with Cu (86%) with potential by-products of Co and Mo. The Galapagos Rift deposit is similar to, but contains about twice the Cu content, of typical ore from the Skouriotisa mine of the Troodos complex of Cyprus. The grade of the 21?N/Juan de Fuca deposits is 4 times greater than that of the Galapagos Rift and about twice that of prime deep-sea manganese nodules.

Determination of arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, lead, molybdenum, nickel, and selenium in fertilizers by microwave digestion and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry detection: collaborative study.

PubMed

Kane, Peter F; Hall, William L

2006-01-01

There is increasing regulatory interest in the non-nutritive metals content of fertilizer materials, but at present there is no consensus analytical method for acid digestion and instrument detection of those elements in fertilizer matrixes. This lack of method standardization has resulted in unacceptable variability of results between fertilizer laboratories performing metals analysis. A method has been developed using microwave digestion with nitric acid at 200 degrees C, followed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry instrument detection, for the elements arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, molybdenum, nickel, lead, and selenium. The method has been collaboratively studied, and statistical results are here reported. Fourteen collaborators were sent 62 sample materials in a blind duplicate design. Materials represented a broad cross section of fertilizer types, including phosphate ore, manufactured phosphate products, N-P-K blends, organic fertilizers, and micro-nutrient materials. As much as possible within the limit of the number of samples, materials were selected from different regions of the United States and the world. Limit of detection (LOD) was determined using synthetic fertilizers consisting of reagent grade chemicals with near zero levels of the non-nutritive elements, analyzed blindly. Samples with high iron content caused the most variability between laboratories. Most samples reasonably above LOD gave HorRat values within the range 0.5 to 2.0, indicating acceptable method performance according to AOAC guidelines for analyses in the mg/kg range. The method is recommended for AOAC Official First Action status.

Uraniferous opal, Virgin Valley, Nevada: conditions of formation and implications for uranium exploration

USGS Publications Warehouse

Zielinski, R.A.

1982-01-01

Uraniferous, fluorescent opal, which occurs in tuffaceous sedimentary rocks at Virgin Valley, Nevada, records the temperature and composition of uranium-rich solutions as well as the time of uranium-silica coprecipitation. Results are integrated with previous geologic and geochronologic data for the area to produce a model for uranium mobility that may be used to explore for uranium deposits in similar geologic settings. Uraniferous opal occurs as replacements of diatomite, or silicic air-fall ash layers in tuffaceous lakebeds of the Virgin Valley Formation (Miocene) of Merriam (1907). Fission-track radiography shows uranium to be homogeneously dispersed throughout the opal structure, suggesting coprecipitation of dissolved uranium and silica gel. Fluid inclusions preserved within opal replacements of diatomite have homogenization temperatures in the epithermal range and are of low salinity. Four samples of opal from one locality all have U-Pb apparent ages which suggest uraniferous opal precipitation in late Pliocene time. These ages correspond to a period of local, normal faulting, and highangle faults may have served as vertical conduits for transport of deep, thermalized ground water to shallower levels. Lateral migration of rising solutions occurred at intersections of faults with permeable strata. Silica and some uranium were dissolved from silica-rich host strata of 5-20 ppm original uranium content and reprecipitated as the solutions cooled. The model predicts that in similar geologic settings, ore-grade concentrations of uranium will occur in permeable strata that intersect high-angle faults and that contain uranium source rocks as well as efficient reductant traps for uranium. In the absence of sufficient quantities of reductant materials, uranium will be flushed from the system or will accumulate in low-grade disseminated hosts such as uraniferous opal. ?? 1982.

Magnetite-apatite mineralization in Khanlogh iron deposit, northwest of Neyshaboor, NE Iran

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Najafzadeh Tehrani, Parvin; Asghar Calagari, Ali; Velasco Roldan, Francisco; Simmonds, Vartan; Siahcheshm, Kamal

2016-04-01

Khanlogh iron deposit lies on Sabzehvar-Ghoochan Cenozoic magmatic belt in northwest of Neyshaboor, NE Iran. The lithologic units in this area include a series of sub-volcanic intrusive rocks like diorite porphyry, quartz-diorite porphyry, and micro-granodiorite of Oligocene age. Mineralization in this area occurred as veins, dissemination, and open space filling in brecciated zones within the host sub-volcanic intrusive bodies. Three distinct types of mineral associations can be distinguished, (1) diopside-magnetite, (2) magnetite-apatite, and (3) apatite-calcite. Microscopic examinations along with SEM and EPMA studies demonstrated that magnetite is the most common ore mineral occurring as solitary crystals. The euhedral magnetite crystals are accompanied by lamellar destabilized ilmenite and granular fluorapatite in magnetite-apatite ores. The results of EPMA revealed that the lamellar ilmenite, relative to host magnetite crystal, is notably enriched in MgO and MnO (average of 3.3 and 2.6 wt%, respectively; n=5), whereas magnetite is slighter enriched in Ti (TiO2 around 1.8 wt%) being average of MgO, MnO and V2O3 of 0.6wt%, 0.2wt%, and 0.6 wt% (respectively; n=20). Minerals such as chlorapatite, calcite, and chalcedony are also present in the magnetite-apatite ores. The samples from apatite-calcite ores contain coarse crystals of apatite and rhomboedral calcite. The plot of the EPMA data of Khanlogh iron ore samples on diagram of TiO2-V2O5 (Hou et al, 2011) illustrated that the data points lies between the well-known Kiruna and El Laco (Chile) iron deposits. The magnetite crystals in the sub-volcanic host rocks were possibly formed by immiscible iron oxide fluids during magmatic stage. However, the magnetite and apatite existing in the veins and breccia zones may have developed by high temperature hydrothermal fluids. Studies done by Purtov and Kotelnikova (1993) proved that the proportion of Ti in magnetite is related to fluoride complex in the hydrothermal fluids. The high fluorine content of the apatite at Khanlogh may testify to the presence of Ti-fluoride complex in the fluids. Formation of apatite crystals was concurrent with development of titanium lamellae in magnetite. The apatite possesses high REE content which is possibly associated with monazite inclusions. The SEM studies better show these inclusions are occasionally present at the margin of apatite crystals and veins. Based upon field relations, microscopic examinations, and the results of XRD analyses, sodic (albite), propylitic (epidote, chlorite, calcite), and argillic (montmorillonite) alterations are developed in the study area. The principal minerals in these alteration zones are albite, epidote, sericite, chlorite, quartz, calcite, and montmorllonite. Mineralogy, alteration, geochemistry, structure, and texture of the ores at Khanlogh indicate that the magnetite and apatite were chiefly formed by hydrothermal solutions which were enriched in iron mainly transported by F- and Cl- rich fluids. Reference Hou,,T., Zhaochong, Z., Timothy, K., (2011). Gushan magnetite-apatite deposit in the Ningwu basin, Lower Yangtze River Valley, SE China: Hydrothermal or Kiruna-type? Ore geology review, 43, 333-346. Purtov, V.K., Kotelnikova, A.L. (1993). Solubility of titanium in chloride and fluoride hydrothermal solution. International Geology Review 35, 274 -287.

Assessment of natural radioactivity in aquifer medium bearing uranium ores in Koprubasi, Turkey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simsek, Celalettin

2008-10-01

Koprubasi, located within Manisa Province near the Izmir, is the biggest uranium mine where uranium ores originate from Neogene aged altered sandstone and conglomerate layers. The main objective of this study is to determine the radiation hazard associated with radioactivity levels of uranium ores, and the rocks and sediments around Koprubasi. In this regard, measured activity levels of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were compared with world averages. The average activity levels of 226 Ra, 232Th and 40K were measured to be 5369.75, 124.78 and 10.0 Bq/kg in uranium ores, 24.32, 52.94 and 623.38 Bq/kg in gneiss, 46.24, 45.13 and 762.26 Bq/kg in sandstone and conglomerate, 73.11, 43.15 and 810.65 Bq/kg in sediments, respectively. All samples have high 226Ra and 40K levels according to world average level. As these sediments are used as construction materials and in agricultural activities within the study area, the radiation hazard are calculated by using dose rate (D), annual effective dose rate (He), radium equivalent activity (Raeq) and radiation hazard index (Iyr). All the samples have Raeq levels that are lower than the world average limit of 370 Bq/kg. On the other hand, D, He and Iyr values are higher than world average values. These results indicate that the uranium ores in the Koprubasi is the most important contributor to the natural radiation level. The radioactivity levels of sediments and rocks make them unsuitable for use as agricultural soil and as construction materials. Moreover, it is determined that shallow groundwater in sediments and deep groundwater in conglomerate rocks and also surface water sources in the Koprubasi have high 226Ra content. According to environmental radioactive baseline, some environmental protection study must be taken in Koprubasi uranium site and the environment.

Critical elements in Carlin, epithermal, and orogenic gold deposits

USGS Publications Warehouse

Goldfarb, Richard J.; Hofstra, Albert H.; Simmons, Stuart F.

2016-01-01

Carlin, epithermal, and orogenic gold deposits, today mined almost exclusively for their gold content, have similar suites of anomalous trace elements that reflect similar low-salinity ore fluids and thermal conditions of metal transport and deposition. Many of these trace elements are commonly referred to as critical or near-critical elements or metals and have been locally recovered, although typically in small amounts, by historic mining activities. These elements include As, Bi, Hg, In, Sb, Se, Te, Tl, and W. Most of these elements are now solely recovered as by-products from the milling of large-tonnage, base metal-rich ore deposits, such as porphyry and volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits.A combination of dominance of the world market by a single country for a single commodity and a growing demand for many of the critical to near-critical elements could lead to future recovery of such elements from select epithermal, orogenic, or Carlin-type gold deposits. Antimony continues to be recovered from some orogenic gold deposits and tellurium could potentially be a primary commodity from some such deposits. Tellurium and indium in sphalerite-rich ores have been recovered in the past and could be future commodities recovered from epithermal ores. Carlin-type gold deposits in Nevada are enriched in and may be a future source for As, Hg, Sb, and/or Tl. Some of the Devonian carbonaceous host rocks in the Carlin districts are sufficiently enriched in many trace elements, including Hg, Se, and V, such that they also could become resources. Thallium may be locally enriched to economic levels in Carlin-type deposits and it has been produced from Carlin-like deposits elsewhere in the world (e.g., Alsar, southern Macedonia; Lanmuchang, Guizhou province, China). Mercury continues to be recovered from shallow-level epithermal deposits, as well as a by-product of many Carlin-type deposits where refractory ore is roasted to oxidize carbon and pyrite, and mercury is then captured in air pollution control devices.

Platinum-group elements (Rh, Pt, Pd) and Au distribution in snow samples from the Kola Peninsula, NW Russia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gregurek, Dean; Melcher, Frank; Niskavaara, Heikki; Pavlov, Vladimir A.; Reimann, Clemens; Stumpfl, Eugen F.

In April 1996 snowpack samples were collected from the surroundings of the ore roasting and dressing plant at Zapoljarnij and the nickel smelters at Nikel and Monchegorsk, Kola Peninsula, NW Russia. In the laboratory, filter residues of snowpack samples (fraction>0.45 μm) from 15 localities (close to the nickel processing centres) were chemically for precious metals (Rh, Pt, Pd, Au) and Te by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) analysis, and for Cu and Ni by ICP-MS. Values up to 2770 ng/l Pd, 650 ng/l Pt and 186 ng/l Au were found in the filter residues. Additionally, platinum-group elements (PGE) and Au contents in ore samples from Noril'sk , as well as in technogenic products ("Cu-Ni-feinstein" and copper concentrate) processed at the Monchegorsk smelter complex, were analysed using flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) for comparison with results obtained from snow. Rh, Pt, Pd and Au distribution data show the presence of two ore components (Noril'sk and Pechenga). Concentrations of these metals decrease with distance from the industrial sources and with the prevailing wind direction (generally north-south). Microscopic investigations and electron microprobe analysis of polished sections of snow filter residues (>0.45 μm) also reveal differences between particles from the two sources. To avoid confusion the term "Noril'sk" is used throughout the paper to denote material and/or data from the Noril'sk area and its sub-district, Noril'sk while Pechenga relates to the local ore.

Characterisation and Processing of Some Iron Ores of India

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krishna, S. J. G.; Patil, M. R.; Rudrappa, C.; Kumar, S. P.; Ravi, B. P.

2013-10-01

Lack of process characterization data of the ores based on the granulometry, texture, mineralogy, physical, chemical, properties, merits and limitations of process, market and local conditions may mislead the mineral processing entrepreneur. The proper implementation of process characterization and geotechnical map data will result in optimized sustainable utilization of resource by processing. A few case studies of process characterization of some Indian iron ores are dealt with. The tentative ascending order of process refractoriness of iron ores is massive hematite/magnetite < marine black iron oxide sands < laminated soft friable siliceous ore fines < massive banded magnetite quartzite < laminated soft friable clayey aluminous ore fines < massive banded hematite quartzite/jasper < massive clayey hydrated iron oxide ore < manganese bearing iron ores massive < Ti-V bearing magnetite magmatic ore < ferruginous cherty quartzite. Based on diagnostic process characterization, the ores have been classified and generic process have been adopted for some Indian iron ores.

New Insights into an Old Cycle: The Marine Phosphorus Cycle and the Formation of Critical Phosphate Rock Resources (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Filippelli, G. M.

2010-12-01

The cycling and geochemistry of phosphorus (P) in the marine environment is a critical component of biological productivity and of resource availability: P control the long-term carbon cycle via its role as a limiting nutrient, and the burial and concentration of P within marine sediments dictates the quality and availability of P as a fertilizer component from a resources standpoint. Given the projections of severe P fertilizer limitation over the next several centuries, understanding the controls on P geochemistry and concentration into a minable resource is critical in sustaining global populations. Several critical aspects of the marine P cycle have been uncovered over the past few decades which have clarified our understanding of P burial and concentration. First, the initial authigenic process of P mineralization within marine sediments, termed phosphogenesis, seems to occur regardless of marine setting. Phosphogenesis results from the release of P into sedimentary pore waters from organic and oxide-bound fractions, and the subsequent supersaturation with respect to carbonate fluorapatite. In sediment-starved basins with significant upwelling-driven productivity, the supply of P into sedimentary pore waters can be so high that visibly apparent layers of carbonate fluorapatite can be formed. Even in such environments, however, the mineral P content is too low to be of economic value unless it has undergone concentration via sediment reworking, a common occurrence in some dynamic continental margin environments. Thus, a combination of phosphogenesis in a high productivity setting plus sediment starvation plus condensation via reworking are necessary to produce phosphorites, sedimentary rocks with high P contents which are ideal as fertilizer-grade P resources. Given these special marine conditions, phosphorites are largely distributed along ancient marine environments (with the exception of the nearly-depleted atoll guano reserves). The largest currently-identified minable reservoirs of ore-grade P are found in the United States, in China, and in Morocco. Numerous less-economic sedimentary deposits exist, but these deposits are more dilute and represent former marine settings without the trifecta of productivity, geochemistry and sedimentology that makes phosphorites economically viable.

Geochemical Modeling of Zinc Silicate Ore Formation from Sedimentary Hydrothermal Fluids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Appold, M. S.

2008-12-01

Sediment-hosted zinc deposits dominated by willemite (Zn2SiO4) instead of sphalerite (ZnS) are known from several prominent occurrences worldwide, including Vazante, Brazil, the Aroona Trend, Australia, Kabwe, Zambia, Berg Aukas, Namibia, and Abu Samar, Sudan. Although willemite-dominant zinc deposits appear to be much less common and are on average smaller than sphalerite-dominant zinc deposits, they nonetheless represent major enrichments of zinc in the Earth's crust, reaching sizes on the order of 1's to 10's of millions of tons and grades commonly between 20 and 40%. Sediment-hosted willemite- and sphalerite-dominant deposits share many similarities including their predominantly carbonate host rocks, gangue mineralogy, presumed derivation from sedimentary basinal brines, and spatial proximity. However, the conditions and processes that led to one style of mineralization versus the other have only recently begun to be investigated. The current study presents solubility, reaction path, and reactive transport modeling results that attempt to define more clearly the conditions that favor willemite ore formation in sedimentary basins, with a focus on the Vazante deposit. Solubility calculations for willemite and sphalerite as a function of temperature, pH, salinity, and oxidation potential were carried out using a simple 3 molal NaCl solution saturated with respect to quartz. The results show that (1) willemite solubility is relatively insensitive to changes in temperature and oxidation potential whereas sphalerite solubility decreases sharply with decreasing temperature and oxidation potential, (2) willemite solubility decreases more strongly than sphalerite with increasing pH, (3) willemite and sphalerite have a similar strong decrease in solubility with decreasing salinity. The results support a previously proposed genetic model for a willemite-dominant, sphalerite-subordinate ore body like Vazante in which a hot, acidic, metal-rich ore fluid mixed with a cooler, more oxidizing, dilute, and basic fluid. This scenario was investigated further with reaction path and reactive transport modeling. In these models, a more complex ore fluid was used that was assumed to have a major element composition similar to the global average for Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) deposits determined from the literature, modified by heating from 150 to 300° C, saturated with respect to dolomite and quartz, moderately acidic, and an oxidation potential near the value defined by magnetite-hematite equilibrium. The ore fluid was allowed to mix with a second, possibly meteoric fluid with about three orders of magnitude lower salinity, neutral pH, and a temperature of 50° C. The modeling results showed general agreement with the mineral assemblage observed at Vazante, and confirmed the need for a strong pH increase to induce willemite precipitation, and no more than a moderate increase in oxidation potential to allow some sphalerite to precipitate. The localization of mineralization within a shear zone was found to depend strongly on the shear zone having acted as a high permeability conduit for the ore fluid from deeper parts of the sedimentary basin.

Behavior of uranium under conditions of interaction of rocks and ores with subsurface water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Omel'Yanenko, B. I.; Petrov, V. A.; Poluektov, V. V.

2007-10-01

The behavior of uranium during interaction of subsurface water with crystalline rocks and uranium ores is considered in connection with the problem of safe underground insulation of spent nuclear fuel (SNF). Since subsurface water interacts with crystalline rocks formed at a high temperature, the mineral composition of these rocks and uranium species therein are thermodynamically unstable. Therefore, reactions directed toward the establishment of equilibrium proceed in the water-rock system. At great depths that are characterized by hindered water exchange, where subsurface water acquires near-neutral and reducing properties, the interaction is extremely sluggish and is expressed in the formation of micro- and nanoparticles of secondary minerals. Under such conditions, the slow diffusion redistribution of uranium with enrichment in absorbed forms relative to all other uranium species is realized as well. The products of secondary alteration of Fe- and Ti-bearing minerals serve as the main sorbents of uranium. The rate of alteration of minerals and conversion of uranium species into absorbed forms is slow, and the results of these processes are insignificant, so that the rocks and uranium species therein may be regarded as unaltered. Under reducing conditions, subsurface water is always saturated with uranium. Whether water interacts with rock or uranium ore, the equilibrium uranium concentration in water is only ≤10-8 mol/l. Uraninite ore under such conditions always remains stable irrespective of its age. The stability conditions of uranium ore are quite suitable for safe insulation of SNF, which consists of 95% uraninite (UO2) and is a confinement matrix for all other radionuclides. The disposal of SNF in massifs of crystalline rocks at depths below 500 m, where reducing conditions are predominant, is a reliable guarantee of high SNF stability. Under oxidizing conditions of the upper hydrodynamic zone, the rate of interaction of rocks with subsurface water increases by orders of magnitude and subsurface water is commonly undersaturated with uranium. Uranium absorbed by secondary minerals, particularly by iron hydroxides and leucoxene, is its single stable species under oxidizing conditions. The impact of oxygen-bearing water leads to destruction of uranium ore. This process is realized simultaneously at different hypsometric levels even if the permeability of the medium is variable in both the lateral and vertical directions. As a result, intervals containing uranyl minerals and relics of primary uranium ore are combined in ore-bearing zones with intervals of completely dissolved uranium minerals. A wide halo of elevated uranium contents caused by sorption is always retained at the location of uranium ore entirely destroyed by weathering. Uranium ore commonly finds itself in the aeration zone due to technogenic subsidence of the groundwater table caused by open-pit mining or pumping out of water from underground mines. The capillary and film waters that interact with rocks and ores in this zone are supplemented by free water filtering along fractures when rain falls or snow is thawing. The interaction of uranium ore with capillary water results in oxidation of uraninite, accompanied by loosening of the mineral surface, formation of microfractures, and an increase in solubility with enrichment of capillary water in uranium up to 10-4 mol/l. Secondary U(VI) minerals, first of all, uranyl hydroxides and silicates, replace uraninite, and uranium undergoes local diffusion redistribution with its sorption by secondary minerals of host rocks. The influx of free water facilitates the complete dissolution of primary and secondary uranium minerals, the removal of uranium at the sites of groundwater discharge, and its redeposition under reducing conditions at a greater depth. It is evident that the conditions of the upper hydrodynamic zone and the aeration zone are unfit for long-term insulation of SNF and high-level wastes because, after the failure of containers, the leakage of radionuclides into the environment becomes inevitable.

Leaching behavior of lanthanum, nickel and iron from spent catalyst using inorganic acids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Astuti, W.; Prilitasari, N. M.; Iskandar, Y.; Bratakusuma, D.; Petrus, H. T. B. M.

2018-01-01

Highly technological applications of rare earth metals (REs) and scarcity of supply have become an incentive torecover the REs from various resources, which include high grade and low grade ores, as well as recycledwaste materials. Spent hydrocracking catalyst contain lanthanum and a variety of valuable metals such as nickel and iron. This study investigated the recovery of lanthanum, nickel and iron from spent hydrocracking catalyst by leaching using various inorganic acid (sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and nitric acid). The effect of acid concentration, type of acid and leaching temperature was conducted to study the leaching behavior of each valuable metal from spent-catalyst. It has been shown that it is possible to recover more than 90% of lanthanum, however the leaching efficiency of nickel and iron in this process was very low. It can be concluded that the leaching process is selective for lanthanum recovery from hydrocracking spent-catalyst.

A preliminary investigation into the effect of pressure on flotation performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Young, Courtney A.

2007-10-01

In a previous study, various pyrite depressants were examined to improve the flotation performance of a copper-sulfide ore containing tetrahedrite (Cu12Sb4S13). Optimal results from this study were used to examine the effect of elevation on recovery and grade. Tests were conducted at elevations of 3,350 meters, 1,735 meters, 610 meters, and-760 meters, consisting of five repetitive experiments for statistical analysis. The experiments were performed both with and without airflow control. Tests were also performed in a glove box at Montana Tech of The University of Montana to mimic the pressure conditions. Results indicate that both recovery and grade are dependent on pressure via bubble size and airflow, suggesting that pressurized fl otation cells should be considered for operations, particularly those at high elevation. Economics are extremely favorable for implementation because ensuing capital expenses are inconsequential with minimal time for return-on-investment.

Petrogenesis of Ore-Bearing and Ore-Barren Intermediate-Acid Intrusive Rocks from Jilongshan Au-Cu Skarn Deposit , the Middle-Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt, Eastern China and their Geological Implications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhan, X.; Wei, J.; Chen, M.; Zhao, X.

2017-12-01

Jilongshan Au-Cu skarn deposit in Edong-Jiurui ore district , Middle-Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt(MLYRB) , eastern China ,contains 44 t gold and 32 Mt of copper ores. The mineralization is dominated by massive skarn ores, most of which occurs along the contact zone between the lower Triassic dolomitic limestones and Jilongshan granodioritic intrusion. However, Baiguoshu pluton, no more than 1 km western, has been not found any mineralized occurrence with the same strata. The ore-bearing and ore-barren intrusive rocks are granodiorite porphyries, could not be identified by petrographic characters. Besides, Zircon U-Pb dating results demonstrate that Jilongshan and Baiguoshu intrusion emplaced at 140 ± 1Ma and 141 ± 1 Ma respectively, coeval with the Early Cretaceous magmatism in Edong-Jiurui area. Elements geochemistry present that they are both characterized by high Al2O3, rich Na2O (Na2O/K2O>1.0), enrichment of LILE (Rb, Ba, K, Sr) and depletion of HFSE (Nb, Ta), and weak negative Eu anomalies, which suggest they may be originated from partial melting of enriched mantle and associated with crust-mantle interaction ,evidenced by the Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic composition as well. Although the two are partly geochemically similar with each other, they have some obvious differences. The former have higher K2O and Y, Yb ,lower MgO, and Cr, Ni contents, and more obvious differentiation degree between light and heavy REEs with (La/Yb)N=10.55-15.95 than the latter with (La/Yb)N=8.67-10.47. It is indicated that the magmas of the Jilongshan intrusive rocks were probably derived from deeper source than that of the Baiguoshu, also supported by mineralogical data of biotite. In addition, Jilongshan intrusive rocks have a relatively higher initial Nd (ɛNd (t) = -8.2 - -9.4) and Sr ((87Sr/86Sr)i=0.70822-0.70897) isotopic composition than Baiguoshu (-9.2 - -9.7 and 0.70855-0.70881), as same as Lu-Hf isotopic composition. Therefore, combined with previous studies, we suggest that the Jilongshan granodiorite porphyry originated as partial melts of an enriched mantle source experienced more sufficient interaction with lower crust materials during magma ascent compared with Baiguoshu granodiorite porphyry, which may lead to Cu-Au enriched magmas, contributing to subsequent mineralization.

Grades 4-6: Arkansas Public School Course Content Guide.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arkansas State Dept. of Education, Little Rock.

Provided as a framework for use in curriculum development are Arkansas' course content guides for the intermediate elementary grades four, five, and six. At each grade level, language arts, mathematics, reading, social studies, and science skills have been identified at three instructional levels: basic, developmental, and extensional. Basic…

The relationship between instrumental leaf grade and Shirley Analyzer trash content in cotton lint

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

With the increasing acceptance of high volume instrument (HVITM) instrumental leaf grade index in both domestic and international trading, there is a continued interest in the relationship between instrumental leaf grade and equivalent trash gravimetric content (% percent by mass) from cotton custom...

Zircon U-Pb and Hf-O isotopes trace the architecture of polymetallic deposits: A case study of the Jurassic ore-forming porphyries in the Qin-Hang metallogenic belt, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Panlao; Yuan, Shunda; Mao, Jingwen; Santosh, M.; Zhang, Dongliang

2017-11-01

The Qin-Hang intra-continental porphyry-skarn Cu polymetallic belt (QHMB) is among the economically important metallogenic belts in South China. The significant differences in the size and metal assemblage of the Jurassic magmatic-hydrothermal ore deposits in this belt remain as an enigma. Here we employ zircon U-Pb and Hf-O isotopes of the Tongshanling and Baoshan Cu-Pb-Zn deposits in the central part of the QHMB to investigate the contrasting metallogenic architecture. Our SIMS zircon U-Pb data indicate that the Tongshanling and Baoshan granodiorite formed at 160 Ma. These rocks show high Mg# values, and negative zircon εHf(t) and high δ18O values suggesting that the magmas of the granodiorite porphyries were mainly generated through the anatexis of older crustal components triggered by the input of mantle-derived magma. The minor content of amphibole phenocrysts, low Sr/Y ratios, negative Eu anomaly, and low zircon Ce4 +/Ce3 + ratios indicate that the porphyries are relatively less oxidized with less water content compared with the ore-bearing porphyries in the Dexing and Yuanzhuding porphyry Cu deposits in the northern and southern part of the QHMB, suggesting that high magmatic water content and oxidation state are important prerequisites for the formation of large size porphyry-skarn copper deposits in the QHMB. The positive correlation between zircon εHf(t) values with the Cu reserves, as well as zircon δ18O values with the Cu/(Cu + Pb + Zn) ratios of the deposits indicate that the magmatic sources exerted a first-order control on the volume and metal assemblage of deposits in the QHMB. The Hf and Nd isotope contour maps indicate that the central part of the QHMB has high potential for Pb-Zn-dominated magmatic-hydrothermal deposits, whereas the northern and southern part of the QHMB are prospective for large Cu deposits. Our results have important implications in formulating regional exploration strategies for Jurassic porphyry-skarn Cu-Pb-Zn deposits in the Qin-Hang belt.

Battery manganese dioxide - a survey of its history and etymology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Euler, Karl-Jaochim

1982-10-01

Manganese dioxide was known two thousand years ago. It was described by Plinius. Later, Basilius Valentinus named it "Braunstein", the brownstone. Its chemical nature was recognized by Scheele and his student Gahn. Its first application in the field of batteries seems to have been by Ritter. Following Leclanchéś invention it has been used on a large scale in dry batteries. In 1977 about 300 000 metric tons of battery grade manganese dioxide were consumed. More than 50% of the oxide is derived from natural ores, and about one third is obtained as electrochemically deposited dioxide.

Agromining: farming for metals in the future?

PubMed

van der Ent, Antony; Baker, Alan J M; Reeves, Roger D; Chaney, Rufus L; Anderson, Christopher W N; Meech, John A; Erskine, Peter D; Simonnot, Marie-Odile; Vaughan, James; Morel, Jean Louis; Echevarria, Guillaume; Fogliani, Bruno; Rongliang, Qiu; Mulligan, David R

2015-04-21

Phytomining technology employs hyperaccumulator plants to take up metal in harvestable plant biomass. Harvesting, drying and incineration of the biomass generates a high-grade bio-ore. We propose that "agromining" (a variant of phytomining) could provide local communities with an alternative type of agriculture on degraded lands; farming not for food crops, but for metals such as nickel (Ni). However, two decades after its inception and numerous successful experiments, commercial phytomining has not yet become a reality. To build the case for the minerals industry, a large-scale demonstration is needed to identify operational risks and provide "real-life" evidence for profitability.

Impact of solvent extraction organics on bioleaching by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Hualong; Liu, Xiaorong; Shen, Junhui; Chi, Daojie

2017-03-01

Solvent extraction organics (SX organics) entrained and dissoluted in the raffinate during copper SX operation, can impact bioleaching in case of raffinate recycling. The influence of SX organics on bioleaching process by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (At. ferrooxidans) has been investigated. The results showed that, cells of At. ferrooxidans grew slower with contaminated low-grade chalcopyrite ores in shaken flasks bioleaching, the copper bioleaching efficiency reached 15%, lower than that of 24% for uncontaminated minerals. Obviously, the SX organics could adsorb on mineral surface and hinder its contact with bacterials, finanlly lead to the low bioleaching efficiency.

Mechanism of unintentionally produced persistent organic pollutant formation in iron ore sintering.

PubMed

Sun, Yifei; Liu, Lina; Fu, Xin; Zhu, Tianle; Buekens, Alfons; Yang, Xiaoyi; Wang, Qiang

2016-04-05

Effects of temperature, carbon content and copper additive on formation of chlorobenzenes (CBzs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in iron ore sintering were investigated. By heating simulated fly ash (SFA) at a temperature range of 250-500°C, the yield of both CBzs and PCBs presented two peaks of 637ng/g-fly ash at 350°C and 1.5×10(5)ng/g-fly ash at 450°C for CBzs, and 74ng/g-fly ash at 300°C and 53ng/g-fly ash at 500°C. Additionally, in the thermal treatment of real fly ash (RFA), yield of PCBs displayed two peak values at 350°C and 500°C, however, yield of CBzs showed only one peak at 400°C. In the thermal treatment of SFA with a carbon content range of 0-20wt% at 300°C, both CBzs and PCBs obtained the maximum productions of 883ng/g-fly ash for CBzs and 127ng/g-fly ash for PCBs at a 5wt% carbon content. Copper additives also affected chlorinated aromatic formation. The catalytic activity of different copper additives followed the orders: CuCl2∙2H2O>Cu2O>Cu>CuSO4>CuO for CBzs, and CuCl2∙2H2O>Cu2O>CuO>Cu>CuSO4 for PCBs. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Urinary excretion of uranium in adult inhabitants of the Czech Republic.

PubMed

Malátová, Irena; Bečková, Věra; Kotík, Lukáš

2016-02-01

The main aim of this study was to determine and evaluate urinary excretion of uranium in the general public of the Czech Republic. This value should serve as a baseline for distinguishing possible increase in uranium content in population living near legacy sites of mining and processing uranium ores and also to help to distinguish the proportion of the uranium content in urine among uranium miners resulting from inhaled dust. The geometric mean of the uranium concentration in urine of 74 inhabitants of the Czech Republic was 0.091 mBq/L (7.4 ng/L) with the 95% confidence interval 0.071-0.12 mBq/L (5.7-9.6 ng/L) respectively. The geometric mean of the daily excretion was 0.15 mBq/d (12.4 ng/d) with the 95% confidence interval 0.12-0.20 mBq/d (9.5-16.1 ng/d) respectively. Despite the legacy of uranium mines and plants processing uranium ore in the Czech Republic, the levels of uranium in urine and therefore, also human body content of uranium, is similar to other countries, esp. Germany, Slovenia and USA. Significant difference in the daily urinary excretion of uranium was found between individuals using public supply and private water wells as a source of drinking water. Age dependence of daily urinary excretion of uranium was not found. Mean values and their range are comparable to other countries, esp. Germany, Slovenia and USA. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Are modern geothermal waters in northwest Nevada forming epithermal gold deposits?

USGS Publications Warehouse

Breit, George N.; Hunt, Andrew G.; Wolf, Ruth E.; Koenig, Alan E.; Fifarek, Richard; Coolbaugh, Mark F.

2010-01-01

Hydrothermal systems currently are active near some gold deposits in northwestern Nevada. Possible links of these modern systems to gold mineralization were evaluated by chemically and isotopically analyzing water samples from the Brady, Dixie Valley, Humboldt House, San Emidio-Empire, Soda Lake, and Wabuska geothermal areas. In addition, quartz veins from Humboldt House and the adjacent Florida Canyon Mine were analyzed to compare ore and gangue phases with those predicted to form from proximal hydrothermal fluids.Nearly all water samples are alkali-chloride-type. Total dissolved solids range from 800 to 3900 mg/L, and pH varies from 5.6 to 7.8. Geochemical modeling with SOLVEQ, WATCH, and CHILLER predict the precipitation of silica in all systems during cooling. Anhydrite, calcite, barite, pyrite, base-metal sulfides, and alumino-silicates are variably saturated at calculated reservoir temperatures and also precipitate during boiling/cooling of some fluids. Measured dissolved gold concentrations are low (<0.2μg/L), but are generally consistent with contents predicted by equilibrium of sampled solutions with elemental gold at reservoir temperatures.  Although the modern geothermal waters can precipitate ore minerals, the low gold and other ore metal concentrations require very large fluid volumes to form a deposit of economic interest.

A new standardized method for quantification of humic and fulvic acids in humic ores and commercial products.

PubMed

Lamar, Richard T; Olk, Daniel C; Mayhew, Lawrence; Bloom, Paul R

2014-01-01

Increased use of humic substances in agriculture has generated intense interest among producers, consumers, and regulators for an accurate and reliable method to quantify humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) in raw ores and products. Here we present a thoroughly validated method, the new standardized method for determination of HA and FA contents in raw humate ores and in solid and liquid products produced from them. The methods used for preparation of HA and FA were adapted according to the guidelines of the International Humic Substances Society involving alkaline extraction followed by acidification to separate HA from the fulvic fraction. This is followed by separation of FA from the fulvic fraction by adsorption on a nonionic macroporous acrylic ester resin at acid pH. It differs from previous methods in that it determines HA and FA concentrations gravimetrically on an ash-free basis. Critical steps in the method, e.g., initial test portion mass, test portion to extract volume ratio, extraction time, and acidification of alkaline extract, were optimized for maximum and consistent recovery of HA and FA. The method detection limits for HA and FA were 4.62 and 4.8 mg/L, respectively. The method quantitation limits for HA and FA were 14.7 and 15.3 mg/L, respectively.

Multielemental analysis of Migori (Southwest, Kenya) artisanal gold mine ores and sediments by EDX-ray fluorescence technique: implications of occupational exposure and environmental impact.

PubMed

Odumo, O B; Mustapha, A O; Patel, J P; Angeyo, H K

2011-05-01

The results of heavy element profiling of the gold ores and sediments associated with the artisanal gold mining activities of the Migori gold belt of Southwestern Nyanza, Kenya, were reported in this paper. The analysis was made to assess the occupational exposure of the miners as well as to investigate the environmental impact of toxic heavy metals. Gold ores and sediments from the artisanal gold processing were sampled in four artisanal gold mining areas: Osiri A, Osiri B, Mikei and Macalder (Makalda) and analyzed for heavy elemental content using (109)Cd radioisotope excited EDXRF spectrometry technique. Analysis consisted of direct irradiating of sample pellets. The concentrations of major elements detected were: titanium (711.41-10,766.67 mg/kg); cobalt (82.65-1,010.00 mg/kg); zinc (29.90-63,210 mg/kg); arsenic (29.30-8,246.59 mg/kg); gold (14.07-73.48 mg/kg); lead (16.31-14,999.40 mg/kg) and mercury (16.10-149.93 mg/kg). The average concentration of the heavy toxic metals i.e. arsenic, lead, titanium and zinc were found to be above 50 mg/Kg as recommended by World Health Organization. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011

Geology of the Shinarump No. 1 uranium mine, Seven Mile Canyon area, Grand County, Utah

USGS Publications Warehouse

Finch, Warren Irvin

1953-01-01

The Shinarump No. 1 uranium mine is located about 12 miles northwest of Moab, Utah, in the Seven Mile Canyon area, Grand County, Utah. A study was made of the geology of the Shinarump No. 1 mine in order to determine the habits, ore controls, and possible origin of the deposit. Rocks of Permain, Triassic, and Jurassic age crop out in the area mapped. Uranium deposits are found in three zones in the lower 25 feet of the Upper Triassic Chinle formation. The Shinarump No. 1 mine, which is in the lowermost zone, is located on the west flank of the Moab anticline near the Moab fault. The Shinarump No. 1 uranium deposit consists of discontinuous lenticular layers of mineralized rock, irregular in outline, that, in general, follow the bedding. Ore minerals, mainly uranite, impregnate the rock. High-grade seams of uranite and chalcocite occur along bedding planes. Formation of unraninite is later than or simultaneous with most sulfides. Chalcocite may be of two ages, with some being later than uraninite. Uraninite and chalcocite are concentrated in the poorer sorted parts of siltstones. Guides to ore in the Seven Mile Canyon area inferred from the study of the Shinarump No. 1 deposit are the presence of bleached siltstone, copper sulfides, and carbonaceous matter. Results of spectrographic analysis indicated that the mineralizing solutions contained important amounts of barium, vanadium, uranium, and copper as well as lesser amounts of strontium, chromium, boron, yttrium, lead, and zinc. The origin of the Shinarump No. 1 deposit is thought to be hydrothermal, dated as later or early.

Solid-State Metalized Reduction of Magnesium-Rich Low-Nickel Oxide Ores Using Coal as the Reductant Based on Thermodynamic Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Baozhong; Xing, Peng; Yang, Weijiao; Wang, Chengyan; Chen, Yongqiang; Wang, Hua

2017-08-01

The solid-state metalized reduction of magnesium-rich low-nickel oxide ore using coal as a reductant was studied based on thermodynamic analysis. The major constituent minerals of the ore were silicates and goethite. The former was the main nickel-bearing mineral, and the latter was the main iron-bearing mineral. Single factor tests were conducted to investigate the effects of reduction temperature, duration, and coal dosage on the beneficiation of nickel and iron such that optimal conditions were achieved. Considering the low recoveries of nickel and iron (Ni, 13.9 pct; Fe, 30.3 pct) under the obtained optimal conditions, an improved process, adding CaF2 before the reaction, was proposed to modify the solid-state metalized process. The results showed that the recoveries of nickel and iron reached to 96.5 and 73.4 pct, respectively, and that the grades of nickel and iron in the concentrate increased from 2.5 and 62.6 wt pct to 6.9 and 71.4 wt pct, respectively. Nickel and iron in the absence of CaF2 were metalized; nevertheless, the size of ferronickel particles was only 1 μm. Furthermore, alloys in the presence of CaF2 aggregated and exhibited bands with a length greater than 200 µm. These observations suggested that CaF2 could effectively reduce the surface tension of the newly generated alloy interface and promote the migration and polymerization of the alloy particles, which improves the beneficiation of nickel and iron by magnetic separation.

Grades 1-3: Arkansas Public School Course Content Guide.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arkansas State Dept. of Education, Little Rock.

Provided as a framework for use in curriculum development are Arkansas' course content guides for the primary grades one, two, and three. At each grade level, language arts, mathematics, and reading skills have been identified at three instructional levels: basic, developmental, and extensional. Basic skills are those which all students must…

Nitrile O-ring Cracking: A Case of Vacuum Flange O-ring Failures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dees, Craig

2016-07-01

A review of recent nitrile O-ring failures in ISO-KF vacuum flange connections in glovebox applications is presented. An investigation of a single “isolated” o-ring failure leads to the discovery of cracked nitrile o-rings in a glovebox atmospheric control unit. The initial cause of the o-ring failure is attributed to ozone degradation. However, additional investigation reveals nitrile o-ring cracking on multiple gloveboxes and general purpose piping, roughly 85% of the nitrile o-rings removed for inspection show evidence of visible cracking after being in service for 18 months or less. The results of material testing and ambient air testing is presented, elevatedmore » ozone levels are not found. The contributing factors of o-ring failure, including nitrile air sensitivity, inadequate storage practices, and poor installation techniques, are discussed. A discussion of nitrile o-ring material properties, the benefits and limitations, and alternate materials are discussed. Considerations for o-ring material selection, purchasing, storage, and installation are presented in the context of lessons learned from the nitrile o-ring cracking investigation. This paper can be presented in 20 minutes and does not require special accommodations or special audio visual devices.« less

Composite correlation filter for O-ring detection in stationary colored noise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hassebrook, Laurence G.

2009-04-01

O-rings are regularly replaced in aircraft and if they are not replaced or if they are installed improperly, they can result in catastrophic failure of the aircraft. It is critical that the o-rings be packaged correctly to avoid mistakes made by technicians during routine maintenance. For this reason, fines may be imposed on the o-ring manufacturer if the o-rings are packaged incorrectly. That is, a single o-ring must be packaged and labeled properly. No o-rings or more than one o-ring per package is not acceptable. We present an industrial inspection system based on real-time composite correlation filtering that has successfully solved this problem in spite of opaque paper o-ring packages. We present the system design including the composite filter design.

Ore-fluid evolution at the Getchell Carlin-type gold deposit, Nevada, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cline, J.S.; Hofstra, A.A.

2000-01-01

Minerals and fluid-inclusion populations were examined using petrography, microthermometry, quadrupole mass-spectrometer gas analyses and stable-isotope studies to characterize fluids responsible for gold mineralization at the Getchell Carlin-type gold deposit. The gold-ore assemblage at Getchell is superimposed on quartz-pyrite vein mineralization associated with a Late-Cretaceous granodiorite stock that intruded Lower-Paleozoic sedimentary rocks. The ore assemblage, of mid-Tertiary age, consists of disseminated arsenian pyrite that contains submicrometer gold, jasperoid quartz, and later fluorite and orpiment that fill fractures and vugs. Late ore-stage realgar and calcite enclose ore-stage minerals. Pre-ore quartz trapped fluids with a wide range of salinities (1 to 21 wt.% NaCl equivalent), gas compositions (H2O, CO2, and CH4), and temperatures (120 to >360??C). Oxygen- and hydrogen-isotope ratios indicate that pre-ore fluids likely had a magmatic source, and were associated with intrusion of the granodiorite stock and related dikes. Ore-stage jasperoid contains moderate salinity, aqueous fluid inclusions trapped at 180 to 220??C. Ore fluids contain minor CO2 and trace H2S that allowed the fluid to react with limestone host rocks and transport gold, respectively. Aqueous inclusions in fluorite indicate that fluid temperatures declined to ~175??C by the end of ore-stage mineralization. As the hydrothermal system collapsed, fluid temperatures declined to 155 to 115??C and realgar and calcite precipitated. Inclusion fluids in ore-stage minerals have high ??D(H2O) and ??18O(H2O) values that indicate that the fluid had a deep source, and had a metamorphic or magmatic origin, or both. Late ore-stage fluids extend to lower ??D(H2O) values, and have a wider range of ??18O(H2O) values suggesting dilution by variably exchanged meteoric waters. Results show that deeply sourced ore fluids rose along the Getchell fault system, where they dissolved carbonate wall rocks and deposited gold-enriched pyrite and jasperoid quartz. Gold and pyrite precipitated together as H2S in the ore fluids reacted with iron in the host rocks. As ore fluids mixed with local aquifer fluids, ore fluids became cooler and more dilute. Cooling caused precipitation of ore-stage fluorite and orpiment, and late ore-stage realgar. Phase separation and/or neutralization of the ore fluid during the waning stages of the hydrothermal ore system led to deposition of late ore-stage calcite.

The coupled geochemistry of Au and As in pyrite from hydrothermal ore deposits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deditius, Artur P.; Reich, Martin; Kesler, Stephen E.; Utsunomiya, Satoshi; Chryssoulis, Stephen L.; Walshe, John; Ewing, Rodney C.

2014-09-01

The ubiquity of Au-bearing arsenian pyrite in hydrothermal ore deposits suggests that the coupled geochemical behaviour of Au and As in this sulfide occurs under a wide range of physico-chemical conditions. Despite significant advances in the last 20 years, fundamental factors controlling Au and As ratios in pyrite from ore deposits remain poorly known. Here we explore these constraints using new and previously published EMPA, LA-ICP-MS, SIMS, and μ-PIXE analyses of As and Au in pyrite from Carlin-type Au, epithermal Au, porphyry Cu, Cu-Au, and orogenic Au deposits, volcanogenic massive sulfide (VHMS), Witwatersrand Au, iron oxide copper gold (IOCG), and coal deposits. Pyrite included in the data compilation formed under temperatures from ∼30 to ∼600 °C and in a wide variety of geological environments. The pyrite Au-As data form a wedge-shaped zone in compositional space, and the fact that most data points plot below the solid solubility limit defined by Reich et al. (2005) indicate that Au1+ is the dominant form of Au in arsenian pyrite and that Au-bearing ore fluids that deposit this sulfide are mostly undersaturated with respect to native Au. The analytical data also show that the solid solubility limit of Au in arsenian pyrite defined by an Au/As ratio of 0.02 is independent of the geochemical environment of pyrite formation and rather depends on the crystal-chemical properties of pyrite and post-depositional alteration. Compilation of Au-As concentrations and formation temperatures for pyrite indicates that Au and As solubility in pyrite is retrograde; Au and As contents decrease as a function of increasing temperature from ∼200 to ∼500 °C. Based on these results, two major Au-As trends for Au-bearing arsenian pyrite from ore deposits are defined. One trend is formed by pyrites from Carlin-type and orogenic Au deposits where compositions are largely controlled by fluid-rock interactions and/or can be highly perturbed by changes in temperature and alteration by hydrothermal fluids. The second trend consists of pyrites from porphyry Cu and epithermal Au deposits, which are characterised by compositions that preserve the Au/As signature of mineralizing magmatic-hydrothermal fluids, confirming the role of this sulfide in controlling metal ratios in ore systems.

Manganese and ferromanganese ores from different tectonic settings in the NW Himalayas, Pakistan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tahir Shah, Mohammad; Moon, Charles J.

2007-02-01

In Pakistan manganese and ferromanganese ores have been reported from the Hazara area of North West Frontier Province, Waziristan agencies in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and the Lasbela-Khuzdar regions of Baluchistan. This study is focused on comparison of mineralogy and geochemistry of the continental ferromanganese ores of Hazara and the ophiolitic manganese ores of the Waziristan area of Pakistan. In the Hazara area, ferromanganese ores occur at Kakul, Galdanian and Chura Gali, near Abbottabad, within the Hazira Formation of the Kalachitta-Margala thrust belt of the NW Himalayas of the Indo-Pakistan Plate. The Cambrian Hazira Formation is composed of reddish-brown ferruginous siltstone, with variable amounts of clay, shale, ferromanganese ores, phosphorite and barite. In Waziristan, manganese ores occur at Shuidar, Mohammad Khel and Saidgi, within the Waziristan ophiolite complex, on the western margin of the Indo-Pakistan Plate in NW Pakistan. These banded and massive ores are hosted by metachert and overlie metavolcanics. The ferromanganese ores of the Hazara area contain variable amount of bixbyite, partridgeite, hollandite, pyrolusite and braunite. Bixbyite and partridgeite are the dominant Mn-bearing phases. Hematite dominates in Fe-rich ores. Gangue minerals are iron-rich clay, alumino-phosphate minerals, apatite, barite and glauconite are present in variable amounts, in both Fe-rich and Mn-rich varieties. The texture of the ore phases indicates greenschist facies metamorphism. The Waziristan ores are composed of braunite, with minor pyrolusite and hollandite. Hematite occurs as an additional minor phase in the Fe-rich ores of the Shuidar area. The only silicate phase in these ores is cryptocrystalline quartz. The chemical composition of the ferromanganese ores in Hazara suggests that the Mn-Fe was contributed by both hydrogenous and hydrothermal sources, while the manganese ores of Waziristan originated only from a hydrothermal source. It is suggested that the Fe-Mn ores of the Hazara area originated from a mixed hydrothermal-hydrogenetic source in shallow water in a ontinental shelf environment due to the transgression and regression of the sea, while the Mn ores of Waziristan were formed at sea-floor spreading centers within the Neo-Tethys Ocean, and were later obducted as part of the Waziristan ophiolite complex.

The Russell gold deposit, Carolina Slate Belt, North Carolina

USGS Publications Warehouse

Klein, T.L.; Cunningham, C.G.; Logan, M.A.V.; Seal, R.R.

2007-01-01

Gold deposits have been mined in the Carolina slate belt from the early 1800s to recent times, with most of the production from large mines in South Carolina. The Russell mine, one of the larger producers in North Carolina, is located in the central Uwharrie Mountains, and produced over 470 kg of gold. Ore grades averaged about 3.4 grams per tonne (g/ t), with higher-grade zones reported. The Russell deposit is interpreted to be a sediment-hosted, gold-rich, base-metal poor, volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit in which gold was remobilized, in part, during Ordovician metamorphism. The ore was deposited syngenetically with laminated siltstones of the late Proterozoic Tillery Formation that have been metamorphosed to a lower greenschist facies. The Tillery Formation regionally overlies subaerial to shallow marine rhyolitic volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks of the Uwharrie Formation and underlies the marine volcanic and sedimentary rocks of the Cid Formation. Recent mapping has shown that a rhyolitic dome near the Russell mine was extruded during the deposition of the lower part of the Tillery Formation, at about the same time as ore deposition. Relict mafic, rock fragments present in the ore zones suggest contemporaneous bimodal (rhyolite-basalt) volcanism. The maximum formation age of the Russell deposit is younger than 558 Ma, which is similar to that of the larger, well known Brewer, Haile, and Ridgeway deposits of South Carolina. Gold was mined from at least six zones that are parallel to the regional metamorphic foliation. These strongly deformed zones consist of northeast-trending folds, high-angle reverse faults, and asymmetric doubly plunging folds overturned to the southeast. The dominant structure at the mine is an asymmetric doubly plunging anticline with the axis trending N 45?? E, probably related to late Ordovician (456 ?? 2 Ma) regional metamorphism and deformation. Two stages of pyrite growth are recognized. Stage 1, primary, spongy pyrite, is present in thin massive sulfide layers parallel to bedding and intergrown with pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, and sparse arsenopyrite. Stage 2, secondary pyrite, is present as euhedral, idiomorphic rims on spongy pyrite and as veinlets that parallel the regional foliation. Stage 1 pyrite was deposited syngenetically or diagenetically during or soon after sedimentation. Stage 2 pyrite overgrowths and veins resulted from recrystallization or remobilization of stage 1 pyrite, probably during deformation related to Ordovician regional metamorphism. It is proposed that the spongy texture of the stage 1 pyrite represents nucleation and growth of pyrite on organic matter, possibly of bacterial origin. Other textures, such as geometric voids in spongy pyrite, As-rich zones surrounding central voids, 60-??m ring structures composed of spongy pyrite, and layers of spongy pyrite interlayered with bedding laminations, also appear to indicate replacement of organic matter by pyrite. Stage 1 pyrite contains up to 0.06 wt percent gold. The ??34S values of pyrite in and near pyritic ore (3.5-4.5???), in the rhyolite dome (5.1-5.4???) and in the Tillery Formation (5.9-6.2???) are interpreted to reflect mixing of sulfur derived from igneous and seawater sources. Whole-rock ??18O values of nearby unaltered mudstone are about 11 per mil whereas those from altered mudstone at the deposit are 7.4 to 10.6 per mil. The lower ?? 18O values are interpreted to indicate possible high-temperature exchange between relatively low ??18O hydrothermal fluids and the wall rocks. Gold, As, K, and Mo are enriched relative to the regional background in both the ore zones and in pyrite veins and disseminations in the nearby rhyolite dome, suggesting a possible genetic link between the rhyolitic volcanism and the gold mineralization. ?? 2007 Society of Economic Geologists, Inc.

Cytological study of DNA content and nuclear morphometric analysis for aid in the diagnosis of high-grade dysplasia within oral leukoplakia.

PubMed

Yang, Xi; Xiao, Xuan; Wu, Wenyan; Shen, Xuemin; Zhou, Zengtong; Liu, Wei; Shi, Linjun

2017-09-01

To quantitatively examine the DNA content and nuclear morphometric status of oral leukoplakia (OL) and investigate its association with the degree of dysplasia in a cytologic study. Oral cytobrush biopsy was carried out to obtain exfoliative epithelial cells from lesions before scalpel biopsy at the same location in a blinded series of 70 patients with OL. Analysis of nuclear morphometry and DNA content status using image cytometry was performed with oral smears stained with the Feulgen-thionin method. Nuclear morphometric analysis revealed significant differences in DNA content amount, DNA index, nuclear area, nuclear radius, nuclear intensity, sphericity, entropy, and fractal dimension (all P < .01) between low-grade and high-grade dysplasia. DNA content analysis identified 34 patients with OL (48.6%) with DNA content abnormality. Nonhomogeneous lesion (P = .018) and high-grade dysplasia (P = .008) were significantly associated with abnormal DNA content. Importantly, the positive correlation between the degree of oral dysplasia and DNA content status was significant (P = .004, correlation coefficient = 0.342). Cytology analysis of DNA content and nuclear morphometric status using image cytometry may support their use as a screening and monitoring tool for OL progression. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

40 CFR 440.40 - Applicability; description of the mercury ore subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... mercury ore subcategory. 440.40 Section 440.40 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS (CONTINUED) ORE MINING AND DRESSING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Mercury Ore Subcategory § 440.40 Applicability; description of the mercury ore subcategory. The provisions...

40 CFR 440.10 - Applicability; description of the iron ore subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... ore subcategory. 440.10 Section 440.10 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS (CONTINUED) ORE MINING AND DRESSING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Iron Ore Subcategory § 440.10 Applicability; description of the iron ore subcategory. The provisions of...

40 CFR 440.60 - Applicability; description of the tungsten ore subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... tungsten ore subcategory. 440.60 Section 440.60 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS (CONTINUED) ORE MINING AND DRESSING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Tungsten Ore Subcategory § 440.60 Applicability; description of the tungsten ore subcategory. The...

40 CFR 440.10 - Applicability; description of the iron ore subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... ore subcategory. 440.10 Section 440.10 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS (CONTINUED) ORE MINING AND DRESSING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Iron Ore Subcategory § 440.10 Applicability; description of the iron ore subcategory. The provisions of...

40 CFR 440.50 - Applicability; description of the titanium ore subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... titanium ore subcategory. 440.50 Section 440.50 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS (CONTINUED) ORE MINING AND DRESSING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Titanium Ore Subcategory § 440.50 Applicability; description of the titanium ore subcategory. The...

40 CFR 440.60 - Applicability; description of the tungsten ore subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... tungsten ore subcategory. 440.60 Section 440.60 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS (CONTINUED) ORE MINING AND DRESSING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Tungsten Ore Subcategory § 440.60 Applicability; description of the tungsten ore subcategory. The...

40 CFR 440.60 - Applicability; description of the tungsten ore subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... tungsten ore subcategory. 440.60 Section 440.60 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS (CONTINUED) ORE MINING AND DRESSING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Tungsten Ore Subcategory § 440.60 Applicability; description of the tungsten ore subcategory. The...

40 CFR 440.20 - Applicability; description of the aluminum ore subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... aluminum ore subcategory. 440.20 Section 440.20 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS (CONTINUED) ORE MINING AND DRESSING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Aluminum Ore Subcategory § 440.20 Applicability; description of the aluminum ore subcategory. The...

40 CFR 440.90 - Applicability; description of the antimony ore subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... antimony ore subcategory. 440.90 Section 440.90 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS (CONTINUED) ORE MINING AND DRESSING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Antimony Ore Subcategory § 440.90 Applicability; description of the antimony ore subcategory. The...

40 CFR 440.90 - Applicability; description of the antimony ore subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... antimony ore subcategory. 440.90 Section 440.90 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS (CONTINUED) ORE MINING AND DRESSING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Antimony Ore Subcategory § 440.90 Applicability; description of the antimony ore subcategory. The...

40 CFR 440.50 - Applicability; description of the titanium ore subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... titanium ore subcategory. 440.50 Section 440.50 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS (CONTINUED) ORE MINING AND DRESSING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Titanium Ore Subcategory § 440.50 Applicability; description of the titanium ore subcategory. The...

40 CFR 440.20 - Applicability; description of the aluminum ore subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... aluminum ore subcategory. 440.20 Section 440.20 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS (CONTINUED) ORE MINING AND DRESSING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Aluminum Ore Subcategory § 440.20 Applicability; description of the aluminum ore subcategory. The...

40 CFR 440.70 - Applicability; description of the nickel ore subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... nickel ore subcategory. 440.70 Section 440.70 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS (CONTINUED) ORE MINING AND DRESSING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Nickel Ore Subcategory § 440.70 Applicability; description of the nickel ore subcategory. The provisions...

40 CFR 440.50 - Applicability; description of the titanium ore subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... titanium ore subcategory. 440.50 Section 440.50 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS (CONTINUED) ORE MINING AND DRESSING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Titanium Ore Subcategory § 440.50 Applicability; description of the titanium ore subcategory. The...

40 CFR 440.40 - Applicability; description of the mercury ore subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... mercury ore subcategory. 440.40 Section 440.40 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS (CONTINUED) ORE MINING AND DRESSING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Mercury Ore Subcategory § 440.40 Applicability; description of the mercury ore subcategory. The provisions...

40 CFR 440.10 - Applicability; description of the iron ore subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... ore subcategory. 440.10 Section 440.10 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS (CONTINUED) ORE MINING AND DRESSING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Iron Ore Subcategory § 440.10 Applicability; description of the iron ore subcategory. The provisions of...

40 CFR 440.70 - Applicability; description of the nickel ore subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... nickel ore subcategory. 440.70 Section 440.70 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS (CONTINUED) ORE MINING AND DRESSING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Nickel Ore Subcategory § 440.70 Applicability; description of the nickel ore subcategory. The provisions...

40 CFR 440.40 - Applicability; description of the mercury ore subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... mercury ore subcategory. 440.40 Section 440.40 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS (CONTINUED) ORE MINING AND DRESSING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Mercury Ore Subcategory § 440.40 Applicability; description of the mercury ore subcategory. The provisions...

40 CFR 440.90 - Applicability; description of the antimony ore subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... antimony ore subcategory. 440.90 Section 440.90 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS (CONTINUED) ORE MINING AND DRESSING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Antimony Ore Subcategory § 440.90 Applicability; description of the antimony ore subcategory. The...