 Mineral Process Refinement
APPLIED PETROGRAPHICS has worked in conjunction with several mineral processing laboratories to resolve problems of extraction and concentration, and to improve flowsheet optimization. Petrographic and analytical work are useful in addressing a variety of mineral processing problems:
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| Factors affecting metallurgical recovery/encapsulation | |
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| Encapsulation of gold-bearing phases by quartz is illustrated in the two photos above. In the left-hand photo quartz encapsulates casts of gold-bearing arsenopyrite. In the right-hand photo native gold and electrum are encapsulated in quartz. Both photos were taken under transmitted light with crossed nicols (TLX). | |
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| Factors affecting metallurgical recovery | |
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| Low Cu leach recoveries in this deposit are due to several factors, including the presence of relict sulfides (chalcopyrite, digenite, bornite; left hand photo above), and residual Cu in alteration biotite. Cu-bearing biotites were found to account for most of the discrepancy between the leachable Cu and total Cu assays. | |
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| Textural disposition of ore minerals (RL) |
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| This mixed Pb-Zn-Ag oxide-sulfide ore is characterized by complex textures that complicate successful beneficiation. Ore minerals include argentiferous galena, massicotite (PbO), and sphalerite (not present in this view). |
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