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By F. B. Waanders

Coal, as energy resource, possesses numerous characteristics and properties which all have an influence on its gasification behaviour. The two properties considered as critically important when evaluating a coal source for gasification is its mineral content and slagging behaviour. Research has indicated that slagging formation can be inhibited or even prevented by the addition of a fluxing agent. It is thus of great importance to understand the mineral interaction during gasification in order to select a suitable fluxing agent for the prevention of slagging and clinker formation in the gasifier. The aim of the present project is to evaluate the effect of iron as a fluxing agent and study the transformation of the mineral and added iron during gasification. A pre-determined amount of pure elemental iron (between 2wt% and 20wt%) was added to a base case coal sample in order to study the effect of the addition of iron to the coal. The transformation of the iron in conjunction with the possible iron containing minerals present in the coal was studied by means of Mössbauer analyses. Typical characterisation techniques included proximate analyses, ultimate analyses and ash composition analyses. The ash fusion temperature analyses (AFT) were used to study and predict the slagging behaviour of the iron-spiked coal samples. Even though AFT analyses only provide an average flow property, it gives a good indication of the changes that the iron addition induces on coal properties. FactSage modelling was carried out in conjunction with the Mössbauer and AFT analyses. From the proximate, ultimate and ash composition analyses it was clear that the coal used con-formed to the average characteristics measured over an extended time period. From the AFT values it was seen that an increase in the flow temperature occurred with the addition of pure elemental iron to the coal, which can be of importance for operational purposes as to raise the gasifier temperature and not to have slagging problems to occur in the gasifier. The Mössbauer data show that he-matite is the main Fe-component that forms from the pyrite originally present and from the added iron to the coal, consistent with FactSage modelling, which shows that the partial oxygen pressure determines which mineral species will form. This study opens up new possibilities when considering operational problems experienced in in-dustrial gasifiers. Successful completion of this study and a study to look at reducing conditions in the gasifier will also add to the knowledge that already exists regarding fluxing agents.

Jan 1, 2014

By Graeme Lamson, Rene Dobbe, Merle Kalstrom, Janice Baron, Robert Thorpe, Chris Martin, Snezana Bajic, Amanda Palko

"This paper presents early results from a case study at the Mount Polley porphyry copper mine in British Columbia, Canada. Daily mineralogical data was acquired and reconciled with daily plant assay and recovery balances to interrogate the mineralogical controls on plant performance. After commissioning, the Minesite machine operated smoothly and reliably, creating daily data to generate mineralogical balances around the circuit for a period of several weeks. The key data, on final products were produced within 13 hours of the end of the respective operating period. The resulting information allowed for a greater understanding of the opportunities and limitations of the Mount Polley metallurgy. In this paper, how this information can be used to help long term strategic planning for the operation, as well as mine planning and production forecasting and the fine tuning of day to day mill operations is described. Early data available at the time of preparing this paper indicated that roughly 40% of the sulphide losses, or 32% of total copper losses existed as low grade inclusions in +75 micron tails. This represented the dominant form of long term copper losses, demonstrated repeatedly in the routine analytical data. However, on a day-to-day basis, the amount of copper present as chrysocolla is the major driver behind variations in total copper recovery. The degree to which this influences mill recovery is valuable to the geologist or mine planner. As they are armed with mineral speciation information for future ores, this will allow for improved mine planning, prediction of copper recoveries and production forecasting. The data was also started to find value in the mill by showing what caused sulphide losses. In the roughers, for example, the data showed poor recovery was the result of poor flotation performance and not any changes the speciation of copper sulphides or their liberation characteristics."

Jan 1, 2014

By P. S. Dash

With implementation of stringent environmental regulations, ultra clean coal technology development programs have gained significant importance worldwide. As far as Indian scenario is concerned, most of the coals present in India are of drift origin and low grade, containing high mineral matter varying from 15% to greater than 50%. The inorganic or ash constituents of Indian coals are finely disseminated through the organic or carbonaceous constituents so, that commonly used physical beneficiation techniques are of only limited value in affecting separation. Chemical processes involve addition of chemicals, which react with the mineral matter and allow its easy removal. The present study envisages the effect of aqueous alkali leaching followed by acid washing on the removal of mineral matter from two different captive coals of Tata Steel at elevated temperature and pressure. The experiments are conducted at desired conditions using a bench scale pressure reactor set up having proper data acquisition and control system. The research study revealed, that it is possible to reduce the ash content up to 70% by this method. The alkali content of the product clean coal does not increase whereas the silica and alumina content reduces by nearly 58% and 62% respectively. Significant reduction in the phosphorus content is observed after the acid treatment. The crucible swelling number of the feed coal improves after the treatment. The mechanism of demineralisation was evaluated by analyzing the coal samples before and after the alkali and acid treatment using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Because of the acidic nature of the silicates and aluminates, they dissolve into the NaOH solution and form sodalite. Sodalite is partially soluble in the alkali solution. The hydrates formed during alkali treatment are partially removed due to acid wash. This study in overall provides an insight into possible alternative methods of beneficiation for removal of ash from high ash Indian coals.

Sep 1, 2012

By Sanjeeva Latchireddi

The effective utilization of the energy in comminution devices depend on how efficiently the broken particles leave the breakage field as soon as they reach product size. In crushers the transport of broken particles smaller than CSS is done by gravity (vertical) thus allowing the energy to be applied to new particles. However, in AG/SAG mills, gravity becomes the energy field and the transport of particles is horizontal which needs a suitable discharge mechanism and has been found to have significant effect on grinding efficiency. The material transport in AG/SAG mills depend on how efficiently the discharge system (grate and pulp lifters) operates. Material transport plays a significant role on efficiency of horizontal grinding mills ? AG/SAG/Ball mills. The magnitude of benefits that can be achieved with efficient material transport in AG/SAG mills has been demonstrated in a Greenfield milling operation at Mirabela Mineração?s SantaRita Nickel operation located in northeastern part of Bahia in Brazil. This grinding circuit was commissioned in October 2009, which was designed as a typical SABC circuit to grind 4.6 mtpa (575tph) to produce a P80 of 125um with 10-12% ball charge in SAG mill. However, it has been operating as ABC circuit without any grinding media in SAG mill. The nameplate design capacity has been achieved in few days and has gradually increased to an average of +800 tph and still it is operating in ABC mode. The milling circuit commissioning resulted in small and relatively simple measures to rectify, which was reflected in the rapid commissioning of the milling circuit and it achieved the nameplate capacity within days. The Santa Rita grinding circuit consists of one 30?x 15.4? 8.5MW SAG Mill fitted with Outotec patented Turbo Pulp Lifters (TPL TM ) in close circuit with HP400 short head pebble crusher and one 20? x 28.4? 5.5MW Ball Mill in closed circuit with Warman cyclone cluster fitted with 10 x 26? CAVEX cyclones. This paper examines the comminution design process, operating philosophies, experiences, post commissioning optimization, and future development works. Evaluation of the milling circuit performance relative to the design criteria is also discussed. Keywords: Autogenous Grate (AG), Semi-Autogenous Grate (SAG, Turbo Pulp Lifter (TPL)

Sep 1, 2012

By M. N. Abdusalyamova

The Republic of Tajikistan has large mercury-antimony deposit. The Republic takes the second place in the countries of the CIS by having antimony recourses or the fourth place in the world. Recently, on the mine bottom horizons the resources of gold were found. Gold in the data ore is submitted as nanosize particles. Results of ores enrichment of bottom horizons of Djijikrut deposit are obtained by a method of flotation. The flow sheet includes the rougher flotation, two scavenging flotation and two cleaner flotation. As a result of enrichment of ore, the mercury-antimony concentrate with the contents of 51.5% of antimony and recovery 90.3% from ore with the content of mercury of 3.5% was received. The investigation of thallium, selenium, and tellurium distributions on products of enrichment was carried out. The most effective reagents are a mixture of oksafore and butyl xanthogenate. While applying this mixture of reagents it is possible to refuse of the use of activator - nitrate lead. The behavior of gold is in details investigated during enrichment. To collective flotation concentrate is extracted only 30% of gold. The basic quantity of gold concentrates in tailings of flotation and is not taken by existing traditional methods. The alternative innovative technology of gold extraction was created. Various methods of roasting of a collective mercury - antimony concentrate oxidizing and reducing are investigated. Vacuum distillation of concentrate allocation in serial sublimates mercury and antimony was designed. In the received calcine concentrates gold. At additional roasting of a calcine up to 900°? concentration of gold makes 30.6 g/t. The offered innovational technology in a complex allows to process ores and concentrates unique mercury-antimony?gold bearing raw material. Keywords: ore, concentrate, flotation, cyanidation, roasting, mercury, antimony, gold

Sep 1, 2012

By A. A. Lavrinenko

There are discussed the possibilities of using of flotation tailings of platinum-copper-nickel sulfide ores of the Norilsk region for the preparation of backfill mixture instead of a specially produced rock and binder materials to reduce the cost of stowing operations and impact on the environment. It is shown that due to the presence in the tailings of flotation up to 10% of sulfide sulphur, which reduces the strength of the fill materials, and more than 1 g/t PGM it is necessary the preliminary extraction of the sulfides in the product for further processing that give an opportunity to reduce the losses of valuable components. It is shown that by the flotation of the current tailings it is possible to extract 91% of sulfide sulphur, 60% of palladium and 30% platinum in 17% sulfide concentrate containing 2.1 g/t palladium, and to reduce the sulphur content in the tailings up to 0.7%. Due to the easy oxidation of pyrrhotite, there is recommended fractional delivery of the collector with a total consumption 200 g/t. There are discussed results of the flotation study with an additional collector of PGM (sodium diizobutyditiophosfinate), which one show the possibility to increase extraction of platinum on 45%, as well as extraction of sulphur and palladium. For the flotation of sulfides and PGM from the current tailings there is recommended a combination of collectors for primary flotation and only butyl xanthate using in control operations. The possibility of using sludge fraction of the current tailings as a component for the preparation of the combined cementing materials after exposure of sulfides is analyzed. It is shown that the efficiency of the flotation of sulfides from this fraction can be enhanced using selective flocculants. There are discussed the advantages of implementation of completely hydrophobic butadiene-styrene copolymer in comparison with partially hydrophobic polymers. There is discussed an efficiency of the mechanochemical treatment of old tailings in turbo mill and sulphuric acid to remove oxide films from the surface of pyrrhotite before its flotation. Due to the pretreatment operation there is achieved increasing of sulphur extraction and after the introduction to the flotation circuit three control operations there is produced the fill material with sulphur content 2.5%. Keywords: tailings, copper-nickel ore, pyrrhotite, butyl xanthate, sodium diisobutyl dithiophosphinate, selective flocculation, butadiene-styrene copolymer, mechanochemical treatment

Sep 1, 2012

By A. N. Zagorodnyaya, Ye. G. Bochevskaya, E. A. Sargelova, Z. S. Abisheva, A. S. Sharipova

"In Kazakhstan, there is a unique sulphide copper deposit, in the ores containing the natural isotope of osmium-187 (more than 90 %). In the pyrometallurgical processing of concentrates for the target metal, osmium is mainly sublimated, with wet cleaning of metallurgical gases (dust and gas mixture) 40 % of it together with rhenium passes into washing solutions (wash acid). On the basis of this acid, the production of ammonium perrhenate was organized at the enterprise of the RSE ""Zhezkazganredmet"" and for the first time in the world practice - the isotope of osmium-187. However, the degree of its recovery from solutions does not exceed 8 % of the amount supplied with the charge or 25 % of the amount that was received for extraction. But the bulk of it (~ 75 %) remains in the raffinate, discharged to sewage treatment plants (wastewater). The studies presented in this work are aimed at solving the problem of osmium isotope-187 extracting from wastewater, which are a potential source of increasing metal production in Kazakhstan. The aim of this work is the development and scientific justification of osmium deposition regimes from wastewater using such reagents as thiosulfate and sodium sulphide. The influence of various physicochemical factors on the precipitation of the osmium was studied and optimal conditions for its maximum transition to sediment were chosen. An original method for obtaining osmium concentrate in the presence of sodium thiosulfate with the addition of potassium iodide from a new type of wastewater - man-made ammonia solutions has been developed. These solutions were combined mother liquors of solid-phase stripping operations and dissolution of pulp of crude ammonium perrhenate. On the basis of the obtained results, a settling technology for extraction of the osmium from man-made ammonia rhenium-containing solutions was introduced at RSE ""Zhezkazganredmet"". It should be noted that the degree of extraction of osmium, depending on its concentration in solutions entering on the settlement, and taking into account the addition of sulfuric acid, will vary from 60 to 90 %. The recovery of osmium during the test period was 58 %."

Jan 1, 2018

By Christopher Tucker, Marcello Veiga

Social issues are increasingly recognized as significant inhibitors to mineral development projects. Increasingly social risk is being recognized as a key factor determining the success of a mineral investment. Groups opposed to a mine for social or political reasons often use environmental impacts, real or perceived, to prevent mine development. These risk factors depend largely on cultural perceptions of mining activities and must be understood as such in order to be appropriately managed. A first step to addressing social issues is inclusive, transparent and meaningful engagement of stakeholders. This process allows stakeholders to understand what the other parties value in order to collectively establish a common currency for development and the creation of mutual value. Expanding the scope of benefits and values a mine can bring is of increasing importance to mining companies who typically consult outside specialists remote from the mine site and late in the development timeline for this purpose. Training technical staff, engineers and geologists, who make initial and ongoing contact with local interests, in a holistic approach to mine development is crucial to successful and economic mineral development projects. Further extending this conversation to the general public, media governments and non-governmental organizations is a necessary step in developing a meaningful discourse on the benefit of mining activities.

Jan 1, 2014

By Z. A. Zhou

In Canadian oil sands processing, flotation is used to recover liberated bitumen droplets from oil sands slurries. Similar to conventional mineral flotation practice, a fundamental limitation of recovering bitumen from low grade oil sand ores is its slow and ineffective aeration of the liberated small bitumen droplets. Gas nucleation and cavitation could provide better mechanisms for accelerating bitumen-bubble attachment. A research program was undertaken to examine factors affecting spontaneous bubble nucleation on bitumen surfaces. The results demonstrate that surface hydrophobicity and existence of gas nuclei in process water play a critical role for bubble nucleation. While there are more bubbles nucleated on highly hydrophobic silanated glass surfaces than on moderately hydrophobic bitumen, bubble nucleation on clean hydrophilic glass surfaces is negligible. Heating process water up to 85 ~ 95oC (as used in commercial operation) or boiling tap water prior to gas nucleation tests is shown to remove sufficient amount of gas nuclei existing in the water, thereby drastically reducing the number of bubbles nucleated on bitumen. Enhancing gas nuclei formation in hot process water is identified as a promising strategy to improve bitumen-bubble attachment during oil sands conditioning, and hence to increase bitumen recovery from low grade ores.

Jan 1, 2014

In the present work, the influence of coagulant, polymeric flocculant structure type and mode of addition on flocculation performance and dewatering behaviour of plant mineral waste tailings of diverse mineralogy (kaolin, quartz, goethite/hematite feldspar, gibbsite, rutile, and Illite) is investigated. High molecular weight, non-ionic polyacrylamide homopolymer and anionic (acrylate) and cationic (quaternary acrylate) copolymers were used in orthokinetic flocculation of colloidal-ly-stable, aqueous dispersion of negatively charged particles. It is demonstrated that, through prudent selection and mode of addition of polymer structure types, synergistic effect between certain cationic and anionic flocculants can be readily achieved, leading to significantly improved dewaterability of the heterogeneous mineral waste tailings.

Jan 1, 2014

By Renato S. Costa, Afonso H. Martins, Flávia D. Mendes

"This paper presents some important aspects regarding the ion exchange treatment of an Ni and Co sulphate acidic liquor using chelating resins. Chelating resins possessing iminodiacetic or bis-picolylamine functional groups were compared in terms of nickel and cobalt recovery. The experimental resin with bispicolylamine functionalities (Dowex M4195) was evaluated with respect to Ni and Co uptake, and compared with Rohm &Haas commercial chelating iminodiacetate acid resin. The Rohm & Haas chelating resin, Amberlite IRC 748, with its weakly acidic groups, did not work in acidic solution but exhibited good results at pH 4 and above. The resin that efficiently removed metals from high acidic solutions was the bis-picolylamine resin. Maximum nickel uptake values ranged between 85 g and 112 g Ni per Kg of resin.The experimental part dealt with the working conditions, resin characteristics and the influence upon the resin maximum exchange capacity of the following factors: nickel concentration, temperature, pH and resin-to- solution ratio. Based on the experimental data obtained, it has been proposed a innovative technological treatment."

Jan 1, 2003

By M. Saba

In cyanide leaching procedure, achieving an acceptable efficiency for silver and gold is very time-consuming, thus, enough studies have not been performed for optimization and modeling of this process. The kinetics of cyanide leaching includes two steps: first step comprises a sharp slope while the other has a slight increasing trend. In the present study, in order to reduce the time and cost, the cyanide leaching process of a sulfide silver/gold ore was optimized in the first period. The applied parameters and their ranges are: temperature 20-40 (°C); time 1-8 (hrs); cyanide concentration 1-2 (mole cyanide / mole Cu); the percentage of solid to liquid 1-2 (%) and pH 10-12. For design of experiments fractional factorial 2(5-1) was used. Also four center points were applied to increase the accuracy of the model. In addition, by analysis of variance (ANOVA) the most effective parameters were identified and the optimized condition was determined. A regression model was proposed to describe the effects of independent variables and their interacting role on silver recovery. Results showed that the model was linear for silver and nonlinear for gold. In the gold recovery process, the two important parameters are time and pH with the former being more effective. Due to the existence of cyanide ions in the medium, temperature and cyanide concentration have less influence in the gold recovery process. Solid to liquid ratio, in addition, comprises a slight negative impact on the procedure. This emphasizes the different kinetics of silver/ gold cyanide leaching. Finally, using the optimum condition the amount of silver and gold obtained were 61% and 67% in 8 hours, respectively. While in general conditions, the results were 37% and 54% in 24 hours, respectively. Keywords: cyanide leaching, refractory gold/silver ore, modeling, optimization

Sep 1, 2012

In looking to the future of mineral processing the focus is typically on improved processing units. Basically it is a search for an elusive wonder machine that could revolutionise the economy of mining: the sorter that strips 50% of the ore with only a few % loss of value; the comminution device that uses 5% of the energy while producing fully liberated particles; or the recovery device capable of producing a 99% recovery at 99% grade. These aspirations are propounded against a reality backdrop of sorters rusting in back yards, mill throughputs below design and varying by 30%, cyclones flaring and cut-sizes fluctuating, mediocre recoveries and soaring processing costs. This disconnect between aspiration and reality appears, to these authors at least, to be a mighty chasm. Moreover, it remains one over which we are expected to magically leap rather than methodically bridge. Indeed one may be forgiven for thinking that should such a wonder machine come along, taking advantage of it would be highly improbable. Questions would inevitably emerge on how to feed the correct material, how to cope with the wide variability of feeds, how to control such advanced equipment and how to handle the new product from such a machine. It is likely these questions might lie unanswered, or more regrettably, unasked. It is generally accepted that as an industry we are exceedingly unlikely to teleport from the current status quo to an entirely new reality in a single flash. It is our thesis that the probability of these magical machines materialising is remote, and even if they miraculously appeared, we simply wouldn?t know what to do with them. Rather, it is our contention, that a step change will only arise through a staircase rather than from a single giant leap. We should focus on building those steps and linking them together into a firm structure ? a workable mineral processing circuit. This paper addresses the alternative of a coherent set of modest but significant improvements, integrated to produce the step change we desire: essentially, a reduction of processing energy to below 40%, which we believe is achievable without recourse to any mystical machines. A key underlying capability to designing these dramatically improved processes, is the weaving of independent process models into a coherent circuit simulation, in order to design the new generation of mineral processing circuits. Keywords: step change, circuit design, circuit simulation, energy reduction

Sep 1, 2012

By Alexander V. Epiforov, Stanislav V. Balikov

This paper describes of processing tests of 8 flotation concentrates containing precious and base metals by pressure oxidation (POX) method. Concentrates 1 and 2 were gold-copper concentrates. Zinc and silver were by-products in these concentrates. These concentrates were processed by POX with following cyanidation of POX solid residues, copper solvent extraction and zinc carbonate precipitation. The recoveries of gold, copper, silver and zinc from these concentrate were 98, 99, 30 and 99%, respectively. Concentrates 3 and 4 were lead-zinc concentrates. Silver was by-product in concentrate 3. Gold, silver and copper were by-products in concentrate 4. Concentrate 3 was processed by POX with following reduction smelting of POX cakes for primary lead recovery and zinc carbonate precipitation from POX solution. The recoveries of lead and silver into ingot were 96 and 98%, respectively. The recovery of zinc was 99%. Concentrate 4 was processed by POX with following zinc carbonate precipitation and reduction smelting of POX cakes. Copper was precipitated from the POX solution using sodium sulphide prior zinc precipitation. The recovery of zinc into carbonate concentrate was 99%. The recoveries of lead, gold and silver into lead bullion were 95, 99 and 98% respectively. The recovery of copper into sulphide concentrate was 99%. Concentrate 5 was gold-pyrite concentrate, and concentrates 6-8 were double refractory gold-arsenopyrite concentrates. Silver was by-product in these concentrates. These concentrates processed by POX and CIL. The recovery of gold from concentrate 5 was 98%, and from concentrates 6-8 was 85-90. Low gold recovery from concentrates 6-8 was associated with preg-robbing factor. The recovery of silver from gold-sulphide concentrates did not exceed 10-20%. The low silver recovery was associated with argentojarosite formation that is resistant to cyanidation. The flowsheets for complex processing of precious and base metals sulphide flotation concentrates based on this test work results were proposed.

Jan 1, 2018

By B. McFadzean

Thiol collector mixtures are commonly used in the flotation of base metal sulfides and platinum-bearing ores. There are synergistic benefits claimed for these collector mixtures, with mixtures lowering total dosage requirements, improving coarse particle recovery and the rate of flotation. Some of the secondary collectors are known to have frothing effects. Therefore, a previous study aimed to decouple froth and pulp effects and considered only the bubble-particle attachments in the pulp. This was achieved through microflotation experiments, where various ratios of the ethyl and isobutyl chain lengths of xanthates, dithiocarbamates and dithiophosphates were used as collectors. Results from these experiments showed a marked increase in galena recovery using mixtures of xanthate with either dithiophosphate or dithiocarbamate. In the current study, the froth phase was introduced in the form of batch flotation studies to determine whether benefits noted during microflotation experiments would be carried through to a more realistic froth flotation scenario. The findings show that there was no significant difference in the flotation recovery between the best single collectors and mixtures of these collectors. In addition, single collectors that behaved poorly in microflotation experiments showed good flotation performance in the batch flotation experiments. The differences between the microflotation results and the batch flotation results are attributed to differences in particle froth stabilizing properties and/or differences in energy input between the microflotation and batch flotation cells. In addition, galena and pyrite showed marked differences in frothing effects and in their preferences for collector type. Keywords: froth flotation, collector mixtures, sulphide minerals

Sep 1, 2012

By Kang N. Zhong, Hui H. Luo, Yi H. Wei, Yu L. Wang

"More than 85% of phosphorous reserves in China occur as middle-low grade phosphate of sedimentary origin. The main gangues are dolomite, quartz, silicates, and clays. The characteristics of minerals are finely disseminated. Flotation results have shown that the floatability of apatite of this kind of ore is much worse than that of igneous and metasedimentary origin because of its high specific surface area. Although some effective depressants, such as naphthalene sulfonate and phenanthrene sulfonate, are used to decrease the MgO content in the P2O5 concentrate, its presence is still high (about 2%) in the Chinese concentrates. Meanwhile, the wastewater may cause some environmental problems. Batch flotation results and measurements of specific surface area and CO3 2- have revealed that there is a relationship between the floatability of apatite and the surface area.A two-stage flotation flowsheet, which includes a combination of direct and reverse flotation, was developed for beneficiating sedimentary phosphate ores. The direct flotation was conducted in an alkaline medium and most of the apatite and carbonate minerals floated leaving quartz and siliceous gangue in the sink. In the reverse flotation circuit, the floated product was further beneficiated in an acidic medium to eliminate the carbonate as a float product. Apart from the high quality of concentrate, the two-stage flotation also facilitated the treatment and the recycling of wastewater. A wastewater recycling procedure was developed and tested in a continuous flotation process. The key factor was the careful selection of effective and non-toxic reagents."

Jan 1, 2003

By V Radmehr

Ammonia and Amonium salts have been recognized as effective leaching agents in hydrometallurgical processes due to low toxicity and cost, easy recovery and high selective recovery of metals. New research findings of considerable advantages of leaching by these agents and elimination of problems associated with acid leaching has resulted in a new approach in the world to this method. The investigations in this field indicate more frequent use of this method for extracting copper from ore and concentrate relative to other basic metals. In this paper, we have attempted to describe the basis and different ammonia leaching methods and present the major research activities in this field for copper. We have also presented the latest findings and related novel processes. Comparative assessment of advantages and disadvantages of this method relative to acid leaching method, kinetic study of copper ammonia leaching and evaluation of Eh-pH diagrams in a system containing water and ammonia are other parts of our study. Finally, by describing the studies on copper extraction from the resulting pregnant solutions, the applicable extraction agents have been reviewed.

Sep 1, 2012

By B. Das

The processing of banded iron ore by direct anionic and reverse cationic flotation to produce pellet grade concentrate is investigated. This low-grade iron ore, known as banded hematite quartzite (BHQ) contains 41.8% Fe, 41.5% SiO2, 1.2% Al2O3, and 0.5% LOI. The flotation behavior of BHQ is studied by varying the effect of concentration of collector, frother, dispersant and pH. Oleic acid and dodecylamine are used as the anionic and cationic collectors respectively. The parameters that gave the best results in cell flotation are utilized in 100 mm diameter flotation column. All the results are compared with regard to the iron grade and recovery in concentrate. It is observed that, anionic collector with dispersant dosage of 220 g/ton, at pH ~8.5 is selective and yielded a high-grade iron concentrate with low silica as impurity. Also, it is possible to achieve an iron concentrate with 64% Fe at 30-37% weight recovery. The characterization studies of the BHQ ore using X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique and liberation analysis with QEMSCAN® are carried out. The sample contains 58.8% hematite and 37.7% quartz and the liberation of hematite particles are found to be 90.3% in -25 µm size. An alternative statistical modeling approach called response surface methodology was also undertaken to optimize the operating parameters in order to maximize the iron grade and recovery. The predicted results by the model are in agreement with the experimental values.

Sep 1, 2012

By J. Bhattacharya

In many different ways industrial raw materials resources industry as a whole has accepted the principles of sustainable development and has made a commitment to move toward this goal. The critical question now is ?how?? While many companies have adopted policies and are implementing community relations programs, sustainability is not always ?lived? throughout the organization. While traditional programs and commitment from the top are critical, employees within all functional areas can advance sustainability. Individuals can make difference at all organizational levels, and it is this collective action that is so critical for enhanced financial performance as well as the preservation of the industry. Keywords: value chains, sustainability, legislation, auditing process

Sep 1, 2012

By Aidan Giblett, Karen McCaffery, Robert Dunne

"A worldwide decline in competency levels of practicing metallurgists over recent decades has become clearly evident and is a common topic of discussion among senior practitioners and professional associations. The associated impacts on the industry are material and include operational inefficiencies, missed optimisation opportunities and suboptimal new plant designs. There are many contributing factors to this condition. Decrease in competency is particularly evident both in regions where imbalance between supply and demand has led to a general reduction in experience levels for comparable roles over time and in emerging regions where a rapid rise in demand for practitioners has occurred in conjunction with rapid economic development and industrialization. The context, depth and breadth of education curricula and levels vary with location such that solutions to the technical competency dilemma may need to be developed specifically for each region with these influences in mind. Delivering, demonstrating and maintaining competencies are a critical requirement of undergraduate training and ongoing professional development. Other factors such as generational and cultural characteristics and expectations, political influences, role requirements and employment reward and recognition systems all play a critical role in determining if core competencies can be effectively developed, applied and subsequently maintained. This paper reviews factors impacting and some common approaches to competency development. The authors’ experiences in the management of professional development efforts within the global industry are reviewed and a blueprint proposed to address industry requirements in this area."

Jan 1, 2014