河南嵩县下蒿坪金矿工艺矿物学研究

通过化学分析、扫描电镜以及工艺矿物学自动定量分析系统(MLA)等测试方法对河南嵩县下蒿坪金矿进行了系统的工艺矿物学研究,包括原矿化学组成、矿物组成、金的赋存状态、主要载金矿物嵌布特征以及矿物解离特性等。结果表明,该金矿中主要可回收的有价金属为金,其品位为3.75×10^-6。该金矿的原矿矿物主要由石英、钾长石、钠长石、黄铁矿和铁白云石组成,此外还有少量的赤铁矿、萤石、白云石以及方解石。原矿中的金主要赋存在黄铁矿中,而黄铁矿大部分以细粒、微细粒形式嵌布在石英和长石颗粒中。原矿中自然金的含量非常少,多以单独的自然金颗粒形式存在。原矿磨至P₈₀=0.074 mm(-0.074 mm粒级含量占80%)时载金矿物黄铁矿、方铅矿、闪锌矿的单体解离度相对较高,有利于通过浮选回收。     

Electrokinetic properties and flotation behaviour of apatite and calcite in the presence of sodium oleate and sodium metasilicate

Calcite is generally associated with apatite minerals in phosphate deposits. To explore the possibility of separating these minerals by a soap flotation technique, their electrokinetic properties and flotation behaviour were studied in the presence of sodium oleate.Microelectrophoresis data indicate oleate adsorption on these minerals, and from Hallimond-tube flotation tests it has been noted that in a controlled pH environment and for a certain sodium oleate concentration range, separation of these minerals is possible.The study of apatite/calcite-sodium metasilicate-sodium oleate systems indicates the preferential adsorption of silicate at the calcite surface. This suggests the potential use of sodium metasilicate as the modifying agent for the separation of apatite from calcite by depressing calcite when using sodium oleate as collector.     

Effect of mechanical treatment on the mineralogical constituents of Abu-Tartour phosphate ore,Egypt

This study deals with the effect of mechanical treatment, using vibrating mill, on the mineralogy and structure of apatite and associated gangue minerals (dolomite, calcite, quartz, pyrite and gypsum) in Abu-Tartour phosphate ore, Egypt. The evolution of mineralogy, crystallinity and deformation mechanism were evaluated with different techniques (XRD, DTA, TGA and FT-IR). Data obtained using these techniques give a good picture about the mechanochemical behavior of the different components in the ore. X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that the mineralogy has been changed quantitatively at short time grinding (30 min). After 45 min of grinding, the sample contained mainly carbonate apatite, quartz and pyrite. On the other hand, dolomite mineral disappeared, while calcite was partially transformed into aragonite. This transformation increased with increasing grinding time. Both Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) analyses revealed that remarkable changes in the structural groups have occurred after 45 min of grinding. After 75 min of grinding, the carbonate in the apatite mineral partially decomposed and tricalcium phosphate formed instead. The formation of that simple form (tricalcium phosphate) may be another reason, besides surface area, for increasing the reactivity of phosphate ore by grinding. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) revealed some idea about the grinding mechanisms of Abu-Tartour phosphate using vibrating mill. They indicate that the different minerals are ground differently. The apatite minerals are ground mostly by abrasion mechanism, while the carbonate minerals are ground mostly by compression. Also, these minerals are ground with different rates, where dolomite is ground faster than calcite, which are referred to the crystal lattice.     

Upgrading of calcareous phosphate ores by flotation: Effect of ore characteristics

Sedimentary phosphates contain-besides the phosphate minerals-, various associated gangue minerals such as: clays, silica, calcareous minerals (mainly calcite and dolomite), carbonaceous matter, iron oxides and/or pyrite. The common practiced flow-sheets for concentrating these types of phosphate ores consist of a combination of various mineral processing units such as: crushing and screening, attrition, washing, magnetic separation, and/or flotation. However, none of these combinations was successfully efficient to upgrade the calcareous ores because of the close similarity of the physical properties (density, particle size, particle shape, etc.) as well as the surface physico-chemical properties of the carbonate and phosphate minerals. For the last five decades extensive efforts have been spent to adopt flotation for separating carbonates from phosphate ores. These efforts include thermodynamic analysis, modification of the technique, controlling the pulp environment, and finding new reagents that can specifically differentiate between carbonates and phosphates.This paper reviews some of the published work on the separation of carbonates from phosphate ores by flotation and presents the flotation results of phosphate ore samples different in their physical properties and mineralogical composition. The results obtained reflect the effect of ore nature on the flotation performance and the reagents consumption.     

Phosphate amendment of metalliferous waste rocks, Century Pb-Zn mine, Australia: Laboratory and field trials

The aim of the study was to determine whether the application of phosphate compounds (phosphorite rock, phosphate fertilizer) to polyminerallic waste rocks can inhibit sulfide oxidation and metal mobility (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni, Mn, Mg). Waste rocks comprised sulfidic carbonaceous shales and were sourced from the Century Pb-Zn mine, NW Queensland, Australia. The acid producing, Pb-Zn rich rocks consisted of major quartz, muscovite/illite, dolomite, siderite and kaolinite as well as smaller amounts of sulfide minerals (e.g. galena, sphalerite, pyrite). Laboratory leach experiments were conducted on finely granulated phosphate-treated waste rocks (>2 to <30 mm) over 13 weeks, whereas phosphate amendment of coarsely granulated waste rocks (sand to boulder size) was investigated using heap leach piles at the mine site over an 11 months period. Results of the laboratory experiments demonstrate that the treatment of finely granulated waste rocks with phosphorite rock produced leachates with near-neutral pH values due to calcite dissolution. This in turn did not allow the leaching of apatite, formation of secondary phosphate phases and phosphate stabilization to occur. Metal mobility in these amended wastes was restricted by the dissolution of calcite and the resultant near-neutral pH conditions. By contrast, the application of the water-soluble phosphate fertilizer MKP (KH₂PO₄) to polyminerallic sulfidic waste rocks during the short-term laboratory experiments led to the formation of phosphate coatings and precipitates and inhibited acid and metal release (Cd, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn). At least in the short term, the application of phosphate fertilizers proved to be an effective method. However, results of the long-term field trials demonstrate that coarsely granulated waste rocks were not coated by secondary phosphate phases and that amendment by phosphorite rock or superphosphate fertilizer did not improve leachate quality compared to the unamended waste. Thus, phosphate stabilization appears ineffective in suppressing oxidation of sulfides in coarsely granulated mine wastes.     

The action of neutral oleic acid in the flotation of hematite

Acidification of solutions of oleate salts forms emulsions of oleic acid. It was found that these emulsions produce a different adsorption behaviour on different size fractions of the same mineral. At low oleate concentrations, for the finer fractions, adsorption at acid pH was higher than chemisorption at pH = 7.5; adsorption was lower for the coarser, flotation-size fractions. Therefore, the conclusions obtained in acid solutions for the adsorption of oleate on fine minerals cannot be applied to flotation-size minerals.At low oleate concentrations there is a good correlation between oleate adsorption and hematite flotation. This does not hold for oleate concentrations > 5· 10^?5M, where there is poor flotability in the acid region, although the adsorption of oleic acid is very high. This is attributed to the disordered character of the layer of cooperatively adsorbed oleic acid.     

Early diagenesis in anaerobic lake sediments—II. Thermodynamic and kinetic factors controlling the formation of iron phosphate

The ion activity product of Fe and phosphate in interstitial waters from four sediment cores taken from Greifensee, Switzerland indicate the presence of vivianite [Fe₃(PO₄)₂ · 8 H₂O] in the solid phase. Analysis of the sediment using an electron microprobe and by electron microscopy revealed P-rich grains to be also enriched in Fe. The combined methods provide strong evidence that vivianite is forming authigenically in the sediments. Thermodynamic stability calculations demonstrate that the most stable Fe and phosphate minerals (pyrite, siderite and apatite) are not the ones controlling the pore water chemistry. The results emphasize the importance of rate processes of mineral formation in early diagenesis.Calculations based on the sediment phosphate concentration, and the degree of supersaturation of Fe and phosphate in the upper portion (0–15 cm) of the pore waters, indicate that the rate of vivianite mineral growth is controlled by a surface reaction rather than a diffusion mechanism. The response time of dissolved phosphate in the sediment pore waters with respect to mineral precipitation is on the order of 1–20 days. Less than 15% of the phosphate released by organic matter degradation at the sediment-water interface and below is retained in the sediments.     

The electrokinetics of apatite and calcite in inorganic electrolyte environment

Microelectrophoresis technique was used to study the electrokinetic properties of some apatites and calcite. The results indicate that similar to oxide minerals, H⁺ and OH^? ions function as potential-determining ions for apatite and calcite. However, because of their variable compositions, the apatites from different deposits showed different i.e.p. values ranging from pH 3.5 to 6.7, while the i.e.p. of calcite occurred at pH 8.2.Study of the effect of lattice-forming ions on the zeta potential indicates that calcium ions produce specific ionic adsorption effects on apatites, whereas they are potential-determining ions for calcite. On the other hand, as expected, phosphate and carbonate ions function as potential-determining ions for apatite and calcite, respectively.The experimental data suggest that the zeta potential of apatite is a function of mineral—water contact time. The degree of variation in zeta-potential values appears to be influenced by the electrolytic environment of the apatite suspension.     

Relation between the relative density of composite coaly grains and their flotation recovery

Batch flotation tests on low- and high-rank Australian coals showed that it was difficult to reduce the original ash yield substantially whilst maintaining high recovery. The ash yield of the flotation concentrates was found to be mainly the result of the recovery of composite coaly grains containing both carbonaceous matter and mineral matter. Even 50 μm grains were composite in nature, the mineral matter being very finely disseminated. Separation of the flotation products using the heavy-liquid density-gradient technique showed that flotation recovery of coaly grains of a given size decreased with increasing relative density of the grains. The effect was much greater for coal of low rank. The fall in recovery correlated with an increase in the proportion of hydrophilic mineral matter in the composite grains, rather than with the changing proportions of the macerals vitrinite and inertinite.     

Two-stage reverse flotation process for removal of carbonates and silicates from phosphate ore using anionic and cationic collectors

Phosphate rock contains various gangue minerals including silicates and carbonates which need to be reduced in content in order to meet the requirements of the phosphate industry. Froth flotation has become an integral part of phosphate concentration process. In this study, double reverse flotation was applied to recover apatite from phosphate ore. H₃PO₄ and CaO were used as phosphate depressants, in acidic and alkaline conditions. Fatty acids and amines were added as carbonate and silicate collectors respectively. An experimental protocol devised to optimize the grade and recovery of phosphate using anionic–cationic method was found effective. Consequently, a required high quality of phosphate concentrate containing 30.1% P₂O₅ was obtained, with a recovery of 94%. X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy studies were performed to define the main minerals.     

Solution chemistry studies and flotation behaviour of apatite,calcite and fluorite minerals with sodium oleate collector

The maximum flotation response for three naturally occurring calcium minerals, apatite, calcite and fluorite with sodium oleate collector correlated directly with the minimum interfacial tension of the air/solution interface. For fluorite and apatite the minimum surface tension occurred about the mid-pH region and was attributed to the formation of pre-micellar associated species in solution. In the case of calcite the minimum was observed at high pH since the presence of high concentrations of calcium ions in solution appeared to reduce the concentration of amphililic species in the low and mid-pH regions.Microelectrophoresis data demonstrated that the three minerals acquired a negative charge in sodium oleate solution, resulting from adsorption of oleate species on the mineral surfaces.The flotation behaviour of the systems were shown to be related to the species distribution diagrams suggesting that the role of the acid soap dimer, soap dimer, molecular and lattice species could make a significant contribution to the character and composition of the interfacial films.High flotation response was explained by strong adhesion between the hydrophobic particle and bubble. It was suggested that the reduction in surface tension may not be the major factor contributing to the flotation efficiency but indicated the presence of associated surfactant species in solution which could also synergistically adsorb at the solid/liquid interface, increasing the hydrophobic character of the mineral surface. This would maximize the magnitude of the contact angle and hence the strength of the adhesion between particle and bubble. This adsorption behaviour is not in general agreement with conventionally non-hydrolyzable collector theory which is usually based on electrostatic models.     

Control of Cl production in carbonaceous shales by phosphate minerals

When using ³⁶Cl to date very old groundwater in regional aquifer systems, knowledge of the subsurface ³⁶Cl input into the aquifer system is essential. Although ³⁶Cl can be produced through nuclear reactions in the subsurface, in many situations, the input of ³⁶Cl into sedimentary aquifer systems by this avenue of production can be neglected. This is a valid assumption when investigating long-flowpath groundwater systems composed of sandstones, limestones, and shales of typical composition. These rock types are not sufficiently enriched in radioactive elements to produce significant ³⁶Cl in the deep subsurface. Carbonaceous shales, on the other hand, can concentrate the radioactive elements necessary to produce significant ³⁶Cl in the deep subsurface. Chlorine-36 ratios (³⁶Cl/Cl) for a suite of Late Devonian and Pennsylvanian carbonaceous shales were calculated from bulk-rock chemistry as well as measured using accelerator mass spectrometry. The poor agreement between calculated and measured ratios is the result of the assumption of chemical homogeneity used by the calculation algorithm, an assumption that was not satisfied by the carbonaceous shales. In these shales, organic matter, clay minerals, and accessory minerals are heterogeneously distributed and are physically distinct on a micron-order scale. Although organic matter and clay minerals constitute the overwhelming bulk of the shales, it is the phosphate minerals that are most important in enhancing, and suppressing, ³⁶Cl production. Minerals such as apatite and carbonate-apatite (francolite)—by including uranium, rare earth elements (REEs), and halogens—have an important impact on both neutron production and thermal neutron absorption. By incorporating both uranium and fluorine, phosphate minerals act as neutron production centers in the shale, increasing the probability of ³⁶Cl production. By incorporating REEs and chlorine, phosphate minerals also act to shield ³⁵Cl from the thermal neutron flux, effectively suppressing the production of ³⁶Cl. To reconcile the measured ³⁶Cl ratios with the ratios calculated assuming chemical homogeneity, the shales were artificially split into three fractions: organic, clay mineral, and phosphate mineral. Neutron production was calculated separately for each fraction, and the calculation results demonstrated that the phosphate fraction exerted much more control on the ³⁶Cl ratio than the organic or clay mineral fractions. By varying the uranium and chlorine contents in the phosphate fraction, a new, heterogeneous ³⁶Cl ratio was calculated that agreed with the measured ratio for the overwhelming majority of the carbonaceous shales. When using rock chemistry to calculate the ³⁶Cl ratio, rock types that show mineralogical heterogeneity on a micron scale can be divided into bulk fractions and accessory fractions for separate calculations of neutron production and neutron absorption. In this manner, a more accurate, heterogeneous ³⁶Cl ratio can be calculated for the rock as a whole.     

贵州泥堡金矿床热液方解石地球化学特征及地质意义

已有研究表明,右江盆地卡林型金矿成矿期方解石具有独特的中稀土元素富集特点,但其成因还存在诸多争议。贵州泥堡金矿存在成矿期和非成矿期2种热液方解石脉,其中成矿期方解石脉多出现在矿化凝灰质细砾岩与凝灰质（粉）砂岩中,矿物组合为含砷黄铁矿+毒砂+石英+方解石;非成矿期方解石脉在未蚀变灰岩、矿化凝灰质细砾岩与凝灰质（粉）砂岩中均发育,且常穿切成矿期含硫化物方解石脉。文章通过对2种类型方解石脉开展稀土元素与碳、氧同位素、成矿期方解石脉内金属硫化物电子探针与微区原位LA-ICP-MS元素分析,发现与成矿期方解石脉共生的黄铁矿具典型的环带结构,黄铁矿环带和毒砂富Au、As、Sb、Hg、Cu、Co、Ni等元素。成矿期方解石脉显示中稀土元素富集模式和Eu正异常特征,表明金成矿流体为还原性流体,明显不同于非成矿期方解石脉的轻稀土元素富集模式和Eu负异常特征。泥堡金矿成矿期热液方解石的中稀土元素富集模式,与中国西南低温Au-Sb矿床成矿期方解石、萤石、磷灰石等矿物的稀土元素组成特征一致,酸性成矿流体的稀土元素组成可能是导致该金矿区成矿期方解石富集中稀土元素的主要原因。该区热液方解石特有的地球化学特征,使其在低温热液金矿床成矿年代学研究及深部找矿应用方面具有重要前景。     

Implication of Apatite and Anhydrite for Formation of an Iron‐Oxide‐Apatite (IOA) Rare Earth Element Prospect,Benjamin River,Canada

The Benjamin River apatite prospect in northern New Brunswick, Canada, is hosted by the Late Silurian Dickie Brook plutonic complex, which is made up of intrusive units represented by monzogranite, diorite and gabbro. The IOA ores, composed mainly of apatite, augite, and magnetite at Benjamin River form pegmatitic pods and lenses in the host igneous rocks, the largest of which is 100 m long and 10–20 m wide in the diorite and gabbro units. In this study, 28 IOA ore and rock samples were collected from the diorite and gabbro units. Mineralogical observations show that the apatite–augite–magnetite ores are variable in the amounts of apatite, augite, and magnetite and are associated with minor amounts of epidote‐group minerals (allanite, REE‐rich epidote and epidte) and trace amounts of albite, titanite, ilmenite, titanomagnetite, pyrite, chlorite, calcite, and quartz. Apatite and augite grains contain small anhydrite inclusions. This suggests that the magma that crystallized apatite and augite had high oxygen fugacity. In back scattered electron (BSE) images, apatite grains in the ores have two zones of different appearance: (i) primary REE‐rich zone; and (ii) porous REE‐poor zone. The porous REE‐poor zones mainly appear in rims and/or inside of the apatite grains, in addition to the presence of apatite grains which totally consist of a porous REE‐poor apatite. This porous REE‐poor apatite is characterized by low REE (<0.84 wt%), Si (<0.28 wt%), and Cl (<0.17 wt%) contents. Epidote‐group minerals mainly occur in grain boundary between the porous REE‐poor apatite and augite. These indicate that REE leached from primary REE‐rich apatite crystallized as allanite and REE‐rich epidote. Magnetite in the ores often occurs as veinlets that cut apatite grains or as anhedral grains that replace a part of augite. These textures suggest that magnetite crystallized in the late stage. Pyrite veins occur in the ores, including a large amount of quartz and calcite veins. Pyrite veins mainly occur with quartz veins in augite. These textures indicate pyrite veins are the latest phase. Apatite–augite–magnetite ore, gabbro–quartz diorite and feldspar dike collected from the Benjamin River prospect contain dirty pure albite (Ab₉₈Or₂–Ab₁₀₀) under the microscope. The feldspar dikes mainly consist of dirty pure albite. Occurrences of the dirty pure albite suggest remarkable albitization (sodic alteration) of original plagioclase (An_25.3–An₆₀ in Pilote et al., 2012) associating with intrusion of monzogranite into gabbro and diorite. SO₄^2? bearing magma crystallized primary REE‐rich apatite, augite and anhydrite reacted with Fe in the sodic fluids, which result in oxidation of Fe²⁺ and release of S^2? into the sodic fluids. REE, Ca and Fe from primary REE‐rich apatite, augite and plagioclase altered by the sodic fluids were released into the fluids. Then Fe³⁺ in the sodic fluids precipitated as Fe oxides and epidote‐group minerals in apatite–augite–magnetite ores. Finally, residual S^2? in sodic fluids crystallized as latest pyrite veins. In conclusion, mineralization in Benjamin River IOA prospect are divided into four stages: (1) oxidized magmatic stage that crystallized apatite, augite and anhydrite; (2) sodic metasomatic stage accompanying alteration of magmatic minerals; (3) oxidized fluid stage (magnetite–epidote group minerals mineralization); and (4) reduced fluid stage (pyrite mineralization).     

陕西略阳张家山金矿成矿作用及Au-Se矿物形成物理化学条件研究

陕西略阳煎茶岭金矿矿集区中的张家山金矿主要由破碎蚀变岩型、角砾岩型和含金石英黄铁矿脉型矿石组成。含金石英-黄铁矿脉型矿石产于断层下盘的石英菱镁岩中。黄铁矿发育富As黄铁矿边,环边受As含量的变化呈现一定的韵律变化,自然金赋存在富As黄铁矿中。在断裂发育形成断层角砾岩的过程中,流体充填破碎石英菱镁岩的裂隙中形成热液矿物,包括硫化物、硒化物以及自然金。石英菱镁岩发生破碎形成的网状裂隙被含金石英-方解石-黄铁矿脉充填。破碎蚀变岩型矿石中,自然金主要分布在含金石英-黄铁矿脉的石英之中或靠近热液脉的菱镁矿或石英间隙。随着大量方解石脉沿裂隙贯入,进一步促进石英菱镁岩的破碎及岩石角砾的分离,形成由石英菱镁岩碎屑、石英和褐铁矿组成的复成分角砾岩,自然金和硒化物呈浸染状分布在角砾岩中。笔者在角砾岩型矿石中发现了灰硒汞矿、直硒镍矿、硒铅矿等硒化物,这些硒化物往往与自然金密切共生。结合矿物组合以及相关化学反应关系,通过热力学计算,构建了该矿床在不同温度条件下的热力学相平衡关系图,限定了硒化物与其他相关矿物稳定存在的物理化学条件。硒化物一般与自然金和石英共生,高的f(Se2)值和f(Se2)/f(S2)比值是控制硒化物形成的关键因素。     

Corundum-bearing metasomatic rocks in the Central Pamirs

The Muzkol metamorphic complex in the Central Pamirs contains widespread occurrences of corundum mineralization, sometimes with gem-quality corundum. These occurrences are spatially related to zones of metasomatic alterations in calcite and dolomite marbles and crystalline schists. The calcite marbles contain corundum together with muscovite, scapolite, and biotite; the dolomite marbles contain corundum in association with biotite; and the schists bear this mineral coexisting with biotite and chlorite. All these rocks additionally contain tourmaline, apatite, rutile, and pyrite. The biotite is typically highly aluminous (up to 1.9 f.u. Al), and the scapolite is rich in the marialite end member (60–75 mol %). The crystallization parameters of corundum were estimated using mineral assemblages at T = 600–650°C, P = 4–6 kbar, X _{CO 2} = 0.2–0.5 at elevated alkalinity of the fluid. The Sr concentration in the calcite and dolomite marbles is low (345–460 and 62–110 ppm, respectively), as is typical of recrystallized sedimentary carbonates. The variations in the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio in the calcite and dolomite marbles (0.70852–0.70999 and 0.70902–0.71021, respectively) were controlled by the introduction of radiogenic ⁸⁷Sr during the metasomatic transformations of the rocks. The isotopic-geochemical characteristics obtained for the rocks and the results of numerical simulations of the fluid-rock interactions indicate that the corundum-bearing metasomatic rocks developed after originally sedimentary Phanerozoic carbonate rocks, with the desilication of the terrigenous material contained in them. This process was a manifestation of regional alkaline metasomatism during the closing stages of Alpine metamorphism. In the course of transformations in the carbonate reservoir, the juvenile fluid flow became undersaturated with respect to silica, which was a necessary prerequisite for the formation of corundum.     

Physical and thermal treatment of phosphate ores — An overview

The annual consumption of phosphate rock approached 150 million tons. The marketable phosphate is usually 30% P₂O₅ or higher. The run-of-mine material is mostly of lower grade which needs processing or upgrading. The processing techniques of phosphate ores depend mostly on the type of associated gangue minerals present in the mined rock. In some cases, simple, inexpensive techniques are enough to produce the required grade. For example, crushing and screening is used to get rid of the coarse hard siliceous material, and attrition scrubbing and desliming is used to remove the clayey fine fraction. If silica is the main gangue material, single-stage or double-stage flotation is the conventional mineral processing technique used in this case. If the ore is igneous carbonatitic alkaline or ultra basic phosphate deposit, crushing, grinding, scrubbing, and flotation associated with other steps such as magnetic and/or gravity separation is proved to be successful in upgrading this type of ore. The sedimentary phosphate ores having carbonate-apatite as the main phosphate minerals and containing carbonates (calcite and/or dolomite) represent a challenge in the field of phosphate concentration due to similarity in the physico-chemical properties of surfaces of the ore constituents. Also, if considerable amount of organic matter constitutes the main gangue material, upgrading of the ore becomes difficult. New flotation systems (techniques and reagents) are being developed to treat these challenging phosphate ores. Furthermore, calcination is another solution for upgrading these difficult-to-treat types of ores. However, calcination is indicted with some controversial drawbacks. This overview discusses and summarizes the State-of-the-Art and the existing efforts to overcome these problems and to produce a high-grade phosphate product suitable for fertilizers and other phosphate compounds.     

Proposed upgrading techniques for East Sibaiya phosphorites,Aswan area,southern Egypt

The Late Cretaceous (Campanian-Maastrichian), low-grade phosphorite sequence of East Sibaiya, Aswan area, which is known as the Duwi (phosphate) or Sibaiya Formation, is usually intercalated with marl, oyster limestone, and chert beds. These strata, which crop out in a generally east–west trending belt spanning the middle latitudes of Egypt, are phosphorite-rich sediments and of great economic importance. Representative samples were collected from the investigated area at several localities (e.g., Umm Tundubah-2 and Wadi El-Batur) and 200 kg of phosphate rocks was used for upgrading processes of low-grade phosphorites of the East Sibaiya area. The upgrading processes included two techniques: the first technique (gravity separation) comprises crushing, sieving, gravity separation by a shaking table, and magnetic separation. This technique raised the P₂O₅ in the head sample from 24.73 to 31.91% as a phosphate concentrate. The second technique (flotation technique) depends on certain flotation parameters such as pH, grain size, and phosphate collector dose (i.e., oleic acid). The flotation technique increased the P₂O₅% from 24.73 to 31.16% as a final product of the phosphate concentrate. These data were confirmed by X-ray fluorescence analyses of major elements.     

The Crater Mountain Deposit,Papua New Guinea: Porphyry‐related Au–Te System

Ore mineralization and wall rock alteration of Crater Mountain gold deposit, Papua New Guinea, were investigated using ore and host rock samples from drill holes for ore and alteration mineralogical study. The host rocks of the deposit are quartz‐feldspar porphyry, feldspar‐hornblende porphyry, andesitic volcanics and pyroclastics, and basaltic‐andesitic tuff. The main ore minerals are pyrite, sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite and moderate amounts of tetrahedrite, tennantite, pyrrhotite, bornite and enargite. Small amounts of enargite, tetradymite, altaite, heyrovskyite, bismuthinite, bornite, idaite, cubanite, native gold, CuPbS₂, an unidentified Bi‐Te‐S mineral and argentopyrite occur as inclusions mainly in pyrite veins and grains. Native gold occurs significantly in the As‐rich pyrite veins in volcanic units, and coexists with Bi‐Te‐S mineral species and rarely with chalcopyrite and cubanite relics. Four mineralization stages were recognized based on the observations of ore textures. Stage I is characterized by quartz‐sericite‐calcite alteration with trace pyrite and chalcopyrite in the monomict diatreme breccias; Stage II is defined by the crystallization of pyrite and by weak quartz‐chlorite‐sericite‐calcite alteration; Stage III is a major ore formation episode where sulfides deposited as disseminated grains and veins that host native gold, and is divided into three sub‐stages; Stage IV is characterized by predominant carbonitization. Gold mineralization occurred in the sub‐stages 2 and 3 in Stage III. The fS₂ is considered to have decreased from ～10^?2 to 10^?14 atm with decreasing temperature of fluid.     

Geochemical and petrological characteristics of Eppawala phosphate deposits,Sri Lanka

The apatite-bearing carbonate rocks at Eppawala, Sri Lanka occur as massive, discontinuous bodies in a Precambrian, high-grade metamorphic terrain, which weather to form economically important phosphate deposits. The ore bodies at Eppawala contain =42% P ₂O ₅, and citric acid solubility of different components varies from 4 to 6%. The parent rocks are mainly made up of calcite, dolomite and apatite, with lesser amounts of ilmenite, magnetite, pyrite, forsterite, phlogopite, enstatite, magnesite, diopside, tremolite and spinel. Most of minerals show an euhedral habit, with a wide range of crystal sizes (from a few millimetres to several decimetres). The Eppawala rocks are characterised by low silica (=0.41%), high phosphorous (=10.58%) and high strontium content (2,960–6,819 ppm). Concentrations of light rare-earth elements in these rocks are comparably higher than those of marbles. The REE fractionation of these rocks is pronounced, and La/Yb ratios vary between 14 and 43. Both apatite and calcite show markedly elevated strontium levels (=0.6%). The d ¹³C _PDB and d ¹⁸O _SMOW values of the carbonates are in the range of –3.4 to –2.2 and 7.7 to 16.4‰ respectively. The euhedral habit, as well as the presence of major quantities of apatite and considerable amounts of iron-bearing minerals suggest that the ore host rock has genetic links to an igneous source rather than to an intensely metamorphosed limestone. The higher light REE contents of the rocks, compared to marbles, also argue against a metamorphic or sedimentary origin. The Sr/Mn and Ce/La ratios in the apatite are ~40 and ~2 respectively, suggesting that they were formed in a carbonatite magma. The markedly increased REE concentrations in the bulk chemistry of the rocks have been shown to be mainly controlled by the content of phosphate minerals. Compared to most carbonatites, the Eppawala rocks are generally depleted in selected trace elements, particularly Ba, Nb, Th, V, U and Zr. This depletion may be due to either a primary infertility of the parent magma with regard to such trace elements, or it is a result of fractional crystallisation during the rock formation. The stable isotope ratios do not plot within the defined "mantle carbonatite box", but still lie within the broader range of carbonatitic rocks. With these data at hand, it can be readily argued that the mode of occurrence, petrography and geochemistry of the Eppawala apatite-bearing carbonates provide conclusive evidence of their carbonatitic origin.