Actlabs

Dr. Mahdi Ghobadi

finland@Actlabs.com

Applied Mineralogy & Geometallurgy

Department
1
 Outlines and Contents
!
• Applied Mineralogy & Geometallurgy
!
• QEMSCAN & MLA: The new tools for the industry
!
• Application of Automated SEMs in Geology,
Mining and etc
!
• Case studies
2
Applied Mineralogy

Reconnaissanc Feasibility-Planning Mining Processing/

Exploration Operation
Applied Mineralogy Geometallurgy

3
Why is Applied Mineralogy/Geometallurgy Important?
• Mineral Composition, grain size, shape, texture, associations and
liberation

!
• Early indication of expected beneficiation process e.g. Free-milling or
refractory

!
• Identify valuable byproducts

!
• Identify problematic gangue

!
• Improvements in existing plants e.g. identify gold/copper losses

!
• Without detailed mineralogy analysis, the recovery and project
economics is not optimized
4
Tools for Applied Mineralogy

Old Conventional Tools Development of Tools

Separator Tools 1960 to 1985:
Optical microscopy Image Analyser, 

XRD PIXE, SIMS & LIMS
SEM and EPMA
EDX Analyser
1990s Automated SEMs
were introduced

5
Fundamentals of the Automated SEMs
eBeam

EDX Spectra

Phase Interpretation

Data Interpretation,
Distribution Maps and socialoil.me
etc
6
 Two different Beam Source:
W vs FEG

Inconvenient and Costly Maintenance convenient Maintenance

Life Time 100 Hrs Life Time 10000 Hrs
Resolution @ 30 kV 4 nm Resolution @ 30 kV <2 nm

7
Field Emission Gun
W = Welded tungsten tip

Fil = Tungsten wire filament

Zr = Zirconium oxide reservoir

T = Sharpened tip

M
M = tip module W
T
Fil

Zr
8
 Two different Beam Source:
W vs FEG

Quanta W – 5.6 nA/

Quanta FEG – 5.6 nA/
spot 6.5
spot 5
Magnification
Magnification 50,000x
50,000x 9
Two different Beam Source:
W vs FEG

Electron paths for 25 kV –

Monte Carlo Simulation

10
 W Filament FEG
Maintanance Easier
Life Time Around 100 more
Image Resolution Effectively Higher
Spatial Resolution Effectively Higher
Effect on Analytical Time Much Faster
Cost Much Lower
Availability in commercial
labs
more common Actlabs

The FEG SEMs make it possible to perform micron

sized mineralogical searches in a timely fashion

11
Gold
Pyrite

Gold

Pyrite

12
Components for MLA & QEMSCAN

SE Detector
FEG

EDX Detectors
BSE Detector

13
REED, 2005

14
How do MLA and QEMSCAN distinguish minerals:
BSE Relationship with Average Atomic Number

250

200

150
BSE Value

100

50

0
0 20 40 60 80 100
AAN

15
How do MLA and QEMSCAN distinguish minerals:

Gold 250
Gold BSE Relationship with Average Atomic Number

250
REE
200

Sulfides 150 Magnetite 97-102 Fe

BSE Value

100 Hematite 90-95

O
Fe Oxide 50

0
0 20 40 60 80 100
Quartz 40 AAN

Epoxy 15
16
Different BSE Areas

17
18
Line Scan

19
Line Scan

20
 QEMSCAN MLA
Elemental Peak Peak Shape
intensities
Suitable for Modal Suitable for particle,
mineralogy Analysis liberation and locking

Mapping and better Faster for applications

discrimination is for where X-ray intensive
advanced applications analysis is not required

21
 QEMSCAN MLA
Modal Analysis A bit Faster

Manipulating BSE Level Easier

Precious Metal Search Faster
Particle Analysis
Faster
(Liberation, Association)

In some projects a combination of MLA and

QEMSCAN shall be used

22
FEG MLA

FEG QEMSCAN
23
Sample Types &
Preparation
Mineral processing products
Drill core
Hand specimen
Soils
Drill cuttings
Etc…

24
Sample Types & Preparation

25
 Shall be noted that:

• Best size fraction: +20µ to -200µ

• Smaller than 20µ causes mixed and/or false

spectra

• For particle studies its best to have more 2 to 3

size fractions

• Aggregations caused by Clays

• Cannot be strong tool for Clays speciation

• Strong Mineralogy and Petrology Background is

needed
26
27
Mineralogical Analysis using Automated SEMs

Thin Section Field Image by QEMSCAN at Actlabs

28
Background
Low C ounts
Gold
C halcopyrite
Pyrite
Magnetite
Hematite
Goethite
Titanite
Ilmenite
Quartz
Albite
K-Feldspar
K-Feldspar-Altered
Anorthoclase
Plagioclase
Andradite
Epidote
Actinolite
C linochlore
C alcite
Apatite
Others

29
30
 2000x
Background
Low C ounts
Gold
C halcopyrite
Pyrite
Magnetite
Hematite
Goethite
Titanite
Ilmenite
Quartz
Albite
K-Feldspar
K-Feldspar-Altered
Anorthoclase
Plagioclase
Andradite
Epidote
Actinolite
C linochlore
C alcite
Apatite
Others

31
32
Applications in Mining Industry
Ore Characterization Geo-/Metallurgy
• Modal Mineralogy: Identification • Plant and Production
& Quantification of Ore and Monitoring: Tail and Conc
Gangue analyses
! !
• Characterization of the Gangue • Process improvement: Finding
and Target Minerals the optimum parameters
! !
• Specific Search for precious • Solutions for Bad Recovery
metals
• Elmental Deportment

Petrological Studies Material Science

33
Modal Mineralogy
• Identifying and quantifying the
A Run around
Major, Minor and Trace minerals
10 Minutes
!
• Grouping the mineral of interests
!
• Elemental Deportment

Zircon' Ilmenite'
Titanite' Ru1le'
Sample"9" Leucoxene' Fe'Oxi'with'low'Ti'
Quartz'with'low'Ti' Bio1te'with'Ti'

Sample"8"

"
Sample"12"

"
Sample"11"

"
Sample"10"
For Trace Minerals
0" 2" 4" 6" 8" 10" 12" 14" 16" 18"
more Time is needed,
Volume"%"
around 40-60 Minutes
34
Measurement Name Fraction -106 Fraction -52 Fraction -38
Time 40 Min 40 Min 40 Min
Stibnite 0.3 0.25 0.2
Sb Oxi (Sb2O3) 0.85 0.69 0.62
Sb Hydroxi 1.56 1.34 1.43
Sb-Fe Oxide 0.19 0.16 0.16
Sb-Clay 0.27 0.23 0.21
Quartz 82 83.05 83.37
Mica 2.96 2.56 2.35
Kaolinite 0.12 0.1 0.13
Calcite 2.62 2.78 2.81
Dolomite 4.58 4.33 4.2
Flourite 0.25 0.25 0.26
Fe oxi-Hydroxi 0.81 0.71 0.9
Ti Oxide 0.06 0.05 0.07
Fe Sulfides 0.86 0.85 1
Barite 2.28 2.35 1.94
Apatite 0.04 0.06 0.05
Others 0.23 0.21 0.25

35
36
Reconciliation
+106/-212 +53/-106 +38/-53 +20/-38

Fe (QEMSCAN) 1.37 1.02 0.94 1.17

Fe (Chemical) 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.08

Sb (QEMSCAN) 2.45 2.25 1.9 1.85

Fe$ Sb$ Si$
R²$=$0.999$$
Sb (Chemical) 2.19
10.00$
$ 1.72 1.72 3.02
QEMScan(Analysis(

$
Si (QEMSCAN) 34.39 35.06 35.42X=Y 35.53
$

Si (Chemical) 32.03
1.00$ 32.02 32.02 32.02

0.10$
0.10$ 1.00$ 10.00$
Chemical(Analysis(

37
Particle and Grain Data
Analysis

38
Texture Analysis & Mapping:

39
Background
Low Counts
Cuprite
Cu-Si Hydrated
Melanothallite
Crednerite
Si Aggregates-with 5% < Cu <20%
Clacite with Cu
Ankerite/Goethite with Cu
Muscovite with Cu
Cu-Si
Pyrite
Hematite
Goethite
Ilmenite
Rutile
Quartz
Quartz-Rutile Mixe
K-Feldspar
Epidote
Apatite
Dolomite
Calcite
Ankerite
Monazite-(Ce)
Muscovite
Muscovite with Ti
Goethite with Mn (Fe-Mn Oxide)
Si-Al aggregates
Others

40
Orthopyroxene

Clinopyroxene

41
Specific Phase Search:

Monazite Search

Uraninite Search

Gold Search 42
Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety

10000x
43
Using QEMSCAN/MLA for other In-Situ methods

Serpentine Magnetite

Chromite

Microprobe Analysis

44
45
Laser Ablation ICP-MS (MC) Analysis
For analysis of
refractory Gold,
PGEs, REEs and Pyrite

other trace
elements
Gold
Quartz

46
Complementary for XRD cluster analysis
(High Volume)
• QEMSCAN/MLA can be performed
on the anomaly batches.

!
• It can reveal more compositional data
and useful for trace mineral

47
Case Studies

48
Au and Ag specific search

Analysis on Feed and Tail

Ag Bad Recovery

!
Ore characterisations

Fluorite

Cu Minerals

Graphite (If Time Permits)

!
Metallurgy

Monitoring the W plant production

49
Precious Metal Searches

Feed
• Appearance of the grains (Veinlets, Micron-Sized Grains, minerals
boundaries…)

• Composition of the grains: e.g. is it Gold telluride, or…

• Relation between the precious metals and the host mineral

• Size distribution and liberation data

!
Leach and Tailing
• The forms and association of the precious metals.

• Is it recoverable or not?

Gold and Silver Analysis: Feed Samples

Measurement Statistics
Client Sample ID A13-xxxx
Size Fractions -25 +25/-38 +38/-53 +53/-75 +75/-100 +100/-150 +150/-200
Scan Mode: Particle Scan
Magnification: 102 102 102 102 102 102 102
Measurement: Trace Mineral Search for Au Minerals
Horiz. Spacing: 0.98 µm 0.98 µm 0.98 µm 0.98 µm 0.98 µm 0.98 µm 0.98 µm
Vertical Spacing: 0.98 µm 0.98 µm 0.98 µm 0.98 µm 0.98 µm 0.98 µm 0.98 µm

Particles Found 5,270,061 4,841,134 6,493,404 5,017,226 4,228,553 3,445,214 4,085,527

Au-Minerals
8 6 8 11 6 15 4
Found:
Measurement: Trace Mineral Search for Sulfide Minerals
Horiz. Spacing: 2.5 µm 2.5 µm 2.5 µm 2.5 µm 2.5 µm 2.5 µm 2.5 µm
Vertical Spacing: 2.5 µm 2.5 µm 2.5 µm 2.5 µm 2.5 µm 2.5 µm 2.5 µm

Particles Found 2,101,723 3,990,642 3,102,284 2,665,000 2,149,240 2,324,515 1,218,267

Sulfide Minerals
20,499 33,254 24,220 22,007 18,024 10,009 7,964
Found:
51
Gold and Silver Analysis: Feed Samples
Modal Mineralogy Analysis
Client Sample ID A13-xxxx

Size Fractions (µm) -200/150 -150/+100 -100/+75 -75/+53 -53/+38 -38/+25 -25
Quartz 38.38 33.87 26.28 21.38 21.33 33.92 20.95
Muscovite 19.99 18.17 16.16 14.83 22.87 15.62 18.07
Muscovite with C 2.30 2.40 2.47 2.36 2.44 1.73 2.29
Clay with Carbon 13.94 15.65 23.03 25.74 10.32 8.79 20.65
Biotite 0.25 0.19 0.22 0.26 0.08 0.10 0.20
Anorthoclase 2.45 1.98 2.69 2.88 2.66 3.95 5.11
Altered Anorthoclase 2.42 3.18 3.45 3.93 2.34 2.50 3.62
Albite 2.55 2.66 2.59 2.96 4.29 5.05 3.04
Kaolinite 1.62 1.83 1.95 1.67 1.62 1.28 1.74
Chlorite 1.74 1.77 2.10 2.41 2.88 2.13 2.38
Carbonates 11.81 14.65 14.85 16.45 23.34 19.37 17.78
Pyrite 1.41 2.42 2.66 3.59 3.30 2.97 2.01
Fe-Oxide/Hydroxide 0.96 1.03 1.36 1.47 2.27 2.52 1.93
Apatite 0.01 0.06 0.11 0.04 0.20 0.04 0.01
Monazite 0.10 0.06 0.05 0.03 0.02 0.01 0.05
Others 0.06 0.07 0.04 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.16
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
52
Gold and Silver Analysis: Feed Samples

Gold Grains Liberation in sample xxxxxx

Liberated Encapsulated or Locked

Liberation % > 90% 75-90% 50-75% 20-50% 10-20% < 10% Total

Area % 21.91 0.00 0.00 6.57 2.59 68.92 100

Gold Grains Association in sample XXXXXX

Free grains Binary Association Ternary

Liberation % Liberated Fe-Sulfides Quartz Calcite Muscovite Other Total

Area % 21.91 8.57 0.00 3.59 2.59 63.35 100

53
Gold and Silver Analysis: Feed Samples

Background
Low Counts
Gold Phases
Fe Sulfides
Chalcopyrite
Covellite
Fe Oxi/Hydroxi
Quartz
Plagioclase
K-Feldspar
Muscovite
Si-Al Hydrated
Carbonates
Smithsonite
Graphite
Gypsum
Rutile
Titanite
Mixed Si Minerals

54
Gold and Silver Analysis: Feed Samples

Pyrite

Gold

Pyrite
Gold Muscovite

Quartz

Muscovi

Gold

Gol

55
Gold and Silver Analysis: Tail Samples
Measurement Statistics

Client ID xxxx-RJ-A0 xxxx-ALM-A0 xxxxx-BOR xxxxx-A0

Scan Mode: Particle Scan

Magnification: 102 102 102 102 102
Measurement Mode: TMS (Au) TMS (Au) TMS (Au) TMS (Au) TMS (Au)
Horiz. Spacing (µm): 1 1 1 1 1
Vertical Spacing (µm): 1 1 1 1 1
Found Particles 6022087 5374615 4724355 2243787 619718
Total Target Minerals: 0 19 5 4 1
Measurement Mode: TMS (Sulfide) TMS (Sulfide) TMS (Sulfide) TMS (Sulfide) TMS (Sulfide)
Horiz. Spacing (µm): 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5
Vertical Spacing (µm): 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5
Found Particles 3057340 2971788 1499808 1195338 299865
Total Target Minerals: 36235 38282 50616 15271 2606
56
Gold and Silver Analysis: Tail Samples
xxxx-ALM-A0
Background
Low Counts
Gold Phases
Fe Sulfides
Chalcopyrite
Covellite
S Minerals
Fe Oxi/Hydroxi
Quartz
Plagioclase
K-Feldspar
Mica Group
Si-Al Hydrated
Dolomite
Calcite
Ankerite
Smithsonite
Graphite
Gypsum
Rutile
Titanite
Mixed Si Minerals

Background

xxxxx-A0
Low Counts
Gold Phases
Fe Sulfides
Chalcopyrite
Covellite
S Minerals
Fe Oxi/Hydroxi
Quartz
Plagioclase
K-Feldspar
Mica Group
Si-Al Hydrated
Dolomite
Calcite
Ankerite
Smithsonite
Graphite
Gypsum
Rutile
Titanite
Mixed Si Minerals
57
Gold and Silver Analysis: Tail Samples

Gold

ro
yd
/H
Gold

xi
O
Fe
Fe
Ox

Ca
i/H

lc
ite
yd
ro

Feldspar

58
Where is our Silver?

59
 Mineral(Phases Mineral(Mass% Ag particles < 5 micron, found in
Micron sized Ag phases 0.01069
Si minerals
Target Phases Ag sulfides 0.00126 Acanthite/Argentite
Ag sulfides with Ba 0.00294
Acanthite/Argentite trapped in Barite
Barite with Ag 0.00180
Barites/ Sphalerite with
Sphalerite with Ag 0.00116
Quartz 38.77
disseminated Native Ag or
Ag sulfide
Constitutional Minerals

Quartz with low Fe,Cu 4.78

K-Feldspar 17.14
K-Feldspar Altered 4.55
Fluorite 9.30
Plagioclase 4.84
Calcite 2.71
Gypsum 4.88
Wollastonite 4.43
Barite 1.32
Fe Oxide/Hydroxide 2.47
Epidote 0.46
Si-Al Clays 0.98
Clay with Zn 0.11
Clinochlore 0.54
Trace Minerals

Coronadite 0.13 Pb(Mn4+,Mn2+)8O16

Pyrite 0.13
Sphalerite 0.01
Hollandite 0.38 Ba(Mn4+,Mn2+)8O16
Titanite 0.00
Rutile 0.05
Apatite 0.02
Smithsonite 0.11
Cerussite 0.01
Low Counts 0.18
Others 1.69
Total 100.00 60
Where is our Silver?

Ag'Sulfide'(1)'&'(6)' Ag'Sulfide'(5)'

Ag'Sulfide'(3)'with'
na9ve'Ag'on'surface'

Barite'(2)'
Ag'Sulfide'(4)'

61
Where is our Silver?

Ag#sulfide#in#Flourite#

Quartz'
Quartz#

Fe#Oxi/Hydroxy#with#Ag#(10)##
Ag'Sulfide''
Ag#Sulfide#(11)##
Flourite#

62
Where is our Silver?

Calcite(

Na*ve(Ag(

63
Cu(Oxide)- Cu in the Tail
Sample Number
Bad Tail Good
Sample 1 Sample 2
Bad Tail
Sample 3 Sample 4

Low Counts 0.04 0.02 0.02 0.13

Cuprite Cu2O 0.00 0.000 2.53 11.75
Cu-Si Hydrated 0.57 0.000 0.01 0.03
Cu Phases Cu-Cloride (Melanothallite: Cu2Cl2O) 0.14 0.000 0.00 0.00
Crednerite (CuMnO2) 0.21 0.000 0.03 0.00
Si Aggregates-with 5% < Cu <20% 3.55 0.018 0.64 1.35
Clacite with Cu 0.00 0.000 0.17 1.19
Ankerite/Goethite with Cu 1.17 0.003 0.80 0.87
Muscovite with Cu 0.30 0.000 0.25 1.60
Cu-Si 0.66 0.001 0.13 0.79
Pyrite 0.09 0.01 0.00 0.01
Hematite 0.36 0.00 0.00 1.68
Oxides

Goethite 2.26 0.50 3.59 1.77

Ilmenite 0.02 0.00 0.05 0.00
Rutile 0.11 0.07 0.37 0.03
Goethite with Mn (Fe-Mn Oxide) 0.34 0.20 0.13 0.00
Dolomite 0.06 0.02 0.00 0.00
Carbonate/
Phosphate

Calcite 3.35 3.93 27.69 41.21

Ankerite 1.70 8.80 2.33 1.28
s

Apatite 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.07

Monazite 0.15 0.09 0.24 0.05
Quartz 33.89 43.47 22.73 10.18
Silicates/Clays/

Quartz-Rutile Mixe
Aggregates

0.13 0.13 0.08 0.00

K-Feldspar 6.74 6.03 3.91 4.24
Epidote 0.30 1.17 0.27 0.18
Muscovite 36.47 28.41 27.03 16.34
Muscovite with Ti 0.05 0.05 0.03 0.00
Si-Al aggregates 5.81 5.63 5.82 4.41
Others (Unclassifiable Spectra) 1.54 1.45 1.12 0.83
Sum 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
64
 Sample Number
Bad Tail
Sample 1
Good
Sample 2
Bad Tail
Sample 3 Sample 4

Low Counts 0.04 0.02 0.02 0.13

Cuprite Cu2O 0.00 0.000 2.53 11.75
Cu-Si Hydrated 0.57 0.000 0.01 0.03
Cu-Cloride (Melanothallite: Cu2Cl2O) 0.14 0.000 0.00 0.00
Cu Phases

Crednerite (CuMnO2) 0.21 0.000 0.03 0.00

Si Aggregates-with 5% < Cu <20% 3.55 0.018 0.64 1.35
Clacite with Cu 0.00 0.000 0.17 1.19
Ankerite/Goethite with Cu 1.17 0.003 0.80 0.87
Muscovite with Cu 0.30 0.000 0.25 1.60
Cu-Si 0.66 0.001 0.13 0.79
Pyrite 0.09 0.01 0.00 0.01
Hematite 0.36 0.00 0.00 1.68
Oxides

Goethite 2.26 0.50 3.59 1.77

Ilmenite 0.02 0.00 0.05 0.00
Rutile 0.11 0.07 0.37 0.03
Goethite with Mn (Fe-Mn Oxide) 0.34 0.20 0.13 0.00
Dolomite 0.06 0.02 0.00 0.00
Carbonate/
Phosphate

Calcite 3.35 3.93 27.69 41.21

Ankerite 1.70 8.80 2.33 1.28
s

Apatite 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.07

Monazite 0.15 0.09 0.24 0.05
Quartz 33.89 43.47 22.73 10.18
Silicates/Clays/

Quartz-Rutile Mixe
Aggregates

0.13 0.13 0.08 0.00

K-Feldspar 6.74 6.03 3.91 4.24
Epidote 0.30 1.17 0.27 0.18
Muscovite 36.47 28.41 27.03 16.34
Muscovite with Ti 0.05 0.05 0.03 0.00
Si-Al aggregates 5.81 5.63 5.82 4.41
Others (Unclassifiable Spectra) 1.54 1.45 1.12 0.83
Sum 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

Cu % 2.52% 0.23% 3.02% 10.4%

65
Bad T. 2.52%
Background
Low Counts
Cuprite
Cu-Si Hydrated
Melanothallite
Crednerite
Si Aggregates-with 5% < Cu <20%
Clacite with Cu
Ankerite/Goethite with Cu
Muscovite with Cu
Cu-Si
Pyrite
Hematite
Goethite
Ilmenite
Rutile
Quartz
Quartz-Rutile Mixe
K-Feldspar
Epidote
Apatite
Dolomite
Calcite
Ankerite
Monazite-(Ce)
Muscovite
Muscovite with Ti
Goethite with Mn (Fe-Mn Oxide)
Si-Al aggregates
Others

66
Bad T. 10.4%
Background
Low Counts
Cuprite
Cu-Si Hydrated
Melanothallite
Crednerite
Si Aggregates-with 5% < Cu <20%
Clacite with Cu
Ankerite/Goethite with Cu
Muscovite with Cu
Cu-Si
Pyrite
Hematite
Goethite
Ilmenite
Rutile
Quartz
Quartz-Rutile Mixe
K-Feldspar
Epidote
Apatite
Dolomite
Calcite
Ankerite
Monazite-(Ce)
Muscovite
Muscovite with Ti
Goethite with Mn (Fe-Mn Oxide)
Si-Al aggregates
Others

67
Bad T. 3.02%
Background
Low Counts
Cuprite
Cu-Si Hydrated
Melanothallite
Crednerite
Si Aggregates-with 5% < Cu <20%
Clacite with Cu
Ankerite/Goethite with Cu
Muscovite with Cu
Cu-Si
Pyrite
Hematite
Goethite
Ilmenite
Rutile
Quartz
Quartz-Rutile Mixe
K-Feldspar
Epidote
Apatite
Dolomite
Calcite
Ankerite
Monazite-(Ce)
Muscovite
Muscovite with Ti
Goethite with Mn (Fe-Mn Oxide)
Si-Al aggregates
Others

68
Good T. 0.23%
Background
Low Counts
Cuprite
Cu-Si Hydrated
Melanothallite
Crednerite
Si Aggregates-with 5% < Cu <20%
Clacite with Cu
Ankerite/Goethite with Cu
Muscovite with Cu
Cu-Si
Pyrite
Hematite
Goethite
Ilmenite
Rutile
Quartz
Quartz-Rutile Mixe
K-Feldspar
Epidote
Apatite
Dolomite
Calcite
Ankerite
Monazite-(Ce)
Muscovite
Muscovite with Ti
Goethite with Mn (Fe-Mn Oxide)
Si-Al aggregates
Others

69
Where is our Tungsten?
Mineral Mass (%)
Analysis(with(<12000(counts Low Count 0.23
Scheelite 0.33
Scheelite with lower Ca and/or W Scheelite-Altered 10.23
Ca(OH)2 (Portlandite) 4.76
CaOH with minor amounts of W CaOH with W < 30% 12.32
CaOH with minor remarkable of W CaOH with W 30-60% 4.66
CaOH with minor high amounts of W CaOH with W > 60% 0.21
CaOH with W and high Fe CaOH with W 30-60% & high Fe 0.25
CaOH with W and remarkable Fe & Si CaOH Fe-Si with W < 20% 42.09
CaOH with W and P CaOH with W < 30% & high P 0.96
Calcite 1.22
CaCO3 with peaks of W Calcite with W < 30 2.66
Apatite 1.16
Altered P Apatite low P 8.96
Si-Oxide 0.25
Fe Oxide/Hydro 0.02
CaFeSi2O6 Hedenbergite 0.08
CaCl2 with lower Ca than usual Hydrophilite low Ca 0.06
Amphibole 0.53
Biotite 0.05
Mixed-Unclassifiable Ca-W phases Ca-W 2.98
Ca3Al2(SiO4)3-x(OH)4x Katoite 0.00
Si Gangue 2.03
Zircon 0.00
Phyllotungstite 0.00
Hydrotungstite 0.00
Ferberite 0.00
Tungstite 0.00
Fluorite 3.94
Sodium tungstate 0.00
Ca Cl 0.00
Mixed-Boundary phases Others 0.02 70
71
72
73
Where is our Tungsten?

Portlandite+

CaOH++with+W<30+

Altered+Scheelite+

CaOH+Fe0Si+with+W+<+20%+

74
Cu(Sulfide)-Conc with low U and Th,
where is the source of U and Th?
Bornite 0.39 0.18
Chalcopyrite 75.45 73.40
Covellite 0.33 0.29
Chalcocite 0.21 0.15
Cuprite 0.00 0.00
Pyrite 18.04 12.39
Pyrrhotite 0.29 0.05
Arsenopyrite 0.05 0.00
Galena 0.11 0.22
Sphalerite 0.07 0.15
Glaucodot 0.11 0.00
Molybdenite 0.05 0.25
Tetrahedrite 0.05 0.02
Uraninite 0.01 0.01
Allanite 0.45 0.13
Apatite 0.03 0.03
Monazite-(Ce) 0.01 0.01
Magnetite 0.01 0.02
Gold 0.01 0.00
Calcite 0.06 0.07
Scheelite 0.01 0.00
Epidote 0.10 0.02
Titanite 0.00 0.01
Ti Oxide 0.02 0.03
Almandine 0.42 0.21 75
Background
Chalcopyrite
Bornite
Covellite
Chalcocite
Malachite
Cuprite
Pyrite
Pyrrhotite
Arsenopyrite
Galena
Sphalerite
Cobaltite
Vonbezingite
Glaucodot
Tetrahedrite
Magnetite
Hematite
Goethite
Apatite
Monazite-(Ce)
Uraninite
Allanite
Albite
Plagioclase
Quartz
K-Feldspar
Orthobrannerite 76
Clinochlore
Pre-feasibility studies of Fluorite Ore,
What is the optimum grinding size
Client ID Flourite Feed FL-184/Conc FL-174/Tail
Measurement Type PMA PMA PMA

Mineral Mass%
Quartz 49.83 6.49 99.45
Calcite 7.32 4.61 0.08
Fluorite 33.07 85.91 0.10
Fluorite low F 1.28 2.55 0.01
Barite 8.13 0.26 0.02
Pyrite 0.007 0.001 0.001
Sphalerite 0.044 0.000 0.000
Hematite 0.002 0.000 0.001
Goethite 0.010 0.001 0.001
Ilmenite 0.004 0.000 0.000
Rutile 0.000 0.000 0.006
K-Feldspar 0.022 0.001 0.097
Plagioclase 0.005 0.001 0.028
Phlogopite 0.048 0.000 0.000
Anorthite 0.000 0.000 0.000
Pyrophyllite 0.052 0.002 0.114
Apatite 0.003 0.000 0.003
Ankerite 0.001 0.001 0.000
Galena 0.021 0.001 0.002
Others 0.12 0.15 0.05
Low Counts 0.03 0.03 0.05
Total 100.00 100.00 100.00
77
Pre-feasibility studies of Fluorite Ore,
What is the optimum grinding size
110"

100"
Flourite" Quartz" Calcite" Barite"

90"

80"

Cumula&ve)Passing)(Wt%))
70"

60"

50"

40"

30"

20"

10"

0"
1" 10" 100"
Sieve)Size)

Flourite
>90  to  100 Binary Ternary
Association

Liberated Quartz Calcite Barite Other Total

66.50 23.94 7.54 0.55 1.47 100.00

78
Pre-feasibility studies of Fluorite Ore,
What is the optimum grinding size

79
Pre-feasibility studies of Fluorite Ore,
What is the optimum grinding size

105"

95"
100"

85"
90"

75"
80"

65"
70"
Theoretical
Grade&

60"
55" Reality
Grade&

50"
45" Fluorite&Grade&Recovery&
40"
Fluorite&Grade&Recovery&
Based&on&Mineral&by&Mass&
35"
Based&on&Mineral&by&Mass&
30"
25"

20"
15"
10"
5"
5" 15" 25" 35" 45" 55" 65" 75" 85" 95" 105"
0"
0" 10" 20" 30" &Recovery&
40" 50" 60" 70" 80" 90" 100"
&Recovery&

80
Studies of Graphite:

Purity, size and association

!
Fe Ores:

Identification and quantification of Magnetite,

Hematite and Goethite; Magnetite/Hematite
Ratio

!
Research:

Thin Section Petrographic Studies; Alteration

Boundaries and…

81
Graphite Analysis

• The appearance of the graphite

!
• Gangue Minerals and their abundances

!
• Association between the graphite and the Si
Gangue minerals

!
• Size distribution

!
• Compositional variation in the graphite
flakes

82
Mineral Wt%
Graphite 12.52
Muscovite _Graphite 2.03
Illite _Graphite 0.11 Modal Mineralogy
Quartz 65.73
Biotite 3.12
Muscovite 0.34
Chlorite 1.87
Kaolinite 3.52
Plagioclase 0.82
K-Feldspar 5.90
Fe-Oxide 2.02
Sulphate 1.89
REE Phosphate 0.06
Carbonate 0.02
Other 0.04
Total 100 83
Graphite Weight % Binary Ternary+
in...
Muscovite_Graphite Particle
5.50 Particle
2.74
Illite _Graphite 0.01 0.04
Quartz 15.76 6.43
Biotite 3.66 2.71
Muscovite 0.13 0.44
Graphite Associations
Chlorite 1.00 2.55
Kaolinite 4.22 4.50
Plagioclase 1.12 0.06
K-Feldspar 0.94 1.07
Fe-Oxide 1.88 1.24
Sulphate 1.21 0.76
REE Phosphate 0.02 0.07
Carbonate 0.00 0.00
Other 0.00 0.04
Total Graphite in 58.08
Binary and Ternary 84
D80 = 327 µm

D50 = 165 µm

85
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87
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Ta k e Hom e Me ss ag e

Text

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