Mineralogy. At every stage during the life cycle of a mineral deposit, from exploration to resource evaluation, mine planning, plant design and operation, product quality control, and through to closure and site rehabilitation, the information from mineralogical investigations should form an integral part of the knowledge base related to the resource. Mineralogy during exploration provides an early indication of likely later extraction processes required. It can also be used to constrain end-member variability for geometallurgical mapping and for process control modelling. The Mineralogy Division (MNL) provides a range of specialised mineralogical solutions to mining processes, industrial plants and environmental challenges. The Division applies the principles of mineral characterization to understand processing behaviour of minerals, thus empowering metallurgists and engineers to obtain optimum recovery and grade in mineral beneficiation. The Division provides mineralogical services across the life cycle of a mineral deposit, from exploration to mine closure. The key role of the Division is to identify minerals and interpret the data with respect to evaluating a mineral deposit, beneficiating the ore, providing vital information for process design as well as on-going support with mineral industry troubleshooting, analysing metallurgical projects and dealing with environmental issues. Mineralogy division research objectives is to apply mineralogical characterisation and associated data, using appropriate tools and approaches:
Mineralogy. Mineralogy capabilities are primarily mineral characterization, which is conducted with an intention to understand processing behavior of minerals, thus empowering metallurgists and process engineers to obtain optimum recovery and grade in mineral beneficiation. Mintek provides mineralogical services across the life cycle of a mineral deposit, from exploration to mine closure. The organization is able to identify minerals and interpret the data with respect to evaluating a mineral deposit, beneficiating the ore, providing vital information for process design as well as on-going support with mineral industry troubleshooting, analyzing metallurgical projects and dealing with environmental issues. Mintek’s expert services with respect to mineralogy include process mineralogy using automated scanning electron microscopes, quantitative X-ray diffraction and cluster analysis; determination of mineral compositions, using electron probe microanalysis with light element detection capability; as well as optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy for exploration and descriptive mineralogical investigations. These services are important for scoping, pre-feasibility studies and metallurgical trouble shooting.
Mineralogy. Table 10 summarises the results of characterisation by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM/EDX). XRD allows to identified main crystalline mineral phases and estimate their proportion. The main crystallised mineral phases evaluated by XRB at UAB are as follow: FeS2 (>50%), FeSO4·xH2O (~35%*), quartz (~15%) with various monoclinic iron sulphate hydrate phases present. SEM images (Figure 15) and EDX analyses identified the same main phases and also minor phases (generally below 1-5%) or very poorly crystalline. Namely, sulfides such as galena, pyrite and mixed sulfides Sb/Pb(Bi) were analysed; sulphates such as barytine and Fe-sulphates containing Pb. Sb (Bi); Fe oxy-hydroxide containing traces such as Sb. Pb. Ti.
Mineralogy. Table 7 summarises the results of characterisation by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM/EDX). Table 7. IPB-tailings1: main mineral phases Type Main mineral phases By XRD (UAB) Microscopy (grain size) SEM observation and EDX analyses (BRGM) Sulfides XRD estimation: 30 % pyrite Fe/S - pyrite (py) main sulfide Simple Cu-sulfide: Cu/S Complex Cu-sulfide: Cu/Xx.Xx/X Sulphates XRD estimation: 50 % gypsum Ca-sulphate: Ca/S/O Fe-sulphate: Fe/S/O (Cu) Pb-sulphate: Pb/S/O Quartz XRD estimation: 10 % quartz Si/O (SiO2) XRD allows to identified main crystalline mineral phases and estimate their proportion. The main crystallised mineral phases evaluated by XRB at UAB are as follow: gypsum (>50%). FeS2 (>30%). quartz (~10%) + others <5%. XRD of wet size fractions show the same mineral phases with different porportions. gypsum being more or less leached. No other sulfides than pyrite were determined. Fine fraction <20 µm contains hydrated Cu-sulphate of the type Cu4(SO4)(OH)6·2H2O Wroewolfeite. Punctual SEM/EDX analyses (Figure 12) allows identifying the same main crystalline phases (gypsum, pyrite and quartz) and in addition: - very poorly crystalline such as Fe-sulphates (with some Cu) and Pb-sulphate; - minor phases (generally below 1-5%) such as Cu(Xx.Xx)-sulfides present in complex mixed grains and in association with pyrite.
Mineralogy. The sandstone mainly constitute by grain size up to 2 mm which are cemented by variety of material like silica, iron, lime and various argillaceous matter. Sandstone occurs as vast horizontal to gently dipping sedimentary deposits. Sandstone of the area is classified into two categories:
Mineralogy the directly held subsidiary of the Claimant and the corporate entity that was in existence prior to the Mineralogy Group Restructure and a subject of the share swap transaction in the Mineralogy Group Restructure which is of central significance to the Respondent’s preliminary objections;
