Geometallurgy

Last updated

Geometallurgy relates to the practice of combining geology or geostatistics with metallurgy, or, more specifically, extractive metallurgy, to create a spatially or geologically based predictive model for mineral processing plants. It is used in the hard rock mining industry for risk management and mitigation during mineral processing plant design. It is also used, to a lesser extent, for production planning in more variable ore deposits.

Contents

There are four important components or steps to developing a geometallurgical program,: [1]

Sample selection

The sample mass and size distribution requirements are dictated by the kind of mathematical model that will be used to simulate the process plant, and the test work required to provide the appropriate model parameters. Flotation testing usually requires several kg of sample and grinding/hardness testing can required between 2 and 300 kg. [2]

The sample selection procedure is performed to optimize granularity, sample support, and cost. Samples are usually core samples composited over the height of the mining bench. [3] For hardness parameters, the variogram often increases rapidly near the origin and can reach the sill at distances significantly smaller than the typical drill hole collar spacing. For this reason the incremental model precision due to additional test work is often simply a consequence of the central limit theorem, and secondary correlations are sought to increase the precision without incurring additional sampling and testing costs. These secondary correlations can involve multi-variable regression analysis with other, non-metallurgical, ore parameters and/or domaining by rock type, lithology, alteration, mineralogy, or structural domains. [4] [5]

Test work

The following tests are commonly used for geometallurgical modeling:

Geostatistics

Block kriging is the most common geostatistical method used for interpolating metallurgical index parameters and it is often applied on a domain basis. [16] Classical geostatistics require that the estimation variable be additive, and there is currently some debate on the additive nature of the metallurgical index parameters measured by the above tests. The Bond ball mill work index test is thought to be additive because of its units of energy; [17] nevertheless, experimental blending results show a non-additive behavior. [18] The SPI(R) value is known not to be an additive parameter, however errors introduced by block kriging are not thought to be significant . [19] [20] These issues, among others, are being investigated as part of the Amira P843 research program on Geometallurgical mapping and mine modelling.

Mine plan and process models

The following process models are commonly applied to geometallurgy:

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Bulled, D., and McInnes, C: Flotation plant design and production planning through geometallurgical modeling. Centenary of Flotation Symposium, Brisbane, QLD, 6-9. June 2005.
  2. ↑ McKen, A., and Williams, S.: An overview of the small-scale tests required to characterize ore grindability. International Autogenous and Semi-Autogenous Grinding Technology 2006, Vancouver, Canada, 2006
  3. ↑ Amelunxen, P. et al: Use of geostatistics to generate an orebody hardness dataset and to quantify the relationship between sample spacing and the precision of the throughput estimate. Autogenous and Semi-Autogenous Grinding Technology 2001, Vancouver, Canada, 2006
  4. ↑ Amelunxen, P.: The application of the SAG Power Index to ore body hardness characterization for the design and optimization of comminution circuits, M. Eng. Thesis, Department of Mining, Metals and Materials Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, Oct. 2003. International Autogenous and Semi-Autogenous Grinding Technology 2006, Vancouver, Canada, 2006
  5. ↑ Preece, Richard. Use of point samples to estimate the spatial distribution of hardness in the Escondida porphyry copper deposit, Chile. International Autogenous and Semi-Autogenous Grinding Technology 2006, Vancouver, Canada, 2006
  6. ↑ Allis Chalmers. Crushing, Screening and Grinding Equipment, Metallic Ore Mining Industry. Rock Grinding - Training Session. White Paper, Undated.
  7. ↑ Smith, R.W., and Lee, K.H.. A comparison of data from Bond type simulated closed-circuit and Batch type grindability tests. Transactions of the SME. March 1961 - 91.
  8. ↑ Berry, T.F., and Bruce, R.W., A simple method of determining the grindability of ores. Canadian Gold Metallurgists, July 1966. pp 63
  9. ↑ Barratt, D.J., and Doll, A.G., Testwork Programs that Deliver Multiple Data Sets of Comminution Parameters for Use in Mine Planning and Project Engineering, Procemin 2008, Santiago, Chile, 2008
  10. ↑ Starkey, J.H., Hindstrom, S., and Orser, T., “SAGDesign Testing –What It Is and Why It Works”; Proceedings of the SAG Conference, September 2006, Vancouver, B.C.
  11. ↑ Morrell, S. Design of AG/SAG mill circuits using the SMC test. International Autogenous and Semi-Autogenous Grinding Technology 2006, Vancouver, Canada, 2006
  12. ↑ Mineral Comminution Circuits: Their Operation and Optimisation. ed. Napier-Munn, T.J., Morrell, S., Morrison, R.D., and Kojovic, T. JKMRC, The University of Queensland, 1996.
  13. ↑ Kosick, G., and Bennett, C. The value of orebody power requirement profiles for SAG circuit design. Proceedings of the 31st Annual Canadian Mineral Processors Conference. Ottawa, Canada, 1999.
  14. 1 2 Dobby, G., Kosick, G., and Amelunxen, R. A focus on variability within the orebody for improved design of flotation plants. Proceedings of the Canadian Mineral Processors Meeting, Ottawa, Canada, 2002
  15. ↑ http://www.aminpro.com. Aminpro - FKT, SKT and SKT-WS flotation kinetic testwork procedures. 2009.
  16. ↑ Dagbert, M., and Bennett, C., Domaining for geomet modelling: a statistical/geostatical approach. International Autogenous and Semi-Autogenous Grinding Technology 2006, Vancouver, Canada, 2006.
  17. ↑ Preece, Richard. Use of point samples to estimate the spatial distribution of hardness in the Escondida porphyry copper deposit, Chile. International Autogenous and Semi-Autogenous Grinding Technology 2006, Vancouver, Canada, 2006
  18. ↑ Yan, D., Eaton, R. Breakage Properties of Ore Blends, Minerals Engineering 7 (1994) pp. 185–199
  19. ↑ Amelunxen, P.: The application of the SAG Power Index to ore body hardness characterization for the design and optimization of comminution circuits, M. Eng. Thesis, Department of Mining, Metals and Materials Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, Oct. 2003.
  20. ↑ Walters, S., and Kojovic, T., Geometallurgical Mapping and Mine Modeling (GEM3) - the way of the future. International Autogenous and Semi-Autogenous Grinding Technology 2006, Vancouver, Canada, 2006
  21. ↑ Dobby, G. et al., Advances in SAG circuit design and simulation applied to the mine block model. Autogenous and Semi-Autogenous Grinding Technology 2001, Vancouver, Canada, 2006
  22. ↑ Morrell, S.,A new autogenous and semi-autogenous mill model for scale-up, design, and optimisation. Minerals Engineering 17 (2004) 437-445.
  23. ↑ http://www.aminpro.com, 2009

General references

Related Research Articles

Metallurgy Domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metals

Metallurgy is a domain of materials science and engineering that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their inter-metallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. Metallurgy encompasses both the science and the technology of metals; that is, the way in which science is applied to the production of metals, and the engineering of metal components used in products for both consumers and manufacturers. Metallurgy is distinct from the craft of metalworking. Metalworking relies on metallurgy in a similar manner to how medicine relies on medical science for technical advancement. A specialist practitioner of metallurgy is known as a metallurgist.

Mohs scale of mineral hardness Qualitative ordinal scale from 1 to 10, characterizing scratch resistance of various minerals

The Mohs scale of mineral hardness is a qualitative ordinal scale, from 1 to 10, characterizing scratch resistance of various minerals through the ability of harder material to scratch softer material.

Mining engineering Engineering discipline that involves the practice, the theory, the science, the technology, and applicatIon of extracting and processing minerals from a naturally occurring environment

Mining in the engineering discipline is the extraction of minerals from underneath, above or on the ground. Mining engineering is associated with many other disciplines, such as mineral processing, exploration, excavation, geology, and metallurgy, geotechnical engineering and surveying. A mining engineer may manage any phase of mining operations, from exploration and discovery of the mineral resources, through feasibility study, mine design, development of plans, production and operations to mine closure.

Copper extraction Process of extracting copper from the ground

Copper extraction refers to the methods used to obtain copper from its ores. The conversion of copper consists of a series of physical and electrochemical processes. Methods have evolved and vary with country depending on the ore source, local environmental regulations, and other factors.

Mill (grinding) Device that breaks solid materials into smaller pieces by grinding, crushing, or cutting

A mill is a device that breaks solid materials into smaller pieces by grinding, crushing, or cutting. Such comminution is an important unit operation in many processes. There are many different types of mills and many types of materials processed in them. Historically mills were powered by hand or by animals, working animal, wind (windmill) or water (watermill). In modern era, they are usually powered by electricity.

Froth flotation

Froth flotation is a process for selectively separating of hydrophobic materials from hydrophilic. This is used in mineral processing, paper recycling and waste-water treatment industries. Historically this was first used in the mining industry, where it was one of the great enabling technologies of the 20th century. It has been described as "the single most important operation used for the recovery and upgrading of sulfide ores". The development of froth flotation has improved the recovery of valuable minerals, such as copper- and lead-bearing minerals. Along with mechanized mining, it has allowed the economic recovery of valuable metals from much lower grade ore than previously.

Mineral processing Process of separating commercially valuable minerals from their ores

In the field of extractive metallurgy, mineral processing, also known as ore dressing, is the process of separating commercially valuable minerals from their ores.

Gold extraction Process of extracting gold from ore

Gold extraction refers to the processes required to extract gold from its ores. This may require a combination of comminution, mineral processing, hydrometallurgical, and pyrometallurgical processes to be performed on the ore.

Heap leaching

Heap leaching is an industrial mining process used to extract precious metals, copper, uranium, and other compounds from ore using a series of chemical reactions that absorb specific minerals and re-separate them after their division from other earth materials. Similar to in situ mining, heap leach mining differs in that it places ore on a liner, then adds the chemicals via drip systems to the ore, whereas in situ mining lacks these liners and pulls pregnant solution up to obtain the minerals. Heap leaching is widely used in modern large-scale mining operations as it produces the desired concentrates at a lower cost compared to conventional processing methods such as flotation, agitation, and vat leaching.

Mount Isa Mines Mine in Queensland, Australia

Mount Isa Mines Limited ("MIM") operates the Mount Isa copper, lead, zinc and silver mines near Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia as part of the Glencore group of companies. For a brief period in 1980, MIM was Australia's largest company. It has pioneered several significant mining industry innovations, including the Isa Process copper refining technology, the Isasmelt smelting technology, and the IsaMill fine grinding technology, and it also commercialized the Jameson Cell column flotation technology.

Batu Hijau mine

The Batu Hijau mine is an open pit copper-gold mine operated by PT. Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara. The mine is the second largest copper-gold mine in Indonesia behind the Grasberg mine of PT. Freeport Indonesia. The mine is located 1,530 kilometres (950 mi) east of the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Sumbawa, in southern Taliwang regency, an island in West Nusa Tenggara. The mine is the result of a ten-year exploration and construction program based on a 1999 discovery of the porphyry copper deposit. Production began in 2000.

Comminution is the reduction of solid materials from one average particle size to a smaller average particle size, by crushing, grinding, cutting, vibrating, or other processes. In geology, it occurs naturally during faulting in the upper part of the Earth's crust. In industry, it is an important unit operation in mineral processing, ceramics, electronics, and other fields, accomplished with many types of mill. In dentistry, it is the result of mastication of food. In general medicine, it is one of the most traumatic forms of bone fracture.

The IsaMill is an energy-efficient mineral industry grinding mill that was jointly developed in the 1990s by Mount Isa Mines Limited and Netzsch Feinmahltechnik ("Netzsch"), a German manufacturer of bead mills. The IsaMill is primarily known for its ultrafine grinding applications in the mining industry, but is also being used as a more efficient means of coarse grinding. By the end of 2008, over 70% of the IsaMill’s installed capacity was for conventional regrinding or mainstream grinding applications, with target product sizes ranging from 25 to 60 µm.

Fred Chester Bond

Fred Chester Bond was an American mining engineer. A graduate of the Colorado School of Mines, he worked in the mining equipment and ore milling equipment business of Allis-Chalmers from 1930 to 1964.

Sepro Mineral Systems Canadian mineral processing company

Sepro Mineral Systems Corp. is a Canadian company founded in 1987 and headquartered in British Columbia, Canada. The outcome of the acquisition of Sepro Mineral Processing International by Falcon Concentrators in 2008, the companies' key focus is the production of mineral processing equipment for the mining and aggregate industries. Sepro Mineral Systems Corp. also provides engineering and process design services while continuing to advance its machine technology through research and development. Proprietary technology produced by Sepro includes grinding mills, ore scrubbers, vibrating screens, centrifugal gravity concentrators, agglomeration drums, and dense media separators. The company is also a supplier of single source modular pre-designed and custom designed plants and circuits which are made of Sepro's proprietary equipment as well as third-party products.

Sensor-based sorting

Sensor-based sorting, is an umbrella term for all applications in which particles are detected using a sensor technique and rejected by an amplified mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic process.

Jameson cell Machinery for processing minerals

The Jameson Cell is a high-intensity froth flotation cell that was invented by Laureate Professor Graeme Jameson of the University of Newcastle (Australia) and developed in conjunction with Mount Isa Mines Limited.

Mineral resource estimation is used to determine and define the ore tonnage and grade of a geological deposit, from the developed block model. There are different estimation methods used for different scenarios dependent upon the ore boundaries, geological deposit geometry, grade variability and the amount of time and money available. A typical resource estimation involves the construction of a geological and resource model with data from various sources. Depending on the nature of the information and whether the data is hard copy or computerized, the principal steps of computer resource estimation are:

  1. Creation, standardization and validation of the database.
  2. Section plotting and interactive geological modeling.
  3. Geostatistical analysis.
  4. Block modeling and block estimation.

Alban Jude Lynch AO was a mining engineer and academic who helped develop the mineral processing teaching experience for mining students in Australia.

Duck Pond mine Copper mine in British Columbia, Canada

The Duck Pond Mine is an underground Canadian copper and zinc mine that was owned and operated by Teck Resources 28 kilometres (17 mi) south of Millertown in Newfoundland, Canada. It closed operations in July 2016.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.