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Process Mineralogy of Suspended Particles from a Simulated Commercial Flash Smelter
Metallurgical Transactions B
  • Richard D. Hagni, Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • Christopher B. Vierrether
  • Hongyong Sohn
Abstract

Polished sections of pyrometallurgical intermediate products from a simulated commercial flash furnace were examined by reflected light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectrometry and electron backscatter analysis, and microprobe analysis for phase and textural relationships. The smelter feed is a copper concentrate from a porphyry copper deposit. The concentrate consists primarily of chalcopyrite, bornite, and pyrite with smaller amounts of covellite, chalcocite, molybdenite, magnetite, galena, and sphalerite. The flash furnace reactions for pyrite and chalcopyrite can be observed by reflected light microscopy. Reacted angular particles of pyrite exhibit successive rims of fibrous pyrrhotite and hematite or magnetite. Reacted angular chalcopyrite particles show successive rims of bornite, digenite, and chalcocite. Spherical particles, formed by the complete melting of former pyrite and chalcopyrite particles, consist of variable amounts of granular pyrrhotite with magnetite rims and minor hematite. Spherical particles, formed by the complete melting of former chalcopyrite particles, exhibit exsolution intergrowths with varying proportions of intermediate solid solution, bornite, digenite, and chalcocite, and have rims of hematite, magnetite, and copper-iron spinel. Electron microprobe analyses show that the iron oxides contain significant copper and minor zinc in their structures. Sphalerite and molybdenite do not show evident mineralogical reactions.

Department(s)
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Keywords and Phrases
  • Microscopic Examination--Scanning Electron Microscopy,
  • Mineralogy,
  • Electron Microprobe Analysis,
  • Flash Smelting,
  • Copper Smelting
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 1988 Springer Verlag, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
10-1-1988
Publication Date
01 Oct 1988
Disciplines
Citation Information
Richard D. Hagni, Christopher B. Vierrether and Hongyong Sohn. "Process Mineralogy of Suspended Particles from a Simulated Commercial Flash Smelter" Metallurgical Transactions B Vol. 19 Iss. 5 (1988) p. 719 - 729 ISSN: 0360-2141
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/richard-hagni/50/