Metal-Selective Processing from the Los Sulfatos Porphyry-Type Deposit in Chile: Co, Au, and Re Recovery Workflows Based on Advanced Geochemical Characterization
Sulfides extracted from porphyry-type deposits can contain a number of metals critical for the global energy transition, e.g., Co and precious metals such as Au and Re. These metals are currently determined on composite mineral samples, which commonly results in their dilution. Thus, it is possible...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/10/6/531 |
| _version_ | 1797565542067863552 |
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| author | Germán Velásquez Humberto Estay Iván Vela Stefano Salvi Marcial Pablo |
| author_facet | Germán Velásquez Humberto Estay Iván Vela Stefano Salvi Marcial Pablo |
| author_sort | Germán Velásquez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sulfides extracted from porphyry-type deposits can contain a number of metals critical for the global energy transition, e.g., Co and precious metals such as Au and Re. These metals are currently determined on composite mineral samples, which commonly results in their dilution. Thus, it is possible that some metals of interest are overlooked during metallurgical processing and are subsequently lost to tailings. Here, an advanced geochemical characterization is implemented directly on metal-bearing sulfides, determining the grade of each targeted trace metal and recognizing its specific host mineral. Results show that pyrite is a prime host mineral for Co (up to 24,000 ppm) and commonly contains Au (up to 5 ppm), while molybdenite contains high grades of Re (up to 514 ppm) and Au (up to 31 ppm). Both minerals represent around 0.2% of the mineralized samples. The dataset is used to evaluate the possibility of extracting trace metals as by-products during Cu-sulfide processing, by the addition of unit operations to conventional plant designs. A remarkable advantage of the proposed workflows is that costs of mining, crushing, and grinding stages are accounted for in the copper production investments. The proposed geochemical characterization can be applied to other porphyry-type operations to improve the metallic benefits from a single deposit. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:13:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-135e7c00014342c8aac00e18d68fa3ed |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:13:41Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Minerals |
| spelling | doaj.art-135e7c00014342c8aac00e18d68fa3ed2023-11-20T03:31:45ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2020-06-0110653110.3390/min10060531Metal-Selective Processing from the Los Sulfatos Porphyry-Type Deposit in Chile: Co, Au, and Re Recovery Workflows Based on Advanced Geochemical CharacterizationGermán Velásquez0Humberto Estay1Iván Vela2Stefano Salvi3Marcial Pablo4Advanced Mining Technology Center (AMTC), FCFM, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8370451, ChileAdvanced Mining Technology Center (AMTC), FCFM, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8370451, ChileSuperintendence of Geology, Los Bronces Underground Project, Anglo American Sur S.A., Santiago 7550103, ChileGéosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, GET, IRD, OMP, 14 Av. Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, FranceSuperintendence of Geology, Los Bronces Underground Project, Anglo American Sur S.A., Santiago 7550103, ChileSulfides extracted from porphyry-type deposits can contain a number of metals critical for the global energy transition, e.g., Co and precious metals such as Au and Re. These metals are currently determined on composite mineral samples, which commonly results in their dilution. Thus, it is possible that some metals of interest are overlooked during metallurgical processing and are subsequently lost to tailings. Here, an advanced geochemical characterization is implemented directly on metal-bearing sulfides, determining the grade of each targeted trace metal and recognizing its specific host mineral. Results show that pyrite is a prime host mineral for Co (up to 24,000 ppm) and commonly contains Au (up to 5 ppm), while molybdenite contains high grades of Re (up to 514 ppm) and Au (up to 31 ppm). Both minerals represent around 0.2% of the mineralized samples. The dataset is used to evaluate the possibility of extracting trace metals as by-products during Cu-sulfide processing, by the addition of unit operations to conventional plant designs. A remarkable advantage of the proposed workflows is that costs of mining, crushing, and grinding stages are accounted for in the copper production investments. The proposed geochemical characterization can be applied to other porphyry-type operations to improve the metallic benefits from a single deposit.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/10/6/531cobalt supplyrheniumgoldby-productspyrite processinggeo-metallurgy |
| spellingShingle | Germán Velásquez Humberto Estay Iván Vela Stefano Salvi Marcial Pablo Metal-Selective Processing from the Los Sulfatos Porphyry-Type Deposit in Chile: Co, Au, and Re Recovery Workflows Based on Advanced Geochemical Characterization Minerals cobalt supply rhenium gold by-products pyrite processing geo-metallurgy |
| title | Metal-Selective Processing from the Los Sulfatos Porphyry-Type Deposit in Chile: Co, Au, and Re Recovery Workflows Based on Advanced Geochemical Characterization |
| title_full | Metal-Selective Processing from the Los Sulfatos Porphyry-Type Deposit in Chile: Co, Au, and Re Recovery Workflows Based on Advanced Geochemical Characterization |
| title_fullStr | Metal-Selective Processing from the Los Sulfatos Porphyry-Type Deposit in Chile: Co, Au, and Re Recovery Workflows Based on Advanced Geochemical Characterization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Metal-Selective Processing from the Los Sulfatos Porphyry-Type Deposit in Chile: Co, Au, and Re Recovery Workflows Based on Advanced Geochemical Characterization |
| title_short | Metal-Selective Processing from the Los Sulfatos Porphyry-Type Deposit in Chile: Co, Au, and Re Recovery Workflows Based on Advanced Geochemical Characterization |
| title_sort | metal selective processing from the los sulfatos porphyry type deposit in chile co au and re recovery workflows based on advanced geochemical characterization |
| topic | cobalt supply rhenium gold by-products pyrite processing geo-metallurgy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/10/6/531 |
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