Ore Microscopy and Preliminary Electron Microprobe Analyses of Pb-Zn-Cu-Co-Ni Ores from the Madison Mine, Southeast Missouri Lead District and Their Significance for Potential Cobalt-Nickel Extraction

Abstract

Ore microscopy has been applied to the complex lead-zinc-copper-cobalt-nickel ores from the Madison Mire in the Fredericktown subdistrict of the Southeast Missouri Lead District to predict potential beneficiation problems. It has been found that in some portions of the ore deposits, textures are present which may result in metal losses. In ores from the Bonneterre Transition Zone the intimate association of siegenite with chalcopyrite may result in cobalt and nickel losses to the copper concentrate. In ores from higher stratigraphic horizons, this association is relatively uncommon, and siegenite is commonly associated with bravoite. This latter association will increase the recovery of the cobalt and nickel in bravoite, even though some of the fine-grained bravoite will not be recoverable. Other textures which may result in potential beneficiation problems include coatings of covellite on chalcopyrite and inclusions of sphalerite in galena.

Meeting Name

Annual Meeting of the Society of Mining Engineers of AIME (1983: Mar, 6-10, Atlanta, GA)

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Cobalt Ore Treatment; Copper Ore Treatment; Lead Mines And Mining; Nickel Ore Treatment; Ore Textures; Zinc Ore Treatment; Lead Ore Treatment

Geographic Coverage

Southeast Missouri

Document Type

Article - Conference proceedings

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 1983 Society of Mining Engineers of AIME, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Mar 1983

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