Reflected Light Microscopic Study of the Mineralogy and Textures of Experimental Nickel Concentrate Reactions with Slag

Abstract

Reflected light microscopy was used to study the mineralogy and textures of experimental reactions of a nickel concentrate with a slag. Such an interaction is an important step in the bath smelting of nickel sulfide concentrate. Concentrate particles in the central portions of the pellets are rounded and develop vermicular SO2 gas porosity. In the outer portions of the pellets, the original minerals of the concentrate, i.e., pyrrhotite, pentlandite, pyrite, chalcopyrite and violarite, have agglomerated and reacted to form two intergrown phases: pyrrhotite solid solution (Fe0.75Ni0.18Cu0.01S) and pentlandite solid solution (Fe0.58Ni0.51Cu0.03S). Magnetite formed euhedral crystals, skeletal crystals and dendrites at the margins of the matte. Prismatic ferrohypersthene and octahedral Mg-Al-Fe spinel crystals and dendrites are present in the glassy slag.

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Agglomeration; Crystals; Light Reflection; Magnetite; Mineralogy; Optical Microscopy; Slags; Solid Solutions; Textures; Reflected Light Microscopy; Nickel

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0747-9182

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2002 Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Feb 2002

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