Abstract
This study investigated historical copper sulfide tailings as an unconventional source of tellurium (Te), gold (Au), and silver (Ag). Advanced analytical studies were conducted to determine the geochemical and mineralogical properties of the tailing samples. The results showed that tetradymite (Bi2Te2S) was the predominant Te-bearing mineral, while hessite (Ag2Te) was a minor Te carrier, both notably occurring within fine-grained (< 8 μm) inclusions in pyrite. Gold was present as native Au, electrum (Au-Ag), and within complex silver tellurides hosted primarily in chalcopyrite and pyrite. Froth flotation studies showed that the 180 to 38 μm size range was the optimum feed size that yielded recoveries of 59 %, 37 %, and 27 % for Te, Au, and Ag, respectively. These findings suggested that froth flotation is a feasible method for concentrating Te-Au-Ag-bearing phases. Given the strong association between Te, Au, Ag, and Cu, the co-extraction of these metals should significantly enhance the economic viability of tailings' processing.
Recommended Citation
F. Nakhaei et al., "Unlocking the Potential of Copper Sulfide Tailings as a Secondary Source for Tellurium and Precious Metals: A Comprehensive Characterization Study," Cleaner Engineering and Technology, vol. 29, article no. 101081, Elsevier, Dec 2025.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clet.2025.101081
Department(s)
Mining Engineering
Publication Status
Open Access
Keywords and Phrases
Characterization; Copper sulfide; Froth flotation; Gold; Silver; Sulfide tailings; Tellurium
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
2666-7908
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2025 Elsevier, All rights reserved.
Creative Commons Licensing
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Publication Date
01 Dec 2025
Comments
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Grant 0073551