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Electric reduction furnaces cannot be fed fines in the production of manganese ferroalloy as they hinder gas permeability. Thus, agglomeration techniques can be used to minimize the environmental and economic impacts of storing fines. Among these techniques, briquetting is advantageous because it allows for cold agglomeration of the particles and is flexible in terms of particle sizes. Therefore, this work aimed to develop self-reductor briquettes composed of ore manganese fines, dust ferromanganese, charcoal fines, and three different binders. The compaction pressure, curing time, and % binder were optimized to enhance briquette strength through a multivariate experimental design consisting of a screening study using a 23 full factorial design followed by response surface methodology with a spherical central composite design. The results were assessed by analysis of variance, and a regression model was established. The study found that briquettes elaborated with bentonite exhibited an optimized compressive strength of 4.02 MPa, achieved with a compaction pressure of 67.55 MPa and 12.71% bentonite. For briquettes elaborated with pregelatinized starch, a compressive strength of 7.04 MPa was obtained with a compaction pressure of 67.52 MPa, a curing time of 19.51 days, and 8.07% pregelatinized starch. For briquettes agglomerated using slaked lime and molasses, an optimized compaction pressure of 27.09 MPa and a curing time of 23.27 days resulted in a compressive strength of 1.63 MPa. These results suggest that briquettes containing bentonite and pregelatinized starch are feasible substitutes for lump ore in electric furnaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel is a strategic element whose production and consumption in over a decade has increased to over 39% and 71%, respectively. Generally, due to their complex mineralogy, laterites, the current attractive source of Ni, are subjected to hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy techniques without enrichment in order to extract Ni. Therefore, numerous investigations in vogue on laterite enrichment performed spanning from 1964 to date were reviewed in this article, and the future directions were proposed through critical synthesis. The possibilities of obtaining both higher recoveries and increase in grade for Ni were noticed using selective comminution-classification method followed by flocculation-flotation strategy. Hence, in order to improve on the reported Ni yields from selective comminution-classification process, one of the ways could be to subject the ore to a multi-stage selective comminution-classification method followed by subjecting the obtained concentrate to flocculation-flotation technique. Therefore, the findings of this investigation would aid in upscaling the production to meet the demand. Properties of goethite and serpentine were explored. Physical and flotation methods for laterite enrichment were reviewed. Future directions for laterite beneficiation were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe study of particle size distribution (PSD) of materials is a crucial aspect of mineral processing. It not only determines the appropriate beneficiation process and equipment but also has a significant impact on the grade and recovery of concentrate. This study utilizes a pin-stirred mill for the wet fine grinding of limonite to examine four different widths of PSD functions and compares their quantitative descriptions of the PSD. Skewness is a parameter introduced to quantitatively describe the asymmetry of the PSD. This study aims to investigate the effect of the stirrer speed, the density and the size of the grinding media on the shape of the PSD and on the grinding rate. The results show that a lower stirrer speed and a lower density of the grinding media result in a narrower and a more symmetrical PSD of the grinding products. Moreover, the time-dependent approach succeeds in simulating and proving the evolution behavior of the median particle size. It was found that the optimum mixing ratio of the grinding media can effectively adjust the shape of the PSD and improve the grinding efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diatomite deposits in Poland are located in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship, and the only active deposit is in Jawornik Ruski. Therefore, it is a unique material. Improved rock processing methods are constantly in demand. In the research presented here, we have used research methods such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), particle shape analysis, and appropriate sets of crushing machines. Diatomite comminution tests were carried out on test stands in different crushers (jaw crusher, hammer crusher, high-pressure roller press, ball mill) using different elementary crushing force actions: crushing, abrasion, and impact, occurring separately or in combination. The machines were tested with selected variable parameters to obtain products with a wide range of grain sizes ranging from 0 to 10 mm. The ball mill (yield 87%, system C3) and the hammer crusher with HPGR (high-pressure grinding roller) (yield 79%, system D2 + D3) have the greatest impact on diatom shell release and accumulation in the finest 0–5 μm and 5–10 μm fractions. For commercial purposes, it is important to obtain very fine fractions while keeping the shells undisturbed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the design, implementation, and usage of a Python package called Hyperspectral Python (HypPy). Proprietary software for processing hyperspectral images is expensive, and tools developed using these packages cannot be freely distributed. The idea of HypPy is to be able to process hyperspectral images using free and open-source software. HypPy was developed using Python and relies on the array-processing capabilities of packages like NumPy and SciPy. HypPy was designed with practical imaging spectrometry in mind and has implemented a number of novel ideas. To name a few of these ideas, HypPy has BandMath and SpectralMath tools for processing images and spectra using Python statements, can process spectral libraries as if they were images, and can address bands by wavelength rather than band number. We expect HypPy to be beneficial for research, education, and projects using hyperspectral data because it is flexible and versatile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effect of the particle size and solid-to-liquid ratio on the dissolution rate of magnesium (Mg) and silicon (Si) in heat-activated lizardite. The investigation was conducted under specific conditions: without the presence of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), at a moderate temperature (40 °C), and under elevated CO2 pressure (100 bar). The aim was to isolate the dissolution reactions and enhance comprehension of the factors constraining the overall yields in the Albany Research Center (ARC) mineral carbonation process. Our study disclosed two distinct dissolution regimes: an initial stage with a rapid initial rate of Mg extraction, resulting in the fraction of Mg extracted ranging from 30 to 65% during the first 20 min of the experiment, following which the dissolution rate decreases dramatically. The initial rapid dissolution stage is primarily driven by the low pH of the supernatant solution, resulting from CO2 dissolution, leading to a higher concentration of protons that extract Mg2+ cations. However, as the heat-activated lizardite dissolution progresses, the pH increases due to the high level of leached Mg2+, and a diffusion barrier forms due to the precipitation of amorphous silica. This phenomenon ultimately slows down the mineral's dissolution rate during the latter stages of particle dissolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gyratory crusher is one of the most important mineral processing assets in the comminution circuit, and its production performance directly impacts the circuit throughput. Due to its higher energy utilisation rate for rock breakage than semi-autogenous (SAG/AG) milling, it is a common practice in operations to promote and optimise primary crushing before the downstream capacity can be enhanced. This study aims to develop a discrete element modelling (DEM) and multibody dynamics (MBD) cosimulation framework to optimise the performance of the gyratory crusher. An MBD model was initially established to simulate the gyratory crusher's drivetrain system. A GPU-based DEM was also developed with a parallel bond model incorporated to simulate the particle breakage behaviour. Coupling of the MBD and GPU-based DEM resulted in a cosimulation framework based on the Function Mock-up Interface. An industrial-scale gyratory crusher was selected to test the developed numerical framework, and results indicated that the developed method was capable of modelling normal and choked working conditions. The outcome of this study enabled more realistic gyratory crusher improvement and optimisation strategies for enhanced production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In-situ recovery can be challenging for application in low-permeability deposits, such as gold- and copper-bearing rocks because of the weak interaction between the mineral and the lixiviant solution. To increase mass transfer in such deposits, we propose the use of ultrasound. Ultrasonic wave emission into a porous solid immersed in liquid can create intense pressure increases and increases in temperature. The high temperature results in increased mass transfer between solid and solution, which for in-situ leaching, can increase the penetration of leaching solution into the solid. A series of experiments have been conducted to monitor the propagation of lixiviant solution through synthetic rock samples. The parameters investigated were ultrasound power, running time and synthetic core sample permeability. The optimum conditions for the maximum migration of lixiviant ions (in these experiments an iodide/tri-iodide model solution) through a synthetic core sample were determined. The migration of lixiviant ions through a synthetic core sample was found to be an order of magnitude higher with the application of ultrasound of 360 W for a running time of 24 h/day (continuous application of ultrasound). Under these conditions and for a test duration of 8 days, the greatest number of ions moved from the source reservoir through a core sample with a permeability of 177 mD to the target reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The particle shape in mineral processing is a function of the comminution mechanism. In this study, the effect of the concentrate particle shape, obtained from the wet ball milling and the low-intensity magnetic separator on magnetite ore is investigated by the fractal geometry approach. The particle shape is described by the fractal dimension, calculated by the divider method. The variable parameters of grinding time, loading ratio, and solid weight percentage were studied here. The fractal dimensions of the particles are obtained between 1.12 and 1.42. When the grinding time is increased from 45 to 65 minutes, the fractal dimension and product grades are increased from 1.19 to 1.42 and from 65.61 to 67.70%, respectively. By increasing the loading ratio from 14% to 22%, the fractal dimension and the product's grades are increased from 1.17 to 1.38 and from 64.80 to 66.68%, respectively. By increasing the solid weight percentage from 35 to 55%, the fractal dimension and product grades are decreased from 1.32 to 1.12 and from 65.51 to 64.65%, respectively. The results show that the particle shape has a significant effect on the performance of the magnetic separator. It is the findings indicate a direct relationship between the particle fractal dimension and the grade of magnetic separation products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the production process of sulfide lead-zinc ore using the flotation method, a large amount of beneficiation wastewater is generated. The pH value, suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand, heavy metal ions, etc. in the beneficiation wastewater often exceed the water quality standard limits. Direct discharge of mineral processing wastewater will disturb the water environment in the mining and surrounding areas. Direct reuse will cause fluctuations and deterioration of mineral processing production indicators. Therefore, lead-zinc mining production enterprises must treat mineral processing wastewater and discharge it in compliance with standards or recycle it back to the mineral processing plant for production use. Taking Dongtangzi Lead Zinc Mine in Feng County, Shaanxi Province as an example, this paper elaborates on the method of fully recycling mineral processing wastewater and the achieved results. In order to reduce the impact of mineral processing wastewater on production and mineral processing indicators, the circulation volume and water quality of mineral processing wastewater were analyzed and monitored, and the reasons affecting mineral processing production were identified. Through research and investigation, a wastewater treatment process suitable for the company was designed. By continuously adjusting and optimizing the mineral processing agent system (including changing the lime dosing point and reducing the lime dosage, using Z-1 flotation agent, MB collector, and BK204 frother reducing, the dosage of copper sulfate and ethyl sulfide nitrogen, and discontinuing the use of Na2SO3 K2Cr2O6, Na2CO3, ZnSO4, xanthate, terpineol oil and other reagents, the total amount of mineral processing reagents hasbeen reduced from 13 295 g/t to 6 500 g/t, with a reduction by 6 795 g/t and a decrease of 51%. At the same time, the flocculation effect of lime and Z-1 flotation agent, as well as the inhibitory effect of Z-1 flotation agent on heavy metals and carbon-containing substances, purify the flotation operation environment, enabling wastewater treatment and mineral processing operations to be carried out simultaneously in the production process, eliminating the impact of fully recycled mineral processing wastewater on production. Mineral processing wastewater only needs to be naturally settled in the tailings pond and can be fully recycled for mineral processing production without the specific wastewater treatment, achieving full recycling of mineral processing wastewater. The dosage and cost of reagents are significantly reduced, and the mineral processing indicators are significantly improved. The results can provide a reference for the recycling of similar lead-zinc ore beneficiation wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triethanolamine (TEA) is a promising eco-friendly alternative to inorganic ammonia for enhancing surface sulfidization and flotation recovery of smithsonite. Micro-flotation experiments revealed an enhancement in smithsonite recovery to 95.21% with TEA modification, comparable to the results obtained using ammonia. The mechanisms behind the ability of TEA to enhance the sulfidization process were investigated through surface analysis and molecular dynamics simulations. TEA modification increased the content of sulfidization products, the proportion of crucial S22− in adsorbed products, and the thickness and size of the sulfidization product layer. The complexation of TEA with Zn sites formed positively charged Zn–TEA complexes that adsorb onto the smithsonite surface. These complexes promoted negatively charged HS− adsorption, creating a multi-layered adsorption structure. Moreover, TEA modification reduced the total energy required for the sulfidization. These findings open up new possibilities for using eco-friendly reagents in mineral processing, highlighting the potential of TEA in green mineral processing practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The dynamics of milling circuits, particularly those involving Semi-Autogenous Grinding (SAG) mills, are not adequately studied, despite their critical importance in mineral processing. This paper aims to investigate the dynamic behavior of an SAG mill pebble recycling circuit under varying feed ore conditions, focusing on both uncontrollable parameters (such as ore hardness) and controllable parameters (including circuit layout and pebble crusher configurations). The study is carried out with Simulink dynamic simulations. Our findings reveal several key insights. Firstly, plant designs based solely on static simulations may not be adequate for large or complex circuits, as they fail to account for the dynamic nature of milling processes. Second, incorporating stockpiles after pebble crushing can effectively mitigate the impact of dynamic fluctuations, leading to more stable circuit performance. Third, different circuit layouts can facilitate easier maintenance and operational flexibility. Notably, finer pebble crushing can enhance circuit throughput by 5% to 10%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing concerns regarding water usage in mineral processing have led to a growing interest in dry jigging in recent years. However, there is still a need for a more comprehensive examination of the operational aspects of the technique. In this sense, this study focused on three main elements: (a) examining the air pulse pattern during dry jig operation; (b) assessing the evolution of the stratification profile over time using partition analysis; and (c) evaluating the specific energy consumption of batch dry jigging during operation. Also, an innovative operational strategy known as "transient pulsing" was proposed and analyzed, involving varying the intensity and frequency of the air pulse throughout the stratification process. All tests were conducted using density tracers spread across 11 density ranges (0.4–2.4 g/cm3) and a base bed (gravel) to analyze their separation in a batch, pilot-scale dry jig. Pressure drop and active power data were collected to measure the pulse characteristics and energy consumption. The airflow curves, obtained through pressure drop data, indicated that the pulsation process is more unstable as the airflow increases, possibly due to the pressure fluctuations experienced by air during valve closure. For the pulsation conditions used in the tests, the specific energy consumption was 10.66 Wh/kg of jigged material, with most of it related to the blower drive system. Analysis of the stratification evolution over time showed an oscillatory behavior, alternating between states of better (Ep < 0.1) and worse (Ep > 0.1) separation, especially for the near-gravity material (NGM). Results of the transient pulsation tests suggested that progressively increasing the vertical displacement of the bed during stratification resulted in slightly better segregation levels and more stable jigging evolution over time in comparison to stationary pulse conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to understand the distribution of lithium and other elements in the Beauvoir granite, which is a granite enriched in lithium (Li), tin (Sn), niobium (Nb) and tantalum (Ta), and develop a reliable method for lithium quantification. These granite samples underwent various mineral processing techniques to produce a large dataset with different lithium concentrations and different mineral matrices. Thin sections were analysed using optical microscopy and micro X-ray fluorescence imaging to determine the distribution of potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), and cesium (Cs) in different mineral phases. Both energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) measurements were conducted using handheld instruments on the same samples. The different resulting spectra were used to develop a predictive model for lithium content according to the whole rock estimates. Principal component analysis (PCA) and biplot analysis were used to identify correlations between elemental composition and lithium content; multiple linear regression was employed to establish a regression model for lithium quantification. Residual analysis and various statistical metrics, including R2, root mean squared error, and mean absolute percentage error, were used to assess the accuracy and performance of the models. In summary, this study highlights that for high lithium grade samples, ED-XRF can be preferred over LIBS as it requires less time for both sample preparation and analysis. However, this lithium assay is indirect, whereas for low lithium grade samples (<0.8 wt% Li2O), LIBS should be preferred to ensure a robust lithium assay method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study develops briquettes from fines generated in the processing of manganese ore from a strategic manganeferous district of Minas Gerais–Brazil. The briquettes were produced based on the following variables: compaction pressure (20 and 25MPa), curing time (7 and 28 days), percentage by mass of binder (5% and 10%), and replacement with tailings (0% and 10%). Technological tests evaluated the compressive, abrasion, impact strength and water absorption. The best conditions for briquette included 10% Portland cement, 10% Mn tailings, compaction pressure of 25MPa and 7 days of curing, as well as 10% Portland cement, compaction pressure of 25MPa and 28 days of curing. The briquettes primarily contained the spessartine, todorokite, quartz, and pyrolusite minerals. The storage time tests indicated that the briquettes responded satisfactorily to storage for three months in a dry environment and at room temperature. Through crackling tests, the briquettes have potential to be commercially used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Geology & Exploration is the property of Geology & Exploration Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources / Kuangchan Zonghe Liyong is the property of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Based on fluorescence spectrum analysis and chemical multi-element analysis, through the process mineralogy study of a refractory lead-zinc mine in Hebei, the mineral composition, structure, main mineral embedding characteristics of the ore and the occurrence state of lead-zinc were found out. The results show that the lead content in the ore is 1.07%, and the lead minerals mainly exist in galena, accounting for 85.85%. The content of zinc is 2.08%. Zinc minerals mainly exist in sphalerite, accounting for 66.06%, and zinc oxide ore accounts for 22.43%, Galena is mainly embedded in contact with sphalerite and pyrite and metasomatized sphalerite and pyrite. The contact boundary is uneven, in harbor shape, sawtooth shape, nibbling shape, etc., with strong local metasomatism. Sphalerite is mainly in irregular heteromorphic grain structure, and a small amount is embedded in vein structure, which is distributed in disseminated shape in the ore. Through analysis, the embedded particle size of lead minerals in the raw ore is too fine and the continuous relationship with zinc flash minerals is complex, resulting in high zinc content in lead concentrate, high zinc oxidation rate, high zinc content in tailings and low zinc recovery rate.

Abstract Arsenic contamination not only complicates mineral processing but also poses environmental and health risks. To address these challenges, this research investigates the feasibility of utilizing Hyperspectral imaging combined with machine learning techniques for the identification of arsenic-containing minerals in copper ore samples, with a focus on practical application in sorting and processing operations. Through experimentation with various copper sulfide ores, Neighborhood Component Analysis (NCA) was employed to select essential wavelength bands from Hyperspectral data, subsequently used as inputs for machine learning algorithms to identify arsenic concentrations. Results demonstrate that by selecting a subset of informative bands using NCA, accurate mineral identification can be achieved with a significantly reduced the size of dataset, enabling efficient processing and analysis. Comparison with other wavelength selection methods highlights the superiority of NCA in optimizing classification accuracy. Specifically, the identification accuracy showed 91.9% or more when utilizing 8 or more bands selected by NCA and was comparable to hyperspectral data analysis with 204 bands. The findings suggest potential for cost-effective implementation of multispectral cameras in mineral processing operations. Future research directions include refining machine learning algorithms, exploring broader applications across diverse ore types, and integrating hyperspectral imaging with emerging sensor technologies for enhanced mineral processing capabilities.

This is an article in the field of ceramics and composites. Montmorillonite organic gel is a thixotropic gel, which is usually produced by wet process. It needs to be spray drying to obtain gel products. However, the drying cost accounts for the major part of the production cost due to the low efficiency and high energy consumption of spray drying. Therefore, it is of great importance to reduce the energy consumption in the process of dehydration. A new type of pre dehydration process with low energy consumption is proposed in this paper. A non-metallic mineral material with high specific surface area and good water absorption is filled into the dehydrated tank. The montmorillonite organic gel is injected into the dehydrated tank and stirred well to achieve the purpose of pre dehydration. The high-quality organic gel product is then obtained by spray drying. The special process for the pre-dewatering process is designed and the energy consumption of the pre-drying process and the spray drying process without pre dehydration are compared by thermal calculation. The results show that the pre dehydration process can save about 58% energy compared with the existing process.

Conveyor belts serve as the primary mode of ore transportation in mineral processing plants. Feeders, comprised of shorter conveyors, regulate the material flow from silos to longer conveyor belts by adjusting their velocity. This velocity manipulation is facilitated by automatic controllers that gauge the material weight on the conveyor using scales. However, due to positioning constraints of these scales, a notable delay ensues between measurement and the adjustment of the feeder speed. This dead time poses a significant challenge in control design, aiming to prevent oscillations in material levels on the conveyor belt. This paper contributes in two key areas: firstly, through a simulation-based comparison of various control techniques addressing this issue across diverse scenarios; secondly, by implementing the Smith predictor solution in an operational plant and contrasting its performance with that of a single PID controller. Evaluation spans both the transient flow rate during step change setpoints and a month-long assessment. The experimental results reveal a notable increase in production by 355 t/h and a substantial reduction in flow rate oscillations on the conveyor belt, evidenced by a 55% decrease in the standard deviation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ball mills are widely used for size reduction in mineral processing, but effective scaling from laboratory to industrial scale remains challenging. This study introduces a novel scaling constant approach to replicate energy transfer to ore during milling across different scales by adjusting rotational speed and grinding medium size distribution. The scaling constant encapsulates parameters like the number of balls per working area, rotational speed, and an average ball's maximum potential and kinetic energies. Experiments were conducted using a laboratory ball mill with interchangeable drum sizes (300, 400, and 500 mm) and a Design of Experiments methodology. Statistical analysis revealed that the scaling constant was more effective at maintaining consistent specific energy and energy per rotation across scales than size reduction, especially in dry milling. Wet milling results showed no significant differences in all metrics across scales. The dominant charge motion shifted from centrifuging to cascading as the mill diameter increased, highlighting the complex scaling dynamics. While the scaling constant shows promise for maintaining energy utilization, additional factors like charge motion and particle breakage mechanisms should be considered. The findings provide insights for improving ball mill design and optimization in mineral processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multi-layer indices decision-making of complex industrial processes is the key to reducing costs and improving production efficiency. With the development of the Industrial Internet, a large number of industrial streaming data and intelligent algorithms have brought opportunities for optimizing plant-wide production indices. However, due to the strong dynamic and coupling of the production process, the intelligent system based only on the optimization algorithm cannot give practical data analysis suggestions and decision results, so a human–computer interactive visual analysis and index decision system are urgently needed. This paper combines multi-layer indices decision-making algorithms with 3D digital twin visual analysis technology to propose an intelligent decision-making system for mineral processing production indices based on 3D digital twin interactive visualization (DTIV). The DTIV system provides users a 3D digital twin modeling view from the production park, workshop, and equipment scenes. It adopts visualization technology that seamlessly integrates 3D and 2D to help users obtain indices decision input information and hidden data features from real-time stream data with different spatiotemporal data characteristics. In addition, the DTIV system also combines a multi-layer indices optimization decision-making algorithms engine and designs a human–machine interaction indices decision interface and indices decision execution visual analysis interface to improve users' production perception and decision-making ability. Through our collaboration with domain experts, carefully designed interviews, and prototype system evaluation in a beneficiation plant, the effectiveness and usability of the system have been proven. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of materials from mineral resources is a significant contributor to anthropogenic CO2 emissions. This contribution is driven primarily by chemical CO2 emissions from the conversion of mineral resources and emissions tied to energy demands for material processing. In this work, we synthesize the thermodynamically required enthalpy and chemically derived emissions of mineral processing and consumption in the United States. We quantify mass, enthalpy, and emissions flows for minerals described by the US Geological Survey, with 882 mass flows and 155 chemical reactions analyzed. In total, 503 PJ of enthalpy is thermodynamically required for 398 Mt of chemically converted material consumption in the United States, resulting in 129 Mt of chemically derived CO2 emissions. Additionally, 249 PJ of fuel resources such as coke are stoichiometrically required for the chemical conversion of minerals. These enthalpy requirements and CO2 emissions are primarily from high‐mass consumption materials such as cement, carbon steel, fertilizer, and aluminum. Cumulatively, the dataset synthesized in this work provides a complete view of the chemical requirements of mineral processing and can aid in guiding decarbonization or sustainable growth in critical minerals sectors, including construction materials and materials for energy storage or generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large amounts of xanthate wastewater generated from mineral beneficiation significantly threaten the ecological environment. MOF photocatalysis is considered as a promising method for the removal of xanthate that is environmentally friendly and has high efficiency. However, the defects in MOFs limit their large-scale application due to poor visible light absorption efficiency and stability in water. In this study, a novel composite material composed of g-C 3 N 4 /AgCl/Ti-MOFs was prepared, and the catalytic degradation effect of butyl xanthate solution under different catalyst ratios and reaction conditions was investigated. The results showed that the composite could still maintain excellent catalytic performance (degradation rate of 99.5% within 90 min) under xenon light and low dosage. The characterization results showed that this excellent photocatalytic performance could be attributed to the following three points: 1) The material could absorb up to 670 nm visible light absorption capacity; 2) excellent stability was achieved (86% degradation efficiency after six cycles); and 3) the Schottky junctions formed by Ag0 and other materials in the composite increased the transfer rate of e−/h+. The possible photodegradation mechanism was proposed according to UV–vis DRS and trapping experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the inseparable components of the grinding process in tumbling mills is the grinding media used in them. Despite the simplicity of grinding media shapes in a tumbling mill, their effect on breakage performance as well as on the mill power draw has remained a complex problem. A large share of energy consumption in mineral processing plants is related to grinding operations, so the study of power consumption in this sector is very important. This study compares the effects of conventional rods (simple rods) and grooved rods on the mill power draw in a dry rod mill at various mill speeds and grinding media filling. The results of the study showed that with an increase in grinding media weight and mill speed, power consumption was increased for both types of grinding media studied. The specific power rate decreased with increasing the speed and media filling. By increasing mill speed, the sensitivity of the specific power draw to the grinding media filling was increased. The specific power draw of grooved rods at low and medium speeds was shown to be more than that of simple rods, but at speeds above 60% of the critical speed, the specific power draw of the grooved rods was lower than that of the simple rods. Using an empirical model, the experimental and model values were compared. The results showed that the prediction of the mill power draw using the presented empirical model, in the range of low and medium speeds is more reliable. Therefore, using this model at low speeds is perfectly valid. However, as speed increases, its credibility decreases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Guangxi, a polymetallic sulfide ore tailings sample, highly abundant in -0.013 mm particle size, comprises 56.3% of the total, exhibiting severe sliming phenomena. The main valuable metal is Sn with a grade of 1.45%. It mainly exists in the form of fine cassiterite, in -0.013 mm particle size, with a distributing rate of 84.76%. Due to its small mass, large specific surface area, and high surface energy, fine cassiterite faces longstanding issues in mineral processing, such as low recovery and poor concentrate quality. This study primarily investigated fine cassiterite flotation behaviour using both single collectors and collector combinations. The results showed that the collector combination achieved higher tin recovery than the single collector, although the latter provided a higher grade of tin concentrate. The experiment adopted a collector combination ratio of GXU-Sn2 : GXU-Sn3= 1 : 2 for the laboratory locked-cycle test, achieving a final tin concentrate grade of 30.92% and a total recovery of 81.13%, with a flotation recovery of 85.06% through a process of "one rougher, two cleaners, and two scavengers" . To confirm the feasibility of the optimal reagent scheme and flowsheet determined in the laboratory for continuous industrial production, extended pilot tests on fine cassiterite were conducted in a pilot plant in Guangxi, ultimately yielding a tin concentrate with a grade of 15.07%, a total recovery of 74.69%, and a flotation recovery of 84.88%. These results affirm that the laboratory-developed reagent scheme is operable and stable in flotation indicators. Through laboratory-scale trials and extended continuous pilot tests, it was demonstrated that fine cassiterite could be efficiently recovered through extensive flotation experiments with the proper reagent scheme and flowsheet. This provides valuable technical reference for the future efficient recovery of low-grade fine tin ores and the development of novel collectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ag-Pb-Cu mixed concentrate is a product ofcopper and lead floating and contains a silver grade of 4208.0 g/t, along with 3.3% of copper and 43.28% of lead. And 98.80% of silver is deposited in galena. The surface of the concentrate has been heavily contaminated with the flotation reagents, leading to a little difference in the floatability between galena and chalcopyrite. Consequently, separating chalcopyrite from galena is very difficult. In this experimental study, a combined process of removing the flotation reagents by activated carbon and flotating copper by the suppression of lead was adopted to treat the concentrate. By using a high-efficiency galena inhibitor (GYC) and chalcopyrite collector (SAC), an effective recovery of silver, lead and copper from the mixed concentrates was achieved. After the treatment of the mixed concentrate, the silver grade in obtained silver-lead concentrate was 4839.2 g/t with a recovery rate of 97.36% and the grade of lead was 50.05% with a recovery rate is 97.90%. In obtained copper concentrate, the silver grade was 724.6 g/t with a recovery rate of 2.64% and the copper grade was 20.16% with a recovery rate of 91.23%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic contamination not only complicates mineral processing but also poses environmental and health risks. To address these challenges, this research investigates the feasibility of utilizing Hyperspectral imaging combined with machine learning techniques for the identification of arsenic-containing minerals in copper ore samples, with a focus on practical application in sorting and processing operations. Through experimentation with various copper sulfide ores, Neighborhood Component Analysis (NCA) was employed to select essential wavelength bands from Hyperspectral data, subsequently used as inputs for machine learning algorithms to identify arsenic concentrations. Results demonstrate that by selecting a subset of informative bands using NCA, accurate mineral identification can be achieved with a significantly reduced the size of dataset, enabling efficient processing and analysis. Comparison with other wavelength selection methods highlights the superiority of NCA in optimizing classification accuracy. Specifically, the identification accuracy showed 91.9% or more when utilizing 8 or more bands selected by NCA and was comparable to hyperspectral data analysis with 204 bands. The findings suggest potential for cost-effective implementation of multispectral cameras in mineral processing operations. Future research directions include refining machine learning algorithms, exploring broader applications across diverse ore types, and integrating hyperspectral imaging with emerging sensor technologies for enhanced mineral processing capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reviews the processing of tellurium (Te), a critical mineral essential for a clean energy transition. Tellurium is typically obtained from copper anode slimes through electrolytic refinement, however, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews on Te production outside of this process. This article discusses potential alternative production flowsheets for Te, specifically those involving the recovery of Te from base metal production processes. Additionally, the article covers the recovery of Te lost in the porphyry copper concentration process as part of the efforts to diversify the Te supply chains. This review article also delves into the different metallurgical approaches and challenges related to Te extraction from gold tellurides, examining various leaching methods, including cyanidation and wet chlorination, which are not commonly discussed in literature about Te production through electrolytic refinement of copper anode slimes. Overall, this review emphasizes the importance of Te for the ongoing collaborations between private and public entities to enhance and diversify Te supply chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the mineral flotation process, the size characteristics of the surface froth significantly influence the production indicators of the flotation process. However, the information within froth images is intricate, with occurrences of froth stacking and bubble adhesion, resulting in indistinct boundary information. Existing methods struggle to accurately and comprehensively segment bubble boundaries. This paper aims to devise a segmentation method that precisely delineates bubble boundaries, enabling the measurement of bubble size characteristics and an assessment of both average bubble size and bubble count status. A cascaded decoding branch incorporating omni-dimensional convolutional point rendering is designed, leveraging the rendering concept to reanalyze and categorize misclassified pixels. This recalibration process enhances segmentation accuracy by addressing these inaccuracies. Experiments were performed using an on-site froth industrial dataset, demonstrating the substantial advantage of the proposed method in segmenting and measuring flotation froth scenes. Specifically, the segmentation accuracy reached 92.86%. Additionally, the measurement errors for the average bubble size and bubble count were only 10.3% and 8.6%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the implementation of a model-based predictive control (MPC) strategy to improve the performance of a semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mill in a uranium mineral processing plant. The SAG mill, crucial in crushing and grinding uranium ore to the desired size, is currently managed using conventional proportionalintegral-derivative (PID) controllers. However, to enhance production efficiency and control over the SAG mill's variables, this paper suggests the adoption of MPC. The proposed MPC controller is developed using a neural network (NN) model of the SAG mill, created in MATLAB with data collected over 21 days. The effectiveness of the MPC controller is assessed by contrasting its response with that of the real-time operator control. This comparison utilizes tools like MATLAB and the RSlinx remote server for accessing OPC real-time data. Findings reveal that the MPC controller exhibits a quicker reaction to alterations in the SAG mill's process outputs and proficiently regulates crucial outputs such as Mill mass, ensuring that the manipulated variables stay within their designated limits. Unlike operator control, which is slower and adjusts one variable at a time, the MPC approach can maximize the mill's throughput rate without impacting the ore feed rate. This demonstrates the MPC controller's superior ability to optimize SAG mill operations efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The minerals and metals industries are vital in the world's economy, yet their use of resources and waste generation pose considerable issues. The circular economy is a concept that establishes the foundation for economic operations that are carried out to run sustainably and to promote economic welfare, which in turn leads to an improvement in environmental quality. This paper offers a comprehensive literature analysis on the principles and efficacy of circular economy in mineral processing, specifically focusing on radioactive minerals. This research aims to develop a circular economy model that preserves resources, reduces waste production, and complies with regulatory rules on radioactive waste management. The study outlines a clear and structured circular economy model consisting of four modules: sample preparation, decomposition, partial extraction, and total precipitation. Each module integrates energy efficiency, heat recovery, renewable energy, water reuse, and chemical recycling. The validated model provides a roadmap for implementing circular economy principles in processing radioactive materials, contributing to achieving sustainable development goals. The government's agenda in pursuit of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) can be aided by this model. This study suggests that reducing resource use and the volume of material, energy, and waste generated by technological processes can be achieved while still maintaining quality. That concept brings about a change in the mindset of designing a mineral processing installation. Based on the result of this study, further study may be focused on implementing strategies for each module of the studied object. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resin mineral composite (RMC) is a new material with several times the damping properties of gray cast iron and great corrosion resistance. Due to its overall brittleness, sawing with a diamond band saw would be a suitable method. In this research, sawing experiments are carried out to study the sawing force characteristics of the material and its surface morphology during the processing. The results show that the feed force level is in the range of 3.5~5.5 N and the tangential force level is relatively low. The distribution of resin mineral components does not have a significant impact on the average sawing force but increases the fluctuation of the lateral force signal. The maximum fluctuation volume is 94.86% higher than other areas. Uneven lateral force, generated when diamond particles pass through the resin–mineral interface, is one of the causes of fluctuations. The machined surface of RMC has uniform strip scratches and a small number of pits. Maintaining a constant ratio of sawing speed to feed speed can result in approximately the same machined surface. A step structure with a height of about 10 μm appears at the interface of resin minerals. As a processing defect, it may affect the performance of RMC components in some aspects, which need a further precision machining processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the influence of bulk nanobubbles (NBs) on the flocculation and filtration behavior of kaolin suspensions treated with cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM). Traditionally, flocculation relies on bridging mechanisms by polymers like CPAM. The present work examines the possibility of combining NBs with CPAM to achieve more efficient kaolin separation. The settling behavior of kaolin suspensions with and without bulk nanobubbles was compared. The results with 2 mL CPAM and 300 s settling time revealed that bulk NBs significantly enhanced flocculation efficiency, with supernatant zone height reductions exceeding 50% compared to CPAM alone, indicating a faster settling rate resulting from bulk NBs. This improvement in the settling rate is attributed to NBs' ability to reduce inter-particle repulsion (as evidenced by a shift in zeta potential from −20 mV to −10 mV) and bridge kaolin particles, complementing the action of CPAM. Additionally, the study demonstrated that bulk NBs improved dewatering characteristics by lowering the medium resistance and specific cake resistance during filtration. These findings pave the way for the utilization of bulk NBs as a novel and efficient strategy for kaolin separation in mineral processing, potentially leading to reduced processing times and lower operational costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variations in the Dolivo-Dobrovol'sky symmetry index for minerals through time reveal several factors that influence the emergence of crystalline symmetry in natural processes. Of special interest in this regard are the numerous paragenetic modes—different processes of mineral genesis that reflect changes in physical, chemical, and ultimately biological environments that foster the emergence of new mineral species. Here, we consider the roles of hydrogen content, rarity, formation temperature and pressure, and age on the average symmetry of minerals from 57 different modes of formation (i.e., paragenetic modes). We find four significant trends in the average mineral symmetry index for all minerals in each paragenetic mode: specifically, this average index is (1) lower for minerals with greater hydrogen content; (2) greater for minerals formed at higher pressure; (3) lower for minerals of greater rarity; and (4) greater for older paragenetic modes. These findings elucidate some of the intricate relationships among paragenetic modes, average mineral attributes, and the Dolivo-Dobrovol'sky symmetry index, providing insights into the geological processes governing mineral formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flotation stands out as a successful and extensively employed method for separating valuable mineral particles from waste rock. The efficiency of this process is subjected to the distinct physicochemical attributes exhibited by various minerals. However, the complex combination of multiple sub-processes within flotation presents challenges in controlling this mechanism and achieving optimal efficiency. Consequently, there is a growing dependence on machine learning methods in mineral processing research. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques, presenting their potential applications in flotation processes. The review demonstrates advancements discussed in scholarly research over the past decade and highlights a growing interest in utilizing machine learning methods for monitoring and optimizing flotation processes, as demonstrated by the increasing number of studies in this field. Recent trends also suggest that the course of flotation process monitoring, and control will increasingly focus on the refinement and deployment of deep learning networks developed specifically for froth image extraction and analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving accurate estimations of recoverable tonnage relies on a robust geological modelling process. To ensure this accuracy, it is crucial to incorporate information from exploration, grade control, and sampling, considering well-identified mineralization controls. However, modelling the geology of complex orebodies, especially veins, poses challenges due to their intricate mineral accumulation processes and variable structural complexities. Fairview Mine's Main Reef Complex (MRC) reef is highly discontinuous, with most of the valuable mineralized zone concentrated within localized ore shoots that intersect various lithologies, exemplifying these challenges. This study aimed to improve the modelling of veins at the mine, striving for a more accurate representation of the mineralization zones. To achieve this, a hybrid approach was employed, combining a deterministic method based on minimum curvature interpolation with a probabilistic method using anisotropic inverse distance weighting for categorical/discrete variables. The subsequent tonnage estimates showed a robust correlation with actual production output. The initial deterministic model established the large-scale geological trend, providing a foundation for estimating a probabilistic model. The iterative nature of probabilistic modelling allowed for the analysis of various probable options, facilitating the selection of the model that best captured the underlying geology. This approach enabled robust mathematical modelling while incorporating valuable input from geological knowledge and expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental context: Mineral dust is an important external source of trace metals to the offshore ocean. Dust exposure to acids is a significant driver of the release of dissolved trace elements. This study provides an analysis of mineral dust interaction with acid, as a proxy for atmospheric processes. An insight is given into the processes that may occur in the atmosphere where desert dust may add nutrient or toxic metals to oceans. Trace metal concentrations in oceans are influenced by several factors including biogeochemical cycling effects on distributions, concentrations and speciation. The major input of trace metals (and P) to the surface waters of the offshore ocean is mineral dust, predominantly from desert regions. This dust can be subject to acid processing in the atmosphere due to the presence of anthropogenic acidic gases (oxides of nitrogen and sulfur), potentially making trace metals more bioavailable when dust is deposited in the oceans. Here we present a study on the release of trace metals from a desert dust when exposed to a series of acid addition treatments. Al, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn and Pb are preferentially leached from the dust only when the calcite phase has been exhausted and the pH is no longer buffered at circumneutral values. Further acid additions quickly released the majority of leachable trace metals, although lower concentrations of most metals continue to be leached with further acid addition cycles. This contrasts with the behaviour of Ca and P, where in prior work it had been shown that dissolution mirrors closely the addition of protons to mineral surfaces demonstrating the related but contrasting processes for trace element dissolution. Environmental context. Mineral dust is an important external source of trace metals to the offshore ocean. Dust exposure to acids is a significant driver of the release of dissolved trace elements. This study provides an analysis of mineral dust interaction with acid, as a proxy for atmospheric processes. An insight is given into the processes that may occur in the atmosphere where desert dust may add nutrient or toxic metals to oceans. This article belongs to the collection Dedication to Prof. Edward Tipping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Microfluidic and lab-on-a-chip devices offer exquisite temporal and spatial control over chemical and physical processes that are important in mineral exploration and mining. These include mineral-water interfacial reactions, dissolution, and adsorption/desorption in pores, fractures, or other micro/nanostructures. Microfluidic mineral studies offer advantages of small sample and reagent volumes, high throughout, and short analytical cycles that may enable in-field mining decisions. However, not many microfluidic studies have targeted these mining sector challenges for mineral leaching. In this review, special attention is given to microscale experimental platforms for predicting extraction and leaching of industrially-relevant samples (real ore samples). Advantages and challenges of these platforms are given. The review concludes that there are significant opportunities for microfluidics in mineral analysis, screening, process intensification, and process control in the resource and minerals sector.