Influence of applied mineralogy in developing an optimal hydrometallurgical processing route for complex sulphide ores

The selection of an optimum technical and economic processing and extraction route for minerals and metals requires complete knowledge of the ore, especially its chemical and mineralogical compositions, relative amounts, and grain size distribution. Thus, to obtain optimum results during base metals recovery from complex sulphide ore, processing must start from a sound and complete mineralogical study. This work therefore investigates the influence of applied mineralogy in the selection of the optimal route for processing and extracting base metals from complex sulphides, by studying the size, mineralogy, and elemental distribution of Ishiagu bulk complex sulphide ore. Bulk complex sulphide ore from Ishiagu, in Eboyin State, in the southeastern part of Nigeria, was sequentially crushed in a jaw crusher and a cone crusher, and ground in a rod mill. The results obtained during laboratory sieve analysis were used to evaluate its size distribution. Identification of mineral phases distributed within the sizes was determined by microscopy, using a scanning electron microscope coupled with energy dispersed x-ray analyzer to produce backscattered images. The elemental distribution was determined by the optical emission spectrometry using x-ray fluorescence and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer. Results obtained showed variations in elemental and mineralogical composition within the different sizes. The concentrations of zinc, copper, and iron reduce as particle size decreases, while silicon, sulphur, and lead contents increase. The overall results obtained were used as a basis for predicting parameters for which optimal hydrometallurgical recovery of the constituent's metals could be achieved.