Analysis of the chemical and mineral composition of intermediate products at various stages of the technological process
In the mining industry, in the processing and beneficiation of minerals, the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the chemical and mineral composition of the extracted rock and products obtained at various stages of the technological process is of great importance.
One of the main methods of analysis in this industry is X-ray diffraction, which allows to obtain reliable information on the mineral composition of the investigated crystalline materials.
In addition to diagnosing mineral components, X-ray diffraction analysis provides important information:
- about the content of amorphous phase in the rock,
- about metrics of crystal lattice of minerals and its changes at displays of isomorphism and polymorphism,
- about the presence of solid solutions and structural heterogeneity of mineral species,
- about phase transformations and chemical reactions that can occur in crystalline material under the influence of high/low temperatures, pressure, atmospheric composition (vacuum, inert gases, humidity) and mechanical impact.
Example of method implementation
Powder samples in quartz cuvettes prepared for measurement (sample No.1 - sulfide ore, sample No.2 - concentrate, sample No.3 - “tailings”)
Qualitative and quantitative X-ray phase analysis of polymineral powder samples of intermediate products of mining and processing production
Comparison of measured X-ray radiographs of samples (ore, concentrate and “tailings”) with indication of analytical lines of ore minerals (Pn - pentlandite, Py - pyrrhotite, Ch - chalcopyrite, Mg - magnetite).
Qualitative and quantitative X-ray phase analysis of a sulfide ore sample
Qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis of sulfide ore sample
Quantitative analysis of a sulfide ore sample by the full-profile Rietveld method with values of refined parameters.
Protocol of the result of quantitative analysis of a sulfide ore sample by the full-profile Rietveld method
Qualitative and quantitative X-ray phase analysis of concentrate sample
Qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis of concentrate sample
Quantitative analysis of the concentrate sample by the full Rietveld method with indication of values of refined parameters
Protocol of the result of quantitative analysis of a concentrate sample by the full Rietveld method
Qualitative and quantitative X-ray phase analysis of the sample “tails”
Example of processing of X-ray sample “tails” with calculation of amorphous phase content
Quantitative analysis of the sample “Tails” by the full Rietveld method with indication of the values of the refined parameters
Protocol of the result of the quantitative analysis of the sample “Tails” by the full Rietveld method
Conclusion
The X-ray diffraction method is one of the most informative for the mineralogical analysis of mined rocks and products of their processing and enrichment in the mining and enrichment industries.
The examples considered clearly demonstrate the functional and methodological capabilities of diffractometers manufactured by JSC "IC "Burevestnik", which, in combination with analytical software, offer a reliable solution to production and research problems.
