Abstract

ANDREWS, L  and  DEN HOED, P. Mineralogical solutions for pyrometallurgical problems. J. S. Afr. Inst. Min. Metall. [online]. 2011, vol.111, n.10, pp. 675-680. ISSN 0038-223X.

Mineralogy, traditionally associated with concentrator studies, is being increasingly applied to problems in pyrometallurgy. Such investigations commonly make use of a number of techniques, and the results are combined for a meaningful interpretation, which can lead to a successful solution for the problem. Mineralogical techniques are described for various pyrometallurgical operations. Examples are given of studies and investigations involving mineralogy in chemical-looping combustion, feed monitoring to platinum-smelting furnaces, and losses to slag in base metal and platinum smelting.

Keywords : mineralogy; phase-chemical; chemical-looping combustion; XRD; SEM; EDS; QEMSCAN; PGM; slag; matte; ilmenite.