Applied Mineralogy

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Applied Mineralogy

THE CHALLENGE

Solving processing and environmental problems, or avoiding them in the first place, often requires an understanding of materials at a microscopic level. As a result, industry has a continual need for mineralogical characterization of ores, concentrates, tailings, process products and process residues, sludges and effluents. The challenge for industry is to increase recoveries and raise productivity while maintaining environmental compliance.

NRCan CAN HELP

CANMET-MMSL’s specialists in applied mineralogy are at the forefront of technology development in mineral characterization and quantitative mineralogy. We work with industry to improve process efficiencies, to minimize mineral losses, and to ensure stability of minerals and metals in industrial waste. Our team has access to a complete array of modern mineralogical instrumentation and extensive chemical facilities. We use state-of-the-art techniques to assist our clients, whether during mine development, mineral processing, extractive metallurgy, or to ensure environmental compliance.

OUR EXPERTISE

CANMET-MMSL has developed a range of expertise through R&D; activities:

Image analysis

Mineral associations and liberation parameters
Mineral balances
Prediction of optimal grade-recovery

Identification and quantification of mineral species

Mineralogical balances for precious and trace elements
Quantification of recoverable versus non-recoverable gold
Mineralogical balances for contaminants
Speciation and distribution of heavy metals
Distribution of acid-generating and neutralizing minerals
Diamond and kimberlite indicator minerals

Characterization of metallurgical circuits

Source identification of dusts
Mine tailings and waste rock
Slags, leach residues and sludges
Assessment of mill performance

Trace element detection and characterization

Electron microprobe
Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS)
Synchrotron light source analysis
Surface analysis by X-ray Photon Spectroscopy (XPS)

SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIPS

Projects with industrial clients range from recovery predictions to solving operational problems. Mineralogical characterization can be advantageous from the early stages of exploration through mine development, process optimization, environmental assessment and monitoring, and recycling. CANMET-MMSL:

Characterized the indicator minerals for diamonds, assisting diamond exploration in the Canadian north
Identified significant iron quantities in iron ore tailings, and then undertook laboratory tests that showed recovery could be increased by changing operating conditions
Characterized the mineralogy of gold in an ore, enabling the operator to improve gold recovery
Characterized platinum group mineralogy for various major world deposits and are considered to be experts in platinum group metals
Identified and recommended circuit changes in a copper-zinc operation to address separation difficulties
Assessed the performance of a lead-zinc mill to address low recovery
Determined mineral liberation parameters for companies world-wide using our expertise in image analysis


Last Modified: 2003-10-27		Important Notices