Process Mineralogy of a Low Grade Cu-Ni-PGM Sulphide Ore and its Implications for Mineral Processing

Abstract

Based on process mineralogical study of a low-grade Cu-Ni-platinum group metal(PGM) sulfide ore in SW China, the occurrence of Cu and Ni, the distribution of platinum group minerals (PGMs) and their relationships with other minerals are determined in detail, which provides scientific reference for forthcoming mineral processing and extractive metallurgy. The mineralogical results show that 18 individual PGMs containing all the 6 platinum group elements (PGEs) are investigated, and it can be concluded that the PGMs in the ores mainly occur as individual minerals. SEM images show that the PGMs are mainly disseminated in sulphides, most occur as inclusions or semi-inclusions, and part are inlayed along the other minerals to form coarse compound grains. Due to the the complex mineral composition and texture, processing the Cu-Ni-PGM ores by traditional flotation may be difficult to get a good processing performance.