Affiliation:
1. Mintek
2. De Beers Group Services
Abstract
The weathering of kimberlite ores leads to the weakening of the kimberlite structure,
which allows the use of less intensive comminution procedures during the liberation of diamonds
from the ore, resulting in a decrease in potential damage to the diamonds. The possibility to use
iron- and sulphur-oxidising chemolithotrophic microorganisms as a way to accelerate the
weathering of kimberlite ores was evaluated. It was demonstrated that the presence of sulphuric
acid as well as ferric iron could result in changes in the clay component of these ores. The results
provided promising evidence that weathering can be successfully accelerated, but showed that the
degree of transformation varies between different kimberlite types with different mineralogical
characteristics.
Publisher
Trans Tech Publications, Ltd.
Reference4 articles.
1. E.T. Boshoff , J. Morkel and M.K.G. Vermaak: Journal of South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Vol. 105 (2005), pp.163-166.
2. M.V. Ivanov and G.I. Karavaiko: Microbiology Vol. 73 (2004), pp.493-508.
3. J.M. Bigham, T.M. Bhatti, A. Vuorinen and O.H. Tuovinen: Hydrometallurgy Vol 59 (2001), pp.301-309. Cullinan.
4. [10] [20] [30] [40] [50] 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 Particle size (µm) % Passing H2O 0. 5%S° 2. 5%S° 5g/l Fe Feed Fig. 3. Particle size distribution of Cullinan ore after treatment in the presence of H2O, 0. 25% S°, 0. 5% S° and 5g/l Fe.
Cited by
2 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献，注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献，订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献