In this paper, the mineralogical characteristics of a weathered Platinum Group Minerals (PGMs) ore of Middle Group (1-4) was investigated with the main objective of proposing a processing route for the ore. The oxidised PGM ore supplied was 60% passing 710µm and the major elements present were:Cr(27,03%), Fe(20,57%), Si(5,417%), Ca(5,43%), Mg(3,87) and Al(2,17 %). The ore was analysed for 4Es (Pt, Pd, Rh and Au) content using fire assaying followed by inductively coupled plasma -optical emission spectrometry. The results indicated that the grades of the 4Es were as follows: Au (0.04ppm), Pd (0.94ppm), Pt (1.98) and Rh (0.32). The Pd content is much lower than that of Pt, indicating Pd remobilization from the weathered zone to the lower zone which reduces the flotation efficiency by changing Pt:Pd ratio. The X-ray diffraction results indicated that the oxidised PGM ore sample was dominated by chromite, quartz, iron oxide minerals such magnesium/ferric iron, trevorite (nickel iron oxide) and secondary minerals such as covellite which is generally found in zones of secondary enrichment (supergene) of copper sulphide deposits. More mineralogical investigation is recommended such as Mineral Liberation Analysis in order to investigate the PGM's grain size distribution, liberation and their associations.
Custom mill tailings generated during the treatment of gold ores in Custom milling plants contains a considerable significant amount of gold (Au) and Silver (Ag). The potential of recovering gold and silver from the tailings by cyanidation leaching process was investigated. The custom mill tailings were characterised using Malvern particle analyser, XRF, XRD and SEM-EDs. In this study, the MiniTab software experimental design method was used to determine the optimum leaching conditions. The PSD results revealed that the custom mill tailings are coarse with 80% passing 2000µm. The tailings are a quartzite material containing minor amount of sulphides such as pyrite, chalcopyrite and pentlandite. The amount of these sulphides is very low ruling the probability of the tailings being refractory. Recoveries of 88 and 95% for gold and silver respectively were achieved leaching at 800g/t NaCN 8hrs. However, gold recovery above 85% was achieved by leaching in 600g/t NaCN for 8 hrs. Custom mill tailings have proved to be a source of precious metals and Min Tab software is a useful tool in optimisation of the leaching conditions.
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