Critical Metals Ga, Ge and In: Experimental Evidence for Smelter Recovery Improvements

Avarmaa, Katri; Klemettinen, Lassi; O’Brien, Hugh; Taskinen, Pekka

doi:10.3390/min9060367

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(70 reference statements)

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“…Boulangerite is up to 8.31 wt.% Ag (average = 4.30 wt.% Ag; n = 26) and up to 0.11 wt.% Ge (average = 0.03 wt.% Ge). However, such high Ag contents as of some of the analyses can be spurious due to mixed analyses of finely intergrown Pb and Sb sulfosalts (see [7][8][9][10]. Jamesonite is up to 0.28 wt.% Ag, even though most of the analyses yield concentrations that are below the detection limit for this element, and up to 0.11 wt.% Ge (average = 0.04 wt.% Ge; n = 21).…”

Section: Other Mineralsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The high-tech metal indium (In) is classified as a critical raw material due to its high economic importance and elevated risk of supply [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. In nature, this metal mostly occurs in the crystal lattice of base-metal sulfides and oxides in substitution of cations with similar radii (i.e., Zn, Fe, Cu, Sn, As) and only a few, and rare, discrete indium minerals have been defined [11][12][13][14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Indium Mineralization in the Volcanic Dome-Hosted Ánimas–Chocaya–Siete Suyos Polymetallic Deposit, Potosí, Bolivia

et al. 2019

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A volcanic dome complex of Miocene age hosts the In-bearing Ánimas–Chocaya–Siete Suyos district in SW Bolivia. Ore mineralization occurs as banded and massive infillings in sub-vertical, NE-SW striking veins. In this article, a detailed petrographic study is combined with in situ mineral geochemistry determinations in ore from the Arturo, Chorro and Diez veins in the Siete Suyos mine, the Ánimas, Burton, Colorada, and Rosario veins in the Ánimas mine and the Nueva vein in the Chocaya mine. A three-stage paragenetic sequence is roughly determined for all of them, and includes (1) an early low-sulfidation stage that is dominated by cassiterite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, and high-Fe sphalerite (FeS > 21 mol. %); (2) a second intermediate-sulfidation stage dominated by pyrite + marcasite ± intermediate product, sphalerite (FeS < 21 mol. %), stannite, and local famatinite; and, (3) a late intermediate-sulfidation stage dominated by galena and Ag-Pb-Sn sulfosalts. Electron-probe microanalyses reveal high indium enrichment in stage-2 sphalerite (up to 9.66 wt.% In) and stannite (up to 4.11 wt.% In), and a moderate enrichment in rare wurtzite (up to 1.61 wt.% In), stage-1 sphalerite (0.35 wt.% In), cassiterite (up to 0.25 wt.% In2O3), and ramdohrite (up to 0.24 wt.% In). Therefore, the main indium mineralization in the district can be associated to the second, intermediate-sulfidation stage, chiefly in those veins in which sphalerite and stannite are more abundant. Atomic concentrations of In and Cu in sphalerite yield a positive correlation at Cu/In = 1 that agrees with a (Cu+ + In3+) 2Zn2+ coupled substitution. The availability of Cu in the mineralizing fluids during the crystallization of sphalerite is, in consequence, essential for the incorporation of indium in its crystal lattice and would control the distribution of indium enrichment at different scales. The highest concentrations of indium in sphalerite, which is found in the Diez vein in the Siete Suyos mine, occur in crustiform bands of sphalerite with local “chalcopyrite disease” texture, which has not been observed in the other studied veins. In stannite, the atomic concentrations of In are negatively correlated with those of Cu and Sn at Cu + In = 2 and Sn + In = 1. Thus, atomic proportions and correlations suggest the contextualization of the main indium mineralization in the sphalerite–stannite–roquesite pseudoternary system.

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Section: Other Mineralsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indium Mineralization in the Volcanic Dome-Hosted Ánimas–Chocaya–Siete Suyos Polymetallic Deposit, Potosí, Bolivia

et al. 2019

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“…All metals are deported into different phases, i.e., between metal or matte, slag and gas streams, during the smelting process. [2] The behaviors of other trace metals in copper smelting have been extensively investigated, [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] and further attention has been directed towards the behavior of minor elements in copper/slag/gas systems, [31][32][33][34] but only few systematic studies concerning precious metals distributions between the copper matte and slag have been published. [35,36] With the purpose to determine the optimal conditions for the recycling of precious metals from WEEE, a significant effort is required to clarify their distribution mechanisms between matte/metal and different types of smelting and refining slags.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recovery of Precious Metals (Au, Ag, Pt, and Pd) from Urban Mining Through Copper Smelting

Chen

Avarmaa

Klemettinen

et al. 2020

Metall Mater Trans B

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With the aim of investigating deportments of precious metals in pyrometallurgical processing of waste electrical and electronic equipment, the distributions of selected precious metals (gold, silver, platinum, and palladium) between copper matte and three different silica-saturated slags (pure FeO x -SiO 2 , FeO x -SiO 2 -Al 2 O 3 , and FeO x -SiO 2 -Al 2 O 3 -CaO slag) were investigated at 1300°C in controlled flowing CO-CO 2 -SO 2 -Ar gas atmosphere by a high-temperature isothermal equilibration technique. The phase compositions were analyzed by Electron Probe X-ray Microanalysis and Laser Ablation-High Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry. It was shown that the distribution coefficients of gold, platinum, and palladium between matte and slag (L m/s (Me) = [Me] in matte /(Me) in slag ) were very high and increased with increasing matte grade. The distributions to the matte phase were increased by adding basic oxides alumina and lime into the acidic silicate slags. The experimentally measured distribution coefficients L m/s (Me) followed the order of platinum > palladium > gold > silver. The present experimental results can be used for upgrading thermodynamic databases for the complex recycling processes through nonferrous smelting.

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“…Typical concentrations of Ge in these resources range from 30 to 200 ppm [50][51][52]. The estimated content range of 32-126 ppm germanium in the historic Tsumeb slag is well comparable to that in resources from which it is obtained as a byproduct of metal sulphide treatment worldwide by hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy processes [40,49,51]. The world's germanium production was only 300 metric tons coming from China (about 60%), Canada, Finland, Russia, and the United States [53].…”

Section: Recommended Processing Routes For the Recovery Of Valuable M...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Mineralogical Characterization of Historic Copper Slag to Guide the Recovery of Valuable Metals: A Namibian Case Study

Dzinomwa¹,

Mapani²,

Nghipulile³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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The depletion of the ore reserves in the world necessitates the search for secondary sources such as waste products (tailings and slag). A smelter in Namibia has historic slag which accumulated over decades of its operating life. Analytical and mineralogical characterization of the slag was performed using the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis, Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS), ICP-OES, scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analysis, and optical microscopy analysis. The chemical analyses showed that the metal values contained in the slag were mainly copper, lead, and zinc whose average contents were approximately 0.3%Cu, 2.4%Pb and 3.2%Zn. About 10.5%Fe was also contained in the slag. Germanium was detected by scanning electron microscopy, but was however below detection limits of the chemical analysis equipment used. Based on the results, approximate conditions under which the different slag phases were formed were estimated and the recovery routes for the various metals were proposed. Analysis by both optical and scanning electron microscopy revealed that Zn and Fe occurred mainly in association with O as oxides, while Cu and Pb were mainly associated with S as sulphides. The slag consisted of three different phases; namely the silicate phase (slag), metallic phase and the sulphide phases. The slag phases were mainly glass, silicate phases and metallic and sulphide phases. It was observed that the metallic and sulphide phases were dominant in the finer size fractions (-75 µm) whereas the sulphide phase was also present in the coarser size fractions (+300 µm). An important finding from the microscopy examination was that the sulphide phases were interstitial and could be liberated from the slag. This finding meant that liberation and subsequent concentration of the sulphide phases was feasible using conventional processing techniques.

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Critical Metals Ga, Ge and In: Experimental Evidence for Smelter Recovery Improvements

Cited by 10 publications

References 38 publications

Indium Mineralization in the Volcanic Dome-Hosted Ánimas–Chocaya–Siete Suyos Polymetallic Deposit, Potosí, Bolivia

Indium Mineralization in the Volcanic Dome-Hosted Ánimas–Chocaya–Siete Suyos Polymetallic Deposit, Potosí, Bolivia

Recovery of Precious Metals (Au, Ag, Pt, and Pd) from Urban Mining Through Copper Smelting

Mineralogical Characterization of Historic Copper Slag to Guide the Recovery of Valuable Metals: A Namibian Case Study

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