New Source of Unavoidable Ions in Bornite Flotation Aqueous Solution: Fluid Inclusions

Abstract

This study aims to determine the presence and release of fluid inclusions in natural pure bornite while investigating the types, structures, and compositions of such inclusions. This work also measures the total concentrations of Cu (C CuT ), Fe (C FeT ), and Cl − , SO 4 2− , which are released to the bornite aqueous solution from fluid inclusions. The results indicate that numerous fluid inclusions are distributed in isolation or along the crevices in the bornite. The fluid inclusions take on such shapes as long strips and irregular strips, with the body sizes ranging from 3 to 40 μm. Through the crushing and grinding process, the inclusions that are captured from the diagenetic and metallogenic process of bornite would be released to the flotation pulp along with Cu, Fe, Cl − , SO 4 2− , etc. Results indicate that the C CuT and C FeT values in the solution are significantly higher than those from the experimental dissolution. Therefore, results confirm that the release of inclusions is a new source of Cu and Fe ions in the aqueous solution. Moreover, the findings exhibit a new discovery of an unavoidable ion source in the flotation pulp, and the residual position domain after the release of the inclusions causes the difference in bornite surface composition and roughness. The new discovery expands the research objectives and scope in flotation solution chemistry and is significant in the study of flotation theory.

Mechanism Study of Xanthate Adsorption on Sphalerite/Marmatite Surfaces by ToF-SIMS Analysis and Flotation

“…Xanthate adsorption on sphalerite depends on the nature of the flotation pulp, e.g., the pulp pH, the ionic composition of the flotation water, and release of the components of fluid inclusions [7][8][9][10]. The adsorption process also depends on the properties of the sphalerite crystals, e.g., crystal lattice defects, and doping and substitution by impurity atoms [7,[11][12][13].…”

Interaction Mechanism of Ferric Ions with Celestite Surface and Implications for Flotation Recovery

“…Flotation is widely used in the beneficiation of celestite due to the low cost and easy operation [4,5]. The practical mineral flotation pulp is characterized by complicated ion composition, which has significant influence on mineral surface properties and solution chemistry properties, therefore leading to an inevitable effect on flotation results [6]. These phenomena can either promote or inhibit the adsorption of flotation reagents, and hence, influence the flotation process.…”

Depression Mechanism of Strontium Ions in Bastnaesite Flotation with Salicylhydroxamic Acid as Collector

“…The metal ions inevitably change solution chemistry, mineral surface properties and therefore, affect mineral flotation. The metal ions come from multiple sources, such as mineral dissolution [13][14][15][16] and fluid inclusions [17][18][19]. Bastnaesite and common gangue minerals, such as calcite, fluorite, barite and celestite, are typical semisoluble minerals [20], which are characterized by ionic bonding and limited solubility in water.…”