Use of X-ray computed tomography to investigate crack distribution and mineral dissemination in sphalerite ore particles

Ghorbani, Yousef; Becker, Megan; Petersen, Jochen; Morar, Sameer H.; Mainza, A.N.; Franzidis, J.-P.

doi:10.1016/j.mineng.2011.04.008

Cited by 82 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…In practice, density measurement from X-ray tomography data can be obtained either by calibrating the CT machine with objects of known density and obtaining a correlation that relates density with the attenuation coefficient, or by using a dual energy scanning to determine directly the density of the material. In this study, a dual energy scanning method was used for calibration (Ghorbani et al, 2011c), as it allows one to determine both the density and the effective atomic number of the object of interest separately. Thus, the sensitivity of the analysis is significantly increased.…”

Section: Sample Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of particles with high crack density produced by HPGR and its effect on the redistribution of the particle size fraction in heaps

Ghorbani

Mainza

Petersen

et al. 2013

Minerals Engineering

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The application of comminution technology such as the High-pressure grinding rolls (HPGR), which is able to generate a high density of cracks in the ore particles, is favourable for leaching processes. Extraction of metallic values by the heap leach process, can take place on the particles with partial exposure of mineral grains, if it can provide sufficient surface front for chemical attack by leaching solution. The aim of this study was to assess the benefits of high crack density in the ore particles produced using the HPGR and how it could diminish due to inadequate percolation of the leaching agent.A zinc ore was comminuted using HPGR at three different pressure settings and with a cone crusher for the control experiment. Subsamples from the (+23/-25, +14/-16, +5.25/-6.75 mm) size fractions were characterized and packed into leach reactors. The reactors were stopped from time to time to investigate the progress of crack and micro-crack growth and its effect on metal extraction using the X-ray computed tomography (CT). The results are validated with those obtained using traditional techniques such as SEM and QEMSCAN. Investigation of the leach reactors residue indicated significant changes in the particle size distribution (PSD) of initial feed toward the fine size fraction. The residues from the reactors leaching the material prepared using the HPGR product contained more fine particles than the reactors, which were fed by cone crusher product. These differences were up to 10.3%.

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Section: Sample Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of particles with high crack density produced by HPGR and its effect on the redistribution of the particle size fraction in heaps

Ghorbani

Mainza

Petersen

et al. 2013

Minerals Engineering

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“…4,5 Because X-ray absorption is sensitive to the atomic number (absorption increases with increasing atomic number), X-ray CT is a useful tool for the detection of heavy elements. 6,7 Conventional dual-energy X-ray CT using monochromatic [8][9][10][11][12] and polychromatic [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] X-ray sources is usually used for the quantification of heavy elements, but in the present study, we investigated the use of single-shot, or single-energy, CT using a polychromatic X-ray source. The advantages of our method are that: (i) single-shot CT reduces the imaging time, prolongs the lifetime of the expensive X-ray tube and detector, and reduces radiation exposure of samples or patients, (ii) polychromatic X-rays can be readily generated by conventional medical CT instruments, and do not require huge facilities, such as particle accelerators.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nondestructive Quantitative Analysis of a Heavy Element in Solution or Suspension by Single-Shot Computed Tomography with a Polychromatic X-ray Source

Nakashima

Nakano

2012

ANAL. SCI.

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“…Digital radiography combined with micro-CT scanning precisely defined the in situ location of mineral grains of interest within a sample, which then can be studied in conventional petrographic sections, and other types of analytical studies conducted, e.g., gold trace element geochemistry. Ghorbani et al (2011) used a micro-CT scanner for the 3-D characterization of crack and mineral dissemination in sphalerite ore particles. In order to distinguish between the different minerals, a dual energy scanning procedure was run to determine both the density and effective atomic number of the minerals of interest.…”

Section:  Multi-scale Imagingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Combination of this information with a prior knowledge of the mineralogical characteristics of the ore, allowed the differentiation of the major minerals of interest in 3-D (galena, sphalerite, pyrite and silicate gangue) without the need for laborious sample preparation (such as impregnating, thinning, polishing). Ghorbani et al (2011) reported the potential applications of X-ray CT to heap leaching technology and future directions. Agorhom et al (2012) mentions that there is a considerable challenge in accurate characterization of gold (Au) particles in low-grade plant ore mineral samples.…”

Section:  Multi-scale Imagingmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-resolution X-ray computed tomography in geosciences: A review of the current technology and applications

Cnudde

Boone

2013

Earth-Science Reviews

1,232

700

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Please cite this article as: Cnudde, V., Boone, M.N., "High-resolution X-ray computed tomography in geosciences: a review of the current technology and applications", Earth Science Reviews (2013Reviews ( ), doi: 10.1016Reviews ( /j.earscirev.2013 This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.A C C E P T E D M A N U S C R I P T AbstractHigh-resolution X-ray Computed Tomography (HRXCT) or micro-CT (µCT) is a frequently used non-destructive 3D imaging and analysis technique for the investigation of internal structures of a large variety of objects, including geomaterials. Although the possibilities of X-ray micro-CT are becoming better appreciated in earth science research, the demands on this technique are also approaching certain physical limitations. As such, there remains a lot of research to be done in order to solve all the technical problems that occur when higher demands are put on the technique. In this paper, a review of the principle, the advantages and limitations of X-ray CT itself are presented, together with an overview of some current applications of micro-CT in geosciences. One of the main advantages of this technique is the fact that it is a non-destructive characterization technique which allows 4D monitoring of internal structural changes at resolutions down to a few hundred nanometers. Limitations of this technique are the operator dependency for the 3D image analysis from the reconstructed data, the discretations effects and possible imaging artefacts. Driven by the technological and computational progress, the technique is continuously growing as an analysis tool in geosciences and is becoming one of the standard techniques, as is shown by the large and still increasing number of publications in this research area. It is foreseen that this number will continue to rise, and micro-CT will become an indispensable technique in the field of geosciences.

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Use of X-ray computed tomography to investigate crack distribution and mineral dissemination in sphalerite ore particles

Cited by 82 publications

References 24 publications

Investigation of particles with high crack density produced by HPGR and its effect on the redistribution of the particle size fraction in heaps

Investigation of particles with high crack density produced by HPGR and its effect on the redistribution of the particle size fraction in heaps

Nondestructive Quantitative Analysis of a Heavy Element in Solution or Suspension by Single-Shot Computed Tomography with a Polychromatic X-ray Source

High-resolution X-ray computed tomography in geosciences: A review of the current technology and applications

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