XRF Standardless Comparison of Mining Head and Tail Grades to Screen and Display Ore Processing Recoveries

Pingitore, Nicholas E.; Clague, J. W.; Gorski, Daniel

doi:10.4236/ajac.2016.711070

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 16 publications

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“…In consideration of the massive size of the deposit, the enrichment in valuable YHREEs, and the laboratory demonstration that the host mineral, yttrofluorite, is soluble in dilute sulfuric acid, Texas Mineral Resources Corporation has proposed to extract the YHREEs and byproduct elements by heap leach with dilute H 2 SO 4 [19] [22] [24] [25]. Because the deposit is exposed at the surface there is little overburden to be excavated before surface mining could begin.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Remarkably Consistent Rare Earth Element Grades at Round Top Yttrofluorite Deposit

Pingitore¹,

Clague²,

Gorski³

2018

AMPC

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The peraluminous rhyolite that forms Round Top Mountain (approximately 375 m high × nearly 2 km in diameter), near Sierra Blanca, Hudspeth County, west Texas, USA, is enriched in yttrium and heavy rare earth elements (YHREEs), as well as Li, Be, U, Th, Sn, F, Rb, Cs, Nb, and Ta. Texas Mineral Resources Corp. (USA) proposes to release the YHREEs from their unique yttrofluorite host via heap leaching with dilute sulfuric acid. The inexpensive process also releases portions of valuable byproduct Be, Li, and U from accessory minerals amid the insoluble feldspars and quartz that comprise 90% -95% of the surface-exposed rhyolite mountain. The objective of this study is to determine the consistency of mineralization grade, an important consideration in mine planning and preliminary economic analysis. The method is to plot elemental analyses of Y, Dy, Ho, Tm, Yb, Ce, Pr, Nd, Eu, Gd, Tb, U, and Nb from more than 1400 reverse circulation cuttings taken from 64 exploration drill holes against sample depth. The result of inspection of the plots reveals a remarkably homogeneous distribution of minor and trace elements throughout the sampled portion of the massive, 1.6-billion-tonne laccolith. The plots drive the conclusion that Round Top mine feedstock should remain constant for the life of the mine (multiple decades). Thus mining mechanics could be optimized at the start of operations and not require expensive later changes. The physical and chemical design of the heap leach and recovery and purification of target elements from pregnant leach solution also could be perfected during early development.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Remarkably Consistent Rare Earth Element Grades at Round Top Yttrofluorite Deposit

Pingitore¹,

Clague²,

Gorski³

2018

AMPC

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Microprobe Mapping of Rare Earth Element Distribution in Round Top Yttrofluorite Deposit

Pingitore¹,

Piranian²,

Negron³

et al. 2018

AMPC

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The electron microprobe maps the spatial distribution of elements in a rock at a sub-mineral-grain scale to provide a basis for understanding mineralization processes and to determine optimal strategies for extraction of valuable target elements. Round Top Mountain (near the town of Sierra Blanca, Hudspeth County, west Texas, USA) is a peraluminous rhyolite laccolith that is homogeneously mineralized at over 500 ppm rare earths, more than 70% of which are yttrium and heavy rare earths (YHREEs). The massive deposit is exposed at the surface as a mountain some 2 km in diameter and 375 m in height. Round Top Mountain also contains Li, Be, U, Th, Nb, Ta, Ga, Rb, Cs, Sn, and F. The valuable YHREEs are hosted in yttrofluorite, which is soluble in dilute sulfuric acid. Texas Mineral Resources Corporation proposes to surface mine, crush, and heap leach the deposit. The distribution of YHREEs, and that of other trace elements, is remarkably homogeneous at outcrop drill hole scale. Here we document that YHREE mineralization appears pervasive through the rhyolite at a millimeter scale. Back scattered electron (BSE) and characteristic X-ray maps reveal the fine grain size and apparently random and dispersed spatial distribution of the yttrofluorite that hosts Round Top's valuable YHREEs. The yttrofluorite grains do not appear to cluster at special mineralized locations, e.g., in pores or along cracks in the rhyolite. The same is apparently true of such other potentially valuable minerals as cassiterite and uranium species. These findings confirm that the distribution of YHREEs in Round Top Mountain rhyolite is homogeneous through different orders of magnitude of scale, i.e., from outcrop (as seen in the companion work in this volume) to sub-thin section. The material thus is ideal for a heap leach operation where homogeneous feedstock is crucial to consistent and economic operation. The findings also confirm and explain why mechanical separation would prove very difficult and expensive due to the astronomical number of yttrofluorite grains in even a golf-ball-size piece of Round Top rhyolite.How to cite this paper: Pingitore

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XRF Standardless Comparison of Mining Head and Tail Grades to Screen and Display Ore Processing Recoveries

Cited by 2 publications

References 16 publications

Remarkably Consistent Rare Earth Element Grades at Round Top Yttrofluorite Deposit

Remarkably Consistent Rare Earth Element Grades at Round Top Yttrofluorite Deposit

Microprobe Mapping of Rare Earth Element Distribution in Round Top Yttrofluorite Deposit

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