Automated characterisation of intergrowth textures in mineral particles. A case study

Castroviejo Bolibar, Ricardo and Pérez-Barnuevo, Laura and Pirard, E. (2013). Automated characterisation of intergrowth textures in mineral particles. A case study. "Minerals engineering", v. 52 ; pp. 136-142. ISSN 0892-6875. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2013.05.001.

Description

Title: Automated characterisation of intergrowth textures in mineral particles. A case study
Author/s:
  • Castroviejo Bolibar, Ricardo
  • Pérez-Barnuevo, Laura
  • Pirard, E.
Item Type: Article
Título de Revista/Publicación: Minerals engineering
Date: October 2013
ISSN: 0892-6875
Volume: 52
Subjects:
Faculty: E.T.S.I. Minas (UPM)
Department: Ingeniería Geológica [hasta 2014]
Creative Commons Licenses: Recognition - No derivative works - Non commercial

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Abstract

The characterisation of mineral texture has been a major concern for process mineralogists, as liberation characteristics of the ores are intimately related to the mineralogical texture. While a great effort has been done to automatically characterise texture in unbroken ores, the characterisation of textural attributes in mineral particles is usually descriptive. However, the quantitative characterisation of texture in mineral particles is essential to improve and predict the performance of minerallurgical processes (i.e. all the processes involved in the liberation and separation of the mineral of interest) and to achieve a more accurate geometallurgical model. Driven by this necessity of achieving a more complete characterisation of textural attributes in mineral particles, a methodology has been recently developed to automatically characterise the type of intergrowth between mineral phases within particles by means of digital image analysis. In this methodology, a set ofminerallurgical indices has been developed to quantify different mineralogical features and to identify the intergrowth pattern by discriminant analysis. The paper shows the application of the methodology to the textural characterisation of chalcopyrite in the rougher concentrate of the Kansanshi copper mine (Zambia). In this sample, the variety of intergrowth patterns of chalcopyrite with the other minerals has been used to illustrate the methodology. The results obtained show that the method identifies the intergrowth type and provides quantitative information to achieve a complete and detailed mineralogical characterisation. Therefore, the use of this methodology as a routinely tool in automated mineralogy would contribute to a better understanding of the ore behaviour during liberation and separation processes.

More information

Item ID: 26163
DC Identifier: https://oa.upm.es/26163/
OAI Identifier: oai:oa.upm.es:26163
DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2013.05.001
Official URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S...
Deposited by: Memoria Investigacion
Deposited on: 20 May 2014 07:19
Last Modified: 22 Sep 2014 11:40
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