Study on the Mineralogical Characteristics of 12 Copper Concentrates by X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry, X-ray Powder Diffraction and Polarization Microscope

Abstract

BACKGROUND China is the largest importer of copper concentrate in the world. Studying the mineralogical characteristics of copper concentrates imported from different origins can be used to support the origin analysis and solid waste identification of copper concentrates. OBJECTIVES To investigate the elemental composition and mineral assemblage characteristics of imported copper concentrates from different mining areas, and to discuss the mineralogical differences of copper concentrates of different genetic types. METHODS The copper concentrates imported from different mining areas were comprehensively analyzed by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and polarized microscopy (PM). RESULTS X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy analysis showed that the main elements of the copper concentrates were Cu, Fe, S, O with minor Zn, Si, Al, Mg, Ca, Pb. X-ray powder diffraction phase analysis showed that the main phase of the copper concentrate sample was chalcopyrite, followed by pyrite and sphalerite. Polarization microscope showed that the content of chalcopyrite in copper concentrates was between 88% and 98%, and it was found that chalcopyrite was associated with sphalerite, pyrite and pyrrhotite, and that sphalerite was associated with bornite, arsenotetrahedrite. Chalcopyrite, arsenotetrahedrite and bornite form intergrowths. Combining the analysis of different genetic types of copper concentrates, samples of porphyry, skarn and VMS deposits were composed of chalcopyrite, pyrite and sphalerite with respective special minerals of biotite, weddellite and lead anglesite. The main minerals of the IOCG deposit samples were chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite and talc. CONCLUSIONS Through the combination of XRF, XRD and PM, the elemental content and phase composition of copper concentrate samples were characterized. The mineralogical characteristics of copper concentrate samples from different origins have been more comprehensively analyzed, which is of great significance for risk identification and control of imported copper concentrates.

Keywords

• copper concentrates
• x-ray powder diffraction
• x-ray fluorescence spectrometry
• polarizing microscope
• mineralogical characteristics