At the Clarabelle mill, significant amounts of rock minerals float inadvertently during nickel and copper sulfide flotation, causing poor concentrate grades. It is known that the rock minerals that report to the concentrates are amphiboles and phyllosilicates. However, the latter are found only on concentrates obtained by processing highly altered ores. The amphiboles, which occur as both prima...

School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3YE, UK The largest and most significant type of geological deposit of platinum group elements (PGEs) is that associated with magmatic base metal sulfide minerals in layered mafic or ultramafic igneous intrusions.The common association of PGEs with sulfide minerals is a result of processes of magmati...

Biomining is the use of microorganisms to extract metals from sulfide and/or iron-containing ores and mineral concentrates. The iron and sulfide is microbially oxidized to produce ferric iron and sulfuric acid, and these chemicals convert the insoluble sulfides of metals such as copper, nickel and zinc to soluble metal sulfates that can be readily recovered from solution. Although gold is inert...

Biomining with acidophilic microorganisms has been used at commercial scale for the extraction of metals from various sulfide ores. With metal demand and energy prices on the rise and the concurrent decline in quality and availability of mineral resources, there is an increasing interest in applying biomining technology, in particular for leaching metals from low grade minerals and wastes. Howe...