1
24-035
Enrichment Feasibility of Tellurium, Gold, and Silver from
Copper Tailings
Jose L. Corchado-Albelo
Missouri University of Science &Technology,
Rolla, MO, USA
Fardis Nakhaei
Missouri University of Science &Technology,
Rolla, MO, USA
Lana Alagha
Missouri University of Science &Technology,
Rolla, MO, USA
ABSTRACT
Tellurium (Te), a critical mineral for solar energy technolo-
gies, faces supply risk challenges that drive the development
of diversified and robust production routes. This research
focused on improving Te enrichment from copper tailings
(CT) produced from copper porphyry (CP) ores process-
ing, addressing the loss of ~90% of Te minerals to tailings
in the flotation process of CP ores. Gravity separation and
froth flotation processes were used as possible enrichment
routes of Te-bearing minerals (i.e., pyrite) in CT. In the
froth flotation process, synergistic combinations of reagents
were tested to achieve an acceptable enrichment ratio of Te
minerals. Comprehensive characterization analyses showed
significant Te enrichment in the flotation concentrates.
Tellurium was recovered at 90%, while the grade of Te in
the concentrates was 1.4 ppm using a xanthate collector and
glycol frother compared to 0.5 ppm in the flotation feed.
Findings showed that Te-minerals’ enrichment was also fea-
sible in CT using the proposed combined concentrations
routes (i.e., gravity separation followed by froth flotation)
by looking at Fe, Cu, and S enrichment. This study also
highlighted the importance of understanding the deport-
ment of Te minerals in different process streams to develop
and optimize efficient enrichment practices.
INTRODUCTION
Tellurium (Te) is a critical mineral in many governmental
strategic mineral lists, such as the U.S.A., Canada, United
Kingdom, Japan, and India [1–6]. Critical minerals are
specific commodities categorized by a government or the
private sector because of instability and risks to the sup-
ply chain due to trade exposure, supply disruption poten-
tial, and economic vulnerability [7–13]. Since the early
2010s, critical minerals have resurged as an issue of interest
for research and development because of unstable supply
chains, trade exposure, and economic vulnerability of spe-
cialized commodities [7,11,13]. The change in the com-
modity supply chains associated with the transition from
fossil fuels to more sustainable energy sources is of increased
concern when looking at secure and ethical sourcing/sup-
ply of specialized commodities. Consequently, many world
governments and private sectors name these elements or
commodities as critical minerals [11,14–20]. Tellurium
has gained increasing attention in the last decade due to its
importance to clean solar energy production, most notably
as an essential raw material in cadmium telluride (CdTe)
photovoltaic applications. In recent years, the demand for
Te has increased as it continues to be incorporated into
manifold specialized applications. For example, Te is an
additive to metal alloys in glass optical fibers, ceramics as a
24-035
Enrichment Feasibility of Tellurium, Gold, and Silver from
Copper Tailings
Jose L. Corchado-Albelo
Missouri University of Science &Technology,
Rolla, MO, USA
Fardis Nakhaei
Missouri University of Science &Technology,
Rolla, MO, USA
Lana Alagha
Missouri University of Science &Technology,
Rolla, MO, USA
ABSTRACT
Tellurium (Te), a critical mineral for solar energy technolo-
gies, faces supply risk challenges that drive the development
of diversified and robust production routes. This research
focused on improving Te enrichment from copper tailings
(CT) produced from copper porphyry (CP) ores process-
ing, addressing the loss of ~90% of Te minerals to tailings
in the flotation process of CP ores. Gravity separation and
froth flotation processes were used as possible enrichment
routes of Te-bearing minerals (i.e., pyrite) in CT. In the
froth flotation process, synergistic combinations of reagents
were tested to achieve an acceptable enrichment ratio of Te
minerals. Comprehensive characterization analyses showed
significant Te enrichment in the flotation concentrates.
Tellurium was recovered at 90%, while the grade of Te in
the concentrates was 1.4 ppm using a xanthate collector and
glycol frother compared to 0.5 ppm in the flotation feed.
Findings showed that Te-minerals’ enrichment was also fea-
sible in CT using the proposed combined concentrations
routes (i.e., gravity separation followed by froth flotation)
by looking at Fe, Cu, and S enrichment. This study also
highlighted the importance of understanding the deport-
ment of Te minerals in different process streams to develop
and optimize efficient enrichment practices.
INTRODUCTION
Tellurium (Te) is a critical mineral in many governmental
strategic mineral lists, such as the U.S.A., Canada, United
Kingdom, Japan, and India [1–6]. Critical minerals are
specific commodities categorized by a government or the
private sector because of instability and risks to the sup-
ply chain due to trade exposure, supply disruption poten-
tial, and economic vulnerability [7–13]. Since the early
2010s, critical minerals have resurged as an issue of interest
for research and development because of unstable supply
chains, trade exposure, and economic vulnerability of spe-
cialized commodities [7,11,13]. The change in the com-
modity supply chains associated with the transition from
fossil fuels to more sustainable energy sources is of increased
concern when looking at secure and ethical sourcing/sup-
ply of specialized commodities. Consequently, many world
governments and private sectors name these elements or
commodities as critical minerals [11,14–20]. Tellurium
has gained increasing attention in the last decade due to its
importance to clean solar energy production, most notably
as an essential raw material in cadmium telluride (CdTe)
photovoltaic applications. In recent years, the demand for
Te has increased as it continues to be incorporated into
manifold specialized applications. For example, Te is an
additive to metal alloys in glass optical fibers, ceramics as a