4
the highest zinc concentration, its zinc distribution was cal-
culated to be only 8%, as determined from the ICP-MS
and PSD data.
TESCAN Integrated Mineral Analysis Studies
For detailed mineralogical analysis of the tailing sample,
particles smaller than 75 µm size were analyzed using TIMA
to reveal to liberation and locking characteristics of fine
particles. The primary zinc minerals identified in the sam-
ples were hemimorphite (2.27%), sphalerite (1.19%), and
smithsonite (0.83%). The gangue mineralogy was domi-
nated by silicates, comprising 76%, with quartz account-
ing for 75% and phyllosilicates making up 1%. Carbonates
represented 16%, with dolomite and calcite as the main
carbonate minerals. Hematite and magnetite were the pri-
mary oxides, present at 2.11%. Pyrite, the main sulfide, was
found at 1.39%. The results from the TIMA analysis were
consistent with the XRD findings.
The zinc minerals: sphalerite (blue), smithsonite
(marine blue) and hemimorphite (blue-green) are all pres-
ent in the TIMA false color image in Figure 4. The major
gangue minerals are quartz (light blue), calcite (light red)
and dolomite (lavender).
The liberation analyses for the zinc minerals are shown
in Table 3. The results indicated that hemimorphite lib-
eration increased with decreasing particle size, achieving
approximately 53% liberation in the –25 µm fraction.
Smithsonite liberation generally improved as particle size
decreased, except for the –25 µm fraction. The reduced lib-
eration in this fraction could be due to the agglomeration
of fine particles in the epoxy specimen. Moreover, TIMA
showed that sphalerite liberation exceeded 90% in the
–75+37 µm fraction. However, this liberation decreased
to 64% in the –25 µm fraction with slightly better libera-
tion observed in the –37+25 µm fraction (86%). In other
words, it was observed that as particle size decreases, the
liberation of sphalerite also decreases.
24500
10400 11500
15300 14800
17200 16200
19600
38800
15400
11% 5%
19%
29%
9% 11% 6% 2% 8%
100%
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
35000
40000
45000
Grade Distribution
Figure 3. The concentration and distribution of Zn n in the bulk sample different size fractions
Figure 4. Classified TIMA image from the sample (75 µm)
Table 3. The zinc minerals liberation (%)by sieve fractions
obtained by TIMA
Minerals
–75
+37 µm
–37
+25 µm –25 µm
Total
(–75 µm)
Hemimorphite 38 49 53 48
Smithsonite 58 67 58 60
Sphalerite 94 86 64 90
Distrubuti
of
Zn
(%)
Grade
of
Zn
(ppm)
the highest zinc concentration, its zinc distribution was cal-
culated to be only 8%, as determined from the ICP-MS
and PSD data.
TESCAN Integrated Mineral Analysis Studies
For detailed mineralogical analysis of the tailing sample,
particles smaller than 75 µm size were analyzed using TIMA
to reveal to liberation and locking characteristics of fine
particles. The primary zinc minerals identified in the sam-
ples were hemimorphite (2.27%), sphalerite (1.19%), and
smithsonite (0.83%). The gangue mineralogy was domi-
nated by silicates, comprising 76%, with quartz account-
ing for 75% and phyllosilicates making up 1%. Carbonates
represented 16%, with dolomite and calcite as the main
carbonate minerals. Hematite and magnetite were the pri-
mary oxides, present at 2.11%. Pyrite, the main sulfide, was
found at 1.39%. The results from the TIMA analysis were
consistent with the XRD findings.
The zinc minerals: sphalerite (blue), smithsonite
(marine blue) and hemimorphite (blue-green) are all pres-
ent in the TIMA false color image in Figure 4. The major
gangue minerals are quartz (light blue), calcite (light red)
and dolomite (lavender).
The liberation analyses for the zinc minerals are shown
in Table 3. The results indicated that hemimorphite lib-
eration increased with decreasing particle size, achieving
approximately 53% liberation in the –25 µm fraction.
Smithsonite liberation generally improved as particle size
decreased, except for the –25 µm fraction. The reduced lib-
eration in this fraction could be due to the agglomeration
of fine particles in the epoxy specimen. Moreover, TIMA
showed that sphalerite liberation exceeded 90% in the
–75+37 µm fraction. However, this liberation decreased
to 64% in the –25 µm fraction with slightly better libera-
tion observed in the –37+25 µm fraction (86%). In other
words, it was observed that as particle size decreases, the
liberation of sphalerite also decreases.
24500
10400 11500
15300 14800
17200 16200
19600
38800
15400
11% 5%
19%
29%
9% 11% 6% 2% 8%
100%
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
35000
40000
45000
Grade Distribution
Figure 3. The concentration and distribution of Zn n in the bulk sample different size fractions
Figure 4. Classified TIMA image from the sample (75 µm)
Table 3. The zinc minerals liberation (%)by sieve fractions
obtained by TIMA
Minerals
–75
+37 µm
–37
+25 µm –25 µm
Total
(–75 µm)
Hemimorphite 38 49 53 48
Smithsonite 58 67 58 60
Sphalerite 94 86 64 90
Distrubuti
of
Zn
(%)
Grade
of
Zn
(ppm)