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MINING PRACTICE, MINERALOGY
ArticleName Material composition of MMZ and PCMZ sulfide ores of nkomati deposit (South African Republic)
ArticleAuthor Lyalinov D. V., Lebedeva A. A., Vakhrusheva A. P.
ArticleAuthorData

Gipronickel Institute Ltd

D. V. Lyalinov, Senior Researcher, e-mail: OVLal@nikel.spb.su
A. A. Lebedeva, Researcher
A. P. Vakhrusheva, Researcher, Laboratory of Raw Material Geological and Technological Studies

Abstract

Uitkomst complex (South Africa) is the host rock of Ni—Cu sulphide and chromite mineralisation. Commercial sulphide ores are located in lower pyroxenites (the main mineralized zone, or MMZ ore body) and in chromite peridotites (peridotite chromite mineralized zone, or PCMZ ore body). Material composition of two mineralogical and metallurgical samples has been studied, using optical and scanning electron microscopy methods. Being the principal sulphide minerals, pyrrhotite, pentlandite and chalcopyrite form several texture varieties, namely: blebby, net-textured and disseminated ores. High nickel pentlandite mainly occurring as porphyry grains is the most valuable nickel-bearing mineral. Pyrrhotite and violarite also contain nickel. Pentlandite predominantly forms perphoritic isolations. Apart from less rich sulphide mineralization, PCMZ ore body contains chromite ore. The studied ore types are readily treated by flotation. However, fine intergrowths of sulphide and silicate minerals may cause deterioration of flotation performance.

keywords Nkomati, copper-nickel ores, chromite ores, pyrrhotite, pentlandite, minerals composition, silicate minerals, chalcopyrite
References

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