Pyrrhotite, a significant sulfide mineral in base metal sulfide deposits, exists in various superstructures including magnetic (4C) and non-magnetic (5C and 6C) types. Identifying and quantifying pyrrhotite superstructures in an ore sample has been a challenge, hindering efforts to improve pyrrhotite rejection in copper–gold flotation. This study employed synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction (S-XRPD) analysis to quantify pyrrhotite superstructures in the concentrates obtained from flotation of a copper–gold ore after grinding with forged steel and 30% chromium grinding media. S-XRPD demonstrated a superior capability in detecting characteristic peaks of 4C, 5C and 6C pyrrhotite superstructures compared to conventional XRPD. Utilizing the Rietveld refinement method, the identified pyrrhotite superstructures were quantified. These findings were successfully validated through independent X-ray fluorescence analysis on elemental compositions. The quantification work demonstrated that 30% chromium grinding media enhanced the floatability of all pyrrhotite superstructures over forged steel grinding media and each pyrrhotite superstructure in the copper–gold ore resembled a copper sulfide mineral rather than pyrite in response to grinding media during flotation. This research highlights the potential of S-XRPD as an effective technique for identifying and quantifying pyrrhotite superstructures in ore samples and determining their flotation behaviors.

中文翻译：

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通过同步加速器 X 射线衍射分析量化铜金矿石浮选中的磁黄铁矿超结构


磁黄铁矿是贱金属硫化物矿床中的一种重要硫化物矿物，存在于各种上部结构中，包括磁性（4C）和非磁性（5C 和 6C）类型。识别和量化矿石样品中的磁黄铁矿超结构一直是一个挑战，阻碍了改善铜金浮选中磁黄铁矿的剔除率的努力。本研究采用同步加速器 X 射线粉末衍射 (S-XRPD) 分析来量化铜金矿石在锻钢和 30% 铬研磨介质研磨后浮选所得精矿中的磁黄铁矿超结构。与传统 XRPD 相比，S-XRPD 在检测 4C、5C 和 6C 磁黄铁矿超结构特征峰方面表现出卓越的能力。利用 Rietveld 精修方法，对识别出的磁黄铁矿超结构进行了量化。这些发现通过对元素成分的独立 X 射线荧光分析成功得到验证。定量工作表明，30% 铬研磨介质比锻钢研磨介质增强了所有磁黄铁矿上部结构的可浮性，并且铜金矿石中的每种磁黄铁矿上部结构在浮选过程中对研磨介质的响应类似于硫化铜矿物而不是黄铁矿。这项研究强调了 S-XRPD 作为识别和量化矿石样品中磁黄铁矿超结构并确定其浮选行为的有效技术的潜力。