As unidades de beneficiamento de minério de ouro buscam cada vez mais uma produção de baixo custo e maximização dos ganhos financeiros. A caracterização tecnológica está inserida em uma abordagem multidisciplinar que permite agregar conhecimento, alternativas de otimização e redução nos custos de operação. Inserida como uma ferramenta na caracterização tecnológica, a análise de imagens automatizada tem importante papel no setor mineral principalmente pela rapidez das análises, robustez estatística e confiabilidade nos resultados. A técnica pode ser realizada por meio de imagens adquiridas em microscópio eletrônico de varredura, associada a microanálises químicas sendo utilizada em diversas etapas de um empreendimento mineiro. Este estudo tem como objetivo a caraterização tecnológica de minério de ouro da Mina Morro do Ouro, Minas Gerais na qual foi utilizado a técnica de análise de imagens automatizada por MLA em um conjunto de 88 amostras. Foi possível identificar que 90% do ouro está na fração acima de 0,020 mm; o quartzo e mica representam cerca de 80% da massa total do minério; os sulfetos apresentam diâmetro de círculo equivalente entre 80 e 100 ?m e são representados por pirita e arsenopirita, com pirrotita, calcopirita, esfalerita e galena subordinada. Também foi possível observar que o ouro está majoritariamente associado à pirita e arsenopirita e com o aumento de teor de arsênio, cresce a parcela de ouro associado à arsenopirita. As medianas das distribuições de tamanho dos grãos de ouro apresentam um valor médio de 19 ?m. Verificou-se que a composição dos grãos de ouro é bastante diversa, em média 77% de ouro e 23% de prata. Para material abaixo de 0,50 mm observa-se uma parcela expressiva de perímetro exposto dos grãos de ouro (média 73%); o ouro incluso (21% do total dos grãos de ouro) está associado a pirita e arsenopirita, sendo que em 14 das 88 amostras este valor pode superar 40% do total de ouro contido. A ferramenta da análise de imagens automatizada mostrou-se bastante eficiente definindo características particulares o que fornece de forma objetiva subsídios para os trabalhos de planejamento de mina e processamento mineral. / Evolution in gold ore processing units are increasingly focused towards efficiency seeking routines, leading to a low-cost and maximal financial gain. The mineral characterization, inserted into a multidisciplinary approach enables a knowledge adding dynamics that results in optimization alternatives and consequent operating cost reduction. Being one of commonly used tools in mineral characterization, automated image analysis plays an important role in the mining sector mainly due to its rapid analysis, statistical robustness and reliability of the results. The technique can be performed using images acquired in a scanning electron microscope, usually associated with chemical microanalysis having applications in different stages of a mining venture. The following study aims to produce a mineral characterization using an automated image analysis technique by MLA in a set of 88 samples from the Morro do Ouro gold mine, located in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Results showed that 90% of gold content is above the 0,02mm size fraction; quartz and mica are the mayor mineral phases identified representing roughly 80% of the total; sulfides have equivalent circle diameter ranging from 80 to 100 ?m present mainly as pyrite and arsenopyrite. It was also noted that gold is mainly associated with pyrite and arsenopyrite and that there is a correlation between the higher share of gold associated with arsenopyrite as a function of higher contents in arsenic. The median size distributions of gold grains have an average of 19 ?m. It was found that the composition of the gold is highly diverse, on average 77% gold and 23% silver. For material below 0.50 mm, was observed that a significant portion of the exposed gold grains circumference (average 73%); the included gold (21% of total grains of gold) is associated with pyrite and arsenopyrite, and that in 14 of 88 samples this value may exceed 40% of the gold contained. The automated image analysis tool proved to be very efficient defining particular features, which provides an objective subsidy for mine planning work and mineral processing.

As unidades de beneficiamento de minério de ouro buscam cada vez mais uma produção de baixo custo e maximização dos ganhos financeiros. A caracterização tecnológica está inserida em uma abordagem multidisciplinar que permite agregar conhecimento, alternativas de otimização e redução nos custos de operação. Inserida como uma ferramenta na caracterização tecnológica, a análise de imagens automatizada tem importante papel no setor mineral principalmente pela rapidez das análises, robustez estatística e confiabilidade nos resultados. A técnica pode ser realizada por meio de imagens adquiridas em microscópio eletrônico de varredura, associada a microanálises químicas sendo utilizada em diversas etapas de um empreendimento mineiro. Este estudo tem como objetivo a caraterização tecnológica de minério de ouro da Mina Morro do Ouro, Minas Gerais na qual foi utilizado a técnica de análise de imagens automatizada por MLA em um conjunto de 88 amostras. Foi possível identificar que 90% do ouro está na fração acima de 0,020 mm; o quartzo e mica representam cerca de 80% da massa total do minério; os sulfetos apresentam diâmetro de círculo equivalente entre 80 e 100 ?m e são representados por pirita e arsenopirita, com pirrotita, calcopirita, esfalerita e galena subordinada. Também foi possível observar que o ouro está majoritariamente associado à pirita e arsenopirita e com o aumento de teor de arsênio, cresce a parcela de ouro associado à arsenopirita. As medianas das distribuições de tamanho dos grãos de ouro apresentam um valor médio de 19 ?m. Verificou-se que a composição dos grãos de ouro é bastante diversa, em média 77% de ouro e 23% de prata. Para material abaixo de 0,50 mm observa-se uma parcela expressiva de perímetro exposto dos grãos de ouro (média 73%); o ouro incluso (21% do total dos grãos de ouro) está associado a pirita e arsenopirita, sendo que em 14 das 88 amostras este valor pode superar 40% do total de ouro contido. A ferramenta da análise de imagens automatizada mostrou-se bastante eficiente definindo características particulares o que fornece de forma objetiva subsídios para os trabalhos de planejamento de mina e processamento mineral. / Evolution in gold ore processing units are increasingly focused towards efficiency seeking routines, leading to a low-cost and maximal financial gain. The mineral characterization, inserted into a multidisciplinary approach enables a knowledge adding dynamics that results in optimization alternatives and consequent operating cost reduction. Being one of commonly used tools in mineral characterization, automated image analysis plays an important role in the mining sector mainly due to its rapid analysis, statistical robustness and reliability of the results. The technique can be performed using images acquired in a scanning electron microscope, usually associated with chemical microanalysis having applications in different stages of a mining venture. The following study aims to produce a mineral characterization using an automated image analysis technique by MLA in a set of 88 samples from the Morro do Ouro gold mine, located in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Results showed that 90% of gold content is above the 0,02mm size fraction; quartz and mica are the mayor mineral phases identified representing roughly 80% of the total; sulfides have equivalent circle diameter ranging from 80 to 100 ?m present mainly as pyrite and arsenopyrite. It was also noted that gold is mainly associated with pyrite and arsenopyrite and that there is a correlation between the higher share of gold associated with arsenopyrite as a function of higher contents in arsenic. The median size distributions of gold grains have an average of 19 ?m. It was found that the composition of the gold is highly diverse, on average 77% gold and 23% silver. For material below 0.50 mm, was observed that a significant portion of the exposed gold grains circumference (average 73%); the included gold (21% of total grains of gold) is associated with pyrite and arsenopyrite, and that in 14 of 88 samples this value may exceed 40% of the gold contained. The automated image analysis tool proved to be very efficient defining particular features, which provides an objective subsidy for mine planning work and mineral processing.

The effects of some associated minerals on thiosulfate gold leaching were studied through thermodynamic analysis and leaching experiments on composite ore samples containing various minerals and a reference silicate gold ore. In the leaching test on the reference gold ore, about 93% of gold was extracted within 3.0 hours. The presence of various amount of pyrite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcocite, bornite, and some lead species, has significant detrimental effects. Under reduced oxygen conditions, the thiosulfate consumptions could be significantly reduced. High gold extractions (i.e. >= 90%) were observed in the leaching tests with reduced dissolved oxygen (i.e., 0.7% oxygen in the supplied gas) in the absence or in the presence of sulfide minerals such as pyrite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite and chalcopyrite. High copper concentration and a pre-aeration step was also found to largely increase the gold extractions under such conditions. Thiosulfate-copper-ethylenediamine system was found effective in the leaching of gold. The leaching kinetics was significantly slower than that of the conventional thiosulfate-copper-ammonia leaching. The consumption of thiosulfate, however, was largely reduced. This leaching system worked effectively on the reference gold ore within a wider pH range (e.g., 6-11), with or without ammonia. The presence of ammonia in a low concentration improved the leaching rate but also increase the consumption of thiosulfate. Comparable gold extractions were observed in the leaching of the composite ores containing various sulfide minerals, such as pyrite, pyrrhotite, chalcocite, galena and chalcopyrite. The leaching of gold in the presence of iron sulfides was also improved by applying chemical additives, such as, carbonate, calcium, galena, phosphate, and additional hydroxide anion. It is proposed that these additives either passivated the harmful surface of sulfide minerals or masked some detrimental aqueous species. Finally, some improved leaching methods concluded in this study were applied on a few industrial ore samples in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of these methods. It was found that by comprehensively applying these improved thiosulfate leaching strategies, satisfactory gold extractions and thiosulfate consumption results were archived on these ores. / Thesis (Ph.D, Mining Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2008-09-18 11:48:38.672