O Grupo Vazante hospeda o maior depósito de Zn não-sulfetado, hipógeno, conhecido mundialmente, Vazante (>60 Mton @ 20% Zn), que ainda possui concentrações de Pb e Ag. A Mina de Vazante (VZT) e sua continuidade, a Mina de Extremo Norte (EN), são subdivididas em cinco domínios geo-mineralógicos, sendo três deles pertencentes à VZT: Lumiadeira 1 (LUM1); Lumiadeira 2 (LUM2); Sucuri (SUC) e dois à EN: Extremo Norte 1 (EN1) e Extremo Norte (EN2). Estudos de campo, amostragem sistemática, análises petrográficas e com uso de microscopia eletrônica de varredura, incluindo mineralogia automatizada por Mineral Liberation Analyzer, e microssonda eletrônica, e litoquímicas foram empregadas objetivando caracterizar detalhadamente cada domínio, relacionar aspectos geológicos e mineralógicos e apontar possíveis fatores responsáveis por mudanças na qualidade do minério frente aos processos de beneficiamento. Os corpos de minério de Zn não-sulfetado nas minas VZT e EN são compostos essencialmente por willemita (Zn2SiO4), possuem formas anastomosadas e são hospedados por brechas dolomíticas e subordidamente por rochas metapelíticas e metabásicas e brechas hematíticas. Corpos restritos ricos em sulfetos ocorrem, principalmente, imbricados em corpos de minério willemítico ou como veios e vênulas. Os cristais de willemita apresentam texturas de preenchimento, como coloforme e fibro-radiada (tipo I), de reequilíbrio, como granoblástica (tipo II), ou são finamente granulares e preenchem fissuras tardias (tipo III). Desse modo, registram complexa sequência de processos e condições para a geração do minério de Zn não-sulfetado. Zinco, Fe, C, Ca, SiO2, e Mg são os principais componentes químicos do minério. Na mina EN, o teor de Fe (<26,7%) no minério é, em média, mais elevado quando comparado à mina VZT, presente principalmente na forma de hematita. Chumbo e Ag, co-produtos da explotação de Zn, são principalmente encontrados na mina VZT, nos domínios LUM1 e SUC onde são concentrados em corpos ricos em sulfetos. Elementos terrígenos, tais como Al, K, Rb, Sc, Co, Th e La são positivamente anômalos no domínio LUM2 indicando maior presença de metapelitos no setor sul da mina VZT. Quando associado à metapelito, o minério willemítico pode conter até 15% de Zn-talco, podendo assim refletir em menores recuperações de Zn. Quando hospedado por rochas metabásicas, o principal mineral de zinco pode ser franklinita (<25%), mineral deletério para o processamento de minério. Caso hospedado por brechas hematíticas, característica do domínio EN2, a willemita apresenta-se comumente cominuída e os conteúdos de Fe e hematita podem ser limitantes para o beneficiamento. Em síntese, os resultados desse estudo mostram que cada domínio geo-mineralógico apresenta características específicas. Mostrou-se que espessura, formato e profundidade dos corpos, variação da natureza das rochas encaixantes e substituições minerais afetam diretamente a mineralogia e a qualidade do minério de Zn. Tais fatores refletem processos geológicos e características do ambiente formacional do depósito que podem ser restritos ou mais frequentes em determinado domínio, refletindo assinaturas específicas para o minério estudado, que podem ser espacializadas e monitoradas integrando um modelo geometalúrgico. / The Vazante Group hosts the major hypogene, nonsulfide Zn deposit known worldwide (e.g., Vazante; >60 Mton @ 20% Zn), which also contains Pb and Ag concentrations. The Vazante Mine (VZT) and its continuity, the North Extension Mine (EN), are subdivided into five geo-mineralogical domains, since three belonging to VZT: Lumiadeira 1 (LUM1); Lumiadeira 2 (LUM2); Sucuri (SUC), and two to EN: North Extension 1 (EN1); North Extension 2 (EN2). Field studies, systematic sampling, petrography, scanning electronic microscopy, automated mineralogy via Mineral Liberation Analyzer, and lithochemical analyses were carried out aiming to characterize each domain in detail, connect their geological and mineralogical aspects, and point to possible features responsible for changes on ore quality during ore beneficiation. The nonsulfide Zn orebodies at VZT and EN are anastomosed, composed of willemite (Zn2SiO4), and hosted by dolomite breccias and subordinately by metapelite, metabasic rocks, and hematite breccias. Minor sulfide-rich orebodies occur mainly imbricated within willemite orebodies or as veins and veinlets. The willemite crystals show infilling textures, such as colloform and fibrous-radiated (type I), reequilibrium texture, such as granoblastic (type II), or fine-grained textures, when controlled by late fissures (type III). Thus, willemite registers a complex sequence of processes and conditions responsible for the nonsulfide Zn ore generation. Zinc, Fe, C, Ca, SiO2, and Mg are the main chemical compounds of the ore. At EN, the Fe (<26.7%) and hematite contents in the ore are, on average, higher than those of VZT. Lead and Ag, co-products of Zn exploitation, are chiefly found at VZT, in the LUM1 and SUC domains, concentrated in sulfide-rich bodies. Terrigenous elements, such as Al, K, Rb, Sc, Co, Th, and La, are positively anomalous in the LUM2 domain indicating the influence of metapelite host in the south sector of VZT. In this case, willemite ore may contain up to 15% Zn-talc, related to lower Zn recoveries. If the willemite ore is hosted by metabasic rocks, franklinite, a deleterious phase into processing, might be the main Zn-bearing phase (<25%). If hosted by hematite breccias, characteristic of the EN2 domain, willemite is commonly comminuted and the Fe and hematite contents might be a limiting for beneficiation. The results herein presented show that each geo-mineralogical domain exhibits their own characteristics. Ore thickness, format, and depth of bodies, the nature of host rocks, and mineral replacements affect the mineralogy and quality of Zn ore directly. Those factors express geological processes and characteristics of the deposit environment that may be restricted or more frequent at a certain domain, thus creating specific signatures for the analyzed ore, which might be spatialized and monitored integrating a geometallurgical model.

Lithium represents one of the strategic elements for the rest of the 21st century due to its increasing demand in technological applications. Therefore, new efforts should be focused on the optimization of mineral characterization processes, which link the ore properties with its behaviour during downstream processes. These efforts should result in reducing operational risks and increasing resources utilization. The methodology presented in this study is based on the application of several classification techniques, aiming the mineral and textural characterization of two spodumene pegmatite deposits within the Keliber Lithium Project. Twelve textural classes have been proposed for the textual classification of the ore, which have been defined through the recognition of the main mineral features at macro- and micro-scale. The textural classification was performed through the application of drill core logging and scanning electron microscopy. Six classes are proposed to describe the characteristics of the spodumene ore. Six additional classes describe the main properties of the rocks surrounding the ore zone. Image analysis was implemented for the generation of mineral maps and the subsequent quantification of spodumene and Li2O within the analysed drill core images. The image segmentation process was executed in Fiji-ImageJ and is based on eight mineral classes and a set of seven feature extraction procedures. Thus, quantification of spodumene and Li2O is estimated by textural class. Hyperspectral images were used as a reference for assessing the estimations made through images analysis. A machine learning model in Weka allowed forecasting the behaviour of the twelve textural classes during spodumene flotation. This model is fed by metallurgical data from previous flotation tests and uses Random Forest classifier. The proposed methodology serves as an inexpensive but powerful approach for the complete textural characterization of the ore at Keliber Lithium Project. It provides information about: (1) mineral features at different scales, (2) spatial distribution of textures within the pegmatite body, (3) quantification of spodumene and Li2O within the drill cores and (4) processing response of each textural class. However, its application requires wide knowledge and expertise in the mineralogy of the studied deposits. / <p>Thesis Presentation.</p><p>Textural and Mineralogical Characterization of Li-pegmatite Deposit: Using Microanalytical and Image Analysis to Link Micro and Macro Properties of Spodumene in Drill Cores.  Keliber Lithium Project, Finland.</p><p></p>