This thesis focuses on platinu'm group element (PGE) mineralization in the Unki Section of the Selukwe Subchamber of the Great Dyke (Zimbabwe), and is based on drill hole intersections and underground and surface exposures of the Main Sulphide Zone (MSZ) which hosts significant concentrations of PGE. The petrological and geochemical data presented are part of a broader study currently underway and the present are restricted to the 2m section of the PGE-rich MSZ encountered in drill hole MR126. The PGE-rich MSZ at Unki is unique in having a shear, locally referred to as the Footwall Shear, developed at or close to its base . It is however, similar to the other PGE occurrences on the Great Dyke (MSZ) in having its hanging-wall restricted to within 1m of the websterite/bronzitite contact. Slight axial tilting to t he west is indicated by steeper dips on the eastern flank. The sulphide concentration wit hin the MSZ can be used as a rough guide to the PGE-rich zone, but is not sufficiently precise to be used in stope control. The visual identification of the potentially mineable zone remains a problem that is unlikely to be solved. Based on petrological evidence, the bulk of the sulphides with which the PGE are associated, are cumulus in status. This provides unequivocal evidence for an orthomagmatic origin of the MSZ. The dominant platinum group mineral (PGM) phase is the Arsenide/Sperrylite group which is most commonly found at the contact zones between base metal sulphides (BMS) and gangue. The PGM range up to 90 ~m in length. Geochemical evidence from the analyses of cumulate orthopyroxenes through the 2m PGE-rich MSZ interval at Unki reveals a trend of arked Fe enrichment upwards which corresponds to an enrichment in sulphide. This indicates that precipitation of sulphide was caused by fractionation with lowering of temperature in the magma. The Fe enrichment is followed by a reversal in Mg# of orthopyroxene which corresponds to the decrease in sulphide content, suggest i ng that the termination of the PGE-rich MSZ was due to an increase in temperature associated with an influx of new magma. Coupled with these magmatic events are a complex interplay of chemical and physical processes occurring at a critical stage in the overall fractionation of the Great Dyke magma chamber. The overall persistence and continuity of t he PGE zone as observed in the Unki area is consistent with the inferred orthomagmatic origin of the mineralization

submitted partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in the Faculty of ENGINEERING in the University of the Witwatersremd, Johannesburg August 1991 \

Extraction of platinum group elements (PGE) is a major source of revenue in South Africa and the reserves represent about 75 per cent of world reserves. Most of the remaining Platinum Group Mineral (PGM) reserves are located in the UG-2 chromitite layer of the Bushveld Igneous Complex. Platinum concentrators experience significant losses of PGE in their secondary milling circuits due to insufficient liberation of platinum-bearing particles. The chromium oxide (Cr2O3) content in UG-2 concentrates is typically 3%, which results in operational problems in the downstream smelting process. Ways of improving the design of the secondary milling circuit were investigated, with the purpose of improving PGE recovery and reducing Cr2O3 entrainment in the subsequent flotation stage. Batch-scale laboratory and pilot plant tests were carried out to investigate the optimal design of a secondary milling circuit configuration. The optimal design consisted of a conventional hydrocyclone to de-slime the feed, followed by gravity separation with a spiral concentrator circuit to separate the ore into lights (silicates-rich) and heavies (chromite-rich) fractions. Separate milling of the light and heavy fractions made it possible to grind the silicate-rich fraction finer and to avoid over-grinding of the chromite. The total milling energy was redistributed between the silicates and chromite ball mills with 88% of the energy input to the silicates mill and 12% to the chromite mill thus reducing chromite over-grinding. The effects on the recovery of PGE, and the entrainment of Cr2O3 were measured in combined batch rougher flotation tests. The results indicated a 2% improvement in the secondary rougher flotation PGE recovery for the densifier underflow sample as compared to the standard MF-2 circuit, and most significantly the Cr2O3 entrainment was reduced by over 30% overall. Attritioning of the chromite-rich heavies fraction and ball milling of the silicates-rich lights fraction resulted in a 52% reduction of Cr2O3 in the rougher flotation concentrate and a 0.4% increase in PGE recovery (0.4%) as compared to the standard circuit. The improved reduction in chromite entrainment may be attributed to the lower fines generation with attritioning (52.8%- 106μm) as compared to ball milling with a 12% energy input (83.6% -106μm). Over 50% of the chromite minerals remained in the +106μm of the attritioned heavies product as compared with 21% for the ball milled spiral heavies stream. This accounted for a significant proportion of the overall chromite reduction in the flotation concentrate and supported the motivation for the inclusion of a separate grinding circuit for the chromite and silicate particles. Pilot plant testwork on a VHG (very high grade) spiral concentrator circuit followed by laboratory milling and rougher flotation tests confirmed the above conclusions. A 3.7% improvement in PGE recovery was noted with a 32% Cr2O3 reduction in the secondary rougher flotation concentrate as compared to the standard circuit. The statistical reliability of the laboratory and pilot plant data were quantified at various stages of the testwork due to the heterogeneous nature of the feed material and representative sampling. The repeat analyses on selected flotation tests for the high grade ore revealed that the variances were below 0.5%, 4%, and 7% for the head grades, PGE and Cr2O3 recoveries respectively. The flotation results for the standard and significantly improved milling circuits had variances in the 4E recoveries for the low grade ore and pilot plant ore of below 5.5% and 1% respectively. Low variances (<1%) in the Cr2O3 recoveries were noted for the low grade and pilot plant ores. A preliminary cost estimate was undertaken based on the pilot plant data to determine what value the proposed circuit could add for an additional 3.7% PGE recovery. An additional revenue of approximately R50 000 per day could result based upon the platinum mineral recovery only. The other precious metals, i.e. palladium and rhodium were neglected and would further increase the overall revenue. The minimum payback period for the estimated capital investment would be approximately 4 years. This confirmed the benefit of this improved secondary milling circuit design as a viable option. A closed-circuit operation of the silicates mill should offer more significant benefits compared to the open circuit option; however, this was not considered in the current testwork. This project has confirmed the benefit of separate ball milling and the use of a spiral concentrator as an effective gravity separation device in the secondary milling circuit for a chromite-rich (>50%) UG-2 platinum ore. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

This project is an investigation of the UG2 cyclic unit of the Upper Critical Zone at Lebowa (Atok) / Thesis (M. Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2008.

Thesis (M.Sc.(Geology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Abstract in English. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 208-235).

Thesis (M.Sc.(Geology))--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Summary in English. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Professional Degree)--University of Missouri, School of Mines and Metallurgy, 1936. / The entire thesis text is included in file. Typescript. Title from title screen of thesis/dissertation PDF file (viewed June 9, 2010) Includes bibliographical references (p. 93).

Thesis (MTech (Chemical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. / The Bushveld igneous complex in northern South Africa has the largest deposit of platinum group elements (PGE) in the world. In trace amounts, these are closely associated with base metal sulphides (BMS). Froth flotation is used to beneficiate these PGE ores. The process constitutes a bulk sulphide recovery. Improvement of recovery of the BMS is required to maximise the recovery of PGEs. The performance of the froth flotation process is largely dependent on the chemical additives used and these chemicals have been extensively studied. Mixtures of collectors are widely used in the flotation of sulphide and platinum group mineral (PGM) ores. A range of performance benefits for the use of mixtures over pure collectors have been observed on many systems. These include improved valuable metal grades and recoveries, lower reagent dosage requirements, improved rates of flotation and enhanced recovery of coarse particles. Improvements observed with mixtures of chemical reagent have been attributed to synergism; defined as the interaction of two or more agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their individual effects. Synergism is highly desired in froth flotation. For this study, mixtures of thiol collectors were used in batch froth flotation tests in an attempt to identify synergism between the different collectors on flotation performance of a typical platinum ore from the Merensky reef. Flotation performance was evaluated in terms of grades and recoveries of copper and nickel, and the rate of metal flotation. Single thiol collectors of xanthate (SIBX), a dithiocarbamate (DTC) and a dithiophosphate (DTP) were evaluated to determine the effect of functional group on flotation performance. SIBX was then used in mixtures with both DTC and DTP at various molar ratios to establish whether synergism occurs between these collectors on this particular platinum ore. Molar ratios of 90:10, 80:20, 70:30 60:40 and 50:50 were considered with SIBX being the major component. Further tests were conducted with the addition of a carboxymethyl cellulose depressant to the collector mixtures.

M.Sc. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Production of platinum and associated metals is a major source of revenue for South Africa. Significant losses occur in the concentrating stage (10 to 15 per cent) and this research is focused on optimising platinum flotation. Research begins by conducting laboratory batch flotation tests. However, subsequent pilot-plant tests often produce different results. It is believed these differences arise from the artificial nature of laboratory techniques. This project was focused on improving flotation techniques in the laboratory. The largest source of platinum in South Africa is the UG2 reef and two samples of this ore were used for testing: ‘good’ and ‘bad’ ore. These had different characteristics with regards to the recovery of PGMs and the presence of talc. The latter is an unwanted floatable mineral, which must be depressed to prevent excessive recovery. The conventional laboratory test procedure makes use of batch tests in various sizes of flotation cells. The procedure was made more realistic, by using four stages of flotation, rather than just two, to mimic a typical platinum flotation plant. The use of four stages made it possible to separate the fast-floating and slow-floating stages and to control froth conditions accordingly. Attention was also given to the fact that in laboratory tests, water is often added to the ‘cleaner’ stage of flotation, to make up the level. Experiments showed that this dilution, which does not take place in practice, had a significant impact on overall efficiency. A method of measuring frother concentration was developed and used to determine the realistic level of frother in cleaning tests. Tests at these levels of frother concentration showed that significant improvements could be made to plant performance, by making use of a thickener to reduce the frother concentration in the cleaning stages. The improved test procedure was used on both good and bad ores, and the effect of regrinding was also tested. A combined solids recovery of 2 % over both cleaners was targeted for all test work. At this recovery, the regrinding of the bad ore increased the PGM recovery from 67 to 76 per cent at the cost of an additional 8 g/t depressant. An investigation of the effect of frother concentration in the cleaning stage, using good ore, demonstrated that that rejection of chromite could be improved significantly by reducing frother concentration. The tests mimicked the use of a thickener to separate some of the water with a high concentration of frother. Tests conducted on the good ore showed that use of two thickeners, as opposed to none, reduced the Cr2O3 content of the final concentrate from 4.2 to 3.2 per cent for the equivalent concentrate mass and PGM recovery. The depressant requirement was also reduced from 67 to 55 g/t. These tests provided insight on how to improve performance on a platinum flotation plant, particularly when floating the bad ore.