Extensive research has shown that electrochemistry is one of the factors that govern the flotation of sulfide minerals. Flotation is often adversely affected by uncontrolled oxidation, which is also an electrochemical process. The interest in pyrrhotite recovery arose after observing that there is a substantial loss of PGM due to the depression of pyrrhotite and the subsequent loss of any PGMs associated with it. The first part of this study focuses on the influence of chemical composition and crystal structure on the electrochemical behaviour of pyrrhotite in a 0.05 M Na2B4O7 solution. Rest potential and polarisation resistance measurements, as well as anodic polarisation diagrams, showed that the magnetic 4C type pyrrhotite is anodically more reactive than the non-magnetic 6C type pyrrhotite. It was also shown in cathodic polarisation diagrams that the non-magnetic 6C type pyrrhotite is a better substrate for oxygen reduction and is less susceptible to oxidation. ToF-SIMS showed the formation of an oxide layer on the pyrrhotite surface after oxidation. In the second part of this work, the influence of galvanic interactions on the electrochemical behaviour of pyrrhotite in contact with pentlandite was investigated. It was observed that, under oxygen-saturated conditions, as the amount of pentlandite increases, the reactivity towards oxidation of the mixed mineral system is reduced. Impedance measurements showed a decrease in capacitance values, indicating the formation of a continuous oxide layer on the surface and an increase in oxide layer thickness with decreasing pentlandite content. Anodic polarisation diagrams showed that under oxygen-deficient conditions and in the low potential region, pentlandite behaves as an inert material and does not have an influence on the oxidation behaviour of pyrrhotite. Hence, the anodic activities of the different magnetic 4C type pyrrhotites from Sudbury Gertrude, Phoenix and Russia were compared. It was shown that the oxidation reactivity decreased in the following order: Sudbury Gertrude magnetic 4C pyrrhotite > Phoenix magnetic 4C pyrrhotite > Russian magnetic 4C pyrrhotite; it also varied according to location. In the transpassive region, higher anodic currents were observed on the mixed samples because both pentlandite and pyrrhotite reacts. The reactivity increased in the order: pure pyrrhotite (Russia) < medium-pentlandite (Sudbury Gertrude) < high-pentlandite (Phoenix). In the presence of potassium ethyl xanthate, there was no change in the initial anodic reactivities of the different pyrrhotites. The anodic polarisation diagrams of the pure and mixed samples showed a reduction in the maximum anodic peak current, suggesting the presence of xanthate on the surface, which hinders oxidation of the mineral surface. In addition, the influence of cleaning of oxidised pyrrhotite with gaseous carbon dioxide was studied, using electrochemical and microflotation measurements. Electrochemical measurements indicated that CO2 treatment resulted in depassivation of the oxidised surfaces; this was supported by ToF-SIMS measurements that demonstrated a reduction in the oxide layer thickness after CO2 treatment. Anodic polarisation diagrams showed a higher anodic peak current, indicating that the surface is more reactive. Gaseous carbon dioxide conditioning of oxidised pyrrhotite resulted in improved flotation response of pyrrhotite with the aid of copper activation and higher air flow rate. Copyright / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering / unrestricted

The Pacific Rim Terrane in British Columbia is a group of fault-bound forearc metasedimentary and metaigneous rocks subcreted to Wrangellia, comprising three lithological units: the Leech River Complex (LRC), the Pandora Peak Unit (PPU), and the Pacific Rim Complex. Of these three, the LRC and PPU were subject to an elevated thermal metamorphic event which locally overprinted typical low temperature, medium pressure forearc assemblages with low greenschist through amphibolite facies assemblages. The field study shows that biotite, garnet and staurolite isograds occur concentrically in the LRC, centered on the Leech River fault, which separates the Pacific Rim Terrane from the underlying Metchosin Igneous Complex of the Crescent terrane. Local thermal overprint in the PPU is sub-biotitic and is characterized by local replacement of prehnite-pumpellyite and lawsonite-bearing assemblages with muscovite ± chlorite. Multi-method geothermobarometry shows peak metamorphic temperatures from ~230 °C in the northern PPU to ~600 °C near the Leech River fault at ~4 kbar, and isotherms are continuous across the LRC-PPU boundary. The interfoliated Tripp Creek metabasites and Eocene Walker Creek intrusions do not control the distribution of isotherms, and syn-metamorphic felsic sills rarely have contact aureoles. Intercalated metabasites show two distinct rare earth element (REE) patterns, including NMORB-like light REE depletion among most Tripp Creek metabasites, and light REE enrichment in PPU metabasites. The lack of thermal aureoles associated with metabasites, and interlayered garnetite bands with negative Ce-anomalies attributed to seafloor hydrothermal processes, suggest the Tripp Creek metabasites are not syn-metamorphic sills and formed prior to accretion. The subcretion of then recently formed oceanic crust belonging to the Crescent terrane is identified as the probable cause of anomalously high temperature forearc conditions, as well as possible proximity to an Eocene mid ocean ridge. The high temperature metamorphic rocks in the Pacific Rim Terrane document the conversion of inherited primary pyrite to pyrrhotite in carbonaceous metasediments. S-inclusive pseudosections for LRC protoliths predict a low temperature (<420 °C) narrow pyrite desulfidation window that produces pyrrhotite and releases negligible S to the fluid phase. Conversely, sulfide petrography in the LRC shows pyrite can persist up to ~550 °C as inclusions in andalusite and staurolite porphyroblasts, as well as possibly in the rock matrix. S contents in carbonaceous pelites show a marked reduction at medium grade, associated with a dearth of visible sulfide in LRC phyllites. Sluggish pyrite desulfidation, pyrrhotite desulfidation, and terrane-scale S mobility are interpreted as the driver for mobility of intra-terrane sourced Au, leading to the formation of a hypozonal orogenic Au deposit in the central LRC. / Graduate / 2022-06-11

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