Recovery of Values from Low-Grade and Complex MineralsThe book elaborates on various physicochemical properties of minerals and technological developments to improve the recovery of metals while ensuring cost-effectiveness and minimal environmental impact.The mineral industry is undergoing significant cultural, organizational, and technological transformations to address some of the major limitations and challenges related to the environmental and productivity domains. As far as productivity is concerned, the decrease of high-grade ores has been one of the stumbling blocks toward the achievement of maximum recovery of metals while, on the other hand, the complexity of minerals therein makes it difficult to profitably extract metals using only conventional methods.This book presents eight specialized chapters that focus on the exploration of the complexity of minerals that are likely to negatively influence the recovery of values, as well as the development of adequate technologies capable of improving the process of mineral concentration and/or metal recovery from complex minerals in a sustainable manner. It reviews the various physicochemical properties of minerals that are likely to pose a challenge during the attempt to recover values using conventional methods. It also elaborates on the recent technological development that has been considered by researchers to improve the recovery of metals from gangue-dominated minerals while ensuring cost-effectiveness and minimal adverse environmental impact.AudienceThis book will be of interest to academic researchers from the fields of mineral processing, hydrometallurgy, geochemistry, environment, chemistry, engineering, and professionals including mining plant operators, environmental managers in the industries, government regulatory bodies officers, and environmentalists.

Preface xiii1 Optimization of the Mechanical Comminution -- The Crushing Stage 1Ngonidzashe Chimwani1.1 Introduction 21.2 The Role of Crushers 51.3 Conclusion 312 Challenges Related to the Flotation Process of Complex Phosphate Ores 41Nheta Willie and Hlahane Morake D.2.1 Introduction to the Geology of Complex Phosphate Ores 422.2 Phosphate Rock Beneficiation Processes 442.3 Froth Flotation of Sedimentary Phosphate Ore 482.4 Challenges Facing Flotation of Phosphate Rock 542.5 Future Research Directions 582.6 Conclusion 583 Increasing Ionic Strength and Oxyhydroxo Species in Process Water on the Floatability of Chalcopyrite and Pentlandite for a Selected Cu--Ni Bearing Ore Flotation 65Malibongwe S. Manono, Katlego M. Matibidi, Lisa L. October, Catherine K. Thubakgale and Kirsten C. Corin3.1 Introduction 663.2 Materials and Methods 693.3 Results and Discussion 723.4 Froth Column Studies from a Two-Froth Column 784 Relating the Flotation Response of Pyrrhotite to the Adsorption of Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose and Sodium Isobutyl Xanthate on its Surface in Process Water of a Degrading Quality 87Malibongwe S. Manono, Lisa L. October and Kirsten C. Corin4.1 Introduction 884.2 Experimental Methods 914.3 Results and Discussion 974.4 Conclusions 1075 Simulated Short Cycle Water Recirculation on the Flotation Performance of a UG2 Cu--Ni--PGM Ore 111Malibongwe S. Manono, Michael S. Ngau and Kirsten C. Corin5.1 Introduction 1125.2 Materials and Methods 1155.3 Results and Discussion 1265.4 Conclusions 1376 Complexity of Chalcopyrite Mineral Affecting Copper Recovery During Leaching 145Kolela J. Nyembwe, Frans Waanders, Martin Mkandawire, Bhekie Mamba and Elvis Fosso-Kankeu6.1 Introduction 1466.2 CuFeS2 Crystal Structure 1476.3 Application of Dissolution/Leaching of Chalcopyrite 1486.4 Challenges Associated with Copper Dissolution from the Chalcopyrite Mineral 1496.5 H2SO4-Fe2(SO4)3-FeSO4-H2O Speciation 1536.6 Parameters Affecting Dissolution 1556.7 Thermodynamic Considerations 1606.8 CuFeS2 Phases Conversion/Copper Sulfide (Cu-S) Intermediate Phases 1616.9 Conclusion 1727 Fe3+-Fe2+ Redox Cycle Peculiarity in the Acid Dissolution of Copper--Cobalt Complex Ores 179Bienvenu Mbuya, Léon Zeka and Antoine F. Mulaba-Bafubiandi7.1 Introduction 1807.2 Conventional Leaching of Copper--Cobalt Minerals 1827.3 Fe3+--Fe2+ Redox Cycle in the Dissolution of Mixed Oxidized and Sulfide Minerals 2027.4 Application of Mineral--Mineral Leaching Process to the Dissolution of Complex Ores 2087.5 Conclusion 2128 Rare Earth Elements (REEs) in Complex Ores and Spent Materials: Processing Technologies and Relevance in the Global Energy Transition 217Theophilus Ile Ojonimi, Tina Phiri Chanda, Ilemona C. Okeme, Ferdinand Asuke and Antoine F. Mulaba-Bafubiandi8.1 Introduction 2188.2 The Chemistry of REEs 2208.3 REE Minerals and Deposit Types 2208.4 REE Ore Mining and Processing Technologies 2238.5 Relevance of REEs in Energy Transition 2398.6 Conclusion 241References 241Index 249