Field-portable XRF for chemical characterisation of carbonate-bearing base metal tailings - case study from the Namib Pb-Zn Mine, Namibia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17159/Abstract
Reprocessing of historic gold tailings is a common activity in South Africa, while base metal tailings offer similar reprocessing potentials. The historic base metal tailings of the Namib Pb-Zn mine (Erongo Region, Namibia) still contain valuable resources of the base metals Pb and Zn in carbonate-rich matter. Micro-analysis of primary ore minerals identifies some galena as argentiferous and sphalerite as the principal host of Cd. This study demonstrates that knowledge of primary ore mineralogy helps to reveal the siting of valuable commodities (Ag, Cd) and that field-portable XRF tools allow precise and accurate determinations of major and minor elements like Zn and Cd in such carbonate-rich material. Although there are limitations to determine certain element contents directly (i.e., As, Sb, In), linear correlations allow to predict the likely abundance of the elements of interest. Providing that the inter-mineral and inter-element relations are understood and there is consistency in sampling and analytical methodology, pXRF analysis is an effective method in evaluating the chemical characteristics of base metal tailings for a range of major and trace elements.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Stephanie Lohmeier
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