OBJECTIVES

Sulfide minerals are a major resource for base and precious metals. Traditional pyrometallurgical processing of many of these ores is no longer environmentally acceptable nor economically viable with the growing importance of low-grade deposits and/or “dirty” concentrates.

Hydrometallurgical process alternatives are increasingly being considered but are often not viable if leaching is undertaken at normal temperatures. Advances in fine milling, pressure and bacterial leaching have extended the boundaries of hydrometallurgical processing of sulfide minerals, but further extension is needed.

The project aims to address this emerging extractive metallurgical problem by:

• conducting research into the electrochemical and leaching behaviour of sulfide minerals (nickel and copper sulfide minerals in particular) under oxidative and non-oxidative conditions, and under both ambient and elevated temperatures and pressures
  
• using the knowledge gained from the fundamental work to develop new processing options and to optimise existing pressure leach and pressure oxidation processes
  
• further application of the previously developed novel method for studying fine mineral particles as an investigative and potentially useful mineralogical tool.

INDUSTRY BENEFITS

• new operating strategies and conditions to optimise pressure leaching of sulfide minerals, developed through a better understanding of how selected sulfide minerals dissolve under typical pressure leach conditions
  
• a mineralogical tool that uses electrochemical characterisation to identify minerals and can also provide quantitative information

RESEARCH TEAM
Professor Mike Nicol (Project Leader)
Dr Hajime Miki
(Murdoch University)

PROJECT DURATION
2006-2009