scholarly journals Predictive Models of Mineralogy from Whole-Rock Assay Data: Case Study from the Productora Cu-Au-Mo Deposit, Chile

2019 ◽  
Vol 114 (8) ◽  
pp. 1513-1542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Escolme ◽  
Ron F. Berry ◽  
Julie Hunt ◽  
Scott Halley ◽  
Warren Potma

Abstract Mineralogy is a fundamental characteristic of a given rock mass throughout the mining value chain. Understanding bulk mineralogy is critical when making predictions on processing performance. However, current methods for estimating complex bulk mineralogy are typically slow and expensive. Whole-rock geochemical data can be utilized to estimate bulk mineralogy using a combination of ternary diagrams and bivariate plots to classify alteration assemblages (alteration mapping), a qualitative approach, or through calculated mineralogy, a predictive quantitative approach. Both these techniques were tested using a data set of multielement geochemistry and mineralogy measured by semiquantitative X-ray diffraction data from the Productora Cu-Au-Mo deposit, Chile. Using geochemistry, samples from Productora were classified into populations based on their dominant alteration assemblage, including quartz-rich, Fe oxide, sodic, potassic, muscovite (sericite)- and clay-alteration, and least altered populations. Samples were also classified by their dominant sulfide mineralogy. Results indicate that alteration mapping through a range of graphical plots provides a rapid and simple appraisal of dominant mineral assemblage, which closely matches the measured mineralogy. In this study, calculated mineralogy using linear programming was also used to generate robust quantitative estimates for major mineral phases, including quartz and total feldspars as well as pyrite, iron oxides, chalcopyrite, and molybdenite, which matched the measured mineralogy data extremely well (R2 values greater than 0.78, low to moderate root mean square error). The results demonstrate that calculated mineralogy can be applied in the mining environment to significantly increase bulk mineralogy data and quantitatively map mineralogical variability. This was useful even though several minerals were challenging to model due to compositional similarities and clays and carbonates could not be predicted accurately.

1998 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 399-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. Abrahams ◽  
H. W. Schmalle ◽  
T. Williams ◽  
A. Reller ◽  
F. Lichtenberg ◽  
...  

The possibility that the structure of the novel semiconducting perovskite-related material strontium niobium oxide, Sr5Nb5O17, refined by Schmalle et al. [Acta Cryst. (1995), C51, 1243–1246] in space group Pnn2, might instead belong to space group Pnnm has been investigated following an analysis of the atomic coordinates that indicated the latter space group to be more likely. All I obs were carefully remeasured, first those within a hemisphere containing c *, then all that lay within the full sphere of reflection. Refinement was undertaken, with each of two different sets of weights, in each space group. Each data set was used under three limiting intensity conditions: I obs > 4σ(I obs), I obs > 2σ(I obs) and finally with all reflections, but setting magnitudes with I obs ≤ 0 equal to 0. Fourteen separate tests based only upon the X-ray diffraction data may be used to distinguish between Pnn2 and Pnnm. Nine tests favored the latter choice, four were indeterminate and one was not used. Seven further tests may be made on the basis of physical measurement; of these, three strongly indicated Pnnm, one was indeterminate and three could not be used. The evidence clearly suggests the space group is Pnnm. The use of all reflections, including those with negative magnitude set equal to zero, is essential to avoid ambiguity in the X-ray diffraction tests and achieve the highest reliability. Refinement with weights based on variances of Type A and Type B [Schwarzenbach et al. (1995). Acta Cryst. A51, 565–569] resulted in improved reliability compared with that obtained from a popular empirical weighting scheme. The revised structure differs in several respects from that published previously.


Crystals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 218
Author(s):  
Carlos Alberto Ríos-Reyes ◽  
German Alfonso Reyes-Mendoza ◽  
José Antonio Henao-Martínez ◽  
Craig Williams ◽  
Alan Dyer

This study reports for the first time the geologic occurrence of natural zeolite A and associated minerals in mudstones from the Cretaceous Paja Formation in the urban area of the municipality of Vélez (Santander), Colombia. These rocks are mainly composed of quartz, muscovite, pyrophyllite, kaolinite and chlorite group minerals, framboidal and cubic pyrite, as well as marcasite, with minor feldspar, sulphates, and phosphates. Total organic carbon (TOC), total sulfur (TS), and millimeter fragments of algae are high, whereas few centimeters and not biodiverse small ammonite fossils, and other allochemical components are subordinated. Na–A zeolite and associated mineral phases as sodalite occur just beside the interparticle micropores (honeycomb from framboidal, cube molds, and amorphous cavities). It is facilitated by petrophysical properties alterations, due to processes of high diagenesis, temperatures up to 80–100 °C, with weathering contributions, which increase the porosity and permeability, as well as the transmissivity (fluid flow), allowing the geochemistry remobilization and/or recrystallization of pre-existing silica, muscovite, kaolinite minerals group, salts, carbonates, oxides and peroxides. X-ray diffraction analyses reveal the mineral composition of the mudstones and scanning electron micrographs show the typical cubic morphology of Na–A zeolite of approximately 0.45 mμ in particle size. Our data show that the sequence of the transformation of phases is: Poorly crystalline aluminosilicate → sodalite → Na–A zeolite. A literature review shows that this is an unusual example of the occurrence of natural zeolites in sedimentary marine rocks recognized around the world.


Author(s):  
Lei Han ◽  
Zheng Liu ◽  
Xinqi Liu ◽  
Dewen Qiu

The effector protein PevD1 from the pathogenic fungusVerticillium dahliaewas purified and crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. Native crystals appeared in a solution consisting of 4.0 Msodium formate. A native data set was collected at 1.9 Å resolution at 100 K using an in-house X-ray source. Because of the absence of useful methinione in the protein sequence, derivative crystals that contained iodine were obtained by soaking in 1.25 Mpotassium iodide, and a data set that contained anomalous signal was collected using the same X-ray facility at a wavelength of 1.54 Å. The single-wavelength anomalous dispersion method was used to successfully solve the structure based on the anomalous signal generated from iodine.


Clay Minerals ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Papoulis ◽  
S. Komarneni ◽  
D. Panagiotaras

AbstractTrachyandesite rocks, occurring over an area of about 1 km2in the southwest part of Limnos Island, Greece, are altered mainly to halloysite. The samples were collected and analysed by polarizing microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and chemical analysis. The alteration of plagioclase to halloysite follows seven discrete stages that are described in detail. The geochemical evaluation of the data shows enrichment of the lightREE(LREE) over heavyREE(HREE) as expressed by the (La/Yb)n ratio. TheΣLREErange from 206.44 to 272.30, while the sum ofHREEvaries from 11.01 to 26.26. The (La/Yb)n ratio ranges from 9.72 to 27.64. Fractionation amongLREEexpressed as (La/Sm)n and between middleREE(MREE) andHREEis shown as (Tb/Yb)n ratios. The most altered rocks close to the fault zone have high (Tb/Yb)n ratios and low (La/Sm)n and Eu/Eu* ratios. Although mineralogy and clay mineral textures indicate hydrothermal genesis of halloysite, the geochemical data are not conclusive due to a secondary weathering effect.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 724-731
Author(s):  
Hemin Liu ◽  
Qian Huang ◽  
Liang Zhao

This study investigates the deterioration of concrete containing limestone powder exposed to sulfate solution under ambient temperature (20~25 °C). Microstructure and mineral phases within the attacked concrete were measured by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It was found that the addition of limestone powder increased the initial porosity of concrete. Consequently, a larger amount of SO2–4 ions diffused into the concrete containing limestone powder, and their degree of deterioration caused by sulfate attack increased with the increase in limestone powder content. At ambient temperature, gypsum and ettringite were the major attack products, respectively within the surface and nearsurface portions of concrete containing limestone powder, which was consistent with the products of sulfate attack within concrete without limestone powder. Therefore, the type and distribution of the attack products in concrete had not been revised due to the addition of limestone powder. Nevertheless, the adverse influence of limestone powder on the sulfate resistance of concrete, even at ambient temperature, should be considered. Furthermore, effective measures should be implemented to improve the durability of concrete containing limestone powder in this environment.


2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (12) ◽  
pp. 1640-1642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongbin Xu ◽  
Chun-Shan Quan ◽  
Xuanzhen Jin ◽  
Xiaoling Jin ◽  
Jing Zhao ◽  
...  

Universal stress proteins (Usps) are among the most highly induced genes when bacteria are subjected to several stress conditions such as heat shock, nutrient starvation or the presence of oxidants or other stress agents.Escherichia colihas five small Usps and one tandem-type Usp. UspE (or YdaA) is the tandem-type Usp and consists of two Usp domains arranged in tandem. To date, the structure of UspE remains to be elucidated. To contribute to the molecular understanding of the function of the tandem-type UspE, UspE fromE. coliwas overexpressed and the recombinant protein was purified using Ni–NTA affinity, Q anion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography. Crystals of UspE were obtained by sitting-drop vapour diffusion. A diffraction data set was collected to a resolution of 3.2 Å from flash-cooled crystals. The crystals belonged to the tetragonal space groupI4122 orI4322, with unit-cell parametersa=b= 121.1,c = 241.7 Å.


Heritage ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 468-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda Carvalho ◽  
Andreia Lopes ◽  
Antonella Curulli ◽  
Teresa da Silva ◽  
Maria Lima ◽  
...  

Good conservation and restoration practices of cultural heritage assets rely on the knowledge of original materials. In the framework of the HERACLES Project (HERACLES—HEritage Resilience Against CLimate Events on Site, H2020 Grant Agreement 700395), dealing with the effects of climatic actions and natural hazards on built heritage, a set of important heritage sites are currently under study to improve their resilience against climate events. Among these are the medieval Gubbio Town Walls in Italy. The present work focuses on the mortars and binders of this monument and collected samples related to different parts of the Walls, corresponding to various historical periods of construction and interventions. They were characterized to determine their minerochemical composition, thermal behavior, and morphology. For that purpose, ex-situ laboratory techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF), optical microscopy (OM), polarized light microscopy (PLM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and simultaneous differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetry (TG-DTA) were used to discern trends in different sampling areas due to construction/reconstruction periods and building techniques.


2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (a1) ◽  
pp. C1138-C1138
Author(s):  
Chiaki Tsuboi ◽  
Kazuki Aburaya ◽  
Shingo Higuchi ◽  
Fumiko Kimura ◽  
Masataka Maeyama ◽  
...  

We have developed magnetically oriented microcrystal array (MOMA) technique that enables single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses from microcrystalline powder. In this method, microcrystals suspended in a UV-curable monomer matrix are there-dimensionally aligned by special rotating magnetic field, followed by consolidation of the matrix by photopolymerization. From thus achieved MOMAs, we have been succeeded in crystal structure analysis for some substances [1, 2]. Though MOMA method is an effective technique, it has some problems as follows: in a MOMA, the alignment is deteriorated during the consolidation process. In addition, the sample microcrystals cannot be recovered from a MOMA. To overcome these problems, we performed an in-situ X-ray diffraction measurement using a three-dimensional magnetically oriented microcrystal suspension (3D MOMS) of L-alanine. An experimental setting of the in-situ X-ray measurement of MOMS is schematically shown in the figure. L-alanine microcrystal suspension was poured into a glass capillary and placed on the rotating unit equipped with a pair of neodymium magnets. Rotating X-ray chopper with 10°-slits was placed between the collimator and the suspension. By using this chopper, it was possible to expose the X-ray only when the rotating MOMS makes a specific direction with respect to the impinging X-ray. This has the same effect as the omega oscillation in conventional single crystal measurement. A total of 22 XRD images of 10° increments from 0° to 220° were obtained. The data set was processed by using conventional software to obtain three-dimensional molecular structure of L-alanine. The structure is in good agreement with that reported for the single crystal. R1 and wR2 were 6.53 and 17.4 %, respectively. RMSD value between the determined molecular structure and the reported one was 0.0045 Å. From this result, we conclude that this method can be effective and practical to be used widely for crystal structure analyses.


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