854
H. Wang et al.
by the dissolution of iron contained in minerals is a good oxygen-transporting agent
[5]. Its reaction is: ZnS + Fe 2 (SO 4 ) 3 = ZnSO 4 + 2FeSO 4 + S, 4FeSO 4 + 2H 2 SO 4
+ O 2 = 2Fe 2 (SO 4 ) 3 + 2H 2 O. High temperature oxidation leaching of sphalerite is
direct leaching, and oxidation of sphalerite by iron ions is indirect leaching, both of
which contribute to the high efficient leaching of sphalerite.
In the leaching process, temperature and acidity are the key influencing factors.
This study uses zinc sulfide concentrate from a smelter in Sichuan as raw material,
which contains 55.46% Zn, 2.44% Fe, and 29.28% S. The mineralogy research of
the zinc concentrate was carried out. The effects of temperature and acidity on the
leaching process were studied in detail. The phase transformation was analyzed by
the XRD analysis of the residue sample and the S and Fe behavior is elaborated.
In addition, the latest experimental progress in the field of zinc pressure leaching is
introduced.
Process Mineralogy Research
Mineral Composition and Relative Content of Mineral Samples
The composition of the mineral was analyzed through optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, and other instruments and methods, such as ICP
and titrimetric analysis. The result shows that the majority of metal minerals in the ore sample are sphalerite(Zn·Fe)S, along with a small amount of
galena(PbS), chalcopyrite(CuFeS 2 ), pyrite(FeS 2 ), trace amounts of tetrahedriter
(Cu 12 Sb 4 S 13 ), covelline(CuS), arsenopyrite(FeAsS), and smithsonite(ZnCO 3 ). Nonmetallic minerals are mainly quartz(SiO 2 ), along with dolomite (xCaCO 3 ·yMgCO 3 ),
a small amount of chlorite, muscovite(KAl 2 [Si 3 AlO 10 ](OH,F) 2 ), traces of
apatite(Ca 5 (PO 4 ) 3 (F,Cl,OH)), vermiculite(CaTi[SIO 4 ]O). The mineral composition
and relative content of the ore samples are shown in Table 1.
Table 1 Mineralogical
composition of ore and
relative content
Minerals
Content/%
Minerals
Content/%
Sphalerite
85.10
Dolomite
2.29
Chalcopyrite
1.85
Chlorite
0.96
Pyrite
1.45
Muscovite
0.94
Galena
1.87
Others
0.83
Quartz
4.71
Total
100.00
H. Wang et al.
by the dissolution of iron contained in minerals is a good oxygen-transporting agent
[5]. Its reaction is: ZnS + Fe 2 (SO 4 ) 3 = ZnSO 4 + 2FeSO 4 + S, 4FeSO 4 + 2H 2 SO 4
+ O 2 = 2Fe 2 (SO 4 ) 3 + 2H 2 O. High temperature oxidation leaching of sphalerite is
direct leaching, and oxidation of sphalerite by iron ions is indirect leaching, both of
which contribute to the high efficient leaching of sphalerite.
In the leaching process, temperature and acidity are the key influencing factors.
This study uses zinc sulfide concentrate from a smelter in Sichuan as raw material,
which contains 55.46% Zn, 2.44% Fe, and 29.28% S. The mineralogy research of
the zinc concentrate was carried out. The effects of temperature and acidity on the
leaching process were studied in detail. The phase transformation was analyzed by
the XRD analysis of the residue sample and the S and Fe behavior is elaborated.
In addition, the latest experimental progress in the field of zinc pressure leaching is
introduced.
Process Mineralogy Research
Mineral Composition and Relative Content of Mineral Samples
The composition of the mineral was analyzed through optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, and other instruments and methods, such as ICP
and titrimetric analysis. The result shows that the majority of metal minerals in the ore sample are sphalerite(Zn·Fe)S, along with a small amount of
galena(PbS), chalcopyrite(CuFeS 2 ), pyrite(FeS 2 ), trace amounts of tetrahedriter
(Cu 12 Sb 4 S 13 ), covelline(CuS), arsenopyrite(FeAsS), and smithsonite(ZnCO 3 ). Nonmetallic minerals are mainly quartz(SiO 2 ), along with dolomite (xCaCO 3 ·yMgCO 3 ),
a small amount of chlorite, muscovite(KAl 2 [Si 3 AlO 10 ](OH,F) 2 ), traces of
apatite(Ca 5 (PO 4 ) 3 (F,Cl,OH)), vermiculite(CaTi[SIO 4 ]O). The mineral composition
and relative content of the ore samples are shown in Table 1.
Table 1 Mineralogical
composition of ore and
relative content
Minerals
Content/%
Minerals
Content/%
Sphalerite
85.10
Dolomite
2.29
Chalcopyrite
1.85
Chlorite
0.96
Pyrite
1.45
Muscovite
0.94
Galena
1.87
Others
0.83
Quartz
4.71
Total
100.00