Experimental Study on Pressure Leaching of Zinc Sulfide …
855
Characteristics of Main Minerals in Ore Samples
Sphalerite
The majority of sphalerite are produced in the form of irregular shaped monomers.
Part of sphalerite is encapsulated with particles of chalcopyrite, galena, and pyrite.
Sometimes, sphalerite and gangue minerals are produced together. Occasionally,
particles of sphalerite are encapsulated in the gangue minerals or minerals such as
tetrahedriter and arsenopyrite are embedded in the sphalerite. According to energy
dispersive spectroscopy, main impurities of sphalerite are Fe and Cd. The iron content
varies from 0.45 to 2.85%, while the Cd content is relatively low, generally less than
1%. In addition, it is occasionally that Cu is detected in sphalerite with a low content
(Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4).
Fig. 1 Sphalerite
Fig. 2 Sphalerite, chalcopyrite, and pyrite
855
Characteristics of Main Minerals in Ore Samples
Sphalerite
The majority of sphalerite are produced in the form of irregular shaped monomers.
Part of sphalerite is encapsulated with particles of chalcopyrite, galena, and pyrite.
Sometimes, sphalerite and gangue minerals are produced together. Occasionally,
particles of sphalerite are encapsulated in the gangue minerals or minerals such as
tetrahedriter and arsenopyrite are embedded in the sphalerite. According to energy
dispersive spectroscopy, main impurities of sphalerite are Fe and Cd. The iron content
varies from 0.45 to 2.85%, while the Cd content is relatively low, generally less than
1%. In addition, it is occasionally that Cu is detected in sphalerite with a low content
(Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4).
Fig. 1 Sphalerite
Fig. 2 Sphalerite, chalcopyrite, and pyrite