Mineralogical analysis of nickel/copper polymetallic sulfide ore by X-ray diffraction using rietveld method

Abstract

The analysis of mineralogical characteristics has important significance in comprehensive utilization of polymetallic sulfide mineral resources. The wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) and X-ray diffraction were performed for the standardless quantitative analysis of Ni/Cu polymetallic sulfide ore. On the basis of fundamental parameter approach and Rietveld refinement Method, the validity of mineralogical identification and quantification was confirmed for analyzing this complex sulfide ore. The quantification results were in good agreement with elemental concentrations determined by XRF and ICP, which has explained the subtle differences among four samples in the range of different granularity (>10mm; 6-10mm; 1-6mm; <1mm;). In addition, the thermogravimetric curves and magnetic hysteresis curves, as well as element distribution map characterized by SEM-EDS, shown tiny differences among four samples. These results indicate that quantitative phase analysis using the Rietveld method represents a new powerful and fast tool in studies of the complex sulfide deposit.