Molybdenite polytypism and its implications for processing and recovery: A geometallurgical-based case study from the Bingham Canyon mine, Utah

Abstract

Molybdenum, in the form of molybdenite, is a common byproduct of many copper mining and concentrating operations. Contrary to most copper sulfide minerals where recovery is principally liberation controlled, the recovery of molybdenite is much more complex with fully liberated particles commonly lost to tailings. It is this complexity that facilitated the necessity for a geometallurgical investigation of molybdenite from the Bingham Canyon deposit. The aim of this investigation was to determine the effect mineralogy and/or mineralogical attributes (i.e. morphology, angularity, liberation, size) have on the recovery of molybdenite in the processing circuit. A set of samples was collected from the ores and products produced by Rio Tinto Kennecott's Copperton Concentrator. All samples were analyzed using normal polarized reflective light, Mineral Liberation Analyzer (MLA) and X-ray diffractometery (XRD) techniques. The results of this investigation revealed the presence of two distinctly different types of molybdenite, which have been identified as the two polytypes of molybdenite, i.e. hexagonal (2H) and rhombohedral (3R). The 2H polytype occurs as textbook-shaped particles in quartz-molybdenite veins that are located in the core of the Bingham Canyon deposit. The 3R polytype occurs as disseminated, "ball'-shaped particles with a dull or frosted appearance along the margins of the mineralized intrusive body or central core. Concerning their metallurgical behavior each type exhibits unique metallurgical properties that are consistent with those reported in the published literature. For instance, the 2H polytype is easily ground and kinetically "faster" floating with surface attributes that are amenable to higher rates of recovery. This commonly results in the production of a high quality molybdenum concentrate under normal operating conditions common to most copper concentration operations. In contrast, the 3R polytype is difficult to grind and kinetically "slower" floating with surface attributes that less amenable to recovery under normal operating conditions. Therefore, in deposits with higher concentrations of the 3R polytype, modifications to the normal operating parameters may be necessary to improve the recovery of molybdenum. Finally, a preliminary investigation into the metal budget of porphyry Cu and Mo deposits indicates that a positive correlation may exist between the total economic metal budget and the polytype content. For example, higher concentrations of the 3R polytype appear to be more prevalent in Au-enriched porphyries versus Moenriched porphyries. This observation may also serve to help explain why it is easier to obtain high rates of recovery in Mo ± W-rich deposits, which contain little to none of the 3R-polytype. Consequently, the potential for the metal budget of a porphyry deposit to be used as an indication of the molybdenite polytype present, as well as its impact on the economics (exploration) and/or on the processing circuit (plant design) could exist. In conclusion, this investigation highlights the necessity of understanding the mineralogical properties or characteristics of molybdenite and/or other economic mineral(s), as these can and will have a direct impact upon the performance and plant optimization.