Abstract:
Erdaokan silver polymetallic deposit is associated with lead, zinc, manganese and other elements. The Chemical analysis, microscopic research, MLA, EPMA and other analysis was used to study the process mineralogy of the Erdaokan silver polymetallic deposit in this article. The result showed that the contents of silver, lead, zinc, manganese and iron in the ore were respectively 444×10
−6, 0.77%, 0.36%, 7.76% and 23.22%. The silver mainly existed in pyroxenite. And a small amount existed in pyrargyrite and freibergite. The lead mainly existed in galena, the zinc was in sphalerite, while the manganese and iron were in Fe−Mn carbonates. The main mineral composition in the ore were Fe−Mn carbonates and quartz, while the metal minerals were pyrite, magnetite, galena, and sphalerite. The granularity of pyroxenite in the ore was mainly distributed in the range of 75−150 μm and below 20 μm. pyroxenite was closely coexisting with various minerals, which was not conducive to their liberation. The sphalerite’s content was 0.58%. Its granularity mainly distributed in 38−150 μm; The galena’s content was 1.62%. Its granularity mainly distributed below 75 μm; The pyrite’s content was 4.50%. Its granularity mainly distributed in the range of 38−150 μm. The Fe−Mn carbonates’ content was 58.59%. Its granularity was mainly distributed in 38−150 μm. Its manganese average content was 22.34%. The content of magnetite was2.87%, its granularity mainly distributed in 20−150 μm. There were many useful elements in the ore, and the useful minerals were fine in particle size and were seriously wrapped with each other. Due to the fine particle size of silver minerals in the ore, and their close coexistence with other minerals, and the high content of pyrite, it is recommended to separate the recovery of silver from pyrite in addition to the unified recovery of lead and silver. Meanwhile, due to the presence of iron and manganese in siderite−rhodochrosite, it has a significant impact on the grade of manganese concentrate. It is recommended to recycle iron and manganese together.