ABN: 51 118 344 602

A Better Understanding of your Minerals

WHAT IS PROCESS MINERALOGY?

INTRODUCTION
Process Mineralogy can be considered as the practical application of mineralogical knowledge to
aid mineral exploration, and to predict and optimise how an ore can best be mined and processed.
It bridges mineral processing and traditional mineralogy, and is a specialisation within the field of
applied mineralogy. Process Mineralogy is being applied in areas such as geometallurgy, ore
characterisation, process design and optimisation, driven by todays increasingly complex ore bodies
and the rising pressure to reduce operational cost. Responsible environmental management also
demands a greater understanding of the minerals and their textures in order to reduce risk.
The aim of process mineralogy is to identify, diagnose and predict processing characteristics of an
ore that are mineralogically controlled or influenced, and to understand either the benefits of these
that can be harnessed, or the limitations that need to be catered for. The mineralogy and, most
critically the texture (Figure 1), of an ore dictates how the ore can be mined and processed
optimally, as well as highlighting potential environmental ramifications in doing so.

Figure 1. Sphalerite (blue-grey) containing abundant chalcopyrite (yellow) ranging from several hundred microns to
only a few microns. Grade alone is not enough to characterise an ore the texture is paramount. www.smenet.org.

Tel: +61 3 9023 7481 or e-mail: enquiries@minassist.com.au

Suite 246, 135 Cardigan St, Carlton VIC 3053 Australia
Page | 1

www.minassist.com.au

ABN: 51 118 344 602

A Better Understanding of your Minerals

WHERE IS PROCESS MINERALOGY

During mine planning, the process

USED IN MINING?

mineralogical knowledge from exploration is

further expanded and refined for input to the

Process mineralogy is utilised in all stages of

mine model, and the operational plan. This

the mining cycle, including; exploration, mine

will include process mineralogy and

planning, mineral processing, tailings

geometallurgical analysis to identify units of

management, and metallurgy. It is closely

ore with similar processing responses, and

linked to geometallurgy, being fed directly in

potentially the identification of units that

to a geometallurgical predictive model, which

could be blended.

spans the whole process.

Process mineralogy can also help predict the

Rock and mineral properties that can be

rock breakage during blasting and other

identified through process mineralogy

handling characteristics, as optimising this

techniques include; gangue and target

can be considered the first stage in efficient

mineralogy, key element deportment, grain

comminution.

size and shape, deleterious minerals and

elements (for example swelling clays,

MINERAL PROCESSING

refractory minerals, arsenic) and mineral

Sound process mineralogy data will allow the

associations.

generation of theoretical grade-recovery

EXPLORATION:

curves for feed material, indicating how much

of the target mineral(s) / element(s) can be

In mineral exploration, process mineralogy is

recovered at a given concentrate grade.

used to identify the ore minerals, and make

Recoverable vs non-recoverable material can

an early assessment of potentially

also be identified. These data can be used to

problematic minerals. In early stages,

guide metallurgical testwork and to create

knowledge of the mineralogy can be used to

theoretical flowsheets for testing potentially

provide indicators and vectors guiding

saving significant time and money (Figure 2).

location of the ore body(ies). Knowledge of

the mineralogical and textural characteristics
of the rock and ore increases as a resource
moves from an exploration target through to a
known resource and reserve. This includes
expanding on the recovery potential for
certain minerals / elements, and making
predictions on how the ore may behave during
processing.

MINE PLANNING

Figure 2. Theoretical flowsheet development is

possible based on sound process mineralogical
knowledge of an ore, saving time and money.

Tel: +61 3 9023 7481 or e-mail: enquiries@minassist.com.au

Suite 246, 135 Cardigan St, Carlton VIC 3053 Australia
Page | 2

www.minassist.com.au

ABN: 51 118 344 602

A Better Understanding of your Minerals

Typical applications include targeting

therefore ability to be collected

recovery improvements, lowering energy

during flotation for example), and

costs, optimising liberation and characterising

their locking characteristics.

losses to tailings.

Concentrate, to examine dilution,

Process mineralogy most commonly examines

with particular focus on deleterious

composite samples collected from critical

minerals or elements which may

points within the processing circuit in order to

impact further processing, refining or

understand the efficiency of each circuit, and

final product value

identify improvements. Samples are typically

The knowledge gained from undertaking a

split in to a number of size fractions to

well defined and focused process mineralogy

improve statistical representivity and data

study on an operation can have a significant

accuracy, from which data on each population

impact on reducing operational costs,

can be gathered using a range of techniques.

improving recovery and lowering risk.

Common key mineralogical attributes include

Further, establishing a regular and on-going

quantifying target mineralogy, gangue

process mineralogy program on a daily,

mineralogy, deleterious mineral or element

weekly or at least monthly basis will lead to

distribution, grain size and shape, mineral-

much greater long-term benefits through

mineral association, surface coatings, degree

deeper understanding of an ore and an

of liberation (Figure 3) and free surface area.

operation over time. Process mineralogy

studies can also be used to guide, interpret
and optimise bench and pilot projects, and to
audit plant performance with confidence
using mineralogy.

TAILINGS MANAGEMENT
Figure 3. Example of liberation classes for a simulated
particle with ore and gangue.

Sample points may include for example:

-

Responsible mining and processing operations

utilise process mineralogy as one of the
primary tools to ensure that tailings that can

Grinding discharge, to establish the

be disposed of in an environmentally safe

degree of liberation and free surface

manner (Figure 4). This includes examining,

area of target minerals, and the

for example, the elemental distribution of say

association of the target minerals

sulphur and arsenic, as well as the texture of

with other phases

the minerals containing them, in order to

Tailings, to identify and diagnose

quantify whether these are locked or not and

losses. This may include identifying

therefore the likelihood of their being

what size fraction they report to,

released in to the environment.

their degree of free surface area (and

Tel: +61 3 9023 7481 or e-mail: enquiries@minassist.com.au
Suite 246, 135 Cardigan St, Carlton VIC 3053 Australia
Page | 3

www.minassist.com.au

ABN: 51 118 344 602

A Better Understanding of your Minerals

Rule, C., Schouwstra, R. P., 2011. Process

mineralogy delivering significant value at
Anglo Platinum concentrator operations.
Presented at the 10th International Congress
for Applied Mineralogy, 1-5 August 2011,
ICAM, Trondheim, Norway.

ABOUT MINASSIST
MinAssist is a boutique consulting group
specialising in Process Mineralogy, developing
Figure 4. Comprehensive process mineralogy can be
used in tailings management.

programs to assist the minerals industry to

optimize value and reduce technical risks.

METALLURGY

MinAssist brings value to clients in unifying

Hydrometallurgical operations involve

process mineralogy and metallurgy.

leaching materials to provide a leach

concentrate containing the element(s) of
interest and a residue, whilst
pyrometallurgical operations involve smelting

Process Mineralogy Blog:

www.minassist.com.au/blog

of concentrates to produce metals and slags.

Process mineralogy is used to characterise

Free Digital Book Integrating Mineralogy

these concentrates, residues and slags to

into Everyday Solutions:

understand the behaviour and response of the

www.minassist.com.au/site/digitalbook.html

ore and minerals to these processes.

RECCOMENDED READING
Bradshaw, D.J., Triffett, B., Kashuba, D.,
2011. The role of process mineralogy in
identifying the cause of low recovery of
chalcopyrite at KUCC. Presented at the 10th
International Congress for Applied Mineralogy,
1-5 August 2011, ICAM, Trondheim, Norway,
pp. 7380.
Evans, C.L., Wightman, E.M., Manlapig, E.V.,
Coulter, B.L., 2011. Application of process
mineralogy as a tool in sustainable processing.
Miner. Eng.
Lotter, N.O., Kormos, L.J., Oliveira, J.,
Fragomeni, D., Whiteman, E., 2011. Modern
Process Mineralogy: Two case studies. Miner.
Eng. 24, 638650.
Petruk, W., 2000. Applied Mineralogy in the
Mining Industry. Elsevier Science B.V.

Tel: +61 3 9023 7481 or e-mail: enquiries@minassist.com.au

Suite 246, 135 Cardigan St, Carlton VIC 3053 Australia
Page | 4

www.minassist.com.au