Solving Metallurgical Problem

A metallurgical problem can appear during the initial steps of the project or during the operation of plant. No matter the case, the solution some times is not easy and the solution must be founded with perseverance. 

The first step to solve a metallurgical problem involves the mineral and rock identification and classification, study the mineral occurrence and the characteristics upon which the treatment depend. The microscope may save much time and money in qualitative determinations which frequently will demonstrate the uselessness of more elaborate quantitative investigations. Mineragraphy can help to solve problems because she can tell us more details of the minerals presents in the ore. Of greater importance is the knowledge given by the polished section as to particle size and method of occurrence of the valuable minerals. The first fact can be established with coarse grained ores by a sizing sorting assay test, for such ores, the second fact is of minor importance, but with finely disseminated and complex ores the polished section quickly gives essential information obtainable in no other route.

Determination of grain size fixes the size to which the ore must be crushed to free the valuable mineral; upon this and the kind of mineral and gangue the chief elements of a problem can be found. The appearance of the edges sulphides minerals grains and of crack traversing them will tell whether any alteration likely to affect flotation has occurred. Inclusions of worthless or deleterious substances that would lower the grade of the concentrate, as silicates between the laminas of graphite grains, sphalerite and galena and the like, are immediately apparent in a polished section.

The solution is not simple and sometimes the most unexpected suggestions can give a preliminary idea of the solution. But, the most important tool is the knowledge and practical experience obtained because they can tell where and what is necessary to find the solution. If there is a recovery problem during a cyanidation process will be required to review step by step. For example the fineness to which the ore was ground, alkali employed, pulp density, strength of cyanide, residence time in leaching tanks, activated carbon dosage, and perhaps the most important, find out if the ore changed in mineralogical composition. The latter one can indicate presence of refractory ore or perhaps the unexpected presence of any oxide copper ore. Analyze all the factors take time, but the reward is satisfactory.

There are other types of problems originated by the personnel involved in the operation. It means that the decisions taken by any superintendent, supervisor or operator are not seen as a source of the problem because no one wants to assume the responsibility. Usually, when the operations are developed routinely the solutions to the problems don’t appear due to the lack of knowledge and face embarrassed situations are avoided. That’s common when some people are used to follow recipes and treatments strictly and don’t recognize that operative parameters must be changed making use metallurgical base.

The information obtained demonstrates that the metallurgical performance of the plant is variable and when there are problems, only few people can has the appropriate level of knowledge and experience to solve a particular metallurgical problem.