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Volume 15
Issue 11
10.3390/min15111152
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Article

Ore Characterization and Its Application to Beneficiation: the Case of Molai Zn-Pb±(Ag,Ge) Epithermal Ore, Laconia, SE Peloponnese, Greece

by
Stavros Savvas Triantafyllidis
1,*,
Stylianos Fotios Tombros
2,
Elias Sammas
1,
Elias Kevrekidis
3,
Konstantinos Kappis
2,4,
Michalis Fitros
5,
Constantinos Mavrogonatos
6,
Konstantinos Papageorgiou
2,
Ekaterini Spiliopoulou
1,
Sotirios Kokkalas
5,
Panagiotis Voudouris
7,
Charalampos Vasilatos
7,
Degao Zhai
8,
Pantelis Nikolakopoulos
9,
Ioannis Koukouvelas
5,
Joan Papavasiliou
10 and
Stavros Kalaitzidis
5
1
School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Iroon Polytechneiou 9, 15773 Zografou, Greece
2
Department of Materials Science, University of Patras, 26504 Rio Patras, Greece
3
Namalab S.A., Laboratory of Geotechnical Engineering, Construction Materials and Quality Control, 11524 Athens, Greece
4
Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Faradayweg 4-6, 14195 Berlin, Germany
5
Department of Geology, University of Patras, 26504 Rio Patras, Greece
6
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Pisa, Via S. Maria 53, 56126 Pisa, Italy
7
Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, University Campus, 15784 Zografou, Greece
8
School of Earth Sciences and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
9
Department of Mechanical and Aeronautics Engineering, University of Patras, 26504 Rio Patras, Greece
10
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, 26504 Rio Patras, Greece
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Minerals 2025, 15(11), 1152; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15111152 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 9 September 2025 / Revised: 24 October 2025 / Accepted: 29 October 2025 / Published: 31 October 2025
Versions Notes

Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive characterization of the low-to-intermediate sulfidation (LS-to-IS) epithermal Molai Zn-Pb±(Ag,Ge) ore (Vigla-Mesovouni orebody) in Laconia, Greece, and provides insights on how such data may be employed in beneficiation flow-sheet design. Detailed mineralogical, chemical, textural, and physicochemical characterization defines a systematic transition from early refractory Ge-rich to late-stage refractory Ag-rich mineralization, including sulfides and fahlores. Germanium, although present in all sphalerite varieties (Sp-I, Sp-II, and Sp-III), is predominantly enriched in early sphalerite (Sp-I, up to 1891.60 ppm). Interestingly, Ge is also enriched in early Py-I pyrite, with content reaching up to 383 ppm. Silver is mainly concentrated in late-stage tetrahedrite Ttr-II (up to 3.60%), galena (Ga-II), and, to a lesser extent, late sphalerite (Sp-III). Liberation studies reveal effective liberation of Py-I and Sp-I, major Ge carriers, in the coarser fractions (+0.150 mm) and near complete liberation of all ore phases below 0.036 mm. Combined beneficiation via Wilfley pre-concentration and differential flotation produced up to ~35% Pb and ~65% Zn at >85% recovery for the smallest fractions (−0.036 mm). Ore characterization revealed that secondary circuits may be developed to further enhance the economic value of Molai ore (Ge from Py-I, and Ag±[Sb,As] from Ttr-II and Ag-bearing sulfosalts), which are dismissed as wastes in Pb and Zn flotation circuits. The results of our study establish a robust foundation for the design of tailored, multi-stage metallurgical flow-sheets aimed at maximizing the economic value of the Molai epithermal resource.
Keywords: Molai Zn-Pb±(Ag,Ge) epithermal deposit; Ge-bearing sphalerite and pyrite; crystallite size; mesoporosity; liberation degree; shaking table pre-concentration; bulk and differential flotation Molai Zn-Pb±(Ag,Ge) epithermal deposit; Ge-bearing sphalerite and pyrite; crystallite size; mesoporosity; liberation degree; shaking table pre-concentration; bulk and differential flotation

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MDPI and ACS Style

Triantafyllidis, S.S.; Tombros, S.F.; Sammas, E.; Kevrekidis, E.; Kappis, K.; Fitros, M.; Mavrogonatos, C.; Papageorgiou, K.; Spiliopoulou, E.; Kokkalas, S.; et al. Ore Characterization and Its Application to Beneficiation: the Case of Molai Zn-Pb±(Ag,Ge) Epithermal Ore, Laconia, SE Peloponnese, Greece. Minerals 2025, 15, 1152. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15111152

AMA Style

Triantafyllidis SS, Tombros SF, Sammas E, Kevrekidis E, Kappis K, Fitros M, Mavrogonatos C, Papageorgiou K, Spiliopoulou E, Kokkalas S, et al. Ore Characterization and Its Application to Beneficiation: the Case of Molai Zn-Pb±(Ag,Ge) Epithermal Ore, Laconia, SE Peloponnese, Greece. Minerals. 2025; 15(11):1152. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15111152

Chicago/Turabian Style

Triantafyllidis, Stavros Savvas, Stylianos Fotios Tombros, Elias Sammas, Elias Kevrekidis, Konstantinos Kappis, Michalis Fitros, Constantinos Mavrogonatos, Konstantinos Papageorgiou, Ekaterini Spiliopoulou, Sotirios Kokkalas, and et al. 2025. "Ore Characterization and Its Application to Beneficiation: the Case of Molai Zn-Pb±(Ag,Ge) Epithermal Ore, Laconia, SE Peloponnese, Greece" Minerals 15, no. 11: 1152. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15111152

APA Style

Triantafyllidis, S. S., Tombros, S. F., Sammas, E., Kevrekidis, E., Kappis, K., Fitros, M., Mavrogonatos, C., Papageorgiou, K., Spiliopoulou, E., Kokkalas, S., Voudouris, P., Vasilatos, C., Zhai, D., Nikolakopoulos, P., Koukouvelas, I., Papavasiliou, J., & Kalaitzidis, S. (2025). Ore Characterization and Its Application to Beneficiation: the Case of Molai Zn-Pb±(Ag,Ge) Epithermal Ore, Laconia, SE Peloponnese, Greece. Minerals, 15(11), 1152. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15111152

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