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Advances in Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy of Base and Precious Metals

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A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2025) | Viewed by 19782

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jiajia Wu

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Guest Editor

School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
Interests: mineral processing; leaching; separation technology; gold mining; extraction and processing industry

Dr. Jaeheon Lee

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Guest Editor

Mining Engineering Department, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, USA
Interests: ore characterization and extractive metallurgy of precious and base metals; extraction/recovery of rare earth elements and strategic materials; recovery of metals from aqueous solutions; biomining/biohydrometallurgy; recycling metals from urban resources, tailing the reprocessing and recovery of values

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Utilizing low-grade ore deposits has become increasingly vital in metal production due to the depletion of high-grade reserves. Considering this context, significant advancements have been made in mineral processing and extractive metallurgy methods. These advancements have revolutionized the treatment of low-grade ores, unlocking the vast potential of valuable metal extraction, and addressing the industry's growing need for sustainable resource utilization.

This Special Issue aims to cover the mineral processing and extractive metallurgy advancements of base and precious metals, which include copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, platinum, etc. Relevant topics include but are not limited to the geometallurgy of base and precious metals; the mineral processing of sulfide minerals; the extractive metallurgy of base and precious metals; the surface chemistry of sulfide minerals; heap leaching operation and modeling; leaching behavior and kinetics, etc. Original research papers, technical papers, and critical reviews featuring advancements in base and precious metal recovery are all welcome.

Dr. Jiajia Wu
Dr. Jaeheon Lee
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

geometallurgy
flotation
physical separation
surface chemistry
leaching
modeling and simulation
kinetics

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 2936 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Knowledge-Inference-Based Intelligent Decision Making for Nonferrous Metal Mineral-Processing Flowsheet Design

by Jiawei Yang, Chuanyao Sun, Junwu Zhou, Qingkai Wang, Kanghui Zhang and Tao Song

Minerals 2025, 15(4), 374; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15040374 - 3 Apr 2025

Viewed by 342

Abstract

With the increasing diversification of ore types and the complexity of processing techniques in the mining industry, traditional decision-making methods for mineral processing flowsheets can no longer meet the high efficiency and intelligence requirements. This paper proposes a knowledge graph-based framework for constructing a mineral-processing design knowledge base and knowledge reasoning, aiming at providing intelligent and efficient decision support for mining engineers. This framework integrates Chinese NLP models for text vectorization, optimizes prompt generation through Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) technology, realizes knowledge graph construction, and implements knowledge reasoning for nonferrous metal mineral-processing design using large reasoning models. By analyzing the genetic characteristics of ores and the requirements of processing techniques, the framework outputs reasonable flowsheet designs, which could help engineers save research time and labor in optimizing processes, selecting suitable reagents, and adjusting process parameters. Through decision analysis of the mineral-processing flowsheets for three typical copper mines, the framework demonstrates its advantages in improving process flowsheet design, and shows good potential for further application in complex mineral-processing environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy of Base and Precious Metals)

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17 pages, 8607 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Leaching Behavior of Waste Barrier Material with Sulfuric Acid

by Saiya Li, Yujie Zhao, Junfeng Cheng, Yuting Chen, Weiping Liu and Wei Sun

Minerals 2025, 15(3), 323; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15030323 - 19 Mar 2025

Viewed by 339

Abstract

The comprehensive recycling of aluminum electrolysis cell waste barrier material is urgent. This study focuses on the sulfuric acid leaching of waste barrier material, systematically examining the effects of factors such as reaction temperature, liquid-to-solid ratio, sulfuric acid concentration, and reaction time on the leaching of elements like lithium, aluminum, sodium, and silicon. The experimental results show that under the conditions of 0.9 mol/L sulfuric acid concentration, a liquid-to-solid ratio of 20:1, a reaction temperature of 90 °C, and a reaction time of 1.5 h, the leaching rates were 84.5% for lithium, 85.6% for aluminum, 98.5% for sodium, and 4.8% for silicon. The sulfuric acid leaching process of the waste barrier material follows a shrinking core model and is controlled by internal diffusion. The apparent activation energies for the leaching reactions of lithium, aluminum, and sodium were 4.29 kJ/mol, 8.99 kJ/mol, and 9.11 kJ/mol, respectively. The selective leaching of lithium, sodium, and aluminum from silicon was successfully achieved in the sulfuric acid leaching of the waste barrier material. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy of Base and Precious Metals)

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17 pages, 2611 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mineralogical Insights into PGM Recovery from Middle Group (1–4) Chromite Tailings

by Nomsa Precilla Baloyi, Willie Nheta, Vusumuzi Sibanda and Mehdi Safari

Minerals 2024, 14(9), 924; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14090924 - 10 Sep 2024

Viewed by 1855

Abstract

Variations in the recovery of platinum group metals (PGMs) are often attributed to mineralogical and other natural ore-type variations. To increase the recovery of PGMs by the flotation process, a comprehensive understanding of gangue and valuable minerals is essential for optimising the extraction and processing of metals. Recoveries may be improved if the questions of how, where, and why losses occur can be answered with a certain degree of confidence. A requirement is the availability of statistically reliable mineralogical data. The PGMs of MG-1–4 chromite tailings dumps of the western limb of the Bushveld complex (BC) were studied in detail to unravel the PGMs and the nature of the platinum group minerals in the sample. Characterisation of the chromite tailings via deportment analysis revealed that the sample contained a significant amount of 3E PGM + Au (Pt, Pd, Ru, and Au) and was concentrated in the -25 µm fraction. The results of automated mineralogical analysis showed that the sample was composed of the PGE-sulphides group, comprising 63.6 vol%, PGE-sulfarsenides 10.4 vol%, PGE-arsenides 1.3 vol%, PGE-bismuth tellurides 3.3 vol%, PGMs-alloy 4.1 vol%, and Laurite comprising 17.3 vol% of the total PGE population. The sample was composed of 66.5 vol% of liberated PGMs, 0.2 vol% attached to liberated BMS, 27.3 vol% of PGMs attached to or locked within silicate or oxide gangue composite particles, 0.2 vol% of PGMs associated with BMS attached to silicate or oxide gangue particles, and a low proportion (5.8 vol%) of PGMs reported being locked within gangue or oxide particles. The majority of PGM grains observed were reported in the fast-floating category (64.4 vol%), 27.6 vol% in the slow-floating 1 category, 2.2 vol% in the slow-floating 2 category, and 5.8 vol% to the non-floating category. The results of the study revealed that the PGMs of MG 1–4 chromite tailings were liberated; however, the low liberation index (<0.2) suggested that a significant portion of PGMs remained trapped within gangue, hindering their recovery. This highlights the need for effective comminution (crushing and grinding) to achieve better liberation. The sample contained fine particles that were more prone to being lost in the tailings and to lowering recovery due to the slimes coating valuable minerals. The recovery of the PGMs from this complex’s polymetallic bodies of low-grade and complex mineralogy will be insufficient with traditional methods and thus innovation is needed. Innovation like advanced comminution, novel flotation equipment or reagents, selective leaching and bioprocessing can overcome these challenges. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy of Base and Precious Metals)

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21 pages, 3649 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Comparing the Performance of Hydrocyclones and High-Frequency Screens in an Industrial Grinding Circuit: Part I—Size Separation Assessments

by Bruna Silveira Costa, Maurício Guimarães Bergerman and Homero Delboni Júnior

Minerals 2024, 14(7), 707; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14070707 - 12 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1275

Abstract

Industrial ball milling circuits usually include hydrocyclones in a closed configuration to achieve a specified grinding size. Although hydrocyclones are relatively simple to operate, their classification performance is generally low, leading to significant fines recirculation within the circuit, consequently overgrinding the product. Conversely, high-frequency screening potentially shows a relatively higher separation efficiency, as the entrainment of fines to the coarse product is significantly reduced. The present work compares the performance of hydrocyclones—HC and high-frequency screens—HFS based on four surveys conducted in Nexa’s Vazante Zinc ore industrial grinding circuit in Vazante, Brazil, which processes zinc silicate ore. The comparisons included the partition of solids, water split, and particle size distributions. Whiten’s partition curve model was adopted to obtain the selected performance parameters through mass balancing the experimental data. The industrial surveys comprised three different size separation configurations, i.e., HC-Only, HFS-Only, and a combined HC-HFS setup. In all cases, the assessments consistently indicated higher separation performances with HFS compared to the HC operation. The final product associated with the HC+HFS configuration showed a narrower size distribution around the grinding size. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy of Base and Precious Metals)

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14 pages, 5194 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Pretreatment on a Copper Concentrate with High Arsenic Content

by Víctor Quezada, Geraldine Villagrán, Daniel Calisaya-Azpilcueta and Natalia Marín

Minerals 2024, 14(4), 419; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14040419 - 18 Apr 2024

Viewed by 1714

Abstract

Chilean mining faces challenges associated with the depletion of oxidized copper ore and the environmental complexity of treating concentrates with high arsenic content. Given this, hydrometallurgy emerges as an alternative for the treatment of these concentrates. This research analyzes the interaction of sulfuric acid (0, 70, 140, and 210 kg/t), sodium chloride (0, 25, 50, and 100 kg/t), curing time (1, 5, 10, and 15 days), and temperature (25, 35, 50, and 75 °C) in the pretreatment of a copper concentrate with 35.57% total copper and 5.91% arsenic (enargite, 35.93%). In the pretreatment, a maximum copper extraction of 26.71% is achieved using 210 kg/t sulfuric acid at 50 °C over 15 days of curing. The experimental results are analyzed through an empirical model, where the interaction between sulfuric acid and curing time is identified as beneficial when the sulfuric acid addition is above 70 kg/t, leading to higher moisture content in the sample. In the absence of sulfuric acid, sodium chloride significantly influences the achievement of higher copper extractions. During curing at higher temperatures, the importance of maintaining a moisture level is emphasized to prevent solution evaporation and hinder diffusion through the particles, thereby ensuring reactivity in the sample. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy of Base and Precious Metals)

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22 pages, 6503 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on Synergistic Strengthening of Gold Extraction with Copper Ethylenediamine Thiosulfate Using Pyrite and Nickel Ions

by Xuecong Qin, Tao Zhang, Futing Zi, Hongbo Zhang and Guoping Li

Minerals 2024, 14(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14010002 - 19 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1689

Abstract

Gold leaching using the copper–ethylenediamine–thiosulfate (Cu²⁺-en-S₂O₃²⁻) system, which contains copper–ethylenediamine complexes, instead of the use of copper–ammonia catalysis, is environmentally friendly and cost-effective. In this study, pyrite and Ni²⁺ were added to the Cu²⁺-en-S₂O₃²⁻ system to clarify their individual and combined influence on gold leaching. The result obtained showed that when pyrite and Ni²⁺ were separately added to the system, the dissolution of gold was significantly inhibited. However, the disappearance of the negative impacts of these two substances when they were simultaneously added to the system revealed that they exhibited a synergistic effect on gold dissolution. Notably, Ni²⁺ weakened the promotional effect of pyrite on the formation of a Cu-containing passivation layer on the gold surface. Furthermore, the separate addition of Ni²⁺ and pyrite increased the corrosion potential of gold; thus, gold dissolution was inhibited. However, when added together, they brought about a decrease in the corrosion potential of gold, while increasing its dissolution rate. These findings provide a reference for the efficient extraction of pyrite-associated gold, which can be applied to improve the green extraction process of gold. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy of Base and Precious Metals)

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17 pages, 4124 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Magnetic and Mineralogical Properties of Slag Particles from WEEE Processing

by Asim Siddique, Peter Boelens, Fangchao Long, Shengqiang Zhou, Veerle Cnudde and Thomas Leißner

Minerals 2023, 13(11), 1417; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13111417 - 7 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1968

Abstract

Magnetic separation has wide-ranging applications in both mineral processing and recycling industries. Nevertheless, its conventional utilization often overlooks the interplay between mineral and particle characteristics and their impact on operational conditions, ultimately influencing the efficacy of the separation process. This work describes a methodology able to achieve the comprehensive characterization and classification of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) slag. The primary objective is to establish a meaningful connection between the distinct properties of slag phases and their influence on the separation process. Our methodology consists of several stages. Firstly, the WEEE slag is sieved into distinct size classes, followed by classification into magnetic susceptibility classes by using the Frantz Isodynamic separator. To quantify the magnetic susceptibility of each class, we used a magnetic susceptibility balance, and to identify paramagnetic and ferromagnetic fractions and phases within these magnetic susceptibility classes, we conducted vibrating-sample magnetometer measurements. Finally, to establish a meaningful link between the magnetic characterization, mineralogical, and particle-level details, Mineral Liberation Analysis was conducted for each magnetic susceptibility class. This in-depth analysis, encompassing both particle properties and magnetic susceptibility classes, provides a better understanding of the separation behavior of different phases and can help to enrich phases with a specific range of magnetic susceptibility values. This knowledge advances progress towards the development of predictive separation models that are capable of bridging the gap between theoretical understanding and practical application in the field of magnetic separation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy of Base and Precious Metals)

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11 pages, 4476 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Leaching Kinetics of Weathered Crust Elution-Deposited Rare Earth Ores by Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose

by Huifang Yang, Aoyang Sha, Zhengyan He, Chenjie Wu, Yuanlai Xu, Jingjing Hu, Zhigao Xu and Ruan Chi

Minerals 2023, 13(9), 1156; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13091156 - 31 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1314

Abstract

In the process of the in situ leaching of weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ores (WCE-DREOs), there are many problems in the conventional leaching agent, such as a slow leaching rate, low leaching yield and long leaching period. In order to solve the above problems, 2.0 wt% ammonium sulfate was mixed with hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). The effects of the HPMC concentration, temperature, pH and flow rate on the leaching kinetics of rare earth (RE) and aluminum (Al) were investigated. The results showed that when the concentration of HPMC was 0.05 wt%, the leaching equilibrium time of RE and Al was about 60% shorter than that of single ammonium sulfate. With an increase in the leaching temperature, the leaching equilibrium time of RE and Al decreased, and the apparent activation energy of RE and Al was 23.13 kJ/mol and 17.31 kJ/mol, respectively. The leaching process was in line with the internal diffusion kinetic control model. When the pH of the leaching agent was 4.02~8.01, the leaching yield of RE and Al was basically the same, but the leaching yield of Al was greatly increased at pH 2.0 due to a large amount of adsorbed hydroxy-Al in the RE ore eluded. The leaching yield reached the maximum when the flow rate was 0.7 mL/min. The leaching time and the leaching cost of RE can be saved by the composite leaching agent. The results provide theoretical guidance for the development and industrial application of the new composite leaching agent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy of Base and Precious Metals)

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Review

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22 pages, 2671 KiB

Open AccessReview

Pretreatment and Extraction of Gold from Refractory Gold Ore in Acidic Conditions

by Sheng Wang, Jiajia Wu and Fen Jiao

Minerals 2025, 15(4), 340; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15040340 - 25 Mar 2025

Viewed by 1060

Abstract

As high-grade gold deposits are progressively depleted, the proportion of refractory gold ores in total reserves is continuously increasing, making gold recovery from refractory ores an inevitable trend in the future development of the gold industry. This study briefly analyzes the challenges faced during the leaching process of refractory gold ores under ambient conditions, and provides a detailed discussion on two acidic pretreatment technologies—pressure oxidation and bio-oxidation—as well as three acidic gold recovery technologies—thiosulfate leaching process, halogen leaching process, and thiocyanate leaching process. Additionally, this paper compares and analyzes the advantages and limitations of these acidic pretreatment and hydrometallurgical gold recovery technologies. The goal is to provide a comprehensive review of pretreatment technologies and leaching agents for refractory gold ores under acidic conditions (pH = 1–5), offering a reference for selecting appropriate treatment processes in the future, and to explore the potential development of acidic pretreatment and recovery technologies for refractory gold ores. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy of Base and Precious Metals)

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28 pages, 4087 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceReview

Advanced Processing Techniques and Impurity Management for High-Purity Quartz in Diverse Industrial Applications

by Hailin Long, Deqing Zhu, Jian Pan, Siwei Li, Congcong Yang and Zhengqi Guo

Minerals 2024, 14(6), 571; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14060571 - 30 May 2024

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 6604

Abstract

While numerous studies have explored the mineralogical characteristics and purification techniques of high-purity quartz (HPQ), discussions on impurity control during various purification processes and their applications in photovoltaics, electronics, and optics remain limited. This review delves into the adverse effects of impurities such as aluminum, iron, and sodium in the manufacturing processes of these industries, emphasizing their critical role as these impurities can degrade material performance. This paper focuses on analyzing the types of impurities found in quartz and evaluates existing purification technologies such as acid washing, ultrasonic acid washing, chlorination roasting, and calcination quenching. It highlights the limitations of current technologies in processing quartz ore and discusses the advantages of different impurity types under various technological treatments. Moreover, it explores the environmental and economic impacts of these high-purity processes, underlining the necessity for more environmentally friendly and cost-effective purification techniques. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive technical and strategic framework for the use of high-purity quartz in high-tech applications, supporting future research and industrial applications in this critical material field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy of Base and Precious Metals)

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