Institute of Mining, Geology and Geotechnology, Siberian Federal University, Krasnoyarsk, Russia:

V. A. Makarov, Director, Doctor of Geological-Mineralogical Sciences
V. G. Mikheev, Candidate of Geological-Mineralogical Sciences
P. N. Samorodskiy, Associate Professors, Candidate of Geological-Mineralogical Sciences

Slag dumps are peculiar man-made objects attractive from the viewpoint of sometimes high content of ferrous and noble metals. Examination of slag dumps at Norilsk Nickel plant discovered various copper–nickel and noble–rare metal mineral substances. The slag dumps are of nonuniform structure and mineralization; zonal distribution of slag is well-defined owing to different rates of cooling and freezing. Slag composition shows dominance of dense low-porous varieties composed of darkbrown glass as a rule. Porous fragments of slag are subordinate. The third textural variety in the slag composition is nodular and kidney-shaped particles. The diversity and size of ore minerals is directly related with distribution of pores in slag and with slag divitrification. Amount of ore minerals in slag is variant; mostly ore mineral content is 3–5% over area of polished section, seldom it is 8–10% and above. It is found that composition of slag contains round 30 minerals. The basic silicate slag-for ming phases are sulfur-rich matrix glass, fayalite, nickel-rich olivine, anorthite and enstatite. Predominant ore minerals are chalcopyrrhotine, pyrrhotine, magnetite, chalcopyrite, heazlewoodite, chalcocite, pentlandite, bornite, liver ore, ilmenite, native copper, awaruite, ferrite, trevorite, marcasite, valleriite; there are single shots of argentite, native silver and tin, platinum and palladium metals. Ore minerals form as a rule fine, small, uniform and nonuniform dissemination, seldom there are spots up to 3–4 cm in size. There are single instances of massive ore matte of grey or yellowish-grey color. Total content of platinum group elements and gold ranges from 1 to 2.2 g/t in different slag dumps, and is highly variable in separate slag dumps. Platinum group elements form intrinsic minerals of small size (first micrometers) enclosed mainly in metal and sulfide phases. Also high content of Pd and Pt is discovered in sulfides without mineral forms. Silicates and glass contain no platinoids. On the whole, mineral associations generated in melted slag under freezing at Norilsk Nickel plant is si milar to natural mineral associations, with some peculiarities (primarily, higher content of nickel in some phases). The obtained information is relevant in auditing of slag dumps with a view to subject them to re-processing and in analyzing natural mineralization processes. The significant (up to direct) correlation of slag contents of ferrous and noble metals allows using pretreatment and beneficiation circuits based on X-ray radiometric separation. The concentrate can be treated by flotation.

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