Gipronickel Institute LLC, St. Petersburg, Russia

T. N. Khashkovskaya, Chief Specialist, Geometallurgical Laboratory, e-mail: KhashkovskyayTN@nornik.ru
A. A. Bryanskaya, Senior Researcher, Geometallurgical Laboratory, e-mail: BryanskayaAnA@nornik.ru

Nornickel Technical Services, Talnakh, Russia
Ya. M. Pelipenko, Senior Geologist, e-mail: PelipenkoYaM@nornik.ru

The article presents the results of mineralogical observations in the exploration drill holes in the course of geometallurgcial mapping of the Talnakh ore cluster ores, which is carried out by the Geometallurgical Laboratory under contracts with PJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel`s Nornickel Technical Services. The article considers the influence of minerals of the millerite-vallerite-pyrite ore association on the process parameters during beneficiation experiments according to the current 2 PK-TOF scheme and the design 3 PK-TOF scheme of the Polar Division of PJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel. In particular, the article presents data on the distribution of nickel with millerite in small aggregates with chalcopyrite in copper concentrate, the transition of copper to tailings with vallerite, as well as a decrease in the recovery and content of nickel and copper in the collective concentrate from ores with pyrrhotite-vallerite-pyrite minera lization with nickeliferous pyrite and vallerite. The article briefly describes the beneficiation scheme for vallerite-containing ores at the 3 PK-TOF, and the classification of “cuprous” ores based on the vallerite content in serpentinized host rocks. Information on the form of rare minerals jerfisherite and wyalsovite found in ores is also given. The occurrence of water-soluble nickel sulphates in vein disseminated ores of the Mayak mine is described, presence of which may distort the data on nickel content in ores. Chemical compositions of such minerals as millerite, valleriite, tochilinite, nickel pyrite, jerfisherite, wyalsovite, retgersite, nickel hexahydrite and dwornikite are presented. Mineralogical observations were carried out using optical methods, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray microprobe employing Tescan Vega II LMN electron microscope equipped with an X-Act energy-dispersive detector.

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