Identification of Copper Concentrates Using EDX and XRD

User Benefits

�- EDX enables non-destructive and rapid qualitative analysis of constituent elements with only simple pretreatment. �- The elemental information from EDX can be utilized for XRD to identify minerals with greater accuracy. �- Since XRD can determine the compound form of an element, the accuracy of qualitative-quantitative analysis of EDX can be improved.

Introduction

The copper ore mined from a deposit has a copper content of about 1 %, and is refined to a copper concentrate with a grade of about 20 to 40 % through a process called ore dressing, including crushing and polishing. This copper concentrate is then smelted in a refinery to raise the copper grade to nearly 99 %. Copper ore contains a variety of minerals other than copper- containing minerals. Although EDX can perform qualitative- quantitative analysis of elements, it cannot determine their compound forms or identify minerals. However, by combining the elemental information from EDX and database search based on X-ray diffraction, it is possible to identify minerals in copper ores and their residues after dressing and obtain useful information for the next process. In addition, the compound form information obtained from X-ray diffraction can be utilized for calculating the qualitative-quantitative results of EDX with greater accuracy.

June 29, 2021 GMT