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2019 Vol.56, Issue 5 Preview Page

Review

Role of Process Mineralogy in Processes to Recover Metals from Mineral Resources

광물자원으로부터 금속을 회수하는 공정에서 공정광물학의 역할

Sujeong Lee1*
이 수정1*
1한국지질자원연구원 광물자원연구본부/UST 자원순환공학전공
* Corresponding Author
31 October 2019. pp. 548-560
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Abstract

Process mineralogy is an interdisciplinary approach which focuses on applying mineralogical knowledge to all stages of mineral resource utilization. The main topics of interest in process mineralogy include the exact identification of ore and gangue minerals, and the evaluation of valuable and deleterious elements for optimizing plant operation. Advanced analytical equipments and techniques have increased the importance of process mineralogy as a practical in mineral resource exploration, plant troubleshooting and tailings management. Sulfide and silicate minerals are the most important classes of minerals in process mineralogy because most sulfide minerals are ores and many silicate minerals are major gangues. Meanwhile, SEM-based automated mineralogy has extended the scope of quantitative mineralogical data. The use of mineral liberation quantitative data and mineral association based on mineral mass as well as chemical elements enable the establishment of strategies to improve the overall efficiency in the production chain of minerals and metals.

Keywords
Process mineralogy
Process optimization
Mineral liberation
Mineral association
MLA

공정광물학은 광물학적 지식을 광물자원을 활용하는 모든 단계에서 활용하는 다학제적 성격을 갖고 있다. 공정광물학의 주요 관심사는 광석과 맥석 광물, 유용 금속 및 유해 불순물 원소를 정확하게 평가하여 공정을 최적화하는 것이다. 진보된 분석 장비와 분석법 덕분에 공정광물학은 공정에서 발생하는 문제를 진단하는 수단이 될 뿐만 아니라 자원의 탐사부터 광물찌꺼기의 처분 분야에까지 더욱 중요해졌다. 공정광물학에서 가장 중요한 광물군은 황화광물과 규산염광물이다. 황화광물의 대부분은 광석광물이고 규산염광물은 주요 맥석광물이기 때문이다. 한편 SEM 기반의 자동화된 광물분석법은 광물의 정량분석 데이터의 범위를 혁신적으로 확대시켰다. 특히 광물 입자 수준에서의 단체분리도와 광물 수반정보를 평가함으로서 선광 공정의 효율성을 진단하고 개선하기 위한 전략 수립에도 유용하게 활용되고 있다.

키워드
공정광물학
공정의 최적화
단체분리도
광물 수반
광물단체분리도 분석기
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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국자원공학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국자원공학회지
  • Volume : 56
  • No :5
  • Pages :548-560
  • Received Date : 2019-07-26
  • Revised Date : 2019-10-16
  • Accepted Date : 2019-10-25
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.32390/ksmer.2019.56.5.548
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