Chemical and Mineralogical Characterization of a Mixed Sulphide Ore at Zimapan, Hidalgo, Mexico

Chemical and mineralogical characterization of a sulphide ore from the mining district of Zimapan, Hidalgo, Mexico, was performed in order to obtain accurate information on the composition of the ore to optimize the subsequent flotation process. A combination of techniques was used: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The SEM mapping confirmed the presence of the elements: Ca, Si, Fe, K, S, Al, Zn, Mg and Mn. The XRD analysis suggests that the ore matrix is calcite; additional species found were wollastonite, johannsenite, and pyrite, among other impurities. The FTIR analysis performed for the aqua regia insoluble showed the presence of calcium oxide, copper oxide and silicon oxide. The results for the ICP analysis were:13.31% S, 2.55% Fe, 0.46% Zn, 0.03% Cu, 0.06% Pb, 0.07% Mn, 0.09% As, 0.01% Sb and 0.08 grton-1 Ag.