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By Bodnaras G. E, Sceresini P. A

The Filblast Cyanidation Process incorporates the advantages of intense high shear mixing, high dissolved oxygen concentration and high pressure to achieve extremely rapid gold dissolution rates. This is made possible by the unique design of the Filblast gas shear reactor. The reactor is a rugged and compact in-line device. The outer casing is protected by a polyurethane coating and the internal parts are of wear resistant polymer. The largest unit built to-date has overall dimensions of 1200 mm length by 300 mm diameter and has a capacity of 150 dry tonnes per hour at 40 - 45 per cent solids. Service life at this throughput is at least three months. The process may further be applied to high temperature leaching of refractory gold ores or other metals. Wear resistant metal or ceramic materials would be employed for this duty. Four mines are currently employing the Filblast Process for treating a variety of ore types ranging from highly reactive, almost impossible to treat, pyrrhotite/arsenopyrite to deeply weathered clay ore which forms a highly viscous pulp. The effect of shear thinning has resulted in improved adsorption kinetics resulting in higher carbon loading and reduced soluble gold loss. Total tonnage treated is approximately four million. Operating costs which include leasing and maintenance charges for the Filblast and pump power costs are about 16 cents per tonne. This is equivalent to about ten per cent of savings. Laboratory scale units having capacities up to 30 litres/min are available for test work but laboratory testing techniques so far developed do not accurately reflect the oxygen and cyanide savings which have been achieved in the plant.

Jan 1, 1994

By J Shillabeer

Paste backfill has been adopted by many underground mines in North America and a growing number elsewhere. Paste offers a number of advantages. This paper suggests wider applications of paste technology to surface tailings disposal and water management. Advantages include improved overall stability, potentially easier permitting, smaller water inventory and earlier reclamation. It may be feasible to use the same plant to prepare backfill and to dispose of surplus tailings. Example cost models are given to illustrate potential applications.

Jan 1, 1998

By S H. Sie, R Seetharam, K Naito, T Takagi

Tin-polymetallic vein type deposits are one of the major source of metal producers in the Circum Pacific Belt. This type of deposit is of great importance for the modem electronics and medical industries because of their high content of rare metals (especially indium and bismuth). We have studied two representatives, Tosham of India (Cu-In-Bi-Sn-W-Ag-Au), and Mount Pleasant of Canada (Zn-Cu-In-Bi-Sn-W), using proton and electron microprobes in order to delineate the distribution of medicallhigh-tech rare metals. The electron microprobe study showed that major indium carrier in such type of deposit are roquesite (CulnS2), sphalerite, stannite and a Cu-Zn-Fe-In-Sn-S mineral; and that indium is incorporated in sulfides by coupled substitution like Cu + In = 2(Zn + Fe). The proton microprobe showed that indium at trace levels is also present in chalcopyrite and pyrite. In addition, zinc, copper, arsenic, antimony, selenium, tin, and bismuth are common in chalcopyrite and pyrite. Arsenopyrite contains nickel, copper, zinc, silver, tin, antimony and bismuth. In chalcopyrite and pyrite, zinc, arsenic, indium, bismuth and lead are higher in Mount Pleasant ore, but silver is higher at Tosham. Also thallium and gold were found only in Tosham pyrite. The Tosham deposit is genetically related to S-type magma, while the Mount Pleasant deposit is related to A-type granite. Tosham ore contains zinc-bearing biotites that coexist with chalcopyrite in ore bodies but Mount Pleasant ore lacks such biotite. We propose that the difference in elemental abundance between the two deposits are caused by the different character of source magma and different mineral associations of the ore body.

Jan 1, 1995

By G M. Evans, C M. Phan

This paper presents an analysis on the dynamic adsorption of frothers and collectors onto air bubbles in flotation. The analysis was carried out using the theory on the surfactant transfer by diffusion and adsorption. The bubble size was considered when solving the diffusion equation for the dynamic surface excess. The adsorption kinetics was modelled employing the Langmuir adsorption isotherm and its extension with the inclusion of the lateral interaction of the adsorbed molecules (the Frumkin adsorption isotherm). The numerical computation was applied to solve the governing equations. The dynamic adsorption of the surfactants was measured in terms of the dynamic surface tension for sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) and Dowfroth 250, using pendant bubble tensiometry. The results show that for air bubbles with diameter of the order of 1 mm, the bubble size effect on the dynamic surface tension is small and the solution of the diffusion equation for a planar gas-liquid surface can be used to describe the dynamic adsorption onto the air bubbles. The experimental data obtained with SDBS were well described by the Frumkin adsorption isotherm and the molecular diffusion. The model description for the experimental data obtained with Dowfroth 250 required the kinetic equations. The paper is relevant for further analysis of the role of the adsorbed surfactants in the particle collection.

Jan 1, 2005

By W Stange, N Hanson

An important aspect of the project evaluation process is the achievement of a clear and quantitative understanding of the primary drivers influencing project value and risk. A business scenario-based approach is required to ensure that the project meets value and risk hurdles over the short, medium and longer term. Adopting an optimising approach can aid significantly in the development of a project concept into a business that is optimal and sustainable in the longer term. Through the application of case studies, based on work performed with various mining organisations during the last five years, this paper will demonstrate how project value and robustness can be optimised. Experience has demonstrated that applying this approach results in significant value improvements and risk reduction û primarily by application of a rigorous, fact-based analysis and optimisation process that rapidly increases management team understanding and insight of key driver of value and risk.

Jan 1, 2007

Morning Star Gold aims to enter the ranks of Australia's gold producers, revitalising the Eastern Victorian Goldfi elds in the second half of 2010 - the fi rst gold production in around 50 years from the Morning Star Gold mine, which was once Australia's largest under WMC. This presentation will outline the redevelopment of the Morning Star Gold Mine from exploration to production. Morning Star Gold NL's (MCO) key project area is centred at the historic mining town of Woods Point and nearby Matlock (to the southeast) and Gaffney's Creek (to the northwest), all of which are located in the lower part of the Victorian Alps roughly 60 kms south of Mansfield. Morning Star has literally numerous historic mines and gold bearing 'dykes' on its tenements, many with a rich production history of high-grade gold from quartz reefs and alluvial sources. The area encompassing the Woods Point goldfi eld and the multiple high-grade gold bearing dyke structures located north towards Jamieson and south towards Walhalla formed one of the most significant mining fields in Australian history. Historical gold production was at least 155 t or around six million ounces of over a century of mining with an average production grade exceeding 27 g per tonne. The bulk of this recorded production came from just a handful of mines and of those only three were mined to any great depth. One of the key historical production hubs in this area was the famous 'Morning Star' mine, which is situated adjacent to Woods Point township. The Morning Star mine produced almost one million ounces at 27 grams per tonne, operating fairly continuously between 1861 and 1959 with a break after Jan 1939 due to the devastating 'Black Friday' bush fi res across eastern Victoria. During the early 1940s, the Morning Star was Australia's biggest gold mine. The Morning Star mine along with Walhalla ensured that this goldfield was third behind Bendigo and Ballarat as Victoria's biggest hardrock gold production centre. Morning Star Gold has rebuilt its 100 per cent owned 'Morning Star' mine with a view to producing gold in the second half of 2010. Morning Star is exploring its regional dykes in order to estimate an overall gold endowment and rank local production sources to feed its proposed mill at the Morning Star mine site. Key initial targets (all within 11 kms of the Morning Star mine) are the Waverly, All Nations, Rose of Denmark, Hunts, Wallaby and Loch Fyne dykes, all of which historically produced high grade gold, much of it gained from only shallow workings above the water table in the weathered zone of rocks. Historically the Morning Star mine was developed over 24 levels to a depth of 940 m via one large vertical shaft and a smaller, deeper inclined shaft at the 1900 feet level underground. At present MCO has dewatered and completely refurbished all infrastructure to the ten level (~310 m below surface). MCO knows there are a number of substantially under-explored and undeveloped or partially developed but not stoped areas within the Morning Star mine. As a result, MCO has been carrying out extensive channel sampling and an underground diamond drilling program targeting areas of the mine that were largely unexplored and undeveloped by the last operators of the mine - Western Mining Corp Ltd (Gold Mines of Australia). Four thousand, fi ve hundred pages of archival WMC records have helped the cause significantly. The shaft refurbishment and reconstruction stage is complete. This has been a program that originally commenced back in 1993 and has cost around $22 M. This refurbishment paved the way for the extensive underground resource focused diamond drilling program, which MCO completed in 2008 with two company-owned and operated drill rigs from drill cuddies on level 9 (900 feet underground) of the mine. This drilling, which encountered some stunning grades intersections and multiple visible gold hits, has outlined further production opportunities including 0.4 m @ 1392 g/t Au (MS 410). Metallurgical testing conducted by Gekko Systems of samples obtained from the exploration program found gravity concentration and a leach circuit gave recoveries of ~95 per cent to 99 per cent, or ~92 per cent from gravity alone at a coarse crush (300 ¦m). Currently, the plan is to use gravity to fi rstly produce dore bars on-site from the free milling gold and secondly a saleable concentrate for CIL processing off-site. A purpose built 10 t/h (~80 000 t/a) gravity treatment plant was subsequently ordered from Gekko and is expected to be installed onsite and commissioned in the Q3 2010. The plant features fi ne crushing with a vertical shaft impactor, followed by gold concentration by inline pressure jig, inline spinner and Wilfley table. This is an ABSTRACT ONLY. No paper was prepared for this presentation.

Aug 1, 2010

By B Wu, B W. Lei, B J. Duan

When a coalmine fire occurs, it is crucial to judge the developing trends inside the fire area by analysing the changes of gas concentration in order to formulate the proper rescue measures. At present, few researchers have focused on the relationship between the changing trend of gas product and basic characteristics of fire in the coal fire extinguishing process. To study the relationship of basic characteristics of coalmine fire during the extinguishing process, an experimental platform for coal combustion in a confined space was built, and gas production, flame image and coal temperature during the extinguishing process were monitored and analysed by an online continuous gas analysis instrument, camera and thermocouple. Research shows that during the burning phase of the coal sample in the confined space, the flame zone decreases gradually due to insufficient gas supply. The size of the flame zone fluctuates and shares a positive correlation with CO concentration, while sharing a negative correlation with O2 and CO2 concentrations. Then, in the extinguishing phase, the increasing rate of CO2 concentration and the decreasing rate of O2 concentration both decrease gradually, but CO concentration would rise for a period before it eventually decreases. Coal temperature continues to rise in the open flame stage and does not go down until the flame is extinguished.CITATION:Lei, B W, Wu, B and Duan, B J, 2015. Experimental study on extinguishing characteristics of coal fire in confined space, in Proceedings The Australian Mine Ventilation Conference, pp 279–284 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 31, 2015

By B Firth, G OÆBrien, B Jenkins

In coal flotation, particles of different components of the coal such as maceral groups and mineral matter and their associations have different hydrophobicities and therefore different flotation responses. By using a new coal grain analysis method for characterising individual grains, more detailed flotation performance analysis and modelling approaches have been developed. The method involves the use of microscopic imaging techniques to obtain estimates of size, compositional and density information on individual grains of fine coal. The density and composition partitioning of coal processed through different flotation systems provides an avenue to pinpoint the actual cause of poor process performance so that corrective action may be initiated. The information on grain size, density and composition is being used as input data to develop more detailed flotation process models to provide better predictions of process performance for both mechanical and column flotation devices. A number of approaches may be taken to flotation modelling such as the probability approach and the kinetic model approach or a combination of the two. In the work reported here, a simple probability approach has been taken, which will be further refined in due course. The use of grain data to map the responses of different types of coal grains through various fine coal cleaning processes provided a more advanced diagnostic capability for fine coal cleaning circuits. This enabled flotation performance curves analogous to partition curves for density separators to be produced for flotation devices.

Jan 1, 2005

By D E. G Connelly, K Y. Wong

Gold at the Harbour Lights Mine (HLM), WA occurs principally in pyrite (Py) and arsenopyrite (AsPy) minerals rendering it inaccessible to direct cyanidation. Froth flotation produces a concentrate with low mass recovery and with high recoveries of sulfides. After investigating several alternatives, a novel flotation process has been developed to separate the concentrate into pyrite and arsenopyrite rich fractions. The pyrite fraction is finely ground and cyanide leached, while the arsenopyrite is treated off-site. This paper describes the separation process from laboratory bench scale through to commercial operation at the HLM gold plant.

Jan 1, 2005

Longhole open stoping was introduced in the zinc-rich 'B' lode at New Broken Hill Consolidated Limited (NBHC) during 1968. Since then one longitud- inal and a series of transverse longhole open stopes have been developed. The longholes are drilled using Gardner Denver airtrac drilling jumbos and the broken ore is loaded from drawpoints and transported to chutes using Wagner ST5 scoop- trams. The holes were drilled from sill stopes 160 ft apart. The width of an emptied transverse longhole stope was successfully widened by blasting rings of blastholes drilled parallel to the stope wall. Proposed stope and pillar designs for a series of transverse longhole open stopes were assessed using a method of finite element analysis, applied to a longitudinal section through the area. Blastholes have been surveyed for dip and bearing using an Eastman borehole survey camera. The data produced has provided the basis of a study of blast- hole deviation. Deviation of boreholes is considered to be the major cause of the formation of benches in longhole stopes.

Jan 1, 1971

Following a decline in direct and indirect employment in the minerals industry between 2000 and 2003, the situation reversed in 2004 and employment rose by 12 per cent. Furthermore, there are forecasts of continuing employment growth in the minerals industry in the immediate future. For those of us charged with promoting the virtues of a career in the minerals industry this is encouraging news, as it provides us with the evidence to promote the increasing employment opportunities of a healthy and vibrant industry. However, for many others û particularly the employers in this industry û the news is not so rosy. The jobs are there, and in increasing numbers, but the workers arenÆt! Employers right across the industry are finding it increasingly difficult to fill vacancies with suitably qualified and skilled employees and the competition is becoming fiercer. In the minerals and energy sector, questions are being asked and solutions sought on the industryÆs ability to attract and retain a skilled workforce. From many quarters û industry, government and the education sector, calls for urgent action are becoming louder. The reasons for this are well known û the nature of the work, the remote location, perceptions of the industry, an aging workforce, the gender imbalance, the shrinking demographic of school leavers. It is the latter I wish to focus on û the Generation Y demographic û those who have recently left school, those who are in higher education or have recently entered the workforce, or those who are still at secondary school. These young people are the next cohort of potential employees for the industry. But our need for them appears to be greater that their perceived need for us! How do we engage them so they are informed about the industry? How do we inform and advise them so they are prepared to consider further education and training in disciplines and skill areas relating to our industry? How do we guide and motivate them to give it their best shot and work in it û at least for part of their working life? These are fundamental questions that many within the industry have been grappling with for quite some time. Let me share with you some of the strategies that the Minerals Council is implementing to address this issue.

Jan 1, 2005

By Lawson F

The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy is a society of engineers and scientists formed in 1893 (incorporated by Royal Charter in 1955) to advance science and engineering in the mineral industries, and to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas to enhance the professional excellence of its members. The Institute has several grades of members. The professional members are linked with Student and Company Members, as well as an Affiliate grade covering other professionals and non-professionals with experience in the mineral industry. The diverse group covers all sections of the mineral industry, from exploration through production to marketing of minerals and petroleum. Corporate (professional) membership also covers science and engineering professionals from specialisms other than the "traditional" ones in geosciences, mining and petroleum engineering and metallurgy. The Institute has Branches throughout Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Oceania, whose activities complement the corporate occasions arranged for the benefit of all members by Headquarters in Melbourne. Members are drawn from all sections of the industry - private enterprise, government, research, education, and the support sector, including consultancies, manufacturers and suppliers. Membership of The Institute allows professionals to contribute to their profession through participation in The Institute's seminars and conferences, its many committees and Branch meetings, and through contribution to its many high standard publications. The Institute is the main body for the accreditation of professionals in the minerals industry. The activities of The Institute are directed towards the achievement of professional excellence. It provides opportunitites for contact with, and professional support from, colleagues, and the interchange of information on the latest industry developments.

Jan 1, 1989

By Sheer T. J, Van Rensburg J P

The primary objective of this research was to address the demands imposed on self- contained self-rescuer (SCSR) performance dur- ing simulated escapes. The results clearly indicate that SCSR performance, apart from the inherent technological features, is a function primarily of the physical and anthro- pometric features of the wearer, and of the particular nature of the escape route. These factors consequently play a major role in the planning of any escape strategy, which may vary from mine to mine. It is therefore concluded that each mine would have to formulate its own escape strategy which in turn would depend on the choice of SCSR, and the particular escape Route.

Jan 1, 1988

By A Mirzaghorbnali, D Gilbert, R Burton, J Nemcik, N Aziz

Glass-reinforced polymer bolts, commonly known as fibreglass dowels and fibre-reinforced polymer or plastic bolts or plastic dowels are increasingly applied for strata reinforcement in mines as well as in concrete reinforcement in civil engineering. The most popular dowels used in coalmines are the 22?mm diameter fully threaded type. Fibreglass and plastic bolts are cuttable, easy to handle, lightweight and corrosive resistant. A series of tests were undertaken to evaluate various strength properties of fibreglass dowels. These included tensile failure tests by the double-embedment method, a single guillotine shear test and a double shear test, carried out on dowels installed in concrete blocks, and with punch shear tests. Punch shear tests were used to evaluate the dowel shear strength parallel and perpendicular to the fibreglass strands or elements direction of extrusion. The study found that the tensile strength of the 22?mm diameter fibreglass dowels was in the order of 30?t. In the shear testing, the peak shear load was influenced by the encapsulation grout type and the level of fibreglass axial pretension. Also, there was a nearly fivefold difference in the shear strength value of fibreglass dowels tested parallel as against perpendicular to the dowel axis.CITATION:Aziz, N, Gilbert, D, Nemcik, J, Mirzaghorbnali, A and Burton, R, 2014. The strength properties of fibreglass and other polymer-based dowels for strata reinforcement in coalmines, in Proceedings AusRock 2014: Third Australasian Ground Control in Mining Conference , pp 263–268 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 5, 2014

By Thomson I. R R, Friday R. G, Palmer W. T

The paper introduces the problems encountered in designing open stopes and briefly examines the factors that determine the final stope dimensions achieved after mining is completed. A case study is presented where monitoring of a stope was considered necessary due to the expected formation of a highly stressed crown pillar above the stope. The influence, on the mining approach adopted, of a yielding crown pillar is discussed. Monitoring and numerical modelling were used to develop an understanding of the behaviour of the particular stope as mining progressed. A comparison between the measured displacements and the numerical predictions at an interim stage of mining was carried out to assist in choosing the final sequences involved in completing the stope.

Jan 1, 1981

By C M. Stewart

Lithium battery electric powered vehicles and machines (BEVs) continue to gain traction inunderground mining use, with predictions they will dominate the underground light and heavy vehicle fleets for some mines within the next decade. There are clear advantages for ventilation systems through reduced heat output and the elimination of harmful exhaust gases and diesel particulates. However, the risks and effects of BEV fire emergencies for underground personnel and ventilationsystems are still largely in the early stages of analysis and understanding. This paper conducts an industry review of a selection of lithium battery fire incidents and research.A research paper review on lihthium fire behaviour, intensity and toxicity will be analysed and comparisons made with equivalent diesel machinery fires for context. Guidelines for mine firemodelling parameters will be offered to assist in predicting the behaviour, heat and emissions from BEV fires, and recommendations and conclusions will be drawn on the specific hazards of lithium battery fires compared to conventional diesel powered machines.

Oct 12, 2022

By K M. P Singh, K M. K Sinha, G S. Jha, T Gouricharan, K K. Sharma

The majority of the powerplants in India are fed with non-coking coals, with the coals dispatched from their respective mines via wagons loaded by a rapid loading system or pay loader. The usual top size of coal is 200 mm and sampling is carried out manually from wagons. The manual method of wagon top sampling of large size raw coal is not only difficult, but also violates some of the fundamental principles of sampling. As per sampling requirements, samples are to be drawn from the full depth of the wagons, which is impossible to be done manually. Since the ash distribution in the different size fractions is not homogeneous, the results from the samples, which do not reflect the true size distribution of the lot, are likely to be biased. More importantly, sample collection by shovel from the top is a function of human discretion and not governed by the equiprobability rule. In another case, the sample has been collected by a cross belt-type auto mechanical sampler for 200 mm size coal at one of the super thermal power stations. Test analysis shows that coal collected using a cross belt-type mechanical sampler also has significant deviations from stopped belt coal samples of 200 mm size due to size segregation. Studies carried out on wagon top sampling through specially designed experiments reveal some interesting features. The presence of bias in wagon top sampling is apparent when compared with the ‘stopped belt’ sample. In this paper, a comparative study between manual wagon top sampling/auto mechanical sampling with respect to stopped belt sampling has been conducted for coal of size 200 mm. In addition, precision studies have been performed for wagon top sampling/mechanical sampling for Indian thermal powerplants.CITATION:Sinha, K M K, Sharma, K K, Jha, G S, Singh, K M P and Gouricharan, T, 2014. A comparative study of manual wagon top sampling and auto mechanical sampling of 200 mm size coal with respect to stopped belt sampling of thermal coal at Indian super thermal powerplants, in Proceedings Sampling 2014 , pp 43–48 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 29, 2014

By A M. Barrett, P J. Chapman

As filtering technology improves and there is an increased focus on environmental impacts, the concept of managing fine coal rejects by filtering, mixing with coarse rejects and dry stacking them is being considered more seriously. In Queensland, there appears to be a desire from regulators to move away from wet rejects facilities towards dry-stacked facilities, resulting in a change in the risk profile for the facility.A coalminer has a site with many constraints, including limited area that is not planned to be undermined and nearby rivers that are prone to flooding. The design of a dry-stacked facility that meets the operational requirements and environmental compliance criteria is challenging in subtropical climatic settings, where there is a need to consider wet seasons with high-volume, sustained rainfall events. The impact of the rainfall is multifaceted, requiring careful surface water management to separate clean and contact water, adequate foundation preparation to limit seepage to groundwater, management of stack stability given a potentially high phreatic surface and the avoidance of potential flood zones. These design constraints were compounded by a limited area available for rejects storage that would not be undermined.This paper presents a summary of the conceptual design of a dry rejects facility, including consideration of regulatory and client requirements, provision for expansion while also considering progressive rehabilitation, diversion of clean water as much as practicable during operations and siting constraints. A step-by-step concept is presented that addresses each constraint during the life of the facility.CITATION:Barrett, A M and Chapman, P J, 2015. Conceptual design of a dry-stacked coal rejects facility in a subtropical climate, in Proceedings Tailings and Mine Waste Management for the 21st Century , pp 27–34 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 27, 2015

By B Prasad, M P. Roy, P K. Singh, C Drebenstedt

Blasting operations play a pivotal role in the overall economics of opencast mines. The blasting subsystem affects all the other associated subsystems, ie loading, transport, crushing and milling operations. Fragmentation control through effective blast design and its effect on productivity is a challenging job for the practicing blasting engineer due to inadequate knowledge of actual explosive energy released in the borehole, effect of varying initiation practice in blast design and its effect on explosive energy release characteristic. This paper describes the result of a systematic study on the impact of blast design parameters on rock fragmentation at two mines in India. Both the mines use draglines and shovel-dumper combination for removal of overburden. Despite its pivotal role in controlling the overall economics of a mining operation, the expected blasting performance is often judged almost exclusively on the basis of poorly defined parameters such as powder factor and is often qualitative, which results in a very subjective assessment of blasting performance. Such an approach is a very poor substitute for accurate assessment of explosive and blasting performance. Forty-seven blasts were conducted with varying blast designs and charging patterns and their impact on the rock fragmentation are documented. A high-speed camera was deployed to record the detonation sequences of the blasts. The efficiency of the loading machines was also correlated with the mean fragment size obtained from the fragmentation analyses.CITATION:Singh, P K, Roy, M P, Drebenstedt, C and Prasad, B, 2015. Blast design parameters and their impact on rock fragmentation, in Proceedings 11th International Symposium on Rock Fragmentation by Blasting, pp 755–762 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 24, 2015

By M M. M LT Tassinari, A B. Braz, L M. SantÆAgostino, C Ulsen

Several mineral resources have been recognised to alkaline igneous rocks. In general, these mineralisations present low P grades, so a complex concentration process is required to achieve commercial grade concentrates. This process is guided not only by the ore characteristics, such as apatite grain size and liberation degree, gangue minerals and slimes content, but also by different apatite varieties, iron oxi-hydroxide surface coating and roughness. The main techniques applied to apatite and phosphate ore characterisation, such as optical microscopy, cathodoluminescence (CL) microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), surface techniques and magnetic separation are discussed, aiming to evaluate distinct apatite varieties and their technological behaviour.

Jan 1, 2008