geologic characteristics of copper samples

7/30/2019 Geologic Characteristics of Copper Samples

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Geochemical Characteristics of

Copper Samples of Minera

Andina

Ren Ros, Gerardo Vsquez


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Metallogenesis In the Andes Mountain Range, mostly all

the rocks come from Plutonics Rocks,

which are intrusions of magma slowly

cooling below the surface of the earth.

This, in fact, makes Los Andes owner of

the largest Porphyry Copper deposits inthe world.


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Minerals Copper ore is contained in different rocks. Typically is

Granodiorite, an igneous rock.

A Granodiorite is a rock where at least 20% is Quartz,

and 65% of the Feldespar is plagioclase. Also has biotite

mica and Hornoblende, which are double chains of SiO4

tetrahedra, surrounded by metal and hydroxyl ions

In general, a Granodiorite consist in 63% to 69% of

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2).


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Granodiorite

So in general we have:

Quartz (SiO2) Feldespar (plagioclase NaAlSi3O8

CaAl2Si2O8 )

Mica (biotite K(Mg,Fe)3(AlSi3O10)

(F,OH)2 )

Hornoblende ( (Ca,Na)2

3(Mg,Fe,Al)5(Al,Si)8O22(OH,F)2 )


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Minerals

Besides that, we have the presence ofTourmaline, a semi-precious stone, whichhas a very complicated chemical formula.

(Na,Ca)(Al,Fe,Li)(Al,Mg,Mn)6(BO3)3(Si6O18).(OH,F)4)


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Metallic Ore Arround 6% of the sample

is metallic ore. Typical orefound in rocks is:

Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2)

Pyrite (FeS2) Magnetite (Fe3O4)

Hematite (Fe2O3)

Molibdenite (MoS2)


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Copper Ore

In other mines, also

important sources of

copper are:

Bornite (Cu5FeS4)

Chalcocite (Cu2S High

Copper content, 80% by

weight)


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Copper Ore

In a typical sample, around 6% is metallic

mineral. From this, 3% is Chalcopyrite and

the other 3% is Pyrite.


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General Characteristics of Samples

Average Density: 2,70 [g/cm^3] Size (granulometry):

If sample comes from mine, without

process, as small as 1 [cm] diameter rocks,

up to very large rocks (1 [m] diameter orbigger)

Processed and pre-processed samples are

a like powder (I measured density of pre-

processed sample P-183516 and it was1.74 [g/cm^3])


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Copper Content of Pre-processed

Sample P-183516 Juan Verdugo (who

guided me in thisslides) told me that P-183516 was a pre-processed sample fordetermining coppercontent (processed,but it still had to go to

another step in orderto be converted in apowder).


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Copper Content of Pre-processed

Sample P-183516

The copper content is: 0.874 %

*Total copper is CUT

**CUNS means not sulfured copper.


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Measurement of Copper Content

They use Inductively coupled plasma

mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).


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Measurement of Copper Content

Normally, they use ICP-MS for long termplanning of mining, not for production.

Cross-check of content is made with

INAA, of the following compounds: Ag, Cr, Sb, Hf, Ti, Sc, V ,U


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Measurements ICP-MS

Here are the measured elements (long-term)

Ga ppm 0.05 500

Ge ppm 0.05 10000

Hf ppm 0.02 500

In ppm 0.005 500

K % 0.01 15

La ppm 0.1 10000

Li ppm 0.2 50000

Lu ppm 0.01 1000

Mg % 0.01 15

Mn ppm 5 10000

Mo ppm 0.05 10000

Na % 0.01 15

Nb ppm 0.1 1000

Ni ppm 0.2 10000

Element Unit Lower Limit Upper Limit

Ag ppm 0.01 10

Al % 0.01 15

As ppm 0.2 10000

Ba ppm 5 10000Be ppm 0.05 100

Bi ppm 0.01 10000

Ca % 0.01 15

Cd ppm 0.02 10000

Ce ppm 0.01 1000

Co ppm 0.1 10000

Cr ppm 1 10000

Cs ppm 0.05 1000

Cu ppm 0.2 10000

Fe % 0.01 15


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Measurements ICP-MS

Here are the measured elements (long-term)

P ppm 10 10000

Pb ppm 0.5 10000

Rb ppm 0.1 10000

Re ppm 0.002 10000

S % 0.01 5

Sb Ppm 0.05 10000

Sc Ppm 0.1 10000

Se Ppm 1 10000

Sn Ppm 0.2 1000

Sr Ppm 0.2 10000

Ta Ppm 0.05 10000

Tb Ppm 0.05 10000

Te Ppm 0.05 500

Th Ppm 0.2 10000

Ti % 0.005 15

Tl Ppm 0.02 10000

U Ppm 0.1 10000

V Ppm 1 10000

W Ppm 0.1 10000

Y Ppm 0.1 10000

Yb Ppm 0.1 1000

Zn Ppm 1 10000

Zr Ppm 0.5 10000

Element Unit Lower Limit Upper Limit

geologic characteristics of copper samples

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