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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