Characterization of Precious Metal Resources in Copper Slag and Their Implications in Beneficiation

Abstract

Studies have been carried out on precious metal association, on a typical Indian copper slag sample using SEM–EDS. The studies revealed the presence of platinum as well as gold, reported here for the first time, in the copper metal as well as different types of metallic sulphides phases of the copper slag. These phases are either entrapped in the silicate minerals or are present as free liberated grains within the slag sample. The platinum content varies in the range of 1.24–1.95 wt% whereas gold values range from 2.41 to 5.90 wt% in some phases. The phases of copper slag, which contain gold and platinum are present in very less quantity with respect to volume percentage. The major phases, in the copper slag are fayalite and magnetite while spinel, ulvospinel, metallic iron, calcium oxide and barium sulphide are minor phases and all these are devoid of gold or platinum.