Abstract
An experimental investigation of the dissolution of three base-metal sulfide minerals, namely, CuFeS2, ZnS and PbS, in hydrochloric acid medium in the presence of manganese dioxide is reported. Polarization measurements and leaching studies were employed in the study. Dissolution occurred in the following three ways: by the cyclic action of the Fe3+/Fe2+ redox couple, by galvanic interaction between MnO2 and the sulfide minerals, and because of chlorine evolution from the system. The later two routes were found more effective at higher HCl levels. PbS appeared to be oxidized easily, whereas CuFeS2 was the most difficult to dissolve. ZnS dissolution fell in between PbS and CuFeS2.
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