Abstract
Two magnetic samples, collected at 5 m and 52 m from the top of a weathering mantle developing on peridotite, from the Cerro Matoso (7° 54' 31" N 75° 33' 23" W) mining area for nickel, Department of Cordoba, Colombia, were submitted to magnetic separation with a hand magnet in the laboratory. The so concentrated samples were found to contain intimately associated magnetic and non-magnetic minerals. The magnetic phases were further concentrated by selective chemical treatments with 5 mol L-1 NaOH to remove silicates, and with a mixture citrate - bicarbonate - dithionite, to remove non-magnetic iron oxides. Powder X-ray diffractometry, RT Mössbauer spectroscopy, saturation magnetization measurements, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and optical microscopy analyses were used to give a mineralogical description of the magnetic phases. The chemical treatments were effective on concentrating iron oxides so to improve the mineralogical analysis of this nickel ore. Mössbauer analysis revealed that NaOH selectively removed silicates and chromite from samples, whereas CBD dissolved hematite, goethite, and partially oxidized non-stoichiometric magnetite.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
