DEVELOPMENT AND CALIBRATION OF A RECONCILIATED MODAL MINERALOGY
METHOD BASED ON MULTITECHNIQUE ANALYSES: APPLICATION TO ACID MINE
DRAINAGE PREDICTION OF MINE TAILINGS
R. Mermillod-Blondin1, M. Benzaazoua2, H. Bouzahzah2, and D. Leroux3
1
Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd
University of Québec in Abitibi-Témiscamingue
3
Triple Point Technology, Inc.
2
ABSTRACT
Quantitative mineralogy has known significant developments by the association of automated image analysis
and computing capacity improvement. This type of characterization is now implemented on a routine basis
for geology ore description and mineral processing issues. Mine tailings management becomes also an
important application field of various mineralogical techniques. Acid and neutralization potential estimation
as well as the kinetic testing interpretation are based on the mineralogy knowledge (modal analysis, texture,
metal deportment, etc.).
In this paper, four mineralogical characterization techniques were compared for environmental
characterization issues: X-ray diffraction, modal calculation using chemistry, specific gravity measurement
and SEM-EDS image analysis. For this purpose, three mineralogical standards have been made using pure
minerals to simulate typical processing tailings. They were used to estimate uncertainties of each
characterization technique as presented in Figure 1.
Minor
and
trace
phases
Semi-abondant phases
phases
Semi-abundant
Major phases
Chemistry calculation
Mineral abundance (wt%)
Figure 1: Relative accuracy of the different mineralogical methods
A reconciliation calculation using Algosys Bilmat software was then proposed to obtain final mineralogy
from the whole data as illustrated with the simplified flow diagram in Figure 2.
Figure 2: Flow diagram for data reconciliation of mineralogy
The reconciliation routine was applied to the acid and neutralization potential characterization of different
mine tailings. The conclusion in term of acid mine drainage was qualified from mineralogical calculated acid
potential and neutralization potential equilibrium. The reconciliated data offer the opportunity to describe
metal deportment in term of mineral bearing-phase and therefore orientate metal leaching estimation in case
of neutral contaminated drainage.
KEYWORDS
Mineralogy, chemistry, reconciliation, acid mine drainage, calibration standard