Novel approach to locate micro-scale mineral regions of interest in real ores

The surface of minerals plays a pivotal role throughout the process of mineral beneficiation and utilization. Studies on surface properties, such as surface chemistries, of mineral phases of interest in real ores enable the selective separation of minerals, thereby enhancing the utilization of mineral resources. Nevertheless, obtaining specific mineral phases, especially for finely disseminated or poorly crystalized minerals, from real ores without altering their surface chemistries remains a challenge. The challenge also persists in investigating the same micro-scale mineral region in real ores using various surface characterization techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). This paper proposes a novel approach and procedures for locating micro-scale mineral regions of interest in real ores based on a three-dimensional coordinate system etched onto the ore surface using laser etching technology. A copper-nickel ore from Jinchuan, China, served as an illustrative example, with the finely disseminated chalcopyrite and pentlandite regions in the real ore sample being located and investigated using SEM and XPS. The approach presented in this study enables the in-situ detection of surface chemistries of specific mineral phase in real ores, ensuring the homogeneity and in-situ nature of the obtained surface chemistry data. This approach holds considerable promise, especially in the investigation of surface chemistries of minerals with fine dissemination and poor crystallization.