Browsing by Author "Shackleton, Natalie Jean"

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    The role of complexing agents in the flotation of pentlandite-pyroxene mixtures
    (2003) Shackleton, Natalie Jean; O'Connor, Cyril
    This study examines the role complexing agents play in pentlandite-pyroxene flotation and focuses on the surface chemistry and interaction between valuable and gangue minerals as well as the interaction of complexing agents and reagents (xanthate, copper sulphate) in the system at pH 9. Microflotation, zeta potential measurements, ToF-SIMS analyses (time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used as tools in determining the extent of surface alteration.
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    Surface characterisation and flotation behaviour of the platinum and palladium arsenide, telluride and sulphide mineral species
    (2007) Shackleton, Natalie Jean; O'Connor, Cyril
    The Platreef is located in the northern limb of the Bushveld Complex of South Africa. This reef consists of a complex assemblage of rock types, with pyroxenites, serpentinites and calcsilicates being the most abundant. The predominant PGMs are the tellurides, arsenides, alloys and sulphides. The Pt and Pd tellurides contribute between 20-45% of the PGMs present in the Platreef ore followed by the alloys (26%), arsenides (21%) and sulphides (19%). Flotation is used in the processing of the Platreef ore to separate the siliceous gangue from the platinum group minerals (PGM) and base metal sulphides. The PGE arsenide and telluride minerals are considered to be slow floating when compared to other PGMs as there is evidence of them reporting to the tailings.This thesis aimed to investigate the flotation behaviour of these minerals and presents results which characterise the surface properties of synthetic cooperite (PtS), vysotskite (PdS), sperrylite (PtAS2), palladoarsenide (Pd2As), moncheite (PtPd(BiTe)2 and PtTe2) and merenskyite (PdPt(BiTe)2 and PdTe2) and attempts to relate the flotation behaviour of the various minerals to these characteristics.