Technological Mineralogy of a Copper Anode Slime in Qinghai

In order to improve the technology of the process of noble metal extracted from high lead copper anode slime, the technological mineralogy investigation of the anode slime was studied by chemical analysis methods, XRD, particle size analysis, SEM and EDS. The results showed that the particle size in the anode slime which was less than 38 μm accounted for 69.22%, the particle size ranged from 38 to 45 μm accounted for 8.58%, and that of more than 45 μm accounted for 22.20%. The main elements were Pb, Cu, Se, Au, Ag, and its content distribution was 25.43%, 18.01%, 4.23%, 1161.4 g/t, 70446.1 g/t. The main phases were lead alum (lead sulfate), selenium copper silver ore, selenium silver ore, copper arsenate (light ores or emerald green arsenic copper ores, hydroxyarsenic copper ores), copper oxyhalides or oxyhydrogen halides (chlor-copper ores, oblique chlor-copper ores, para-chloro-copper ores), antimony arsenate, cassiterite, silicate minerals, etc.. The gold particle size was less than 2μm, the shape is mainly dots, and it is connected with the edge or package of the selenium copper silver mine. The silver particle size was uneven, with a maximum particle size of 20 μm and a minimum particle size of less than 5 μm. The main phases were selenium copper silver ores, selenium silver ores, sulfur copper silver ores, and silver halide.