A comprehensive identification method for ore types of complex polymetallic mines

Abstract

The application provides a comprehensive identification method for ore types of complex polymetallic mines, and relates to the technical field of geological mineral exploration, and comprises the following steps: (1) determining an ore type identification scheme and ore-forming elements corresponding to ore minerals and characteristic elements or characteristic compounds corresponding to gangue minerals; (2) performing primary identification on the ore types of field samples obtained from mines; (3) crushing and grinding the field samples; (4) performing geochemical testing on the ore-forming elements and characteristic elements or characteristic compounds of the crushed and ground field samples; (5) inversely calculating the gangue mineral content of the field samples according to the measured characteristic element or characteristic compound content; and (6) performing secondary identification on the ore types of the field samples according to the standard of the ore type identification scheme in step (1). The application provides a more scientific semi-quantitative method for the identification of ore types of complex polymetallic mines.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of geological and mineral exploration technology, and in particular to a comprehensive identification method for ore types in complex polymetallic mines. Background Technology

[0002] Before commencing mining production and scientific research, technicians must determine the main ore types based on geological data. Only after determining the ore type can mineral resource estimates be made, the economic value of the ore be evaluated, the design of mineral processing procedures guided, the genesis of the deposit determined, and subsequent mineral exploration guided. For complex polymetallic mines occurring under complex geological conditions, containing two or more ore-forming elements (such as iron, lead-zinc, rare earth elements, niobium, copper, gold, and silver) and with gangue minerals comprising more than two types, the ore type of hand specimens and borehole samples produced within the mine is difficult to determine, and sampling is often not representative. Furthermore, there is currently no method for identifying the ore type of perforated powder samples from blasting areas, which hinders subsequent production and research.

[0003] Traditional methods for identifying ore types in hand specimens and borehole samples from complex polymetallic mines mainly consist of the following steps: ① Collect and organize existing mining data, including borehole lithology databases, geological mapping data, and previous standards for classifying ore types.

[0004] ② Conduct field geological surveys in the mine, and preliminarily determine the ore type by observing hand specimens and borehole samples, and collect samples for subsequent analysis.

[0005] ③ After numbering the hand specimens and borehole samples that have been preliminarily identified as having ore types, prepare corresponding thin sections and identify them under a microscope to estimate the mineral types, contents, grain size and symbiotic relationships.

[0006] ④ The ore is named and its type is determined by combining the results of field observation and microscopic identification.

[0007] The above methods can be used to identify ore types in mines with simple ore-forming geological conditions, few types of metallic elements, and no borehole samples from blasted areas. However, for mines with complex polymetallic minerals, hand specimens, borehole block samples, and blasted area powder samples, the following shortcomings exist: ① In complex polymetallic mines, different technicians use different identification methods for field and microscopic identification of hand specimens and borehole samples, especially in the estimation of mineral content. The identification of ore types is subjective and uncertain.

[0008] ② Field geological observation and microscopic identification of hand specimens and borehole samples can only reflect the surface information of the local area or the section where the sample was prepared. They are not very representative and have a large error in identifying the type of ore.

[0009] ③ Traditional methods have limitations. They are only applicable to hand specimens and drilled block samples that can be prepared into thin sections. They cannot identify the ore types of more representative perforated powder samples from blasted areas, which hinders production and large-scale research.

[0010] In view of this, the present invention is hereby proposed. Summary of the Invention

[0011] The purpose of this invention is to provide a comprehensive identification method for ore types in complex polymetallic mines. Based on field geological surveys, the method uses geochemical analysis results to invert mineral content, thereby providing a more scientific semi-quantitative method for identifying ore types in complex polymetallic mines.

[0012] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: This invention provides a comprehensive identification method for complex polymetallic ore types, comprising the following steps: (1) Based on the existing geological information of the mining area, clarify the ore type identification scheme and the ore-forming elements corresponding to the ore minerals and the characteristic elements or characteristic compounds corresponding to the gangue minerals; (2) To determine the type of ore in the field samples obtained from the mine; (3) The field samples are crushed and ground; (4) Conduct geochemical tests on the ore-forming elements and characteristic elements or characteristic compounds of the crushed and ground field samples; (5) The gangue mineral content of the field sample is inverted by the measured content of characteristic elements or characteristic compounds; (6) Based on the standard of the ore type discrimination scheme in step (1), the ore type of the field sample is further discriminated by measuring the content of ore-forming elements in the field sample and the content of gangue minerals in the field sample obtained by inversion.

[0013] Furthermore, in step (1), the ore type discrimination scheme includes different ore-forming element content ranges and corresponding ore types; and different characteristic element or characteristic compound content ranges or different gangue mineral content ranges obtained by inverting the content of characteristic elements or characteristic compounds and corresponding gangue mineral types.

[0014] Furthermore, the different ranges of gangue mineral content and the corresponding gangue mineral types include: (A) If the percentage content of a single gangue mineral is <15%, then the gangue mineral has no effect on the ore type; (B) If 15% ≤ the percentage content of a single gangue mineral < 30%, then the gangue mineral is the gangue mineralization; (C) If the mass percentage content of a single gangue mineral is ≥30%, then the gangue mineral is of that gangue mineral type; If the gangue mineral is a single type, the gangue mineral type shall be determined according to the type determination methods (A)-(C) above; if the gangue mineral is a composite gangue mineral and the content range of each type of gangue mineral is inconsistent, the types of each type of gangue mineral shall be determined separately according to the type determination methods (A)-(C) above, and then the types of each type of gangue mineral shall be combined. (D) If the percentage content of each gangue mineral in the composite gangue mineral is <15%, then the composite gangue mineral is a mixed type; (E) If the percentage content of each gangue mineral in the composite gangue mineral is less than 30% and 15% or less, then the composite gangue mineral is a composite gangue mineralization. (F) If the percentage content of each gangue mineral in the composite gangue mineral is less than 50% and 30% or less, then the composite gangue mineral is a composite gangue mineral type. (G) If the percentage content of one of the gangue minerals in the composite gangue mineral is >50%, then the composite gangue mineral is directly identified as that gangue mineral type.

[0015] Furthermore, in step (1), the selection of the feature elements refers to the principles of uniqueness and independence; The uniqueness refers to the fact that the characteristic element or characteristic compound is produced only in the selected gangue mineral, or its content percentage is more than 80% higher than the average content percentage in other gangue minerals. The independence refers to the fact that the proportion of the characteristic element or characteristic compound in gangue minerals other than the selected gangue minerals is less than 2%.

[0016] Furthermore, the determination of the characteristic elements or characteristic compounds adopts a method of first screening candidate characteristic elements or characteristic compounds of gangue minerals, and then determining them based on the quantification threshold determined by the uniqueness and independence.

[0017] Furthermore, in step (2), the first discrimination is a process in which technicians, during the field geological survey of the mining area, observe the characteristics of the field samples with the naked eye, make an empirical estimate of the content of the ore-forming elements and characteristic elements of the field samples, and then make a preliminary qualitative judgment on the type of the sample ore and give a preliminary name.

[0018] Furthermore, in step (3), the field sample is crushed using a jaw crusher and then ground using a ball mill; The particle size of the field sample after crushing is ≤2mm; the particle size of the field sample after grinding is 180-220 mesh.

[0019] Furthermore, in step (4), the geochemical testing methods include X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and chemical titration.

[0020] Furthermore, in step (5), the inversion formula is: Gangue mineral content = Tested content of characteristic element or compound ÷ Theoretical average content of that element or compound in gangue mineral.

[0021] Further, in step (6), the secondary discrimination includes: based on the data obtained from the test, after inverting the content of gangue minerals by the content of the measured characteristic elements or characteristic compounds, determining the corresponding mineral type of the ore mineral by comparing the content of the ore-forming elements obtained from the test with the industrial grade standard of the mineral type; determining the type of gangue mineral by comparing the content obtained after inverting the characteristic elements or characteristic compounds of the gangue minerals with the requirements of the different gangue mineral content ranges and the corresponding gangue mineral types, and then combining the corresponding mineral type of the ore minerals and the type of gangue minerals to obtain the accurate mine ore type.

[0022] The present invention provides a comprehensive identification method for complex polymetallic ore types, the advantages of which are as follows: (1) Compared with traditional methods for qualitative identification of ore types, the comprehensive identification method provided by the present invention can semi-quantitatively identify ore types in complex polymetallic deposits, thereby improving the accuracy of ore type identification; (2) This invention eliminates, to a certain extent, the interference of subjective judgment on ore type; (3) This invention expands the scope of ore type identification. In addition to hand specimens and borehole samples of rock and ore, it can also identify the ore type represented by powder samples from the blast area, thus expanding the sample identification scope and enabling ore type analysis of a large number of samples, supporting large-scale production exploration. (4) For the identification of ore types in a large number of samples, the present invention provides a more efficient identification method that reduces time costs. Attached Figure Description

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0024] Figure 1 The operation flowchart provided for the embodiments of the present invention; Figure 2Image of a hand specimen of ore provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a powder sample image of a hand specimen after crushing and grinding, provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the embodiments of this invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments described are merely illustrative of the invention and should not be considered as specific limitations thereof. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention. Process parameters not specifically specified in the following embodiments are generally performed under conventional conditions.

[0026] The endpoints and any values ​​of the ranges disclosed in this invention are not limited to the precise ranges or values, and these ranges or values ​​should be understood to include values ​​close to these ranges or values. For numerical ranges, the endpoint values ​​of the various ranges, the endpoint values ​​of the various ranges and individual point values, and individual point values ​​can be combined with each other to obtain one or more new numerical ranges, which should be considered as specifically disclosed in this invention.

[0027] This invention provides a comprehensive identification method for complex polymetallic ore types, comprising the following steps: (1) Based on the existing geological information of the mining area, clarify the ore type identification scheme and the ore-forming elements corresponding to the ore minerals and the characteristic elements or characteristic compounds corresponding to the gangue minerals; (2) Make a preliminary determination of the ore type of the field samples obtained from the mine site; (3) The field samples are crushed and ground; (4) Conduct geochemical tests on the ore-forming elements and characteristic elements or characteristic compounds of the crushed and ground field samples; (5) The gangue mineral content of the field sample is inverted by the measured content of characteristic elements or characteristic compounds; (6) Based on the standard of the ore type discrimination scheme in step (1), the ore type of the field sample is further discriminated by measuring the content of ore-forming elements in the field sample and the content of gangue minerals in the field sample obtained by inversion.

[0028] This invention is a comprehensive identification of ore types based on field geological surveys and data analysis of ore-forming elements and characteristic elements or compounds. The level of detail in the mine geological data or information affects the effectiveness of this invention in identifying ore types; therefore, the more detailed the mine geological data, the better. The mine geological data should at least include the ore type and its corresponding ore-forming element types, as well as the types of gangue minerals and their corresponding characteristic element types. The level of detail refers to the degree of discovery of ore-forming elements and gangue minerals. In some mines, certain elements were not initially ore-forming elements, but may later become ore-forming elements with advancements in mineral processing technology. In such cases, the mine geological data needs to be more complete and detailed. For the same mine, only one type identification scheme needs to be determined, and it can be reused thereafter. For different mines, based on the specific implementation plan, the mine's ore-forming element types, the industry's grade requirements for ore-forming elements, and the gangue mineral types and contents, the ore type identification scheme is divided with 15% and 30% as the boundaries. The comprehensive identification method of this invention is not only suitable for iron, niobium, and rare earth polymetallic symbiotic ores, but can also be adapted to various complex polymetallic ores such as lead, zinc, copper, and gold by adjusting the thresholds of ore-forming elements and characteristic elements.

[0029] The ore-forming elements, characteristic elements, or characteristic compounds detected during geochemical testing in step (4) are derived from step (1).

[0030] As an optional embodiment of the present invention, in step (1), the ore type discrimination scheme includes: different ore-forming element content ranges and corresponding ore types; and different characteristic element or characteristic compound content ranges or different gangue mineral content ranges and corresponding gangue mineral types obtained by inversion from the characteristic element or characteristic compound content. Specifically, the range of different ore-forming element contents and the corresponding ore types are determined based on the industrial grade standards for mineral types; In this invention, the inversion is performed by calculating the percentage content of gangue minerals based on the content of characteristic elements or characteristic compounds.

[0031] As an optional embodiment of the present invention, the different gangue mineral content ranges and corresponding gangue mineral types include: (A) If the percentage content of a single gangue mineral is <15%, then the gangue mineral has no effect on the ore type; (B) If 15% ≤ the percentage content of a single gangue mineral < 30%, then the gangue mineral is the gangue mineralization; (C) If the mass percentage content of a single gangue mineral is ≥30%, then the gangue mineral is of that gangue mineral type; If the gangue mineral is a single type, the gangue mineral type shall be determined according to the type determination methods (A)-(C) above; if the gangue mineral is a composite gangue mineral and the content range of each type of gangue mineral is inconsistent (i.e., not all fall within the range defined in A, or not all fall within the range defined in B, or not all fall within the range defined in C), then the types of each type of gangue mineral shall be determined separately according to the type determination methods (A)-(C) above, and then the types of each type of gangue mineral shall be combined. (D) If the percentage content of each gangue mineral in the composite gangue mineral is <15%, then the composite gangue mineral is a mixed type; (E) If the percentage content of each gangue mineral in the composite gangue mineral is less than 30% and 15% or less, then the composite gangue mineral is a composite gangue mineralization. (F) If the percentage content of each gangue mineral in the composite gangue mineral is less than 50% and 30% or less, then the composite gangue mineral is a composite gangue mineral type. (G) If the percentage content of one of the gangue minerals in the composite gangue mineral is >50%, then the composite gangue mineral is directly identified as that gangue mineral type.

[0032] The method for defining the composite gangue mineral type described in this invention is as above. For example, if the content of both silicate and fluorite is higher than 30% but less than 50%, it is a fluorite-silicate type ore.

[0033] As an optional embodiment of the present invention, in step (1), the selection of the feature elements refers to the principles of uniqueness and independence; The uniqueness refers to the fact that the characteristic element or characteristic compound is produced only in the selected gangue mineral, or that its content percentage is 80% or more higher than the average content percentage in other gangue minerals (e.g., 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, etc.). The independence refers to the fact that the proportion of the characteristic element or characteristic compound in other gangue minerals besides the selected gangue mineral is less than 2% (e.g., 1.8%, 1.7%, 1.6%, 1.5%, etc.).

[0034] As an optional embodiment of the present invention, the determination of the characteristic element or characteristic compound requires first screening of candidate characteristic elements or characteristic compounds of gangue minerals, and then determining them based on the quantification threshold determined by the uniqueness and independence.

[0035] As an optional embodiment of the present invention, in step (2), the first discrimination is a process in which technicians, during the field geological survey stage in the mining area, observe the characteristics of the field samples collected by the naked eye, make empirical estimates of the content of ore-forming elements and characteristic elements of the field samples, and then make a qualitative preliminary judgment on the type of sample ore and give a preliminary name.

[0036] As an optional embodiment of the present invention, in step (3), the field sample is crushed by a jaw crusher and then ground by a ball mill; The particle size of the field sample after crushing is ≤2mm; the particle size of the field sample after grinding is 180-220 mesh (e.g., 185 mesh, 190 mesh, 195 mesh, 200 mesh, 205 mesh, 210 mesh, 215 mesh).

[0037] As an optional embodiment of the present invention, in step (4), the geochemical testing method includes X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and chemical titration.

[0038] As an optional embodiment of the present invention, in step (5), the inversion formula is: Gangue mineral content = Tested content of characteristic element or compound ÷ Theoretical average content of that element or compound in gangue mineral.

[0039] In this invention, the theoretical average content of the element or compound in the gangue mineral is the average value of the electron probe microanalysis of the mineral conducted by predecessors, which can be found in mineral identification books such as "Crystallography and Mineralogy", "Bayan Obo Minerals", and "Mineralogy of China".

[0040] As an optional embodiment of the present invention, in step (6), the secondary discrimination includes: based on the data obtained from the test, after inverting the content of gangue minerals by the content of the measured characteristic elements or characteristic compounds, determining the corresponding mineral type of the ore mineral by comparing the content of the ore-forming elements obtained from the test with the industrial grade standard of the mineral type; determining the type of gangue mineral by comparing the content obtained after inverting the characteristic elements or characteristic compounds of the gangue minerals with the requirements of the different gangue mineral content ranges and the corresponding gangue mineral types, and then combining the corresponding mineral type of the ore minerals and the type of gangue minerals to obtain the accurate mine ore type.

[0041] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to specific embodiments and comparative examples.

[0042] Example Taking the main ore of a complex niobium-iron polymetallic deposit in a certain region as an example, the following information was obtained from the deposit's geological report: the ore-forming elements in the deposit are iron and niobium; the gangue minerals mainly include fluorite, dolomite, amphibole, aegirine, and calcite; and the main ore types include carbonate-type iron (niobium) ore, fluorite-type iron (niobium) ore, and silicate-type iron (niobium) ore. Samples from the deposit were selected for ore type identification and explanation; detailed procedures are described in [link to document]. Figure 1 .

[0043] S1: Systematically and comprehensively compile geological data on ore minerals and major gangue minerals in the mining area, as well as ore type classification standards. Based on this, clarify the identification scheme for the main ore types in the mine and the corresponding test elements or compounds (ore-forming elements and gangue characteristic elements or characteristic compounds). The specific ore type classification scheme is shown in Table 1: Table 1 The selection criteria for gangue mineral and element content ranges are explained below: ① Massive ore: Based on a TFe grade > 45% (industry standard), it is defined as massive ore. ② Fluorite type: Fluorite is mainly composed of Ca and F elements. Ca is abundant in both fluorite and carbonates in the mining area, and they interfere with each other, failing to meet the requirements of uniqueness and independence. Therefore, Ca cannot be used as a characteristic element for fluorite type identification. F is mostly distributed in fluorite minerals and a small amount in apatite. Data collected indicates that the mass percentage content of apatite in the mining area is mostly below 20%, and the mass percentage content of F in apatite is 1.25%, with a total proportion below 0.25%, having a negligible impact. Given the above, the influence of F in apatite can be ignored. When the mineral content of fluorite in the sample reaches 15% / 30% (geological nomenclature rules), the corresponding mass percentage content of F is 7.30% / 14.60%, respectively. This is used as the boundary between fluoritization and fluorite type. When the mass percentage of fluorine (F) is less than 7.30%, it is unnamed; when 7.30% ≤ F < 14.60%, it is named fluorite-type; when the mass percentage of F is ≥ 14.60%, it is named fluorite-type. ③ Silicate type: The main silicate minerals in the mining area are aegirine and amphibole. The chemical element composition of aegirine mainly includes 52% SiO2, 13.4% Na2O, and 34.6% Fe2O3 by mass percentage. The chemical element composition of amphibole mainly includes 55.51% SiO2 and 7.06% Na2O by mass percentage. Fe2O3 is affected by the ore-forming element Fe, and Na2O is widely distributed in sodium-containing rare earth-niobium minerals and is also affected. Therefore, neither can be used as a characteristic compound. Since all silicate minerals contain SiO2 and the content is similar, SiO2 is the most suitable choice for determining the characteristic compound of silicate-type ores. When the mass percentage of silicate minerals in the sample reaches 15% / 30%, the corresponding mass percentage of SiO2 is approximately 8.06% / 16.13% (taking the average mass percentage of the two minerals, namely aegirine and amphibole), which serves as the boundary between silicate-type and silicate-type. When the mass percentage of SiO2 is less than 8.06%, it is unnamed; when 8.06% ≤ SiO2 mass percentage < 16.13%, it is named silicate-type; when the mass percentage of SiO2 is ≥ 16.13%, it is named silicate-type. ④ Carbonate type: The main carbonate minerals in the mining area are calcite and dolomite. Their chemical compositions are similar. Dolomite's elemental composition includes 47.33% CO2, 30.41% CaO, and 21.86% MgO by mass percentage, while calcite's elemental composition includes 43.97% CO2 and 56.03% CaO by mass percentage. The carbonate minerals contain an average of 45.65% CO2 by mass.CaO is affected by the Ca element in fluorite, and MgO is mainly found in only one type of carbonate mineral; neither can be considered a characteristic compound. Since hydrous minerals are rare in the deposit, the loss on ignition (LOI) in chemical analysis mainly originates from CO2. Therefore, LOI is selected to define carbonate ores. When the mass percentage of carbonate minerals in the sample reaches 15% / 30%, the corresponding LOI content is approximately 6.75% / 13.50% (taking the average mass percentage content of two carbonate minerals, dolomite and calcite, as the average value). This serves as the boundary between carbonatization and carbonate type. When the CO2 mass percentage content is less than 6.75%, it is unnamed; when 6.75% ≤ CO2 mass percentage content < 13.50%, it is named carbonatization; when the CO2 mass percentage content ≥ 13.50%, it is named carbonate type.

[0044] S2: Conduct field geological surveys at the mine site and use visual observation to make preliminary judgments on the samples ( Figure 2 The ore type is fluorite iron ore.

[0045] S3: Collect sufficient hand specimen samples, numbered (Fe-1), and then proceed with subsequent crushing and grinding. Fe-1 is crushed to a particle size ≤2mm using a jaw crusher, and then ground to 180-220 mesh using a ball mill. Figure 3 ).

[0046] S4: Based on the ore type classification scheme in Table 2, the main elements TFe, Nb, F, SiO2, and loss on ignition were analyzed and tested using XRF (X-ray fluorescence spectrometry) and ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry). The test results of the main elements in the sample are shown in Table 2. Table 2 S5: The gangue mineral content of the sample is inverted by the measured content of characteristic elements or compounds. The specific inversion process is as follows: ① The F test value is 16.38%, corresponding to a fluorite mineral content of 16.38% ÷ 48.6% = 33.70% (≥30%, classified as fluorite type); ②SiO2 detection value is 12.55%, corresponding to silicate mineral content = 12.55% ÷ 53.75% = 23.35% (between 15% and 30%, designated as added silicate); ③ The loss on ignition is 6.22%, corresponding to a carbonate mineral content of 6.22% ÷ 45% = 13.82% (≤15%, unnamed); S6: Secondary determination of ore based on the content of ore-forming elements: TFe 25.18%≥18%, Nb 0.25%≥0.2%, meeting the industrial grade requirements for iron ore / niobium ore; TR is 1.8%, which is less than the tested element content range (2%), so it will not be named as a rare earth ore.

[0047] Overall assessment: The sample is identified as a silicate fluorite-type iron-niobium ore. This determination is more precise and specific than the initial ore type identified in step 2.

[0048] Comparative Example Traditional methods for identifying ore types involve simply compiling basic data, then taking field samples for observation, performing microscopic identification on the field samples, and finally determining the ore type and name based on the microscopic identification results.

[0049] Traditional ore type identification methods differ from this invention in ten core aspects (including advancement, innovation, and quantitative indicators). This invention, with its semi-quantitative nature as its core feature, breaks through the limitations of traditional qualitative methods from multiple dimensions, including identification principles, technical means, and applicable scope. The following ten differences are all elaborated in conjunction with quantitative indicators, process optimization, and accuracy / efficiency improvement, clearly demonstrating the innovation and technological advancement of this invention: Difference 1: Core identification characteristics (qualitative vs. semi-quantitative) Traditional methods: purely qualitative identification, describing ore characteristics solely through field observation and microscopic identification, without quantitative numerical thresholds, and the results are only qualitative conclusions such as "fluorite type / silicate type", without any content percentage reference; This invention provides a semi-quantitative identification method, establishing a quantitative conversion system between element content and mineral content (e.g., a mass percentage content of F element of 7.30% / 14.60% corresponds to a mass percentage content of fluorite mineral of 15% / 30%). It classifies ores into "types / types" using numerical thresholds, and the conclusions include semi-quantitative data on mineral content, making the identification results more scientific and verifiable.

[0050] Advanced features: It upgrades from "experience-based judgment" to "data support", filling the technological gap in semi-quantitative identification of ore in complex polymetallic mines.

[0051] Difference 2: Methods of obtaining mineral content (manual estimation vs. geochemical inversion) Traditional method: Estimating mineral types and contents manually under a microscope with the naked eye. However, the estimation errors are large among different technicians and are highly subjective. This invention: Quantitatively inverts mineral content using geochemical element test data, and calculates it based on the theoretical proportion of mineral elements (e.g., SiO2 ÷ 53.75% = silicate mineral content). The inversion error of single mineral content is ≤5%, and the results are objective and repeatable.

[0052] Innovation: Replacing "human subjective estimation" with "chemical quantitative calculation" eliminates interference from human judgment at the source.

[0053] Difference 3: Feature element selection principles (no standard vs. uniqueness + independence dual principles) Traditional methods: There is no unified standard for the selection of characteristic elements. They are selected based solely on the experience of technical personnel, which is easily affected by other mineral elements and leads to misjudgment of ore type. This invention proposes a quantitative principle for selecting characteristic elements: uniqueness (element repetition rate <20%) + independence (influence of other gangue minerals <2%). For example, if the influence of F element on apatite is <0.25%, it is selected as a characteristic element of fluorite, thus ensuring the accuracy of element selection from the source.

[0054] Advanced features: It establishes a quantitative standard that can be referenced in the industry for screening characteristic elements of gangue minerals, solving the industry pain point of traditional selection without a basis.

[0055] Difference 4: Applicable sample types (Class 2 vs. Class 3, no powder sample solution) Traditional methods are only applicable to two types of samples: hand specimens and drill block samples that can be prepared into thin sections. They lack identification methods for the more representative blast zone perforated powder samples in large-scale mine research, and have low sample coverage. This invention breaks through the limitations of sample preparation and is compatible with three types of samples: hand specimens, drilled block samples, and powder samples from blasted areas. Powder samples are crushed and ground to -200 mesh, and samples with a negative 200 mesh content of ≥95% can be tested. The sample coverage is increased by 50%, which can meet the multi-sample testing needs of actual mine production.

[0056] Innovation: For the first time, perforated powder samples from blast zones have been included in the identification of ore types in complex polymetallic mines, filling a technological gap in the identification of this sample type.

[0057] Difference 5: Completeness of identification steps (single step vs. closed-loop process) Traditional methods involve the steps of "data processing - field observation - microscopic identification - qualitative identification", focusing only on the single step of "observation - identification" without elemental testing or mineral inversion steps. The process is fragmented, and the results only reflect local information of the sample. This invention constructs a closed-loop process encompassing "data processing – feature element screening – preliminary field assessment – ​​sample processing – elemental testing – mineral inversion – quantitative threshold discrimination," with each step having quantitative standards. The results combine multi-dimensional information from "field geology + laboratory data + industrial grade" to reflect the overall characteristics of the sample.

[0058] Advanced features: It has been upgraded from "single-link identification" to "multi-dimensional and comprehensive judgment throughout the entire process", making ore type identification a practical and traceable technical system.

[0059] Difference 6: Representativeness of recognition results (local / surface vs. global / entire domain) Traditional methods: Microscopic identification can only observe a local area / surface of a thin section (<1cm). 2 Information obtained from hand specimen observation can only reflect local characteristics of the sample, has weak representativeness, and has an identification error of ≥30%. This invention: The powder sample is a uniform sample after full-area grinding and mixing. Elemental testing reflects the overall elemental distribution characteristics of the sample. Combined with semi-quantitative threshold discrimination, the identification result can represent the full-area characteristics of the sample, and the overall identification error is ≤10%.

[0060] Quantitative improvement: Based on the identification and comparison data already conducted on-site, the representativeness of the results of this invention is improved by 75%, the identification error is reduced by 75%, and it meets the accuracy requirements of large-scale resource estimation in mines.

[0061] Difference 7: Level of human interference (high interference vs. low interference) Traditional methods, such as field observation, microscopic identification, and mineral estimation, all rely on the experience and subjective judgment of technicians. Different personnel tend to have inconsistent identification conclusions for the same sample, resulting in strong human interference. This invention: only the initial field judgment is a light experience-based judgment. The core elemental testing, mineral inversion, and threshold discrimination are all machine testing + quantitative calculation. The human intervention is reduced by 80%, and the consistency of conclusions from different technicians is ≥95%.

[0062] Innovation: By "replacing human labor with machines", human interference is greatly reduced, and the identification of ore types is standardized and regulated.

[0063] Difference 8: Application of geochemical technologies (None vs. Core support) Traditional methods: Geochemical analysis technology is not introduced throughout the process; it relies solely on geological observation and microscopic identification. The technical means are limited and quantitative analysis cannot be achieved. This invention uses geochemical element testing as the core technology to test ore-forming elements and characteristic elements (such as TFe, Nb, F, SiO2), and uses the test data as the sole quantitative basis for mineral inversion and ore identification, thus realizing the integration of "geology + chemistry" technologies.

[0064] Advanced features: Breaking through the technical boundaries of traditional geological identification, it is the first time that quantitative geochemical analysis has been deeply integrated into the entire process of identifying ore types in complex polymetallic mines.

[0065] Difference 9: Fineness of ore type classification (coarse classification vs. fine classification) Traditional methods can only provide a coarse classification of ore types (e.g., simply classifying it as "iron ore / niobium ore"), and the classification dimensions are limited. This invention achieves refined classification based on semi-quantitative mineral content data: If the percentage content of a single gangue mineral is <15%, the gangue mineral is not named; if 15% ≤ the percentage content of a single gangue mineral is <30%, the gangue mineral is classified as that gangue mineralization; if the percentage content of a single gangue mineral is ≥30%, the gangue mineral is classified as that gangue mineral type; if the percentage content of each gangue mineral in a composite gangue mineral is <15%, the composite gangue mineral is called a mixed type; if 15% ≤ the percentage content of each gangue mineral in a composite gangue mineral is <30%, the composite gangue mineral is classified as composite gangue mineralization; if 30% ≤ the percentage content of each gangue mineral in a composite gangue mineral is <50%, the composite gangue mineral is classified as a composite gangue mineral type; if the percentage content of one gangue mineral in a composite gangue mineral is >50%, the composite gangue mineral is directly identified as that gangue mineral type. The dimensional classification has been increased from 1 dimension to 3 dimensions, which can accurately match the refined needs of mineral processing technology design.

[0066] Quantitative Enhancement: The precision of classification is increased by 200%, enabling customized beneficiation processes for different ore types and improving mine production efficiency.

[0067] Difference 10: Recognition efficiency and time cost (low efficiency vs. high efficiency) Traditional methods: Thin section preparation + microscopic identification of a single sample takes ≥8 hours (4 hours for sample preparation + 4 hours for identification), and can only test one sample at a time, resulting in extremely low batch processing efficiency; This invention allows for powder sample preparation with a single sample taking ≤1 hour, and enables batch processing of geochemical tests (≥50 samples can be tested at a time). The overall identification of a single sample takes ≤2 hours, and there is no need to prepare thin sections, thus eliminating the time-consuming core step of sample preparation.

[0068] Quantitative improvements: Single sample identification efficiency is increased by 75%, and batch processing efficiency is increased by more than 50 times, significantly reducing the time cost of mine sample testing and adapting to the rapid testing needs of the production end.

[0069] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A comprehensive identification method for complex polymetallic ore types, characterized in that, The steps include: (1) Based on the existing geological information of the mining area, clarify the ore type identification scheme and the ore-forming elements corresponding to the ore minerals and the characteristic elements or characteristic compounds corresponding to the gangue minerals; (2) To determine the type of ore in the field samples obtained from the mine; (3) The field samples are crushed and ground; (4) Conduct geochemical tests on the ore-forming elements and characteristic elements or characteristic compounds of the crushed and ground field samples; (5) The gangue mineral content of the field sample is inverted by the measured content of characteristic elements or characteristic compounds; (6) Based on the standard of the ore type discrimination scheme in step (1), the ore type of the field sample is further discriminated by measuring the content of ore-forming elements in the field sample and the content of gangue minerals in the field sample obtained by inversion.

2. The comprehensive identification method for complex polymetallic mine ore types according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step (1), the ore type identification scheme includes different ore-forming element content ranges and corresponding ore types; and different characteristic element or characteristic compound content ranges or different gangue mineral content ranges obtained by inverting the content of characteristic elements or characteristic compounds and corresponding gangue mineral types.

3. The comprehensive identification method for complex polymetallic mine ore types according to claim 2, characterized in that, The different gangue mineral content ranges and corresponding gangue mineral types include: (A) If the percentage content of a single gangue mineral is <15%, then the gangue mineral has no effect on the ore type; (B) If 15% ≤ the percentage content of a single gangue mineral < 30%, then the gangue mineral is the gangue mineralization; (C) If the mass percentage content of a single gangue mineral is ≥30%, then the gangue mineral is of that gangue mineral type; If the gangue mineral is a single type, the gangue mineral type shall be determined according to the type determination methods (A)-(C) above; if the gangue mineral is a composite gangue mineral and the content range of each type of gangue mineral is inconsistent, the types of each type of gangue mineral shall be determined separately according to the type determination methods (A)-(C) above, and then the types of each type of gangue mineral shall be combined. (D) If the percentage content of each gangue mineral in the composite gangue mineral is <15%, then the composite gangue mineral is a mixed type; (E) If the percentage content of each gangue mineral in the composite gangue mineral is less than 30% and 15% or less, then the composite gangue mineral is a composite gangue mineralization. (F) If the percentage content of each gangue mineral in the composite gangue mineral is less than 50% and 30% or less, then the composite gangue mineral is a composite gangue mineral type. (G) If the percentage content of one of the gangue minerals in the composite gangue mineral is >50%, then the composite gangue mineral is directly identified as that gangue mineral type.

4. The comprehensive identification method for complex polymetallic mine ore types according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step (1), the selection of the feature elements refers to the principles of uniqueness and independence; The uniqueness refers to the fact that the characteristic element or characteristic compound is produced only in the selected gangue mineral, or its content percentage is more than 80% higher than the average content percentage in other gangue minerals. The independence refers to the fact that the proportion of the characteristic element or characteristic compound in gangue minerals other than the selected gangue minerals is less than 2%.

5. The comprehensive identification method for complex polymetallic mine ore types according to claim 1, characterized in that, The determination of the characteristic elements or characteristic compounds involves first screening candidate characteristic elements or characteristic compounds of gangue minerals, and then determining them based on the quantification threshold determined by the uniqueness and independence.

6. The comprehensive identification method for complex polymetallic mine ore types according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step (2), the first discrimination is a process in which technicians, during the field geological survey of the mining area, observe the characteristics of the field samples with the naked eye, make empirical estimates of the content of ore-forming elements and characteristic elements of the field samples, and then make a preliminary qualitative judgment on the type of ore sample and give a preliminary name.

7. The comprehensive identification method for complex polymetallic mine ore types according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step (3), the field sample is crushed using a jaw crusher and then ground using a ball mill. The particle size of the field sample after crushing is ≤2mm; the particle size of the field sample after grinding is 180-220 mesh.

8. The comprehensive identification method for complex polymetallic mine ore types according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step (4), the geochemical testing methods include X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and chemical titration.

9. The comprehensive identification method for complex polymetallic mine ore types according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step (5), the inversion formula is: Gangue mineral content = Tested content of characteristic element or compound ÷ Theoretical average content of that element or compound in gangue mineral.

10. The comprehensive identification method for complex polymetallic mine ore types according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step (6), the secondary discrimination includes: based on the data obtained from the test, after inverting the content of gangue minerals by the content of the measured characteristic elements or characteristic compounds, determining the corresponding mineral type of the ore mineral by comparing the content of the ore-forming elements obtained from the test with the industrial grade standard of the mineral type; determining the type of gangue mineral by comparing the content obtained after inverting the characteristic elements or characteristic compounds of the gangue minerals with the requirements of the different gangue mineral content ranges and the corresponding gangue mineral types, and then combining the corresponding mineral type of the ore minerals and the type of gangue minerals to obtain the accurate mine ore type.

Images