A mineralogical prospecting method for cobalt polymetallic ore in plateau arid-semiarid area

Abstract

The present application provides a kind of mineralogy prospecting method of cobalt polymetallic ore in highland arid-semiarid area, comprising the following steps: (1) in the field outcrop of highland arid-semiarid area, look for red-yellow brown iron mineralization, yellow potassium jarosite surface oxidation zone;(2) collect yellow potassium jarosite mineral oxidation zone sample in yellow potassium jarosite mineral oxidation zone;(3) utilize X-ray fluorescence spectrometer to carry out main component analysis to iron oxide, yellow potassium jarosite mineral oxidation zone sample;(4) the sample is screened, and X-ray powder diffraction analysis is carried out, and whether sodium jarosite diffraction peak is analyzed.The method provided by the present application takes simple and direct mineralogical species and component structure characteristics as the prospecting mark of highland arid-semiarid area hot water jet deposition type cobalt mine, realizes to reduce prospecting cost, reduce target area range, improve prospecting efficiency, also provides a new path for re-evaluation of traditional sulfide deposit associated cobalt resource potential.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of hot water jet deposition type metal sulfide ore prospecting method, in particular to a new method for quickly finding cobalt polymetallic ore in plateau arid-semiarid area. BACKGROUND

[0002] Cobalt is widely used in mechanical manufacturing, aerospace, chemical and other industrial fields, and is also an important component material of new energy automobile batteries.

[0003] The crust abundance of cobalt is only 0.002%, which is the least among ferro group elements, and most of the cobalt is associated with the ore, which brings great difficulty to the exploration and development of cobalt resources; the plateau area is wide and sparsely populated, the environment is harsh, the traffic is inconvenient, the terrain is deeply cut, and the work is difficult to carry out; the existing cobalt resource prospecting method is mainly aimed at magmatic type copper-nickel sulfide cobalt deposit (for example, patent CN111077579), for hot water jet deposition type deposit which has cobalt mineralization clues but unknown resource potential and needs to be explored, the long cycle and large consumption of manpower, financial resources and material resources of the existing ore prospecting and exploration methods such as geochemistry, geophysics, trenching and drilling, etc. It is difficult to respond to market supply and demand changes, and a prospecting method capable of quickly narrowing the target range and determining the target area becomes a problem to be solved. SUMMARY

[0004] In order to solve the above problems, the purpose of the present application is to provide a mineralogical prospecting method for cobalt polymetallic ore in plateau arid-semiarid area, which finds hot water jet deposition type cobalt polymetallic ore in plateau arid-semiarid area through specific water-containing iron sulfate mineral species and mineralogical characteristics, so as to economically and quickly lock cobalt mineralization clues, narrow the target area range and improve the cobalt prospecting efficiency.

[0005] In order to achieve the above purpose, the present application provides a mineralogical prospecting method for cobalt polymetallic ore in plateau arid-semiarid area, comprising the following steps:

[0006] (1) searching for red-yellow limonitization and jarosite surface oxidation zone in the field outcrop of plateau arid-semiarid area;

[0007] (2) collecting 0.5-2kg of jarosite mineral oxidation zone sample in limonitization and jarosite mineral oxidation zone;

[0008] (3) using X-ray fluorescence spectrometer to analyze the main components of iron oxide and jarosite mineral oxidation zone sample:

[0009] a) when Na2O≥2wt.%, T Fe2O3≥15wt.%, SO3≥5wt.% and Co2O3≥0.02wt.% in the sample, the sample is analyzed subsequently;

[0010] b) when Na2O < 2 wt.%, T Fe2O3 < 15 wt.%, SO3 < 5 wt.% or Co2O3 < 0.02 wt.% in the sample, the sample is unqualified, return to step (1) to re-search the red-yellow limonitization, jarositization supergene zone;

[0011] (4) screen the sample in a), take <200 mesh sample 0.5-2g to perform X-ray powder diffraction analysis:

[0012] c) when the sample has 3-26 of the 26 natrojarosite characteristic diffraction peaks, it indicates that the sample collection area is the area with cobalt polymetallic primary ore body development;

[0013] d) when the sample has 0-2 of the 26 natrojarosite characteristic diffraction peaks, return to step (1) to re-search the red-yellow limonitization, jarositization supergene zone.

[0014] As described above, the cobalt polymetallic ore is a hot water jet deposit type cobalt ore.

[0015] As described above, the X-ray fluorescence spectrometer is a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer or an indoor X-ray fluorescence spectrometer.

[0016] As described above, the 26 natrojarosite characteristic diffraction peaks have 2θ values of 14.996°; 15.973°; 17.635°; 24.475°; 25.651°; 28.794°; 29.326°; 30.241°; 30.399°; 32.291°; 35.714°; 38.150°; 39.329°; 40.585°; 46.175°; 46.878°; 47.874°; 49.319°; 50.095°; 52.918°; 55.787°; 57.089°; 58.866°; 59.665°; 60.932°; 63.245°, respectively.

[0017] The quartz albite is an important ore-hosting wall rock of the hot water jet type cobalt ore, and the weathering and crushing of the characteristic quartz albite in the hot water jet type deposit is accompanied by the precipitation of Na ions in the albite, which provides sufficient Na ion source for the formation of natrojarosite. In addition, the Na ion has extremely active chemical properties, and under the condition of water, it has the formation condition of natrojarosite, and the ion equation is: 3Fe 3+ +2SO4 2- +Na + +6H2O→

[0018] NaFe[SO4]2(OH)6. The formation of sodium jarosite requires a certain water, oxidation and acidic environment, and the characteristics of sodium jarosite being easily soluble in water indicate that it requires a dry environment for preservation. The highland is strong in sunlight and short in precipitation time, and the amount of water seeping into the ground is very limited, so that the cobalt ore body medium often maintains the characteristics of small amount of water and high acidity. And the sulfate mineral is a soluble mineral, so it can only be preserved in arid areas. During the oxidation process, part of the cobalt element migrates from the primary cobalt ore body to the sodium jarosite in the oxidation zone. Therefore, cobalt-containing sodium jarosite can be used as a typical mineral in the oxidation zone of sodium-rich hot water jet sedimentary deposit in arid areas.

[0019] The beneficial effects of the present application are:

[0020] The present application provides a mineralogical prospecting method for cobalt polymetallic ore in plateau arid-semiarid areas, which uses direct mineralogical markers and is based on the identification and mineralogical characteristics of a specific target mineral species, cobalt-containing sodium jarosite. The required sample size is small, and economic and fast sampling and analysis can be carried out on the ground, which can effectively reduce costs and increase efficiency, and improve the efficiency of cobalt resource prospecting in plateau arid areas. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 A sample of the jarosite mineral oxidation zone outcrop in the Huolugou deposit in Example 1.

[0022] Figure 2 A sample powder X-ray diffraction analysis spectrum of the jarosite mineral oxidation zone in the Huolugou deposit in Examples 1 and 2.

[0023] Figure 3 A sample of the jarosite mineral oxidation zone outcrop in the Huolugou deposit in Example 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative labor fall within the scope of the present application.

[0025] Oxidized ore bodies in highland arid-semiarid areas form unique and well-preserved supergene minerals, which can be used as indicators for ore prospecting (Qin et al., 2008; Zhao et al., 2021). Among them, cobaltite (hydrated arsenate minerals) is a direct indicator of cobalt ore, which is usually in the form of a skin or thin layer and is difficult to preserve, so its development and distribution are very limited, and other supergene minerals of cobalt are even rarer. In contrast, hydrated iron sulfate minerals are relatively widely distributed, with diverse species and variable composition and structure. The jarosite mineral is a common supergene mineral in the oxidation zone of sulfide deposits, with fine particles and often in the form of soil. Whether characteristic type minerals can be found in it and hot water jet deposition type cobalt ore is closely related, so as to achieve a new path for establishing new technical methods for cobalt ore prospecting and exploration under specific conditions by using type minerals. Cobalt mainly exists as a by-product, and the boundary grade of associated cobalt ore is 0.02%, and the industrial grade is 0.06%. There is no unified evaluation index for associated cobalt, and generally, the ore with good smelting performance and cobalt content greater than 0.01% is selected. Because of the low boundary grade and industrial grade, and the low degree of attention to cobalt in the past, it is often ignored in traditional sulfide ore prospecting evaluation.

[0026] The present application provides a mineralogical prospecting method for cobalt polymetallic ore in highland arid-semiarid areas, comprising the following steps:

[0027] (1) In the field outcrop of highland arid-semiarid areas, red-yellow limonitization and jarosite surface oxidation zone are searched;

[0028] (2) 0.5-2 kg of jarosite mineral oxidation zone samples are collected in the limonitization and jarosite mineral oxidation zone;

[0029] (3) The main component analysis of the iron oxide and jarosite mineral oxidation zone sample is carried out by using an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer:

[0030] a) When Na2O≥2wt.%, T Fe2O3≥15wt.%, SO3≥5wt.% and Co2O3≥0.02wt.% in the sample, the sample is subjected to subsequent analysis;

[0031] b) When Na2O<2wt.%, T Fe2O3<15wt.%, SO3<5wt.% or Co2O3<0.02wt.% in the sample, the sample is unqualified, and the red-yellow limonitization and jarosite surface oxidation zone are searched again in step (1);

[0032] (4) The sample in a) is sieved, and 0.5-2 g of <200 mesh sample is subjected to X-ray powder diffraction analysis:

[0033] c) when the sample has 3-26 of the 26 characteristic diffraction peaks of sodium jarosite, it indicates that the sample collection area is a region with the development of cobalt polymetallic primary ore body;

[0034] d) when the sample has 0-2 of the 26 characteristic diffraction peaks of sodium jarosite, return to step (1) to re-search the red-yellow limonitization, jarosite surface oxidation zone.

[0035] The above-mentioned cobalt polymetallic ore is a hydrothermal exhalative sedimentary cobalt ore.

[0036] The above-mentioned X-ray fluorescence spectrometer is a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer or an indoor X-ray fluorescence spectrometer.

[0037] Since the X-ray fluorescence spectrometer can quickly determine whether the main component of sodium jarosite exists in the sample, the X-ray fluorescence spectrometer is used to preliminarily screen the oxidation zone sample. In the case of conditions, the portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer can be used for screening on site, saving the time of sending samples back to the laboratory, and quickly determining the composition of the ore sample, determining whether the sampling area contains a cobalt deposit, narrowing the prospecting range, and improving the prospecting efficiency. In the case of not having a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, the laboratory X-ray fluorescence spectrometer can also be used for ore sample analysis. Since the sample needs to be sent to a fixed laboratory for screening, the efficiency is relatively lower.

[0038] The characteristic diffraction peaks of sodium jarosite are shown in Table 1.

[0039] Table 1 Characteristic diffraction peaks of sodium jarosite

[0040]

[0041]

[0042] The characteristic diffraction peaks of sodium jarosite in the above Table 1 are the characteristic peaks of sodium jarosite powder X-ray diffraction analysis. In the sample, the crystallinity of sodium jarosite and other phases, the complexity of the phases in the sample, the grinding degree and other factors will affect the appearance of the characteristic diffraction peaks of sodium jarosite when the sample is subjected to X-ray diffraction analysis. When there are not less than 3 and at most 26 characteristic diffraction peaks in the sample, it can be judged that the sample contains sodium jarosite. Combined with the determination of the cobalt content of the composition by the X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (≥0.02wt.%), it can be judged that the region where the sample is located has cobalt polymetallic ore, especially hydrothermal exhalative sedimentary cobalt deposit.

[0043] When the X-ray fluorescence spectrometer detects Na2O < 2wt.%, T Fe2O3 < 15wt.% or SO3 < 5wt.%, the region does not have the condition to form a hydrothermal exhalative sedimentary deposit, and further X-ray diffraction analysis is not needed.

[0044] Example 1:

[0045] (1) In the field outcrop of Tuoluogou cobalt (gold) mine Yuvugou ore block, look for brown-red-yellow limonite mineralization, yellow potassium jarosite surface oxidation zone;

[0046] Due to the different development of minerals in the ore belt, different color and mineral combination of oxidation zone will be formed. For the oxidation zone of Tuoluogou cobalt (gold) mine Yuvugou ore block, according to its color and mineral combination characteristics, in order to facilitate analysis, it is divided into 3 zones. The 3 zones are developed yellow potassium jarosite minerals, as shown in Figure 1 (b) is a distant view of the 3 zones (I, II, III), and (a) is a local enlarged view of (b). The color difference can be seen. Figure 1 The middle I zone is mainly red-brown, marked as YN1; the II zone is mainly brown-yellow, marked as YN2; and the III zone is mainly yellowish-brown, marked as YN3. The brown-yellow and yellowish-brown color tones are close when observed closely, but the III tone is lighter than the II when observed from a distance.

[0047] (2) In each of the above 3 zones, 0.5 kg of sample is taken;

[0048] (3) Portable X-ray fluorescence spectrum composition analysis is carried out in the field, and the results are shown in Table 2.

[0049] Table 2 X-ray fluorescence spectrum analysis results of oxidation zone of Yuvugou ore block in Tuoluogou mine area (wt. %)

[0050]

[0051]

[0052] As can be seen from Table 2, the T Fe2O3 content of the 3 samples is ≥15wt. %, the SO3 content of the 3 samples is ≥5wt. %, the Na2O content of the 3 samples is ≥2wt. %, and the Co2O3 content of the 3 samples is ≥0.02wt. %. It shows that the sampling area has the development conditions of hot water jet deposition type cobalt deposit, and further detects whether sodium jarosite is generated.

[0053] (4) Screen the above YN1, YN2 and YN3 samples, and take 2g of each sample <200 mesh for X-ray powder diffraction analysis, and the results are shown in Figure 2 .

[0054] From Figure 2It can be seen that the diffraction peaks of the jaundice group mineral sodium ferronickel are clearly present in YN1, YN2, and YN3 (marked with solid rhombuses). YN1 shows characteristic diffraction peaks of sodium ferronickel at 2θ = 14.996°, 17.635°, 28.794°, 29.326°, 38.150°, 46.175°, and 49.319°; YN2 shows characteristic diffraction peaks of sodium ferronickel at 2θ = 14.996°, 17.635°, 28.794°, 29.326°, 38.150°, 46.175°, and 49.319°; YN3 shows characteristic diffraction peaks of sodium ferronickel at 2θ = 14.996°, 17.635°, 28.794°, 29.326°, 38.150°, 46.175°, and 49.319°. The presence of sodium iron alum diffraction peaks in all three samples indicates that the main mineral phase in the sampling area includes sodium iron alum (NaFe3[SO4]2(OH)6, trigonal crystal system).

[0055] As can be seen from the above, the sampling point of the Yunugou section of the Tuolugou cobalt (gold) mine shows the development of cobalt polymetallic deposits (hydrothermal exhalative sedimentary cobalt deposits). The detection results of this embodiment narrowed the target area and improved the prospecting efficiency. Subsequently, by combining other methods, the actual location of the ore body was finally determined. It was verified that the ore section has a layered ore body, distributed in a near east-west direction.

[0056] Example 2:

[0057] (1) In the Tuolugou cobalt (gold) mine section and Duangou mine section of the East Kunlun Middle East section, search for jaundice-iron aluminate outcrops. Observe that the oxidation zone is brownish-yellow, loose, and soil-like. Figure 3 As shown;

[0058] (2) Collect >0.5 kg of typical surface oxidation zone samples, with sample DG collection location at [location missing]. Figure 3 Within the Chinese border area;

[0059] (3) X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy analysis was performed in the laboratory. The results were as follows: Fe2O3 content was 19.16 wt.%, SO3 content was 27.92 wt.%, Na2O content was 3.27 wt.%, and Co2O3 content was 0.12 wt.%. This indicates that the sampling area has the development conditions of a hydrothermal jet-sedimentary cobalt deposit. Further testing was conducted to determine whether sodium iron alum was formed.

[0060] (4) The above samples were sieved, and 0.5g of <200 mesh sample was subjected to X-ray powder diffraction analysis. The results are as follows: Figure 2 As shown.

[0061] from Figure 2It can be seen that the sample DG has obvious diffraction peaks of the jarosite mineral natrojarosite (solid rhombus mark), and the characteristic diffraction peaks of the natrojarosite 2θ = 15.973°, 17.635°, 28.794°, 29.326°, 38.150°, 46.175°, 49.319° appear. The appearance of the natrojarosite diffraction peaks of the sample DG indicates that the main mineral phase of the sampling area contains natrojarosite (NaFe3[SO4]2(OH)6, trigonal system).

[0062] From the above results, it is speculated that the short ditch sampling point near the Dolu ditch cobalt (gold) ore section of the middle-east section of the East Kunlun has the development of cobalt polymetallic ore (hot water jet deposition type cobalt ore). The detection results of the present embodiment narrow the target range and improve the efficiency of prospecting. Subsequently, the actual position of the ore body is determined by combining other prospecting methods, and it is verified that the ore body developed in this ore section is stratoid and has good continuity.

[0063] From the above embodiment, it can be seen that the mineralogical prospecting method for cobalt polymetallic ore in highland arid-semiarid areas provided by the present application can obtain the chemical composition of the sample by preliminary analysis of the sample by an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, judge whether the region has natrojarosite and whether it contains cobalt, and further determine the existence of the natrojarosite by X-ray powder diffraction analysis, so as to infer the distribution of the cobalt ore body in the region.

[0064] The highland area is arid and has little rain, and the jarosite mineral oxidation zone is very developed, widely distributed and easy to preserve, which provides superior natural conditions for the implementation of the present application; in the present application, cobalt is used as an associated resource, and its development and utilization can greatly improve the added value of the ore deposit, therefore, the present application also provides a new technical solution for re-diagnosis and comprehensive evaluation of the true value and resource potential of traditional sulfide ore deposits.

[0065] The above is the preferred embodiment of the present application, it should be pointed out that the above embodiment is only used to help understand the method of the present application and its core idea; for ordinary skilled in the art, without departing from the principles of the present application, a number of improvements and refinements can be made, these improvements and refinements should also be regarded as the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A mineralogical prospecting method for cobalt polymetallic ore in highland arid-semiarid areas, characterized by, It comprises the following steps: (1) searching for red-yellow limonitization and jarositization surface oxidation zone in highland arid-semiarid area; (2) collecting 0.5-2 kg of jarositization and jarosite mineral oxidation zone sample; (3) using X-ray fluorescence spectrometer to analyze the main components of the sample: a) when Na2O≥2wt.%, T Fe2O3≥15wt.%, SO3≥5wt.% and Co2O3≥0.02wt.% in the sample, the sample is analyzed subsequently; b) when Na2O<2wt.%, T Fe2O3<15wt.%, SO3<5wt.% or Co2O3<0.02wt.% in the sample, the sample is unqualified and returns to step (1) to search for red-yellow limonitization and jarositization surface oxidation zone; (4) screening the sample in a), and taking 0.5-2 g of <200 mesh sample for X-ray powder diffraction analysis: c) when the sample has 3-26 of 26 natrojarosite characteristic diffraction peaks, it indicates that the sample collecting area is the area with cobalt polymetallic ore primary ore body development; d) when the sample has 0-2 of 26 natrojarosite characteristic diffraction peaks, it returns to step (1) to search for red-yellow limonitization and jarositization surface oxidation zone.

2. The method for prospecting according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cobalt polymetallic ore is a hydrothermal exhalative sedimentary cobalt ore.

3. The method for prospecting according to claim 1, wherein The X-ray fluorescence spectrometer is a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer or an indoor X-ray fluorescence spectrometer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein The 2θ values of the 26 natrojarosite characteristic diffraction peaks are 14.996°; 15.973°; 17.635°; 24.475°; 25.651°; 28.794°; 29.326°; 30.241°; 30.399°; 32.291°; 35.714°; 38.150°; 39.329°; 40.585°; 46.175°; 46.878°; 47.874°; 49.319°; 50.095°; 52.918°; 55.787°; 57.089°; 58.866°; 59.665°; 60.932°; 63.245°.

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