Constellation, le dépôt institutionnel de l'Université du Québec à Chicoutimi

Résumé

The incorporation of contaminating elements in vanadiferous magnetite concentrates produced from layered intrusions can lead to expensive complications during vanadium extraction and purification processes. These contaminants may be contained in magnetites, as well as in gangue minerals attached to magnetites after the ore was comminuted. To better understand the flow of contaminating elements incorporated into magnetite concentrates, this project investigates the implications of textural and chemical features of mineralogy on the metallurgical behavior of vanadium ores produced from the Lac Doré Complex in Chibougamau (Québec). In situ quantitative mineralogical analysis will be combined with laboratory-scale comminution and magnetic separation tests to develop a framework for a geometallurgical model aiming to improve the process leading to the production of high-purity magnetite concentrates. Results from our preliminary petrographic study reveal that magnetite is preferentially associated with ilmenite, ferrochlorite and ferropargasite in response to magmatic and metamorphic processes. As the mineral abundance, attachments and composition vary greatly in the cumulate pile due to changes in rock type and metamorphic conditions, the chemical constancy of magnetite concentrates will inevitably be affected.