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Department of Geology, University of Wales College of Cardiff, PO Box 914, Cardiff CF1 3YE, UK
Mineralogical characterization of an ore deposit is an essential on-going activity in a continuum of evaluation exercises and decisions which operate from the very first recognition of mineralization to the cessation of mining and beyond. The main input of the mineralogist to ore evaluation is through the provision of a detailed qualitative and quantitative mineralogical representation of an ore that is specifically targeted to the needs of the process engineer in determining metallurgical recovery, especially during the exploration and pre-production stage. This process mineralogical input is often related to fine-tuning in mining and processing resulting from unexpected variations in the mineralogy of the ore to the mill. Mineralogical characteristics of platinum ore, refractory gold ores, and complex Cu-Zn-Pb ores are used to illustrate aspects of process mineralogical input at various stages in the life cycle of a mine. It is concluded that it is difficult for the mineralogist to become established as an essential and ongoing participant of exploration and mine evaluation exercises. It is thus important that both process engineers and geologists are given a better training in process mineralogy than is presently the case. Most mineralogical training and research in geology departments is exclusive of industrial applications.
