Sithembiso Ntlhabane

MSc (commenced 2016)

Project Title: Developing an integrated mineralogical framework

Supervisors: Dr Megan Becker; Prof Dee Bradshaw; Dr Edson Charikiya

Abstract

The minerals industry is currently facing numerous multifaceted challenges spanning the techno-economic, environmental and social spheres. The adoption of sustainability thinking is a holistic approach to addressing these challenges and their relative interactions, rather than just focusing on individual issues. The ability to do so requires an integrated modelling framework that incorporates mineralogy, so that the effect of ore complexity and variability on one or more of these factors can be simultaneously evaluated and optimised. The objective of this study is to demonstrate how an integrated modelling framework can contribute to achieving some of the sustainability principles. A case study of a polymetallic sulphide ore is being investigated in terms of predicting both metallurgical performance (flotation grade and recovery) and selected environmental indicators (acid rock drainage potential). The framework uses a combination of simple flotation models, theoretical mineralogical predictions, and the element to mineral conversion (EMC) methodology. The framework provides a conceptual starting point for a new approach to traditional process mineralogy studies.