• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.251-265
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• 2010

A column bioleaching experiment at room temperature with no addition of sulfuric acid was effectively carried out to leach the valuable elements from pyrite, which is common mine waste. The Fe concentration of pyrite leachate from bioleaching column was 14 times higher than that of the control leachate, and secondary minerals were not formed. The $SO_4^{2-}$ concentration of the pyrite leachate was 2.99 times higher. The XRD intensity of the (111), (200), (220), (311), (222), (230) and (321) planes of pyrite decreased, whereas the intensity of (210) and (211) increased after column bioleaching.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2006.03a
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• pp.1083-1089
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• 2006

Acid drainage occurs when sulfide minerals are exposed to an oxidizing environment. The objective of this study was to examine the optimum condition for creating a phosphate coating on standard pyrite surfaces for reduction of pyrite oxidation. The solution of $10^{-2}M\;KH_2PO_4\;10^{-2}M\;H_2O_2$ pH 6 was identified as the best phosphate coating agent for the reduction of pyrite oxidation. The formation of an iron phosphate coating on pyrite surfaces was confirmed with ore microscope and scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy. The temperature did not significantly affect on the formation of phosphate coating on the surface of pyrite. However, the phosphate coating was less stable at higher temperature than at lower temperature. The phosphate coating was quitely stable at wide range of pH and $H_2O_2$ concentration. The less than 3.4% of phosphate was dissolved at pH 2.79 and 10.64 and less than 1.0% of phosphate was dissolved at 0.1M $H_2O_2$. On the basis of these results, the phosphate coating can effectively reduce the negative environmental of acid rock drainage.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.385-396
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• 2020

A uniaxial compression test was performed to analyse the mechanical properties and macroscale and mesoscale failure mechanisms of sandstone with pyrite concretions. The effect of the pyrite concretions on the evolution of macroscale cracks in the sandstone was further investigated through numerical simulations with Particle Flow Code in 2D (PFC2D). The results revealed that pyrite concretions substantially influence the mechanical properties and macroscale and mesoscale failure characteristics of sandstone. During the initial loading stage, significant stress concentrations occurred around the edges of the pyrite concretion accompanied by the preferential generation of cracks. Meanwhile, the events and cumulative energy counts of the acoustic emission (AE) signal increased rapidly because of friction sliding between the concretion and sandstone matrix. As the axial stress increased, the degree of the stress concentration remained relatively unchanged around the edges of the concretions. The cracks continued growing rapidly around the edges of the concretions and gradually expanded toward the centre of the sample. During this stage, the AE events and cumulative energy counts increased quite slowly. As the axial stress approached the peak strength of the sandstone, the cracks that developed around the edges of the concretion started to merge with cracks that propagated at the top-left and bottom-right corners of the sample. This crack evolution ultimately resulted in the shear failure of the sandstone sample around the edges of the pyrite concretions.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.55-58
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• 2005

A 120-cm core recovered from Lake Hovsgol, the northern Mongolia provides evidence for climate variability since the Marine Isotope Stage 3, representing a sharp lithological change. The lowermost part of the core consists of diatom-barren calcareous silty clay without coarse sands, framboidal pyrite, and biogenic components deposited during the MIS 3. Following the last glacial maximum, in-situ moss is included in the sediments, as lake-level was retreated by cold and dry environment with low precipitation. The AMS radiocarbon ages of the plant fragments match a marked lithologic boundary between 14,060 and 14,325 $^{14}C$ yr BP. The contents of coarse sands abruptly increase, indicating probably wind-derived sandy dust or coarse grains contributed from floating icebergs. And abundant framboidal pyrite grains were deposited in an anoxic environment, as reflected by high accumulation of organic matters at a low lake stand. During the deglaciation, quantities of coarse sands, ostracod, shell fragments, framboidal pyrite, and diatom markedly varies by regional and global scale climate regimes. Some allochthonous coarse sands were probably ice-rafted debris derived from floating icebergs. A rapid increase in diatom productivity probably marked the onset of Bolling-Allerod warming. Subsequent high concentration of framboidal pyrite probably represents a dry and cold condition, such as Younger Drays events. Consistent warm period with high precipitation at Holocene is documented by diatomaceous clayey ooze without framboidal pyrite, coarse sands, and ostracod.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 1997

Acid sulfate soils occur in the Gimhae plain where they have been formed from brackish alluvial sediments along the sea coast and river estuary. Acid sulfate soils suffer extremely acidity as a result of oxidation of pyrite. Total sulfur content of the soils was the highest in B horizon of Gimhae series and the lowest in A horizon of Deunggu series. The dominant fractions of sulfur in the soils were jarosite-S for Gimhae series, pyrite-S for Bongrim and Haecheog series, and organic-S for Deunggu series. The essential chemical processes of acid sulfate soils are, firstly, the formation of pyrite in waterlogged environment, and subsequently, the oxidation of this pyrite following natural or artificial drainage. Jarosite [K Fe3(SO4)2(OH)6] is a common sulfur mineral of the oxidation condition. Jarosite shows cubic particles with tetrahedral faces.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.46-52
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• 2010

Acid mine drainage occurs when sulfide minerals are exposed to an oxidizing environment. The objective of this study was to inhibit the oxidation of pyrite by applying various coating agent such as $KH_2PO_4$, MgO and $KMnO_4$ over its surface as an oxidation inhibitors. Experiments were conducted for 8 days to test the feasibility of oxidation inhibitors. The optimal condition of coating agent for standard pyrite and IK mine was the combination of 0.01M $KH_2PO_4$, 0.01M NaOAc and 0.01M NaClO. Otherwise, for YD mine the combination of 0.01M $KMnO_4$, 0.01M NaOAc and 0.01M NaClO. The $SO_4^{2-}$ reduction efficiency of pyrite, IK and YD mine samples was 70, 92 and 84%, respectively. For 8 days, no significant increase of $SO_4^{2-}$ from pyrite sample coated with inhibitor was observed. The pH of solution remains in between 4 to 6 for the reaction conditions.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.139-150
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• 2013

In order to effectively leach Fe from pyrite, the application of microwave energy and ammonia solution has been conducted. Pyrite transforms into hematite and pyrrhotite when treated with microwave radiation for 60 minutes, and in this time the highest amount of Fe was leached by the ammonia solution. Up to 99% of the Fe was leached when the experimental conditions were: 325-400 mesh particle size for the pyrite and 60 min. was the microwave exposure time. The ammonia leaching conditions were 0.3 M sulfuric acid, 2.0 M ammonium sulfate and 0.1 M hydrogen peroxide concentration. The pyrite, hematite, and pyrrhotite were not detected using XRD analysis from the solid-residues treated by the ammonia solution except for quartz.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.233-244
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• 2015

In order to study the phase transformation of pyrite and to determine the maximum Fe leaching factors, pyrite samples were an electric furnace and microwave oven and then ammonia leaching was carried out. The rim structure of hematite was observed in the sample exposed in an electric furnace, whereas a rim structure consisting of hematite and pyrrhotite were found in the microwave treated sample. Numerous interconnected cracks were only formed in the microwave treated sample due to the arcing effect, and these cracks were not found in the electric furnace treated sample. Under XRD analysis, pyrite and hematite were observed in the electric furnace treated sample, whereas pyrite, hematite and pyrrhotite were found in the microwave treated sample. The results of the pyrite sample leaching experiments showed that the Fe leaching was maximized with the particle size of -325 mesh, sulfuric acid of 2.0 M, ammonium sulfate of 1.0 M, and hydrogen peroxide of 1.0 M. The electric furnace and microwave treated samples were tested under the maximum leaching conditions, the Fe leaching rate was much greater in the microwave treated sample than in the electric furnace treated sample and the maximum Fe leaching time was also faster in the microwave treated sample than in the electric furnace treated sample. Accordingly, it is expected that the microwave heating can enhance (or improve) Fe leaching in industrial minerals as well as pyrite decomposition in gold ores.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.537-543
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• 2003

As pyrite is commonly associated with arsenopyrite, the use of pyrite including arsenopyrite for medicine requires close attention on arsenic toxicity. The toxicity was reduced by traditional processing operations include heating and quenching in vinegar. To verify the scientific effects of this process, pyrite containing many crystals of arsenopyrite was processed at temperatures from 45$0^{\circ}C$ to 85$0^{\circ}C$ and through as many as 5 processing cycles. Arsenopyrite completely disappeared when processed only once at $650^{\circ}C$ while it remained even after 5 processing cycles at 45$0^{\circ}C$. Arsenic was most abundant in medicinal mineral samples processed at 45$0^{\circ}C$ and sharply decreased when processed at $650^{\circ}C$ or 85$0^{\circ}C$ And arsenic extraction test in water was carried out from the processed pyrite medicine on the assumption that pyrite medicines with the lowest As metal content would be most desirable. Arsenic were most abundant in water extracted from medicinal mineral samples processed at 45$0^{\circ}C$ and sharply decreased when processed at $650^{\circ}C$ or 85$0^{\circ}C$. But the extracted As concentrations in water exceeded drinking water standards even when processed at 85$0^{\circ}C$. Increasing temperature promoted elimination of arsenopyrite and reduction of As in medicinal minerals and the extraction solutions. But the effects of processing cycles at the same processing temperature were not clear. Heating temperature is more important than number of processing cycles for the removal of arsenic, and it is necessary to heat pyrite to over $650^{\circ}C$ to remove it.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2008

Artificial mattes were prepared with adding pyrite or chalcopyrite as sulfur sources with Cu-Ni-Co-Fe alloy. The major phases identified by X-ray diffraction pattern were $(FeSi)_9S_8$, $CuFeS_2$, FeS, $Co_4S_3$, $Ni_3S_2$ and $Cu_2S$ for both mattes, and the matte prepared by adding chalcopyrite showed the higher peak of $Cu_2S$ due to high content of copper. Under optimum conditions, more than 95% copper, 90% nickel and 90% cobalt were extracted into leaching solution and sulfur concentration in the mattes did not much affect the leaching efficiency of the metals. The increase of the amount of pyrite or chalcopyrite added decreased pH in leaching solution and increased the concentration of iron ion dissolved in the leaching solution and the amount of residue.