Extractivemetallurgy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Extractivemetallurgy is the study of the processes used in the separation and concentration (benefaction) of raw materials. The field is an applied science, covering all aspects of the physical and chemical processes used to produce mineral-containing and metallic materials, sometimes for direct use as a finished product, but more often in a form that requires further physical processing which is generally the subject of physical metallurgy, ceramics, and other disciplines within the broad field of materials science. The field of extractivemetallurgy encompasses many specialty sub-disciplines, each concerned with various physical and chemical processes that are steps in an overall process of producing a particular material. These specialties are generically grouped into the categories of mineral processing, hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy, and electrometallurgy. The distinctions among these groups of sub-disciplines within extractivemetallurgy is far from clear, and many commercially important metallurgical processes involve considerable overlap. The theoretical basis of extractivemetallurgy is underpinned by the more general sciences of physics, chemistry, and geology. Additionally, the practice of extractivemetallurgy nearly always involves contributions from other scientific fields such as analytical chemistry and mineralogy.

Contents
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1 Mineral processing 2 Hydrometallurgy 3 Pyrometallurgy 4 Electrometallurgy 5 References

[edit] Mineral processing

Mineral processing involves the processes used to manipulate the particle size of solid raw materials and to separate valuable materials from materials of no value, referred to as gangue. Usually, particle size reduction, also referred to as comminution, is required to permit efficient separation of the valuable materials from gangue. Separation processes take advantage of physical properties of the materials in order to separate them from each other. These physical properties can include density, particle size and shape, electrical and magnetic properties, and surface properties. Since many size reduction and separation processes involve the use of water, solid-liquid separation processes are also a subject of mineral processing.

[edit] Hydrometallurgy
Main article: Hydrometallurgy Hydrometallurgy is concerned with processes involving aqueous solutions to extract metals from ores. The most common hydrometallurgical process is leaching, which involves dissolution of the valuable metals into the aqueous solution. After the solution is separated

from the ore solids, the solution is often subjected to various processes of purification and concentration before the valuable metal is recovered either in its metallic state or as a chemical compound. The solution purification and concentration processes may include precipitation, distillation, adsorption, and solvent extraction. The final recovery step may involve precipitation, cementation, or an electrometallurgical process. Sometimes, hydrometallurgical processes may be carried out directly on the ore material without any pretreatment steps. More often, the ore must be pretreated by various mineral processing steps, and sometimes by pyrometallurgical processes.

[edit] Pyrometallurgy
Main article: Pyrometallurgy Pyrometallurgy involves high temperature processes where chemical reactions take place among gases, solids, and molten materials. Solids containing valuable metals are reacted to form intermediate compounds for further processing or converted into their elemental or metallic state. Pyrometallurgical processes that involve gases and solids are typified by calcining and roasting operations. Processes that produce molten products are collectively referred to as smelting operations. The energy required to sustain the high temperature pyrometallurgical processes may come entirely from the exothermic nature of the chemical reactions taking place, usually oxidation reactions. Often, however, energy must be added to the process by combustion of fuel or, in the case of some smelting processes, by the direct application of electrical energy.

[edit] Electrometallurgy
Main article: Electrometallurgy Electrometallurgy involves metallurgical processes that take place in some form of electrolytic cell. The most common types of electrometallurgical processes are electrowinning and electro-refining. Electrowinning is an electrolysis process used to recover metals in aqueous solution, usually as the result of an ore having undergone one or more hydrometallurgical processes. The metal of interest is plated onto the cathode, while the anode is an inert electrical conductor. Electro-refining is used to dissolve an impure metallic anode (typically from a smelting process) and produce a high purity cathode. Fused salt electrolysis is another electrometallurgical process whereby the valuable metal has been dissolved into a molten salt which acts as the electrolyte, and the valuable metal collects on the cathode of the cell. The fused salt electrolysis process is conducted at temperatures sufficient to keep both the electrolyte and the metal being produced in the molten state. The scope of electrometallurgy has significant overlap with the areas of hydrometallurgy and (in the case of fused salt electrolysis) pyrometallurgy. Additionally, electrochemical phenomena play a considerable role in many mineral processing and hydrometallurgical processes.

[edit] References
Gilchrist, J.D. (1989). "Extraction Metallurgy", Pergamon Press. Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extractive_metallurgy" View page ratings Rate this page Rate this page Page ratings What's this? Current average ratings. Trustworthy

Objective Complete
TECH GUIDE

What's the Problem?

Environmental Impacts of Mining: Suface& Groundwater Contamination

Water becomes easily contaminated at mine sites when it comes into contact with waste rock and tailings. Surface water and groundwater can run off site contaminating downstream water bodies with highly acidic, metal laden wastewater. For more information on this topic see, the acid mine drainage formation section. Water can also become contaminated with toxic chemicals used for processing mine materials such as cyanide, petroleum products, oil, solvents, acids, and reagents. For more information on this topic, see the cyanide and other chemical releases section. Damming Dams have gained much recent attention concerning their environmental and economic impacts on the land, animals, and humans. Dams tend to disrupt nature's equilibrium between the land and the rivers that are broken due to damming. This disruption of equilibrium is akin to the disruptions created by mining. The consequences of damming can not only affect the watershed where the dam is located but it can also affect the web of life it supports. Some of the environmental impacts are discussed in the following paragraphs and additional references are also given. Dams have numerous environmental impacts. The reduction of water flow from a river can change the landscape downstream of the dam, which in turn can affect the ecosystem's flora and fauna. A dam holds back sediments, especially the heavy gravel and cobbles. The river, deprived of its sediment load, seeks to recapture it by eroding the downstream channel and banks, undermining bridges and other riverbank structures. The erosion effect deepens the channel which will in turn lower the groundwater table along a river, threatening vegetation and local wells in the floodplain and requiring crop irrigation in places where there was previously no need. The depletion of riverbed gravels reduces habitat for many fish that spawn in the gravelly river bottom, and for invertebrates such as insects, mollusks, and crustaceans. The dammed sediments can also cause more far-reaching affects such as coastal erosion. In addition, dams alter the flow pattern of a river, both reducing its overall volume and changing its seasonal variations. The alteration of flows reaching a river's estuary, where fresh water meets the sea, is a major cause of the precipitous decline of sea fisheries. Dams also prevent flooding events downstream which alter the river and floodplain ecosystems that have closely adapted to a river's flooding cycle. The native plants and animals depend on the river's variations for reproduction, hatching, migration, and other important lifecycle stages. Annual floods deposit nutrients on the land, flush out backwater channels, and replenish wetlands. It is generally recognized by biologists that dam building is the single most destructive element of many factors causing the rapid disappearance of riverine species. In addition, dams present a barrier for certain fish species, such as salmon, that migrate upstream to spawn. These environmental consequences should be closely reviewed before damming projects are initiated. The environmental problems they create could negate the environmental problems we are attempting to solve by reclaiming mine lands

What's the Problem?

Environmental Impacts of Mining: Erosion & Sedimentation

TECH GUIDE

Erosion and sedimentation present another environmental issue for mine sites. When material is disturbed in significant quantities, as it is in the mining process, large quantities of sediment are transported by water erosion. The sediment eventually drops out of solution and sedimentation occurs at some point downstream from the erosive source. The degree of erosion and sedimentation depends on: the degree to which the surface has been disturbed, the prevalence of vegetative cover, the type of soil, the slope length, and the degree of the slope.

Erosion and sedimentation affect surface water and wetlands more than any other media. Erosion can adversely affect soil organisms, vegetation, and revegetation efforts because it results in the movement of soil, including topsoil and nutrients, from one location to another.

Mining and its Effects on the Environment

Part 1: Issue Description

The issue is the conflict between opposing parties over mining. What is mining? Mining is the excavation of useful minerals that come from within the earth, usually found in ore bodies, veins, or coal seams. Mining can be carried out almost anywhere, from 4,000 m above sea level to 4,000 below. Mining can happen in a lot of different places, from tropic jungles to the Arctic. Some examples of valuable minerals that can be mined are coal, copper, silver, iron, gold, diamonds, etc. and everything that cannot be grown or artificially made. The valuable minerals go through quite a process to be separated from the tailings. Mining is very important in so many ways. It gives us access to minerals and material that we need. There are many different uses for many different types of minerals. The Steps of Mining: There are many different steps involved in mining. The first step of mining is prospecting an area to locate an ore. This involves physically going out into the field and searching for different types of minerals and fossils to give you an indication of where you might find an ore body. Next is the exploration of the area, which involves finding and determining the extent and value of the mineral-rich ore, through several different methods including hands-on field work, remote sensing, and drilling. There are four stages of mineral exploration: 1. Area Selection: the most important stage, it is important to choose an area that is possible to find ore deposits easily, cheaply and quickly. In this step, you have to

Mining and its Effects on the Environment

Part 1: Issue Description

The issue is the conflict between opposing parties over mining. What is mining? Mining is the excavation of useful minerals that come from within the earth, usually found in ore bodies, veins, or coal seams. Mining can be carried out almost anywhere, from 4,000 m above sea level to 4,000 below. Mining can happen in a lot of different places, from tropic jungles to the Arctic. Some examples of valuable minerals that can be mined are coal, copper, silver, iron, gold, diamonds, etc. and everything that cannot be grown or artificially made. The valuable minerals go through quite a process to be separated from the tailings. Mining is very important in so many ways. It gives us access to minerals and material that we need. There are many different uses for many different types of minerals. The Steps of Mining: There are many different steps involved in mining. The first step of mining is prospecting an area to locate an ore. This involves physically going out into the field and searching for different types of minerals and fossils to give you an indication of where you might find an ore body. Next is the exploration of the area, which involves finding and determining the extent and value of the mineral-rich ore, through several different methods including hands-on field work, remote sensing, and drilling. There are four stages of mineral exploration:

1. Area Selection: the most important stage, it is important to choose an area that is possible to find ore deposits easily, cheaply and quickly. In this step, you have to know how ores are formed and likely places they would be formed in. Looking at maps and knowing where ores have been found previously helps in finding the location of more possible ores. 2. Target Generation: This stage involves investigation of the geology through maps, geophysics, and testing the surface and subsurface minerals of the area. Includes three distinct methods: geophysical methods, geochemical methods and remote sensing. 3. Resource Evaluation : This stage lets you know the quality and quantity of the mineral in the area. This is achieved mainly by drilling. 4. Reserve Definition: Converts an ore resource to a mineral reserve. Similar to resource evaluation, except a lot more detailed and thorough. 5. Profit Planning: This step involves planning out a mine to evaluate the economically recoverable portion of the deposit. You have to conduct a feasibility study to decide whether you should or shouldnt build a mine there. In these studies, you look at how much profit is going to be lost/gained in the long run, and how economically and environmentally feasible it would be to build the mine. 6. Mine Construction: This step is physically making the mine. You have to make it so there is access to an ore body. There are many different types of mines, including hard rock mines, in which you make tunnels and shafts going into rock to retrieve an ore, open-pit mines, which are used when the desired minerals are generally located near the top of the earth, underground coal mines, which are mines that go underground to a coal seam, borehole mining, in which holes are drilled into the ground in order to retrieve minerals, copper mines, gold mines, deepsea mines, mountaintop removal mining, etc. 7. Mining: This step is the actual excavation of minerals from the ground. This is achieved in many different ways, depending on what type of mine it is and what you want to take out of the ground. 8. Ecological Rebuilding: The reclamation of the mine site to make the land suitable for usage in the future. This means returning the land as much as you can to its former self, after all the mining is done. The land becomes degraded after it is mined, so it is important to restore it as much as possible. Issue Problems The problem of the issue is the impact of mining on the environment vs. the necessity of the minerals mined. Mining is very harsh on the environment. To justify just how bad some mining is, think about the fact that producing a single gold ring generates 20 tons of mine waste. And where does that waste go? Into the water, air, land, animals, and even into us. However, mining is a bare necessity. It gives us access to necessary minerals and material that we use constantly. This creates many issues, with the mining companies wanting to go forward with plans for mines, and some people strongly opposing it. Mining gives jobs and makes money, as well as giving us all the materials we need, so it is very good in that sense. It is very bad on the environmental side, though. We will describe later on just how bad mining is for the environment, and we will go into detail about the necessity of mining. Key players Mining Supporters:Includes mine employees, mining companies, investors, mining lobbyists, civilians in favour of mining, and politicians in favour of using the current

methods of mining. Mining Companies: Mining companies support the current methods of mining for obvious reasons. Mining is how they turn a profit. They believe that the benefits of

mining [think money] far outweigh th e disadvantages. They are willing to destroy the environment to extract the necessary minerals. Beliefs and Values: Mining companies believe that what they do is worth it. They dont care about the environment; their sole value is profit. They believe that environmentalists are wrong, and that what they do is for the greater good. They think that economy outweighs the environment. They know that the things they are mining (for the most part) are necessities that are used in everyday life, so they think it is vital to keep mining and extracting those materials, even if it means risking the health of the planet. Mining Lobbyists: These people are hired by mining companies to lobby support for the mining industry. They persuade the public and members of government that mining is beneficial and necessary, while downplaying the cons of mining. This includes holding meetings and lectures, and giving speeches talking about their beliefs and values. These go strictly against the thoughts and beliefs of environmentalists against mining. They try to pursue people into thinking mining is good, because of the necessity of all of the material mined, as in jewelry and every day uses. Beliefs and Values: Mining lobbyists believe that the current methods of mining are the right, and only, ways to go.They will fight for the mining companies, convincing anyone who will listen thattheir company is right, and that the current methods of mining are safe, relatively eco-friendly, necessary, etc.They have a lot of the same beliefs as people in the mining companies.They look at mining as being necessary because of how much we use the minerals and materials extracted. Civilians:These are ordinary people who are in favour of the current methods of mining. In a way, we are all supporters of the current methods of mining.Despite how we feel about how mining is accomplished, we use its minerals all the time.For example, every time you turn on your television, you are utilizing 35 different minerals procured through mining.We sometimes dont realize how much we use mined products.All the jewelry we own is mined, as well as the copper in wires, and a vast number of other things we use in our everyday lives. Beliefs and Values:Civilians who believe in the current methods of mining think itsnecessary to extract minerals.Those types of people are the type that listen to mininglobbyists and who have the same beliefs and values as them. Politicians:Mining is always a hot topic in politics.Platforms are built and broken on the issue.Politicians are forced to take a stance on the subject.They have to make decisions on whether they think the mines that are going to be built will be economical as well as environmentally-friendly.Mining is a pretty big issue in politics, and it can be a deciding factor in whether or not some people vote for them. Beliefs and Values:Politicians have to make up their minds about what they think is right as far as mining is concerned.Politicians who are for the current methods of mining have to explain to people their beliefs on why they think the current methods of mining