Slags and Contaminants
Selected Projects

Silica Sand Contamination
Optical microscopy study and SEM/EDS analysis on samples from a cargo of silica sand and rust from the ship's hold. The purpose of the investigation was to identify and compare the composition of the rust in the silica sand sample with the rust from the ship's hold. SEM/EDS analysis was used to analyse the composition (Fe, Cr, Mn, Si) of the rust (hematite) and the magnetic fraction of the silica. Key minerals/ phases: quartz, hematite, magnetite, steel shards, welding splatter.
See example photomicrographs.

South African PGM Refinery Waste
Investigation into refinery losses of PGM in tramp wood. Key minerals: PGM, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, pentlandite, wood chip and plastic contaminants.

Indonesian Tin Concentrate
Lead contamination in tin concentrate. Mineralogical description, associations, liberation of cassiterite and identification of contaminants. Key minerals: cassiterite, magnetite, ilmenite, metallic lead.

Romanian Copper Slag
Mineralogical description, size distribution and locking relationships between copper bearing phases. Key minerals: chromite, pyrite, bornite, chalcopyrite, chalcocite, native copper.

Titanium Slag
Optical microscopy study to determine size distribution and locking relationships between titanium bearing phases. SEM/EDS analysis to determine composition of Ti-Al alloys. Key minerals: Ti-Al alloys, glass slag.

UK, Chrome Slag
Optical microscopy study to determine size distribution and locking relationships between chromium bearing phases in a blast furnace slag. Key minerals: various Fe-Cr alloys, glass slag.

 

(Note: example reports have been modified to maintain commercial confidentiality)