Zn release from fluid inclusions in a natural sphalerite

• Published in: International journal of minerals, metallurgy and materials Vol. 20; no. 5; pp. 420 - 426
• Main Authors: Wen, Shu-ming, Liu, Jian, Li, Bo, Han, Run-sheng, Zhang, Yi, Deng, Jiu-shuai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing University of Science and Technology Beijing 01.05.2013; Springer Nature B.V; Faculty of Land Resource Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China%Southwest Institute of Geological Survey Center for Non-ferrous Mineral Resources, Kunming University of Science and Technology,Kunming 650093, China
• Subjects: Ceramics; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Composites; Composition; Corrosion and Coatings; Dissolution; Fluid inclusions; Glass; Inclusions; Liquids; Materials Science; Mathematical analysis; Metallic Materials; Minerals; Natural Materials; Sphalerite; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films; Tribology; Zinc; Zincblende; 天然; 夹杂物; 气液包体; 流体包裹体; 溶解平衡; 理论计算值; 闪锌矿; sphalerite; fluid inclusions; flotation; zinc ore treatment
• ISSN: 1674-4799; 1869-103X
• DOI: 10.1007/s12613-013-0745-0

The type, size, and compositions of fluid inclusions in a natural sphalerite were investigated and the total concentration of Zn released from the fluid inclusions was measured. To compare the total concentration of Zn released from the fluid inclusions with that dissolved from the sphalerite itself, dissolution experiments and theoretical calculations for the dissolution equilibrium of the sphalerite were also performed. The results indicate that large numbers of fluid inclusions with various sizes exist in the sphalerite, which can be divided into four types, i.e., pure gaseous inclusions, pure liquid inclusions, gas-liquid inclusions, and gas-liquid inclusions containing solid minerals. These inclusions were broken open during the grinding process, and their compositions were released to the solution. The total concentration of Zn released from these inclusions reaches 18.35×10^-6 mol/L, which is much higher than that of Zn dissolved from the sphalerite itself （1.93×10^-6 mol/L） and the theoretical calculation value （2.73×10^-8 mol/L）.