Cobalt mineralogy at the Iron Creek deposit, Idaho cobalt belt, USA: Implications for domestic critical mineral production
Cobalt mineralogy at the Iron Creek deposit, Idaho cobalt belt, USA: Implications for domestic critical mineral production
复制标题
美国爱达荷州钴矿带 Iron Creek 矿床的钴矿物学：对国内关键矿物生产的影响
作者：
Holley, E.A.;Zaronikola, N.;Trouba, J.;Pfaff, K.;Thompson, J.;Spiller, E.;Anderson, C.;Eggert, R.
美国目前的政策旨在为能源转型建立关键矿产的国内供应链。位于爱达荷州钴带（ICB）的铁溪（Iron Creek）存款是最有前途的钴（Co）靶区之一。我们的案例研究说明了矿物学在关键矿产潜力战略评估中的重要性。Iron Creek的大部分Co以Fe置换的形式存在于黄铁矿中，Ag、As、Bi、Ni、Pb、Se、Te ±痕量Au和Sb以晶格结合和包裹体形式存在。钴矿物与贫钴黄铜矿共生，含Cu ±微量In和Zn。在世界范围内，大多数钴是从矿物学上不同于ICB的矿床中回收的，美国目前缺乏回收这种钴及其伴生金属的基础设施。ICB矿石矿物可以通过高压釜、焙烧炉、熔炼炉、生物浸出或堆浸进行处理。通过高压釜回收Ag、As、Au、Bi、In、Pb、Se、Te和Zn将是昂贵的，并且建造用于ICB矿石的定制熔炉可能是不经济的，因此这些元素将成为废物，而不管临界性如何。Co-Fe和Co-As硫化物矿物最适合通过湿法冶金高压釜工艺回收Co和Ni，在惰性气氛焙烧炉中对含钴黄铁矿/毒砂进行预处理，在新的国内或预期的国际设施中。ICB是美国已知的第二大钴资源。在ICB中考虑矿石矿物学在国内生产战略中至关重要。
Current U.S. policies aim to establish domestic supply chains of critical minerals for the energy transition. The Iron Creek deposit in the Idaho cobalt belt (ICB) is one of the most promising cobalt (Co) targets. Our case study illustrates the importance of mineralogy in strategic evaluations of critical mineral potential. Most of the Co at Iron Creek occurs as Fe substitution in pyrite, with lattice-bound and inclusion-hosted Ag, As, Bi, Ni, Pb, Se, Te ± trace Au and Sb. Cobalt also occurs in minor cattierite-vaesite. The Co minerals are intergrown with Co-poor chalcopyrite hosting Cu ± minor In and Zn. Worldwide, most Co is recovered from deposits mineralogically distinct from the ICB, and the United States currently lacks infrastructure to recover this Co and its associated metals. ICB ore minerals could be processed by autoclave, roaster, smelter, bioleach, or heap leach. Recovery of the Ag, As, Au, Bi, In, Pb, Se, Te, and Zn would be costly by autoclave, and construction of a custom smelter for ICB ores is likely uneconomic, so these elements would become waste irrespective of criticality. The Co-Fe and Co-As sulfide minerals are most suitable for Co and Ni recovery by a hydrometallurgical autoclave process, with potential pretreatment of cobaltiferous pyrite/arsenopyrite in an inert-atmosphere roaster, in new domestic or anticipated international facilities. The ICB is the second largest known Co resource in the United States. Consideration of ore mineralogy in the ICB is essential in strategies for domestic production.