An Innovative Use Of Pulsed Power Technology For Separation Of Minerals From Ores

The effectiveness of liberating minerals from ores using electrocrushing (EC) and the electrohydraulic (EH) effects was determined as a function of energy deposited in the rock, the applied field strength, pulse width and electrode configuration. Copper porphyry was selected as the ore, and 10 cm diameter circular samples of varying thickness were prepared and tested in a short pulse facility (below 1/spl mu/s pulse width) and a long pulse facility (10 ps pulse width). Post test analyses included: visual inspection, determination of particle size distribution and X-ray fluorescence. The current within the pulse moves preferentially along the copper ore interface and creates a directionality to the fracture energy resulting in a preferential fracturing, exposing the metal as well as liberating metal particles. Copper liberation varied from 600 ppm to 38,000 ppm per gram crushed ore, as a function of energy input, pulse length and electrode configuration.