Microtomography of technogeneous mineral matter

We present the possibility of using the method of X-ray Computed microTomography in a complex of modern laboratory physical testing methods for the study of mineral raw materials for technological mineralogy tasks, including data on mineral composition and morphostructural characteristics, separation of ore and rock-forming minerals, raw matter quality forecast. The results of studies of metallurgical slag, pellets, tailings, are given. The X-ray CT detected eutectic colonies and the heterogeneity of the magnetite grains in Fe-bearing slag. Thus, the chemical methods of processing are favorable for such slag. Ni- bearing slag has glassy matrix where units of the ore phases are irregularly distributed. The latter hasa heterogeneous structure and Trevor-Magnezioferrit composition, so can be extracted not by physical, but chemical methods. The pelletized tails from pyrite ores processing were studied for useful mineral phases. The X-ray CT detected useful phases residual content less than the permissible, so pellets can be used for voids workings reclamation, etc. The shop-soiled iron factory tailings were collected from two storage areas, such as the beach area and the settling pond. The X-ray CT study resulted in multiplicity and fine-grain dimension of constituent mineral phase, irregularity of their distribution. But the both tailing probes displayed similarity of ore minerals and texture features. So, joint enrichment of both tailings can be used for their recycling.