SULPHIDE meets CHLORIDEWellgreen's Copper is = Chalcopyrite.
Ore tested in 2012 = 45% silicate chloride.
Page 279
Chlorite/Serpentine - 45 % Mineral mass
Page - 291
Copper and nickel are the major value metals in this ore and occur almost exclusively as chalcopyrite,and pentlandite, respectively. The non-sulphide minerals are mainly chlorites, amphiboles, pyroxene, talc, and feldspar.
• There are a high proportion of chlorites/serpentine, pyroxene and talc in the ore which may require depressants to avoid recovery in the concentrate.
Link -
https://secure.kaiserresearch.com/i/jk/tr16/TRNKL20120801.pdf
Here's a research paper on,
Chalcopyrite reaction to, chlorination.
Chlorination behaviors of two chalcopyrite concentrates
and their pure constituents in Cl 2 +N 2 were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis in non isothermal conditions up to 1000°C.
The effect of temperature on the reaction of chlorine with both concentrates was studied
between 170 °C and 300 °C under isothermal conditions. The effects of gas flow rate, chlorine
content of the gas mixture and reaction time on the reaction rate were also investigated. The
reaction products were analyzed by SEM and X-ray diffraction.
Results showed that the chlorination of the chalcopyrite concentrates generating chlorides
of Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe and S was rapid at temperatures approaching 300 °C. The iron and sulfur
chlorides were volatilized leading to a residue containing valuable metal chlorides. A process for
the selective chlorination of sulfides' concentrates at low temperatures was suggested.
Link -
https://hal.univ-lorraine.fr/hal-01508039/document
Measure just sulphides ?
Or... what about the chloride minerals ?
Sulphides converted to chlorides.
2012 MET admits significant chlorides.
No chloride mineral values - cept - nickel solid solution.
Could the chlorides contain significant chloride copper ?
Throughout the wellgreen years,
wellgreen has been guided by sulphur minerals.
Wink.
Phase 2 MET tests reveal 18% copper con.
An impossibility if... lab Head Grade = 0.15% Cu
RE - 18% copper con
https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/nickel-creek-succeeds-at-separating-nickel-and-copper-concentrates-for-nickel-shaw-project-687747701.html
Hot geothermal chloride fluids
comes in contact with, sulphide chalcopyrite and sulphide pentlandite nickel.
Both convert to chloride salts.
Extraction only able to process sulphide metallics.
The original deposit may be sulphide.
But a fissure or fault ushering up hot geothermal chlorides
or, ocean chlorides = converts chalcopyite + pentlandite to,
Salt solution chlorides or like the research paper above says,
metal chlorides.
Whith Wellgreen containing significant silicate chlorides,
odd there's no chloride mineral values.
But... if one uses sulphur extraction,
chloride would turn to sulphur.
What if were only seeing sulphur metallics,,
and not the sulphur acid bond minerals.
Ahhhh.
Cheers...