Chapter 33

THE PULP RHEOLOGY OF SOME AUSTRALIAN GOLD ORES Janine L. Beazley and James H. Kyle Western Australian School of Mines Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.

ABSTRACT

Rheology

The effects of pH, pH modifier (lime or caustic soda) and cyanide on the pulp rheology of a number of ore types ranging from highly siliceous to highly kaolinitic has been investigated. All experiments were performed in fresh water at solids concentrations of 25 and 45% solids and in the pH range 6 to 11. The kaolinitic ores exhibited greater changes in rheology with pH and calcium ion concentration than did the siliceous ores.
INTRODUCTION

The flow behaviour of a fluid is governed by its viscosity. Fluid flow properties may be classified as Newtonian or Non-Newtonian. For a Newtonian fluid the shear stress (force/unit area) is directly proportional to the rate of shear (velocity gradient), the proportionality constant being the viscosity:

where In recent years there has been increasing interest in the subject of pulp rheology. Viscous pulps can cause mixing problems in the Carbon-in-Pulp process for the extraction of gold which, in turn, may lead to low recoveries. This is because good mixing is essential for the effective leaching and loading of gold onto activated carbon. Viscous pulps can seriously hinder this process. In addition, low recoveries caused by pumping, grinding and screening difficulties have been attributed to pulp viscosity (Snow et al., 1987; Osan et al., 1988). In general terms the viscosity of a slurry depends on the following properties of the ore: (i) Mineralogy (ii) Particle size (iii) Solids concentration in the pulp ( iv) Chemical environment (e.g pH, ionic strength)

s u dv/dy

=
= =

shear stress (Pa) viscosity (Pals) rate of shear (s- )

However, for most mineral slurries the relationship between shear stress and shear rate is more complex. Fluids of this type are classified as Non-Newtonian. A variety of equations and models have been employed to describe flow behaviour of non-Newtonian fluids. These include the Mooney equation (Dinsdale & Moore, 1962) and the power law (Wilkinson, 1960). Although these models are useful for illustrating flow behaviour, they are not usually used in describing plant performance. The simpler term 'lapparent viscosityM (ua) defined by equation (2) has found wider use (Osan et a1 . , 1988) .

Non-Newtonian fluids can be divided into two groups: time-dependent and tirneindependent. There are three main types of timeindependent fluids - pseudoplastic, dilatant and Bingham plastic. The general relationship between shear stress and shear rate for these fluids is shown in Figure 1.

This paper discusses the rheology of several different gold ore pulps and compares the effects that the use of caustic soda, lime and cyanide have upon the pulp viscosity as a function of both pH and solids concentration.

PULP RHEOLOGY OF SOME AUSTRALIAN GOLD ORES

EXPERIMENTAL Pretreatment of Ores
The ores examined were from Central Norseman Gold Mines (siliceous), Kidston Gold Mine (siliceous/muscovitic) and Paddington and Hannan's South Gold Mines (kaolinitic). The chemical and crystal composition of these ores as determined by X-ray Fluorescence and Diffraction are shown in Tables 1 and 2. For the testwork, a bulk sample of each ore was crushed to <2mm, riffle split into 1 kg samples, and then ground in a rod mill to D80 < 75um immediately prior to pulp viscosity measurement. To ensure against changing their rheological characteristics, the pulps were not allowed to age and the kaolinitic ores were not dried prior to grinding.

Shear Rate
FIGURE 1.
Types of Time-independent Fluid Behaviour

Many Non-Newtonian fluids obey a Power Law (equation 3) over certain ranges of shear rate:

Table NO. 1.
with the apparent viscosity ua (as defined in equation 2) being given by:

0 MAJO 0 -

.........................................................
O R E Fe203 Si02 A1203 CaO lIgO .........................................................

WI
3.30 4.15
8.68

For such a fluid, a plot of log s versus log (dv/dy) will give a straight line of slope n. For pseudoplastic fluids n<l, and for dilatant fluids n>l. For a pseudoplastic, the apparent viscosity decreases with increasing shear rate whereas for a dilatant fluid the opposite is true. Bingham plastics, however, require the application of a certain minimum shear stress before any flow will occur. This minimum shear stress is called the yield stress (Y). For time-dependent non-Newtonian fluids, two types of behaviour are evident thixotropic and rheopectic. In the former, the apparent viscosity decreases with increasing time of shear at a constant shear rate. This type of behaviour may be due to a breakdown in the structure of the fluid with time or with increasing rate of shear. In rheopectic behaviour, a gradual formation of structure in the fluid is established with time. This leads to an increase in shear stress at a constant shear rate.

Norseman Kidston Paddington Hannan Sth

.........................................................
Table NO. 2.

5.94 5.72 11.67 16.80

74.2 68.7 58.6 51.1

5.01 13.90 13.48 16.27

4.27 0.28 0.67 1.27

4.92 0.75 2.76 0.69

9.31

.........................................................
Quartz Goethite Kaolinite Amphibole Muscovite Chlorite Fyrite Anorthite Biotite Microcline Illite Mineral Norseman Kidston Paddington Hannan Sth ......................................................... 53 67 35 29 20 18 29 36 27 17 11 14 5 6 5 3 2 ' 3 4 ' 3 '~dentification uncertain.

Viscosity Measurement
The following conditions were employed for all pulp viscosity measurements: (i) Percent solids: 25 and 45% (ff! pH: natural, 9.0 and 11.0. (111) pH modifier: hydrated lime (Ca(0H) .2H20) or caustic soda (50% sofution NaOH) (iv) Sodium cyanide (0.05% solution NaCN) at pH 11. (v) Temperature: 2 5 O ~

In this paper we will present the results of a rheological study of four different ore types. All ore slurries exhibited non-Newtonian behaviour and some required a yield stress for flow to occur. These latter ores are described as "yield pseud~plastic~~ (Osan et al., 1988)

284
Bohlin Visco 88BV Viscometer

'WORLD GOLD'89'
20

All data were obtained using the Bohlin Visco 88BV Viscometer. The available measuring systems are summarised in Table 3. In this study, only the narrow and wide gap configurations were used employing a stationary cup and a rotating bob. The pulp was suspended using a vibromixer prior to measurements being taken.
Table 3. MEASURING SYSTEMS FOR BOHLIN VISCO 88BV

.............................................
Spindle Diameter 14 25 30 14 25 CUP Diameter Height

.............................................
15.4 27.5 33.0 33.0 33.0 21.0 37.5 45.0 21.0 37.5 Narrow gap Narrow gap Narrow gap Wide gap Wide gap

(W

of bob (m)

Measuring System

SHEAR RATE ( 1 /set)

FIGURE 2. Rheograms of Norseman Ore Pulps at 25% and 45% solids.

.............................................

The viscosity of the pulp at 45% solids was significantly higher than at 25%, but only at high shear rates with the difference increasing with increasing shear rate. The effects of pH, lime, caustic soda and cyanide addition were all minimal. This behaviour is presumably due to the low clay mineral content of the ore, although the precise surface chemistry of this behaviour is unknown and is at present the subject of investigation (Meagher et al., 1988).
Kidston Ore

The torque on the bob was recorded at various speeds (20 to 100 rpm) and the shear stress and shear rates calculated as follows: Shear stress = where T
= = = = =

Eb
Shear rate where Rc w

Torque (Nm) radius of the bob (m) height of the bob (m) 2 ~ R ~ (RC2-Rb2) ~ w / radius of the cup (m) angular speed (s-l)

The apparent viscosity was then calculated from equation (2). Thixotropic behaviour, if it occurred, was established by observing the change in torque with time at constant bob speed.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Rheology of Norseman Ore

The rheograms for Kidston ore pulps at 25 and 45% solids are shown in Figures 3a and 3b. At 25% solids this pulp also shows dilatant behaviour, but at 45% solids the rheology is more complex. At low shear rates it behaves as a yield pseudoplastic but at higher rates of shear the rheogram shows the characteristics of a dilatant fluid.

The rheograms for Norseman ore pulps at solids concentrations of 25 and 45% are shown in Figure 2. The pulp exhibits dilatant behaviour in that the apparent viscosity increases with increasing rate of shear. However, the apparent viscosities for this pulp are comparatively low, particularly at low shear rates where apparent viscosities are similar to that of water (1 centipoise, CPS)

SHEAR RATE (1 /set)

FIGURE 3a. Rheograms for Kidston Ore Pulps at 25% Solids.

PULP RHEOLOGY OF SOME AUSTRALIAN GOLD ORES

285

The differences between this ore and Norseman may be related to the presence of a significant amount of muscovite in the ore.
Paddington Ore

At 25% solids (Figure 5a), the rheograms for this ore, like both siliceous ores above, showed dilatant behaviour but with a more noticeable pH dependence. At 45% solids however, the rheology changes (Figure 5b).

SHEAR RATE (l/sec)

FIGURE 3b. Rheograms for Kidston Ore Pulps at 45% Solids. This change in behaviour is demonstrated by a Power Law plot, log s vs. log dv/dy (Figure 4) which shows a distinctive change i slope at a shear ' s Below this shear rate of about 300 . rate n<l (in equation 3) which is indicative of pseudoplastic behaviour whilst above this shear rate n>l which corresponds to dilatant behaviour.
SHEAR RATE (1 /set)

FIGURE 5a. Rheograms for Paddington Ore Pulps at 25% Solids.

SHEAR RATE ( 1/SEC 1

FIGURE 4. Power Law Plot for Kidston Ore Pulp at 45% Solids and Natural Ore pH (6.35). The apparent viscosity of this ore, unlike Norseman, did increase with increasing pH. This effect was more noticeable at the hiaher solids concentration of 45%: There was also a measurable difference between the effect of caustic soda and lime on the pulp viscosity. Both these effects were most significant at high pH and high percent sol ids. At 45% solids and pH 11, there was also a measurable yield stress which was not evident at lower pH or at 25% solids.

' 0

loo

an,

i n 0

un

SHEAR RATE (1 /set)

FIGURE 5b. Rheograms for Paddington Ore Pulps at 45% Solids. At pH 9 and below, the behaviour is similar to Kidston ore - at low shear rates behaving like a yield pseudoplastic but changing to dilatant behaviour at higher shear rates. The changeover shear about 75 ra e is, however, mucp lower The use of caustic s instead of 300 ssoda produced slightly lower viscosities than lime at this pH.

'WORLD GOLD'89'
At pH 11, the rheology is similar but with greatly increased yield stress and apparent viscosity. In addition, there is now a marked difference in apparent viscosity between the pulps employing lime or caustic soda as the pH modifier, with lime now producing the lower viscosity pulp, and a small but noticeable decrease caused by the addition of cyanide to the pulp The rheology of this ore pulp is greatly influenced by the kaolinite present in the ore. Hannanrs South The Hannan's South ore contained more kaolinite than the Paddington ore and hence was expected to show similar pulp rheology but with higher yield and shear stresses. However, this was not the case, particularly at higher concentrations of solids and higher pH. At 25% solids (Figure 6a) the rheograms indicate yield pseudoplastic behaviour at low shear rates changing o dilatant at a shear rate of about 75 s-I. The apparent viscosities and shape of the rheogram are very similar to those for Paddington ore at 45% solids (pH 9 and below). The apparent viscosities increase slightly with pH but are independent of the modifier used.
SHEAR RATE (1 /set)

FIGURE 6b. Rheograms for Hannanfs South Ore Pulps at 45% Solids.

Initial investigations of the rheograms for Hannan's South ore pulps at pH 11 indicate that the apparent viscosity is extremely high in comparison to the other ores studied in this work. In addition the apparent viscosity changed with time indicating thixotropic behaviour. No further data on this system is available as yet. Surface Chemistry and Pulp Rheology Until recently (Meagher et al., 1988), there has been little attempt to explain mineral pulp rheology in terms of surface chemistry. However, some general observations can be made. The mineral particles will nearly all carry a negative surface charge at the pH's studied. The role of dissolved counterions in the pulp will be to balance this surface charge in the diffuse doublelayer surrounding the mineral particles. If these counterions become specifically adsorbed to a mineral surface, then they may negate the surface charge to such an extent that coagulation may occur in the pulp, resulting in an increase in the apparent pulp viscosity.

SHEAR RATE ( 1 /set)

FIGURE 6a. Rheograms for Hannan's South Ore Pulps at 25% Solids.

The rheograms at 45% solids and pH 9 (Figure 6b) illustrate yield pseudoplastic behaviour. There is no evidence of dilatant behaviour at the highest measured shear rates. The yield stresses and the apparent viscosities are higher than those obtained for Paddington ore (45% solids).

The ion most likely to specifically adsorb on a ineral surface in the resent C a ( 0 H ) ' . The system is CaT+ or at pH ~ 1 0 , latter ion is known to specifically adsorb onto quartz surfaces at pH 11 and above (Fuerstenau et al., 1985). It is therefore possible that specific adsorption of this ion onto clay minerals (kaolinite, muscovite) will occur to a significant extent at pH 9 and above in mineral systems. This would result in some coagulation of these minerals in the pulp resulting in a change in pulp rheology and increased apparent viscosities. This was

PULP RHEOLOGY OF SOME AUSTRALIAN GOLD ORES

observed for all ores containing either muscovite or kaolinite, with the one notable exception of Paddington ore, but only at 45% solids.
REFERENCBB

Dinsdale, A. and Moore, F., 1962, llViscosityand i t ' s Measurement,**Chapman and Hall, London. Fuerstenau, M.C., Miller, J.D., and Kuhn, M.C., 1985, chemistry of Flotation, SMEAIME, New York. Meagher, L. et al., 1988, "The effect of dissolved ions on the rheology of concentrated quartz suspensionsIM Xth International Congress on Ftheology, Ausralian Society of Ftheology,Sydney, Australia. Osan, M.A., Horsley, R.A. and Barham, S L. , 1988, "The Ftheological Characteristics of Several Western Australian Gold Ore Slurries and the Effectiveness of Viscosity ModifiersIw Randol Perth International Gold Conference, Perth, Western Australia, Randol International Ltd., Golden, Colorado, U.S.A.

The rheograms presented for the four gold ores studied show extremely variable pulp rheology - the only real similarity being that they all exhibited NonNewtonian behaviour. For the siliceous ore (Norseman), the pulps generally exhibited dilatant behaviour with minimal effect of pH, lime, caustic or cyanide addition on apparent viscosity. The presence of muscovite in the Kidston ore pulps caused an unusual rheogram in which a change from pseudoplastic to dilatant behaviour occurred at a certain shear rate. This behaviour was also observed for the kaolinitic ores (Paddington and Hannan's South) under certain conditions. Such behaviour may be an indication of the higher shear rates causing flocculation in the pulps, although why this might occur is unknown at this stage of the investigation. The presence of kaolinite in the ores obviously has a major effect on the apparent pulp viscosity. The highest yield stresses and shear stresses were found in the Hannan's South ore pulps, which also contained the most kaolinite. The Paddington ore , which also contained kaolinite but in lesser amounts, produced similar effects to the Hannan's South ore but showed smaller yield stresses and shear stresses. The use of caustic soda instead of lime as a pH modifier generally lowered the apparent viscosity with one notable exception - Paddington ore pulps at 45% solids in which case the opposite was true. The ore pulp with the highest concentration of kaolinite, Hannan's South, exhibited thixotropic behaviour at pH 11 at solids concentrations of both 25% and 45%. This phenomenon has not yet been fully investigated.

Snow, R.J., et al., 1987, Increasing Slurry Concentrations in the Carbon-inPulp ProcessI1* 12th Slurry Technology Association Conference, New Orleans, U.S.A. Wilkinson, W.L., 1960, "Non-Newtonian Fluids,'* Pergamon Press, London.

ACKNOWLEDQEMENTB

The research described in this paper was funded by ICI (Aust.) Ltd. in the form of a Postgraduate Research Scholarship to Mrs. Janine Beazley.