PLATINUM-BEARING PYRRHOTITE CONCENTRATES FROM NORIL'SK: A NEW OPINION ON THE PROBLEM OF COMPLEX PROCESSING

摘要

Pyrrhotite concentrates are comparatively new source of platinum metal raw material. The level of content of platinum metals in pyrrhotite concentrates from Noril'sk is higher by 1-2 times comparing with their content in analogous concentrates from foreign deposits.Usage of sulfur dioxide as oxidant and usage of sulfuric acid leaching are prospective directions in solving the problem of lowering of irretrievable platinum metal losses in autoclave hydrometallurgy of nickel-pyrrhotite concentrates. Both of these variants provide extraction of platinum metals in sulfide concentrate at 95 percent level.The schemes for combined processing of nickel-pyrrhotite concentrates and oxidized nickel ores are developed. These schemes provide possibility of metal production from two kinds of raw materials, with low level of expenses and high degree of industrial ecological purity. The complex technology including pyrometallurgical processes of autogenous melting and calcination is developing now.