Microchemical aids to the identification of minerals developed in the zone of oxidation, together with certain other non-opaque species, of hardness less than 5, which are of economic importance

Hosking, K. F. G. (1977) Microchemical aids to the identification of minerals developed in the zone of oxidation, together with certain other non-opaque species, of hardness less than 5, which are of economic importance. Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia, 8. pp. 1-43. ISSN 2637-109X

Abstract

During the search for hard-rock ore deposits, and when such deposits are being evaluated and exploited, it is necessary to identify those species that have developed in the zone of oxidation. Expert mineralogists in a well-appointed laboratory can do this very easily, but it is often desirable, or necessary, for others, such as mining engineers, extraction metallurgists, and field geologists, who are generally not expert mineralogists, and who usually lack, in any case, the specialist modern equipment of the mineralogist, to effect such identifications. The chemicals and apparatus that are needed are cheap, and the techniques required to carry out the tests are easily and quickly mastered. The tests, which are essentially an extension of those devised by Short (1940) cover all the radicals likely to be encountered in important concentrations in species developed in the zone of oxidation and in certain other non-opaque ones of hardness less than 5 which are of economic importance. In addition, a number of tests for specific minerals are included.

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