Galvanic interactions between minerals

Online access for this thesis was created in part with support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the Nevada State Library, Archives and Public Records through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). To obtain a high quality image or document please contact the DeLaMare Library at https://unr.libanswers.com/ or call: 775-784-6945.Galvanic interactions between minerals can occur during hydrometallurgical leaching operations, during flotation where the surface potential is altered and during long-term geochemical reactions. If we are reliably able to predict the rates at which these interactions take place then we would be in a position to tell apriori what the products of such interactions would be and we could also have a better knowledge of the mechanisms of the reactions. In this investigation anodic and cathodic polarization data were collected, using potentiostatic techniques, on numerous sulfide and oxide mineral specimens in both sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid at room temperature and at 90°C. Mixed potentials of the mineral specimens in the above mentioned electrolytes were tabulated. It was shown that polarization curves can be used successfully to predict the galvanic behavior of minerals I electrolytic contact. Polarization curves for all minerals on a single chart made it possible to make the above mentioned predictions