G.ZH. NURZHANOV, P.A. NITSENKO (TOO «KAZAKHMYS BARLAU»)

Features of petrologic composition of Pb-Zn ore of the Dyusembay Central deposit (Central Kazakhstan)

Results of laboratory studies of Pb-Zn ore from the Dyusembay Central deposit, Central Kazakhstan, are discussed. Petrologic composition was studied using up-to-date methods of process mineralogy, including electron microscopic mineralogical studies. Chemical, X-ray spectral, sieve and phase analyzes and fire assay were performed on 10 small technological samples from various parts of the deposit. Investigations of the petrological composition performed to date showed that the ore of the Dyusembay deposit is characterized by complex mineralogical and chemical compositions and belongs to the Pb-Zn type of ore with a preponderance of Zn over Pb. It is concluded that Pb and Zn are the main valuable components in the ore of the deposit with average contents of Zn 2,6 % and Pb 1,5 %. Most of these metals are part of sulfides. The sulfides are dominated by sphalerite; the galena mass fraction is by an order lower. Iron sulfides (pyrite, pyrrhotite, marcasite) vary within a small range. Silver was found in the ore zone, with an average content in the ore of 10,5 g/t, and in ore intersections it reaches 2,7 kg/t. Other non-ferrous metals, as well as arsenic and antimony, at the current stage of the deposit study, are not of economic interest. Currently, the deposit is explored in detail and then the composition and technological features of the ores will be clarified.
Keywords: deposit, prospect, Dyusembay, lead, zinc, organic carbon, content, ore, mineral composition, SEDEX-type deposits.