Textural Descriptors for Multiphasic Ore Particles

The monitoring of mineral processing circuit based on particle liberation analysis using quantitative image analysis has become a routine technique within the last decades. But liberation indices are computed as weight proportions, which is not convenient when complex texture ores are treated by flotation. In these cases, liberation has to be computed as phase surface available to reactants, and the type of intergrowth between phases has to be characterized so as to determine the possibility of liberation. To achieve this characterization some indices have been developed in terms of 2D phase contact and mineral surfaces exposed. These indices, as well as indices suggested by other authors and additional measures, have been explored on simple synthetic textures ranging from single to multiple inclusions and single to multiple veins. The ability of these parameters to discriminate the various textures is analyzed