Chemistry of products from the second beneficiation test of talc from Nakkan, Altermark, northern Norway.

Abstract

XRF-analyses of products from beneficiation tests of Nakkan talc, made by OMYA GMBH, is described. The results are compared with earlier test-results from Nakkan and from the mine. The mineralogical compositions have been estimated from the chemical data. The purest talc products contain around 96-97% talc and, in addition, minor amounts of chlorite and carbonate. The carbonate-product \"Mag 2\" contains around 80% carbonate, 15% talc and 5% chlorite. Based on XRF analyses, the Ni content in the talc products is around 0,16%, which is comparable to earlier studies of Nakkan products, but lower than in products from the mine which contain around 0,24%. If similar procedures have been followed in the benefication process, a general lower content of Ni in the talc lattice from the Nakkan deposit compared to the mine is indicated. Instead, more Ni is bound in sulphides and spinels. Although not encountered earlier in the Altermark talc by the present author, possible trace amounts of As are weakly indicated. Since important trace elements occur in very small amounts or below the detection level by XRF, it is recommended to apply other analytical methods (ICP-AES, AAS, LECO) with lower detections levels to achieve more correct numbers.