Study on process mineralogy of rhenium ore of black shale type in North Sichuan

The occurrence of rhenium in a black shale type rhenium ore in North Sichuan was studied by means of mineralogical microscope, scanning electron microscope, electron probe microanalysis and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. The sample is black shale with high organic carbon content. The total content of clay minerals is 14.6%, pyrite 16.2%, quartz 37.7%. The sample has typical clay structure and fine mineral size. Rhenium has two modes of occurrence, one is in the form of isomorphism in pyrite, the other is in the form of dispersion. The average rhenium content of typical pyrite is 0.024%. Pyrite is an important carrier mineral of rhenium. It is suggested that rhenium can be enriched by flotation separation of pyrite.