CHARACTERIZATION OF THE COMPLEX SULFIDE ORE OF SOTIEL (SPAIN) BY SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY AND ELECTRON-MICROPROBE ANALYSIS

This study complements a more exhaustive examination on the complex su lfide mineralization of Sotiel, (Spain), by optical microscopy and mul tispectral digital analysis of images. Electron microscopy analyses we re carried out to document specific associations which are difficult t o detect with conventional optical microscopy. This study utilizes the application of digital techniques to image processing, in an attempt to define microstructural and microtextural characteristics of the ore , since they play an important role in the subsequent beneficiation op erations (i.e., flotation). Scientific and economic information bound to complex metallogenic phenomenology and referred to particular parag enetic scenes was acquired by the study in detail of inclusions of mai n mineralogical species such as pyrite, sphalerite, galena, chalcopyri te combined with quartzose-carbonate-micaceous gangues and a particula r silico-marly ''slate''. Scanning electron microscopy and optical mic roscopy observations and image analysis were used to characterize spec ies of metallic and non-metallic submicroscopic inclusions.