IMAGING OF OXIDIZED MINERAL SURFACES

High-resolution SIMS images in conjunction with elastically backscatte red electron and energy-dispersive x-ray images have been acquired fro m a polished slightly oxidized multiphase polycrystalline surface of N i-Cu sulphide ore. Through correlation of data acquired by the three m ethods, the extent to which oxidation occurs is shown to be mineral de pendent and related to the presence of macroscopic and microscopic sur face heterogeneities. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.