M. Nagamori et Aj. Plumpton, Thermodynamic and technico-economic analyses of the HCl-leach of magnesiteand serpentine, CIM BULL, 92(1034), 1999, pp. 64-71
Commercial HCl-leaching of magnesite and serpentine yields highly concentra
ted aqueous solutions containing 25 mass % to 33 mass % MgCl2. The partial
molar enthalpies and heat capacities, the ionic activities of Mg2+ and Cl-
and the Raoultian activity of H2O have been assessed for the concentrated M
gCl2-H2O solutions at temperatures of 348 to 373 K. These thermodynamic dat
a are used to calculate the pH of aqueous MgCl2 solutions saturated with a
Mg-bearing mineral such as magnesite, serpentine, brucite, forsterite, enst
atite or talc On the basis of these thermodynamic data, technico-economic a
spects are discussed as to neutralization with pulverized MgCO3, water evap
oration from the MgCl2 solutions and ore composition including such minor c
onstituents as CaCO3, FeCO3 and Fe3O4.