Roasting Of Arsenopyrite

Anenopyrite, both pure and in some cases associated with pyrite, was laboratory roasted either isothermally or at a constant heating rate, at temperatures mainly between 723 and 923 K and under environments of air, sulfur dioxide, oxygen and argon, as well as S02/02/H20/N2 mixtures. The mineralogy, arsenic contents and in some cases surface areas of the calcines were evaluated so as to provide an enhanced understanding particularly of the conditions under which the important transformations to pyrrhotite and magnetite occur. A thermodynamic analysis is also undertaken to rationalize the observations and provide some guidance for the operation of commercial roasters.