Structural, microstructural, and thermal characterizations of a chalcopyrite concentrate from the Singhbhum shear zone, India

The structural and morphological characterizations of a chalcopyrite concentrate, collected from the Indian Copper Complex, Ghatshila, India, were carried out by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The concentrate powder was composed mainly of free chalcopyrite and low quartz in about 3:1 weight ratio. The particle size was about 100 μm. Spectroscopic studies (FTIR, Raman, UV-visible) of the concentrate supported the XRD findings, and also revealed a marginal oxidation of the sulfide phase. The energy band gap of the sulfide was found to be 3.4 eV. Differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetry of the concentrate showed a decomposition of chalcopyrite at 658 K with an activation energy of 208 kJ·mol^-1, and two successive structural changes of silica at 848 K and 1145 K.