Explanation of the meanings of concentrate, intermediate ore, and tailings

In the context of mining and mineral processing, "concentrate", "intermediate ore", and "tailings" are terms used to describe different types of materials that are produced during the process of extracting valuable minerals from ore.

"Concentrate" refers to the material that contains a high concentration of the target mineral after the processing of the ore. This concentrate is the final product that is sold to the market for further processing or use.

"Intermediate ore" is a term used to describe the material that is produced during the mining and processing of the ore, but is not yet concentrated enough to be considered a final product. This intermediate ore may be further processed to increase the concentration of the target mineral, or it may be used as a blending material to adjust the grade of the final concentrate.

"Tailings" is the term used to describe the waste material that is produced during the processing of the ore. This material contains low concentrations of the target mineral and is usually stored in large tailings dams or ponds. Tailings may be further processed to recover any remaining valuable minerals, or they may be disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner.

Here's a list of common concentrate, intermediate ore, and tailings based on mining practices:

Concentrate:

1. Copper concentrates
2. Zinc concentrates
3. Lead concentrates
4. Iron concentrates
5. Gold concentrates
6. Silver concentrates

Intermediate ore:

1. Molybdenum ore
2. Nickel ore
3. Bauxite ore
4. Tin ore
5. Tungsten ore
6. Cobalt ore

Tailings:

1. Copper tailings
2. Zinc tailings
3. Lead tailings
4. Iron tailings
5. Gold tailings
6. Silver tailings
7. Coal tailings
8. Bauxite tailings
9. Phosphate tailings
10. Uranium tailings

Here's a table of the common concentrate, intermediate ore, and tailings based on mining practices:

Please note that this table is not exhaustive and different mines may have other types of concentrate, intermediate ore, and tailings.

One book that you may find helpful for learning about concentrate, intermediate ore, and tailings is "Mineral Processing Design and Operations: An Introduction, Second Edition" by Ashok Gupta and Dennis S. Yan. This book covers the basics of mineral processing, including principles of comminution, sizing/classification, concentration, and tailings disposal. It also provides detailed discussions on the design and operation of various unit processes, such as crushing and grinding, gravity concentration, flotation, and dewatering.