Fig. 12.
The particle-size distribution graph plots percent finer by weight vertically from 0 to 100 per cent in intervals of 10 per cent against particle diameter d in millimetres horizontally on a logarithmic scale from 0.001 to 10.000 millimetres. Multiple increasing curves compare C o T and C o P from the current study with published copper, gold and iron samples. C o T, marked by diamonds, increases from about 3 per cent near 0.001 millimetres through about 18 per cent near 0.01 millimetres, 40 per cent near 0.06 millimetres, 68 per cent near 0.15 millimetres and 92 per cent near 0.3 millimetres, reaching approximately 100 per cent by about 0.5 millimetres. C o P, marked by triangles, increases from about 2 per cent near 0.001 millimetres through about 14 per cent near 0.01 millimetres, 35 per cent near 0.06 millimetres and 70 per cent near 0.1 millimetres, reaching approximately 100 per cent by about 0.3 millimetres. The comparison curves are Copper, Li, 2017; Copper, Karim et al., 2023; Copper upper beach, Velten et al., 2024; Copper lower beach, Velten et al., 2024; Gold, Bedin et al., 2012; Gold, Li, 2018; Iron U B, Li, 2017; Iron M B, Li, 2017; Iron P O, Li, 2017; Iron flotation, Consoli et al., 2024; Iron slimes, Consoli et al., 2024; Iron S 1, Wagner et al., 2023; and Iron S 2, Wagner et al., 2023. The comparison curves differ in position and steepness. Gold, Li, 2018, and several copper and iron curves rise towards high percent-finer values at smaller particle diameters, while Copper, Karim et al., 2023, is displaced towards larger particle diameters and approaches 100 per cent beyond approximately 2 millimetres. All curves ultimately approach approximately 100 per cent finer by weight.Particle size distribution of various tailings samples