Abstract A theoretical framework is presented for understanding the interaction of light with the electronic structure of sphalerite, pyrite and chalcopyrite and how these factors affect their rate of dissolution. Their electronic structure gives rise to the colour of these minerals, primarily because of their semiconducting properties. An advanced theory of dissolution is presented that describes how the electronic structure of these minerals also impacts their mechanism of dissolution. This theory is based on the requirement that in order to dissolve these minerals under oxidative conditions, electrons must be removed from bonding orbitals. Since the electrons with the highest energy are in the upper valence band, the bonding character of the upper valence band plays a crucial role in determining the relative rate of dissolution of different minerals. These ideas are used to interpret the effect of light on the rate of dissolution of these minerals. The implications of this analysis for the order of the relative rates of dissolution of sulphide minerals is discussed.

中文翻译：

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光对理解闪锌矿 (ZnS)、黄铁矿 (FeS2) 和黄铜矿 (CuFeS2) 溶解和浸出机制的影响

摘要 提出了一个理论框架，用于理解光与闪锌矿、黄铁矿和黄铜矿的电子结构的相互作用以及这些因素如何影响它们的溶解速率。它们的电子结构产生了这些矿物的颜色，主要是因为它们的半导体特性。提出了一种先进的溶解理论，描述了这些矿物的电子结构如何影响它们的溶解机制。该理论基于这样的要求，即为了在氧化条件下溶解这些矿物质，必须从键合轨道中去除电子。由于能量最高的电子在上价带，上价带的键合特性在决定不同矿物的相对溶解速率方面起着至关重要的作用。这些想法被用来解释光对这些矿物质溶解速度的影响。讨论了这种分析对硫化物矿物相对溶解速率顺序的影响。