4.3.1. Open circuit potential
Open circuit potential (OCP) measurements were initiated to characterise the state of pyrite surface oxidation under open circuit conditions. The measured potential is a mixed potential which shows the equilibrium between the cathodic reduction and anodic oxidation processes in pyrite–xanthate–cyanide systems. The OCP of pyrite electrode in xanthate and/or cyanide solution with borate background at pH 10 is presented in Fig. 9 with error bars given based on triplicated measurements. No attempt was made to deoxygenate the solution in these measurements.