3
PAX and AR1404 on gold recovery. A complete factorial
design of 23 was selected, including three central point
tests. The test from Tables 4 and 5 was taken as a central
point. The main objective was to achieve around 90% gold
recovery.
Examples of Real Cases
Using Cia Minera Lincuna and Cia Minera Huancapeti
as a case study, the flotation method was adopted for the
Pb-Zn circuit tailings (Yoplac, 2010). In this scenario,
starting from Pb-Zn flotation tailings, with subsequent sep-
aration of pyrite and arsenopyrite. The best-case scenario
achieved a 73.58% gold recovery using PAX, AR1404, and
pH adjustment with sulfuric acid.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Results Obtained from Flotation Tests
The test conditions and results are shown in Table 6.
Another important result is the mineralogical compari-
son between the initial sample and the final tailings, as pre-
sented in Table 7.
Analysis and Discussion of Results
Minitab software was used for conducting a statistical anal-
ysis of the results, with the recovery of gold considered as
the dependent variable. The most significant variable was
the dosage of PAX, followed by pH in the second position,
and lastly, the dosage of R1404.
In Figure 2, regarding the effect of the independent
variables over gold recovery, it can be observed that the
dosage of PAX has a significantly positive effect on gold
recovery, followed by pH, while in the case of R1404, its
effect is almost negligible.
Based on this analysis, an empirical model was formu-
lated, which is shown in Equation 1.
Table 4. Parameters of the best flotation test
74 μm,
%
PAX,
g/t
AR1404,
g/t
Pine oil,
g/t pH
73.5 0.044 0.042 0.042 7.5
Table 5. Continuous mass balance of the best flotation test
Product
Assays, oz/st
Distribution,
%Ratio of
Concentration Ag Au Ag Au
Conc Au-Ag 42.39 4.29 80.12 76.89 3.48
Tailings 4.24 0.52 19.88 23.11
Calc. Feed 15.21 1.60 100.00 100.00
Table 6. Experimental design tests
N° pH PAX AR1404 pH
Dosification
(kg/t)
Au
Recovery
(%)PAX AR1404
1 1 1 1 8.5 0.03 0.05 71.64
2 1 1 –1 8.5 0.03 0.03 76.51
3 1 –1 1 8.5 0.01 0.05 70.83
4 1 –1 –1 8.5 0.01 0.03 71.33
5 –1 1 1 6.5 0.03 0.05 86.66
6 –1 1 –1 6.5 0.03 0.03 82.38
7 –1 –1 1 6.5 0.01 0.05 70.85
8 –1 –1 –1 6.5 0.01 0.03 72.63
9 0 0 0 7.5 0.02 0.04 76.89
10 0 0 0 7.5 0.02 0.04 81.60
11 0 0 0 7.5 0.02 0.04 80.99
Table 7. Mineralogical comparison of tailings
Mineral Phases
Initial
Sample
Final
Tailings
Quartz SiO2 52.07 61.65
Clinochlore (Mg,Fe)5Al(Si3Al)
O10(OH)8
11.79 15.70
Albite AlNaO
8 Si
3 9.42 —
Illite Al
2 HKO
12 Si
4 9.20 —
Pyrite FeS2 5.69 0.27
Calcite CaCO3 3.63 3.73
Muscovite K(Al
2 Fe
12 )(Si
3 Al)
O
10 (OH)
2
2.93 17.93
Arsenopyrite AsFeS 2.14 —
Sphalerite (Zn,Fe)S 1.72 —
Galena PbS 0.24 —
Dolomite CaMg(CO
3 )
2 0.48 0.71
Ortoclase AlKO
8 Si
3 0.04 —
Actinolite Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2 0.64 —
Figure 2. Effect of independent variables on gold recovery
(Adapted from Minitab Software)
PAX and AR1404 on gold recovery. A complete factorial
design of 23 was selected, including three central point
tests. The test from Tables 4 and 5 was taken as a central
point. The main objective was to achieve around 90% gold
recovery.
Examples of Real Cases
Using Cia Minera Lincuna and Cia Minera Huancapeti
as a case study, the flotation method was adopted for the
Pb-Zn circuit tailings (Yoplac, 2010). In this scenario,
starting from Pb-Zn flotation tailings, with subsequent sep-
aration of pyrite and arsenopyrite. The best-case scenario
achieved a 73.58% gold recovery using PAX, AR1404, and
pH adjustment with sulfuric acid.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Results Obtained from Flotation Tests
The test conditions and results are shown in Table 6.
Another important result is the mineralogical compari-
son between the initial sample and the final tailings, as pre-
sented in Table 7.
Analysis and Discussion of Results
Minitab software was used for conducting a statistical anal-
ysis of the results, with the recovery of gold considered as
the dependent variable. The most significant variable was
the dosage of PAX, followed by pH in the second position,
and lastly, the dosage of R1404.
In Figure 2, regarding the effect of the independent
variables over gold recovery, it can be observed that the
dosage of PAX has a significantly positive effect on gold
recovery, followed by pH, while in the case of R1404, its
effect is almost negligible.
Based on this analysis, an empirical model was formu-
lated, which is shown in Equation 1.
Table 4. Parameters of the best flotation test
74 μm,
%
PAX,
g/t
AR1404,
g/t
Pine oil,
g/t pH
73.5 0.044 0.042 0.042 7.5
Table 5. Continuous mass balance of the best flotation test
Product
Assays, oz/st
Distribution,
%Ratio of
Concentration Ag Au Ag Au
Conc Au-Ag 42.39 4.29 80.12 76.89 3.48
Tailings 4.24 0.52 19.88 23.11
Calc. Feed 15.21 1.60 100.00 100.00
Table 6. Experimental design tests
N° pH PAX AR1404 pH
Dosification
(kg/t)
Au
Recovery
(%)PAX AR1404
1 1 1 1 8.5 0.03 0.05 71.64
2 1 1 –1 8.5 0.03 0.03 76.51
3 1 –1 1 8.5 0.01 0.05 70.83
4 1 –1 –1 8.5 0.01 0.03 71.33
5 –1 1 1 6.5 0.03 0.05 86.66
6 –1 1 –1 6.5 0.03 0.03 82.38
7 –1 –1 1 6.5 0.01 0.05 70.85
8 –1 –1 –1 6.5 0.01 0.03 72.63
9 0 0 0 7.5 0.02 0.04 76.89
10 0 0 0 7.5 0.02 0.04 81.60
11 0 0 0 7.5 0.02 0.04 80.99
Table 7. Mineralogical comparison of tailings
Mineral Phases
Initial
Sample
Final
Tailings
Quartz SiO2 52.07 61.65
Clinochlore (Mg,Fe)5Al(Si3Al)
O10(OH)8
11.79 15.70
Albite AlNaO
8 Si
3 9.42 —
Illite Al
2 HKO
12 Si
4 9.20 —
Pyrite FeS2 5.69 0.27
Calcite CaCO3 3.63 3.73
Muscovite K(Al
2 Fe
12 )(Si
3 Al)
O
10 (OH)
2
2.93 17.93
Arsenopyrite AsFeS 2.14 —
Sphalerite (Zn,Fe)S 1.72 —
Galena PbS 0.24 —
Dolomite CaMg(CO
3 )
2 0.48 0.71
Ortoclase AlKO
8 Si
3 0.04 —
Actinolite Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2 0.64 —
Figure 2. Effect of independent variables on gold recovery
(Adapted from Minitab Software)