6
SIPX EXP 300422 and OREPREP X-237 terpineol
MIBC.
Therefore, the relationships between the collector dos-
age and frother combination provided a successful recov-
ery of 90% tellurium however, these high recoveries were
achieved at very low grade (1.4 ppm) and a high mass pull
incorporating a large volume of gangue minerals.
This research proposed using a combination of GS
and flotation using xanthate collectors and glycol frother
to obtain a cleaner pyrite-sulfide concentrate, which will
concentrate Te, Au, Ag, and other values from CT.
PRECONCENTRATION AND FLOTATION
EXPERIMENTS FOR COPPER TAILINGS
Preconcentration Using Gravity Separation
The preconcentration experiments first tested the recovery
of Fe, Cu, and S by examining the GS solid-liquid ratio
parameter.
Results from the GS experiment 1 with a 1:15 solid-
liquid ratio (GS 1) showed that the highest recoveries were
achieved in the middlings, with similar distribution in
the concentrate and tailings. Iron recovery was 24.50%,
39.43%, and 30.69% in the concentrates, middlings,
and tailings, respectively. Copper recovery was 30.56%,
40.45%, and 22.98% in the concentrates, middlings, and
tailings, respectively. Sulfur recovery was 31.22%, 34.56%,
and 27.30% in the concentrates, middlings, and tailings,
respectively. The combined middlings and concentrate
mass recovery was 65.22 wt.%.
GS experiment 2 with a 1:10 solid-liquid ratio (GS 2)
showed that the highest recoveries were achieved in the con-
centrates. Iron recovery was 29.01%, 35.58%, and 31.86%
in the concentrates, middlings, and tailings, respectively.
Copper recovery was 35.37%, 30.34%, and 30.45% in the
concentrates, middlings, and tailings, respectively. Sulfur
recovery was 35.75%, 30.67%, and 30.78% in the concen-
trates, middlings, and tailings, respectively. The combined
middlings and concentrate mass recovery was 66.44 wt.%.
GS experiment 3 with a 1:5 solid-liquid ratio (GS 3)
showed that the highest recoveries were achieved in the tail-
ings, with similar distribution in the concentrate and mid-
dlings. Iron recovery was 9.88%, 11.38, and 70.36% in the
concentrates, middlings, and tailings, respectively. Copper
recovery was 18.35%, 11.71%, and 60.67% in the concen-
trates, middlings, and tailings, respectively. Sulfur recovery
was 16.47%, 12.76%, and 60.08% in the concentrates,
middlings, and tailings, respectively. The combined mid-
dlings and concentrate mass recovery was 51.08 wt.%.
The results from the GS experiments informed the deci-
sion to use the GS concentrate and middling (GS-C+M)
Table 6. Results from Baseline Flotation Experiment Testing Synergistic Collector and Frother Combinations
Description of Collector and Frother Dosage
Au Grade
(ppb)
Au Recovery
(%)
Ag Grade
(ppm)
Ag Recovery
(ppm)
Te Grade
(%)
Te Recovery
(ppm)
EXP300422 (30 g/t) +MIBC (50 g/t) 76 49.6 0.8 53.8 0.6 51.8
EXP300422 (60 g/t) +MIBC (5 0g/t) 60 53.7 0.8 58.9 0.7 67.7
EXP300422 (90 g/t) +MIBC (50 g/t) 71 61.2 0.8 62.0 0.6 59.8
EXP300422 (120 g/t) +MIBC (50 g/t) 97 66.5 0.9 61.0 0.9 63.4
EXP300422 (150 g/t) +MIBC (50 g/t) 87 67.2 0.8 62.9 0.8 71.0
EXP300422 (180 g/t) +MIBC (50 g/t) 62 57.5 0.8 57.6 1.1 71.6
EXP300422 (90 g/t) +terpineol (50 g/t) 135 64.2 1.3 66.3 1.2 86.1
EXP300422 (150 g/t) +terpineol (50 g/t) 79 66.6 1.1 67.1 1.2 90.9
EXP300422 (90 g/t) +OREPREP X-237 (50 g/t) 125 64.5 1.1 68.1 1.4 80.3
EXP300422 (150 g/t) +OREPREP X-237 (50 g/t) 152 77.5 1.1 66.2 1.3 79.3
SPIX (30 g/t) +MIBC (50g/t) 121 79.4 0.8 60.9 0.8 67.0
SIPX (60 g/t) +MIBC (50g/t) 85 42.7 0.8 43.9 0.9 54.6
SIPX (90 g/t) +MIBC (50g/t) 64 53.9 0.8 67.1 0.7 73.3
SIPX (120 g/t) +MIBC (50g/t) 86 60.2 0.8 59.4 0.8 67.5
SIPX (150 g/t) +MIBC (50g/t) 49 63.2 0.9 63.3 0.8 72.2
SIPX (180 g/t) +MIBC (50g/t) 75 53.8 0.8 60.6 0.7 66.8
SIPX (90 g/t) +OREPREP X-237 (50 g/t) 117 67.0 1.4 78.8 1.3 91.7
SIPX (150 g/t) +OREPREP X-237 (50 g/t) 160 74.6 1.2 92.0 1.4 92.2
SIPX (90 g/t) +terpineol (50 g/t) 92 68.6 1.2 75.6 1.3 91.3
SIPX EXP 300422 and OREPREP X-237 terpineol
MIBC.
Therefore, the relationships between the collector dos-
age and frother combination provided a successful recov-
ery of 90% tellurium however, these high recoveries were
achieved at very low grade (1.4 ppm) and a high mass pull
incorporating a large volume of gangue minerals.
This research proposed using a combination of GS
and flotation using xanthate collectors and glycol frother
to obtain a cleaner pyrite-sulfide concentrate, which will
concentrate Te, Au, Ag, and other values from CT.
PRECONCENTRATION AND FLOTATION
EXPERIMENTS FOR COPPER TAILINGS
Preconcentration Using Gravity Separation
The preconcentration experiments first tested the recovery
of Fe, Cu, and S by examining the GS solid-liquid ratio
parameter.
Results from the GS experiment 1 with a 1:15 solid-
liquid ratio (GS 1) showed that the highest recoveries were
achieved in the middlings, with similar distribution in
the concentrate and tailings. Iron recovery was 24.50%,
39.43%, and 30.69% in the concentrates, middlings,
and tailings, respectively. Copper recovery was 30.56%,
40.45%, and 22.98% in the concentrates, middlings, and
tailings, respectively. Sulfur recovery was 31.22%, 34.56%,
and 27.30% in the concentrates, middlings, and tailings,
respectively. The combined middlings and concentrate
mass recovery was 65.22 wt.%.
GS experiment 2 with a 1:10 solid-liquid ratio (GS 2)
showed that the highest recoveries were achieved in the con-
centrates. Iron recovery was 29.01%, 35.58%, and 31.86%
in the concentrates, middlings, and tailings, respectively.
Copper recovery was 35.37%, 30.34%, and 30.45% in the
concentrates, middlings, and tailings, respectively. Sulfur
recovery was 35.75%, 30.67%, and 30.78% in the concen-
trates, middlings, and tailings, respectively. The combined
middlings and concentrate mass recovery was 66.44 wt.%.
GS experiment 3 with a 1:5 solid-liquid ratio (GS 3)
showed that the highest recoveries were achieved in the tail-
ings, with similar distribution in the concentrate and mid-
dlings. Iron recovery was 9.88%, 11.38, and 70.36% in the
concentrates, middlings, and tailings, respectively. Copper
recovery was 18.35%, 11.71%, and 60.67% in the concen-
trates, middlings, and tailings, respectively. Sulfur recovery
was 16.47%, 12.76%, and 60.08% in the concentrates,
middlings, and tailings, respectively. The combined mid-
dlings and concentrate mass recovery was 51.08 wt.%.
The results from the GS experiments informed the deci-
sion to use the GS concentrate and middling (GS-C+M)
Table 6. Results from Baseline Flotation Experiment Testing Synergistic Collector and Frother Combinations
Description of Collector and Frother Dosage
Au Grade
(ppb)
Au Recovery
(%)
Ag Grade
(ppm)
Ag Recovery
(ppm)
Te Grade
(%)
Te Recovery
(ppm)
EXP300422 (30 g/t) +MIBC (50 g/t) 76 49.6 0.8 53.8 0.6 51.8
EXP300422 (60 g/t) +MIBC (5 0g/t) 60 53.7 0.8 58.9 0.7 67.7
EXP300422 (90 g/t) +MIBC (50 g/t) 71 61.2 0.8 62.0 0.6 59.8
EXP300422 (120 g/t) +MIBC (50 g/t) 97 66.5 0.9 61.0 0.9 63.4
EXP300422 (150 g/t) +MIBC (50 g/t) 87 67.2 0.8 62.9 0.8 71.0
EXP300422 (180 g/t) +MIBC (50 g/t) 62 57.5 0.8 57.6 1.1 71.6
EXP300422 (90 g/t) +terpineol (50 g/t) 135 64.2 1.3 66.3 1.2 86.1
EXP300422 (150 g/t) +terpineol (50 g/t) 79 66.6 1.1 67.1 1.2 90.9
EXP300422 (90 g/t) +OREPREP X-237 (50 g/t) 125 64.5 1.1 68.1 1.4 80.3
EXP300422 (150 g/t) +OREPREP X-237 (50 g/t) 152 77.5 1.1 66.2 1.3 79.3
SPIX (30 g/t) +MIBC (50g/t) 121 79.4 0.8 60.9 0.8 67.0
SIPX (60 g/t) +MIBC (50g/t) 85 42.7 0.8 43.9 0.9 54.6
SIPX (90 g/t) +MIBC (50g/t) 64 53.9 0.8 67.1 0.7 73.3
SIPX (120 g/t) +MIBC (50g/t) 86 60.2 0.8 59.4 0.8 67.5
SIPX (150 g/t) +MIBC (50g/t) 49 63.2 0.9 63.3 0.8 72.2
SIPX (180 g/t) +MIBC (50g/t) 75 53.8 0.8 60.6 0.7 66.8
SIPX (90 g/t) +OREPREP X-237 (50 g/t) 117 67.0 1.4 78.8 1.3 91.7
SIPX (150 g/t) +OREPREP X-237 (50 g/t) 160 74.6 1.2 92.0 1.4 92.2
SIPX (90 g/t) +terpineol (50 g/t) 92 68.6 1.2 75.6 1.3 91.3