XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 2137
Kelley, Huston, and Peter 2021 Nassar et al. 2020 Bauer,
Nguyen, and Smith 2023).
Tellurium is only economically recoverable from cop-
per porphyry deposits using complex production processes
(Moats, Alagha, and Awuah-Offei 2021 Goldfarb et al.
2017 S. Wang 2011 DOE 2010). Statistical data from
2000 to 2020 shows that 90% of Te production occurs
as a by-product of copper porphyry deposit anode slimes
reprocessed by refining (Li et al. 2022 Moats, Alagha,
and Awuah-Offei 2021). Literature suggests other produc-
tion routes for Te, such as the copper porphyry flotation
streams, where 90% of Te in the system is deported to the
tailings (Figure 1) (Nassar et al. 2022).
Another study on the different flotation streams of a
large copper porphyry (CP) concentrator in the U.S.A.
suggested that 88% of Te minerals in the flotation feed
was deported to the final tailings. Moreover, the study also
showed that almost 93% of Te minerals deported to the
tailings were locked in larger pyrite grains and found associ-
ated with Au-Ag-Bi minerals (Corchado-Albelo and Alagha
2023).
A limited number of studies have explored the recov-
ery of critical minerals from tailing streams (van der Ent,
Parbhakar-Fox, and Erskine 2021 Suppes and Heuss-
Aßbichler 2021). However, there is a noticeable lack of
comprehensive research focusing on the recovery of Te
from tailings produced during CP processing. Therefore,
this research proposes a novel approach for the recovery
of Te minerals lost/deported to CT from operating cop-
per mines in North America using the froth flotation
process. To identify potential flotation procedures and
reagent schemes, authors examined the mineralogy and
deportment of telluride minerals in CT and post-process-
ing streams to identify Te mineral phases and their host
minerals. The methodologies used to characterize CT for
tellurides and other minerals composition were induc-
tively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and
TESCAN’s Integrated Mineral Analysis (TIMA). Potential
reagent systems proposed for the enrichment and enhanced
recovery of tellurides were carbamate (EXP300422), xan-
thate (SIPX), thiophosphate (AERO 8989), and thiazole
(AERO 412) collectors, and glycol (OREPREP X-237),
methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC) and terpineol frothers.
Source: (Nassar et al. 2022)
Figure 1. Tellurium’s estimated tons per year through the copper supply chain based on data from 2018. Modified from Nassar
et al. 2022
Kelley, Huston, and Peter 2021 Nassar et al. 2020 Bauer,
Nguyen, and Smith 2023).
Tellurium is only economically recoverable from cop-
per porphyry deposits using complex production processes
(Moats, Alagha, and Awuah-Offei 2021 Goldfarb et al.
2017 S. Wang 2011 DOE 2010). Statistical data from
2000 to 2020 shows that 90% of Te production occurs
as a by-product of copper porphyry deposit anode slimes
reprocessed by refining (Li et al. 2022 Moats, Alagha,
and Awuah-Offei 2021). Literature suggests other produc-
tion routes for Te, such as the copper porphyry flotation
streams, where 90% of Te in the system is deported to the
tailings (Figure 1) (Nassar et al. 2022).
Another study on the different flotation streams of a
large copper porphyry (CP) concentrator in the U.S.A.
suggested that 88% of Te minerals in the flotation feed
was deported to the final tailings. Moreover, the study also
showed that almost 93% of Te minerals deported to the
tailings were locked in larger pyrite grains and found associ-
ated with Au-Ag-Bi minerals (Corchado-Albelo and Alagha
2023).
A limited number of studies have explored the recov-
ery of critical minerals from tailing streams (van der Ent,
Parbhakar-Fox, and Erskine 2021 Suppes and Heuss-
Aßbichler 2021). However, there is a noticeable lack of
comprehensive research focusing on the recovery of Te
from tailings produced during CP processing. Therefore,
this research proposes a novel approach for the recovery
of Te minerals lost/deported to CT from operating cop-
per mines in North America using the froth flotation
process. To identify potential flotation procedures and
reagent schemes, authors examined the mineralogy and
deportment of telluride minerals in CT and post-process-
ing streams to identify Te mineral phases and their host
minerals. The methodologies used to characterize CT for
tellurides and other minerals composition were induc-
tively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and
TESCAN’s Integrated Mineral Analysis (TIMA). Potential
reagent systems proposed for the enrichment and enhanced
recovery of tellurides were carbamate (EXP300422), xan-
thate (SIPX), thiophosphate (AERO 8989), and thiazole
(AERO 412) collectors, and glycol (OREPREP X-237),
methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC) and terpineol frothers.
Source: (Nassar et al. 2022)
Figure 1. Tellurium’s estimated tons per year through the copper supply chain based on data from 2018. Modified from Nassar
et al. 2022