2338 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
recovery and flotation rate significantly decrease milled with
stainless steel balls. The Ni recovery is lower than milled
with cast iron balls in the first 6 minutes of flotation, while
the final Ni recovery is slightly higher than milled with cast
iron balls at minutes 10.
Final Cu and Ni recovery for NK ore milled with dif-
ferent media varies considerably. Milling media have a sig-
nificant effect on the flotation of Ni in NK ore. The Ni
recovery and floating rate milled with stainless steel media
are significantly reduced, with a final flotation recover of
18%, far lower than (44%) milled with cast iron balls.
The recovery of Cu (80%) milled with cast iron balls is also
higher than that with stainless steel balls (75%). Milled
with stainless steel balls improve the selectivity between
copper and nickel sulphide minerals.
The Cu recovery-grade curves milled with different
media for two ores are shown in Figure 3.
For JC ore, milled with stainless steel obtains much
higher Cu grade and a bit lower recovery initially, and
higher final Cu grade and recovery, compared to cast iron
balls milling. For NK ore, stainless steel milling products
also shows higher Cu grade, but the curves approach each
other as the flotation time increases, with remarkable lower
final recovery. The slope of the recovery-grade curves milled
with different media for NK ore is similar, indicating that
the milled media has a relatively small effect on the flota-
tion rate of copper.
The Ni recovery-grade curves milled with different
media for two ores are shown in Figure 4.
For JC ore, milled with stainless steel shows slower Ni
flotation in the first 6 minutes, especially the first 3 minutes,
while the final recoveries are almost similar but with stain-
less steel milling giving a much higher concentrate grade.
The Ni grade of NK ore increases gradually with flotation
time for both stainless steel and cast iron balls, indicating
the slow Ni flotation rate of NK ore. The final Ni grade and
recovery milled with cast iron balls are much higher than
that after milled with stainless steel balls, indicating very
50 60 70
0
2
4
6
8
10
"Ecuv"Ktqp"
"Uvckpnguu"Uvggn
50 60 70 80
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
"Uvckpnguu"Uvggn
"Ecuv"Ktqp
(a) (b)
Figure 3. Cu Recovery-Grade curves with different milling media for A-JC ore and B-NK ore
20 30 40 50 60 70
4
6
"Ecuv"Ktqp
"Uvckpnguu"Uvggn
0 10 20 30 40 50
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
"Uvckpnguu"Uvggn
"Ecuv"Ktqp
(a) (b)
Figure 4. Ni Recovery-Grade curves with different milling media for A-JC ore and B-NK ore
recovery and flotation rate significantly decrease milled with
stainless steel balls. The Ni recovery is lower than milled
with cast iron balls in the first 6 minutes of flotation, while
the final Ni recovery is slightly higher than milled with cast
iron balls at minutes 10.
Final Cu and Ni recovery for NK ore milled with dif-
ferent media varies considerably. Milling media have a sig-
nificant effect on the flotation of Ni in NK ore. The Ni
recovery and floating rate milled with stainless steel media
are significantly reduced, with a final flotation recover of
18%, far lower than (44%) milled with cast iron balls.
The recovery of Cu (80%) milled with cast iron balls is also
higher than that with stainless steel balls (75%). Milled
with stainless steel balls improve the selectivity between
copper and nickel sulphide minerals.
The Cu recovery-grade curves milled with different
media for two ores are shown in Figure 3.
For JC ore, milled with stainless steel obtains much
higher Cu grade and a bit lower recovery initially, and
higher final Cu grade and recovery, compared to cast iron
balls milling. For NK ore, stainless steel milling products
also shows higher Cu grade, but the curves approach each
other as the flotation time increases, with remarkable lower
final recovery. The slope of the recovery-grade curves milled
with different media for NK ore is similar, indicating that
the milled media has a relatively small effect on the flota-
tion rate of copper.
The Ni recovery-grade curves milled with different
media for two ores are shown in Figure 4.
For JC ore, milled with stainless steel shows slower Ni
flotation in the first 6 minutes, especially the first 3 minutes,
while the final recoveries are almost similar but with stain-
less steel milling giving a much higher concentrate grade.
The Ni grade of NK ore increases gradually with flotation
time for both stainless steel and cast iron balls, indicating
the slow Ni flotation rate of NK ore. The final Ni grade and
recovery milled with cast iron balls are much higher than
that after milled with stainless steel balls, indicating very
50 60 70
0
2
4
6
8
10
"Ecuv"Ktqp"
"Uvckpnguu"Uvggn
50 60 70 80
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
"Uvckpnguu"Uvggn
"Ecuv"Ktqp
(a) (b)
Figure 3. Cu Recovery-Grade curves with different milling media for A-JC ore and B-NK ore
20 30 40 50 60 70
4
6
"Ecuv"Ktqp
"Uvckpnguu"Uvggn
0 10 20 30 40 50
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
"Uvckpnguu"Uvggn
"Ecuv"Ktqp
(a) (b)
Figure 4. Ni Recovery-Grade curves with different milling media for A-JC ore and B-NK ore