2340 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
CONCLUSIONS
In this investigation, effects of milled media on the pulp
chemistry and flotation performance of two different
Cu-Ni ores from China and South Africa were investigated
respectively. The milling media have significant influences
on the flotation performance of both two ores, but there is
a striking difference between JC and NK ore. For JC ore,
stainless steel milling obtained remarkable higher Cu and
Ni grade, slightly higher Cu and Ni recovery, significantly
lower solid and water recovery and slower Ni flotation.
While for NK ore, stainless steel milling obtained higher
Cu grade but much lower Ni grade, significantly lower Cu
and Ni recovery, also lower solid and water recovery.
The difference of flotation performance for the two ores
after milled with different milled media is speculated to be
mainly attributed to mineral composition difference of two
ores. The Fe species generated during the milling process of
JC ore with cast iron balls enhance the attachment of ser-
pentine on sulphide minerals surface, which contribute to
much more serpentine introduced to the flotation concen-
trate. Strong hydrophobicity and adsorption capacity on
frothers and collectors of talc result in a much lower copper
nickel recovery of NK ore after stainless steel balls milled
compared to cast iron balls milled. Strong hydrophobicity
and adsorption capacity on frothers and collectors of talc
result in a much lower copper nickel recovery of NK ore
after stainless steel balls milled compared to cast iron balls
milled.
REFERENCES
Azizi, A., Shafaei, S., Noaparast, M., Karamoozian, M.,
2013. The effect of pH, solid content, water chem-
istry and ore mineralogy on the galvanic interactions
between chalcopyrite and pyrite and steel balls. Front.
Chem. Sci. Eng. 7 (4), 464–471.
Bruckard W. J., Sparrow G. J., Woodcock J. T. 2011. A
review of the effects of the grinding environment on
the flotation of copper sulphides. International Journal
of Mineral Processing 93(1–2):1–13.
Huang G, Grano S. 2005. Galvanic interaction of grinding
media with pyrite and its effect on floatation. Minerals
Engineering 18(12):1152–1163.
Liu J. Y., Han L., Corin K. C., et al. 2018. A study of the
effect of grinding environment on the flotation of
two copper sulphide ores. Minerals Engineering, 2018,
122:339–345.
Miettunen H., Kaukonen R., Corin K., et al. 2012. Effect
of reducing grinding conditions on the flotation behav-
iour of low-S content PGE ores. Minerals Engineering
36–38: 195–203.
Peng Y., Grano S. 2010. Effect of iron contamination from
grinding media on the flotation of sulphide minerals of
different particle size. International Journal of Mineral
Processing 97(1–4):1–6.
Song Z. G., Corin K. C., Wiese J G, et al. 2017. Effect
of grinding media type and collector addition site on
flotation of a Cu-Ni sulphide ore. Conservation and
Utilization of Mineral Resources, 2017 (6):36–40.
Song Z. G., Corin K. C., Wiese J. G., et al. 2018. Effect of
different grinding media composition on the flotation
of a PGM ore. Minerals Engineering, 124:74–76.
Seng H. K., Finch J. A. 2010. Impact of talc on pulp and
froth properties in F150 and 1-pentanol frother sys-
tems. Minerals Engineering 23(11–13):1003–1009.
CONCLUSIONS
In this investigation, effects of milled media on the pulp
chemistry and flotation performance of two different
Cu-Ni ores from China and South Africa were investigated
respectively. The milling media have significant influences
on the flotation performance of both two ores, but there is
a striking difference between JC and NK ore. For JC ore,
stainless steel milling obtained remarkable higher Cu and
Ni grade, slightly higher Cu and Ni recovery, significantly
lower solid and water recovery and slower Ni flotation.
While for NK ore, stainless steel milling obtained higher
Cu grade but much lower Ni grade, significantly lower Cu
and Ni recovery, also lower solid and water recovery.
The difference of flotation performance for the two ores
after milled with different milled media is speculated to be
mainly attributed to mineral composition difference of two
ores. The Fe species generated during the milling process of
JC ore with cast iron balls enhance the attachment of ser-
pentine on sulphide minerals surface, which contribute to
much more serpentine introduced to the flotation concen-
trate. Strong hydrophobicity and adsorption capacity on
frothers and collectors of talc result in a much lower copper
nickel recovery of NK ore after stainless steel balls milled
compared to cast iron balls milled. Strong hydrophobicity
and adsorption capacity on frothers and collectors of talc
result in a much lower copper nickel recovery of NK ore
after stainless steel balls milled compared to cast iron balls
milled.
REFERENCES
Azizi, A., Shafaei, S., Noaparast, M., Karamoozian, M.,
2013. The effect of pH, solid content, water chem-
istry and ore mineralogy on the galvanic interactions
between chalcopyrite and pyrite and steel balls. Front.
Chem. Sci. Eng. 7 (4), 464–471.
Bruckard W. J., Sparrow G. J., Woodcock J. T. 2011. A
review of the effects of the grinding environment on
the flotation of copper sulphides. International Journal
of Mineral Processing 93(1–2):1–13.
Huang G, Grano S. 2005. Galvanic interaction of grinding
media with pyrite and its effect on floatation. Minerals
Engineering 18(12):1152–1163.
Liu J. Y., Han L., Corin K. C., et al. 2018. A study of the
effect of grinding environment on the flotation of
two copper sulphide ores. Minerals Engineering, 2018,
122:339–345.
Miettunen H., Kaukonen R., Corin K., et al. 2012. Effect
of reducing grinding conditions on the flotation behav-
iour of low-S content PGE ores. Minerals Engineering
36–38: 195–203.
Peng Y., Grano S. 2010. Effect of iron contamination from
grinding media on the flotation of sulphide minerals of
different particle size. International Journal of Mineral
Processing 97(1–4):1–6.
Song Z. G., Corin K. C., Wiese J G, et al. 2017. Effect
of grinding media type and collector addition site on
flotation of a Cu-Ni sulphide ore. Conservation and
Utilization of Mineral Resources, 2017 (6):36–40.
Song Z. G., Corin K. C., Wiese J. G., et al. 2018. Effect of
different grinding media composition on the flotation
of a PGM ore. Minerals Engineering, 124:74–76.
Seng H. K., Finch J. A. 2010. Impact of talc on pulp and
froth properties in F150 and 1-pentanol frother sys-
tems. Minerals Engineering 23(11–13):1003–1009.