2382 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
the telluride circuit at the Emperor Mine in Fiji (Colbert,
1980).
Microflotation tests confirmed the natural floatability
of calaverite and hessite as seen in Table 1. This is consistent
with other laboratory and industrial data that has reported
the natural flotation of telluride minerals (Colbert, 1980
Yan &Hariyasa, 1997).
Data in Table 1 indicate the use of H57 results in a
higher recovery of naturally floatable minerals. This may be
attributed to the greater hydrophobicity of the polypropyl-
ene glycol frother (Fuerstenau et al., 1985 Khoshdast &
Sam, 2011 Subrahmanyam &Forssberg, 1988) however
it is most likely due to the more persistent froth observed
when using H57. The more persistent froth was observed to
have a higher carrying capacity for aggregates present dur-
ing microflotation test work.
Aggregates were observed during this set of microflota-
tion tests as shown in Figure 2. The presence of aggregates
may contribute to the lower recoveries in Table 1 when
compared with Yan and Hariyasa (1997). The aggregates
were observed to circulate throughout the cell but not
reporting to the froth phase due to the size and mass of the
aggregates causing detachment from bubbles (specific grav-
ity of hessite is 8 (Hessite, 2024)). Another reason for the
lower observed recoveries would be due to the hydrophobic
nature of the tellurides causing material to attach to the
walls of the microflotation cell.
-60
-50
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
pH
(a) Hessite
0g/t PAX
80g/t PAX
160g/t PAX
-60
-50
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
pH
(b) Calaverite
0g/t PAX
80g/t PAX
160g/t PAX
800g/t PAX
Figure 1. Zeta potential curves for (a) hessite and (b) calaverite
Table 1. Summary of flotation conditions and recoveries for
hessite and calaverite
Mineral
Frother
Type
Frother Dosage,
mg/L
Recovery,
%
Hessite MIBC 13 60
H57 10 63
Calaverite MIBC 13 59
H57 10 73
Zeta
Potential
(mV)
Zeta
Potential
(mV)
the telluride circuit at the Emperor Mine in Fiji (Colbert,
1980).
Microflotation tests confirmed the natural floatability
of calaverite and hessite as seen in Table 1. This is consistent
with other laboratory and industrial data that has reported
the natural flotation of telluride minerals (Colbert, 1980
Yan &Hariyasa, 1997).
Data in Table 1 indicate the use of H57 results in a
higher recovery of naturally floatable minerals. This may be
attributed to the greater hydrophobicity of the polypropyl-
ene glycol frother (Fuerstenau et al., 1985 Khoshdast &
Sam, 2011 Subrahmanyam &Forssberg, 1988) however
it is most likely due to the more persistent froth observed
when using H57. The more persistent froth was observed to
have a higher carrying capacity for aggregates present dur-
ing microflotation test work.
Aggregates were observed during this set of microflota-
tion tests as shown in Figure 2. The presence of aggregates
may contribute to the lower recoveries in Table 1 when
compared with Yan and Hariyasa (1997). The aggregates
were observed to circulate throughout the cell but not
reporting to the froth phase due to the size and mass of the
aggregates causing detachment from bubbles (specific grav-
ity of hessite is 8 (Hessite, 2024)). Another reason for the
lower observed recoveries would be due to the hydrophobic
nature of the tellurides causing material to attach to the
walls of the microflotation cell.
-60
-50
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
pH
(a) Hessite
0g/t PAX
80g/t PAX
160g/t PAX
-60
-50
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
pH
(b) Calaverite
0g/t PAX
80g/t PAX
160g/t PAX
800g/t PAX
Figure 1. Zeta potential curves for (a) hessite and (b) calaverite
Table 1. Summary of flotation conditions and recoveries for
hessite and calaverite
Mineral
Frother
Type
Frother Dosage,
mg/L
Recovery,
%
Hessite MIBC 13 60
H57 10 63
Calaverite MIBC 13 59
H57 10 73
Zeta
Potential
(mV)
Zeta
Potential
(mV)