XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 2459
interaction between the two sulfide minerals during
grinding
• The addition of oxidant did not appear to alter the
pentlandite surface to the detriment of subsequent
nickel flotation, evidenced by the ability to float pent-
landite after returning the Eh to the air-set potential
• The mill environment does not appear to impact
separation, the separation can be made using either a
steel or stainless steel grinding mill
Use of this approach could theoretically enable the recovery
of separate high- and low-grade nickel concentrates from
nickel sulfide ores containing both millerite and pentland-
ite, suitable for processing by different methods i.e., pyro-
metallurgy vs hydrometallurgy.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors are grateful for the support provided by
CSIRO Mineral Resources to Nebeal Faris through the
ResearchPlus CERC Postdoctoral Fellowship program. The
authors would also like to thank the CSIRO staff who con-
ducted chemical analysis, QXRD analysis, and SEM analy-
sis on samples from this study.
REFERENCES
Barnes, S.J., Godel, B.M., Locmelis, M., Fiorentini, M.L.,
and Ryan, C.G., 2011. Extremely Ni-rich Fe–Ni sulfide
assemblages in komatiitic dunite at Betheno, Western
Australia: results from synchrotron X-ray fluorescence
mapping, Aust. J. Earth Sci. 58(7), 691–709.
Bruckard, W.J., Davey, K.J., Jorgensen, F.R.A., Wright, S.,
Brew, D.R.M., Haque, N., and Vance, E.R., 2010.
Development and evaluation of an early removal pro-
cess for the beneficiation of arsenic-bearing copper
ores, Miner. Eng. 23(15), 1167–1173.
Cheng, X. and Iwasaki, I., 1992. Pulp potential and its
implications to sulfide flotation, Miner. Process. 11(4),
187–210.
Chimonyo, W., Wiese, J., Corin, K., and O’Connor, C.,
2017a. The use of oxidising agents for control of elec-
trochemical potential in flotation, Miner. Eng. 109,
135–143.
Chimonyo, W., Corin, K.C., Wiese, J.G., and O’Connor,
C.T., 2017b. Redox potential control during flotation
of a sulphide mineral ore, Miner. Eng. 110, 57–64.
Clark, D.W. and Newell, A.J., inventor(s) BOC Ltd
Australia, assignee. Mineral flotation separation by
deoxygenating slurries and mineral surfaces. US Patent
6036025A. Filed March 26th, 1998.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Flotation Time (min)
KeX, Millerite
KeX, Pentlandite
Thionocarbamate, Millerite
Thionocarbamate, Pentlandite
Dithiophosphate, Millerite
Dithiophosphate, Pentlandite
Figure 7. The effect of collector type (100 g/t) on the recovery of millerite and pentlandite at the air-set
potential and at pH 9 (Steel mill)
Percent
recovery
of
mine
ra(%)
l
interaction between the two sulfide minerals during
grinding
• The addition of oxidant did not appear to alter the
pentlandite surface to the detriment of subsequent
nickel flotation, evidenced by the ability to float pent-
landite after returning the Eh to the air-set potential
• The mill environment does not appear to impact
separation, the separation can be made using either a
steel or stainless steel grinding mill
Use of this approach could theoretically enable the recovery
of separate high- and low-grade nickel concentrates from
nickel sulfide ores containing both millerite and pentland-
ite, suitable for processing by different methods i.e., pyro-
metallurgy vs hydrometallurgy.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors are grateful for the support provided by
CSIRO Mineral Resources to Nebeal Faris through the
ResearchPlus CERC Postdoctoral Fellowship program. The
authors would also like to thank the CSIRO staff who con-
ducted chemical analysis, QXRD analysis, and SEM analy-
sis on samples from this study.
REFERENCES
Barnes, S.J., Godel, B.M., Locmelis, M., Fiorentini, M.L.,
and Ryan, C.G., 2011. Extremely Ni-rich Fe–Ni sulfide
assemblages in komatiitic dunite at Betheno, Western
Australia: results from synchrotron X-ray fluorescence
mapping, Aust. J. Earth Sci. 58(7), 691–709.
Bruckard, W.J., Davey, K.J., Jorgensen, F.R.A., Wright, S.,
Brew, D.R.M., Haque, N., and Vance, E.R., 2010.
Development and evaluation of an early removal pro-
cess for the beneficiation of arsenic-bearing copper
ores, Miner. Eng. 23(15), 1167–1173.
Cheng, X. and Iwasaki, I., 1992. Pulp potential and its
implications to sulfide flotation, Miner. Process. 11(4),
187–210.
Chimonyo, W., Wiese, J., Corin, K., and O’Connor, C.,
2017a. The use of oxidising agents for control of elec-
trochemical potential in flotation, Miner. Eng. 109,
135–143.
Chimonyo, W., Corin, K.C., Wiese, J.G., and O’Connor,
C.T., 2017b. Redox potential control during flotation
of a sulphide mineral ore, Miner. Eng. 110, 57–64.
Clark, D.W. and Newell, A.J., inventor(s) BOC Ltd
Australia, assignee. Mineral flotation separation by
deoxygenating slurries and mineral surfaces. US Patent
6036025A. Filed March 26th, 1998.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Flotation Time (min)
KeX, Millerite
KeX, Pentlandite
Thionocarbamate, Millerite
Thionocarbamate, Pentlandite
Dithiophosphate, Millerite
Dithiophosphate, Pentlandite
Figure 7. The effect of collector type (100 g/t) on the recovery of millerite and pentlandite at the air-set
potential and at pH 9 (Steel mill)
Percent
recovery
of
mine
ra(%)
l