XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 2471
with BMS, both constituting a liberated floatable particle
occurring with pentlandite.
The PGRF 2 has the highest liberation of the PGE tel-
lurides for the primary grind rougher flotation concentrate
samples. The PGE tellurides in the secondary grind rougher
flotation concentrates show fewer locked grains, there are
overall more grains reporting to the middlings and liber-
ated classes except for the SGRF 2 sample. The SGFR 3
sample has the highest liberation.
The PGE sulphides show a higher number of liber-
ated grains reporting to the primary concentrates, however,
there are still locked grains present. The PGRF 2 sample has
the highest liberation. The SGRF 1 sample has the highest
liberation. The SGRF 2 and SGRF 4 samples still have a
considerable number of locked grains.
The PGE arsenides in the concentrate samples show
reasonable liberation with the PGRF 4 sample having the
highest liberation of the samples. The secondary concen-
trate samples contain locked grains, but there are fewer
than seen for the feed samples. The SGRF 2 sample has the
highest liberation.
The majority of the ‘other’ PGE grains are within the
locked/middlings class and show poor liberation in most
of the primary grind rougher flotation samples. The PGRF
1sample has the highest liberation. The liberation for the
secondary grind rougher flotation varies across the ‘other’
PGE grains the SGRF 2 sample has the highest liberation.
There are fine grained PGE that are within mixed silicates
that are the result of the poor liberation.
BMS Deportment/Speciation, GSD and
Liberation Data
Figure 9A depicts the BMS speciation found in the various
samples. Normalized BMS results show that pyrrhotite/
pyrite (~50 mass %),pentlandite (~30 mass %)and chal-
copyrite (~15 mass %),are the major BMS species present.
The feed sample shows that pyrrhotite (~42 mass %)is the
dominant BMS present, which is characteristic of Platreef
ores (Viljoen and Schürmann, 1998 Schouwstra and
Kinloch, 2000). Pentlandite is the second most abundant
BMS species followed by chalcopyrite and ‘other’ BMS
which comprises chalcocite, bornite and galena. Higher
amounts chalcopyrite and pentlandite report to the con-
centrates with less pyrrhotite/pyrite when compared to the
primary grind rougher flotation feed.
Figures 9B and C show the BMS minerals upgrade
ratio for the primary and secondary grind rougher flota-
tion concentrates, respectively. The data shows that the
Figure 9. A) BMS Deportment (mass %)and B) Upgrade ratio from primary and C) secondary grinds for the various collectors
evaluated
with BMS, both constituting a liberated floatable particle
occurring with pentlandite.
The PGRF 2 has the highest liberation of the PGE tel-
lurides for the primary grind rougher flotation concentrate
samples. The PGE tellurides in the secondary grind rougher
flotation concentrates show fewer locked grains, there are
overall more grains reporting to the middlings and liber-
ated classes except for the SGRF 2 sample. The SGFR 3
sample has the highest liberation.
The PGE sulphides show a higher number of liber-
ated grains reporting to the primary concentrates, however,
there are still locked grains present. The PGRF 2 sample has
the highest liberation. The SGRF 1 sample has the highest
liberation. The SGRF 2 and SGRF 4 samples still have a
considerable number of locked grains.
The PGE arsenides in the concentrate samples show
reasonable liberation with the PGRF 4 sample having the
highest liberation of the samples. The secondary concen-
trate samples contain locked grains, but there are fewer
than seen for the feed samples. The SGRF 2 sample has the
highest liberation.
The majority of the ‘other’ PGE grains are within the
locked/middlings class and show poor liberation in most
of the primary grind rougher flotation samples. The PGRF
1sample has the highest liberation. The liberation for the
secondary grind rougher flotation varies across the ‘other’
PGE grains the SGRF 2 sample has the highest liberation.
There are fine grained PGE that are within mixed silicates
that are the result of the poor liberation.
BMS Deportment/Speciation, GSD and
Liberation Data
Figure 9A depicts the BMS speciation found in the various
samples. Normalized BMS results show that pyrrhotite/
pyrite (~50 mass %),pentlandite (~30 mass %)and chal-
copyrite (~15 mass %),are the major BMS species present.
The feed sample shows that pyrrhotite (~42 mass %)is the
dominant BMS present, which is characteristic of Platreef
ores (Viljoen and Schürmann, 1998 Schouwstra and
Kinloch, 2000). Pentlandite is the second most abundant
BMS species followed by chalcopyrite and ‘other’ BMS
which comprises chalcocite, bornite and galena. Higher
amounts chalcopyrite and pentlandite report to the con-
centrates with less pyrrhotite/pyrite when compared to the
primary grind rougher flotation feed.
Figures 9B and C show the BMS minerals upgrade
ratio for the primary and secondary grind rougher flota-
tion concentrates, respectively. The data shows that the
Figure 9. A) BMS Deportment (mass %)and B) Upgrade ratio from primary and C) secondary grinds for the various collectors
evaluated