2472 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
primary grind rougher flotation concentrates preferentially
upgrades chalcopyrite for all the AECI collectors evalu-
ated compared with the standard, which gives the lowest
chalcopyrite upgrade ratio (Figure 9B). This is followed by
pentlandite which gives the highest upgrade ratio for all the
AECI collectors compared with the standard, which gives
the lowest pentlandite upgrade ratio. For the ‘other’ BMS,
the PGRF 2 gives the highest upgrade ratio, followed by
the standard (PGRF 1). Pyrrhotite/pyrite gives the lowest
upgrade ratio for all conditions evaluated.
The data for the secondary grind rougher flotation
concentrates preferentially upgrades chalcopyrite, followed
by pentlandite, ‘other’ BMS and pyrrhotite/pyrite for all
conditions evaluated (Figure 9C). The AECI collectors for
the SGRF 2, SGRF 3 and SGRF 4 show a higher BMS
minerals upgrade ratio compared to the standard (SGRF 1)
with SGRF 4 giving the highest upgrade ratio compared to
all the other collectors evaluated (Figure 9C). It is interest-
ing to note that the AECI collectors, particularly PGRF 4
and SGRF 4 preferentially upgrade the ‘other’ BMS which
comprise mostly of other copper sulphide minerals (chal-
cocite and bornite) which indicates that this combination
of collector type and ratios of DTP and DTC in combina-
tion with SIBX would be beneficial for BMS ore types.
Overall, the AECI collectors evaluated show a higher
BMS (total) minerals upgrade ratio for both the primary
and secondary grind rougher flotation concentrates com-
pared to the standard (Figures 9B and C).
Figure 10A shows the BMS minerals GSD for the total
BMS minerals for the primary and secondary grind rougher
flotation. Figures 10B, C and D show the individual data
for the three main BMS minerals species (pentlandite, chal-
copyrite and pyrrhotite/pyrite) for the primary and second-
ary grind rougher flotation. The BMS minerals GSD are
coarser than the PGE minerals GSD for the minerals of
interest in each sub-group (Figures 8A, B, C and D Figures
10A, B, C and D). In most cases for the primary grind
rougher flotation conditions, a higher amount of BMS
minerals are collected for all size classes, but particularly
for the coarser size classes when compared to the secondary
grind rougher flotation. The AECI collectors evaluated, in
general, show a higher BMS minerals GSD deportment to
the concentrates compared to the standard condition for all
size classes (Figures 10B, C and D).
The BMS liberation data for the primary grind rougher
flotation feed shows that pentlandite and pyrite have the
highest number of fully liberated grains (~31 and ~33 mass
%,respectively). Pyrite also has the highest number of
locked grains (~51 mass %).Chalcopyrite has the least
number of fully liberated grains (~6 mass %)and locked
grains (~15 mass %).Overall, pentlandite and chalcopyrite
show the best liberation, with ~65 mass %and ~58 mass
%of its grains reporting to the high middlings (50%–
80%), liberated (80%) and fully liberated (100%)
classes, respectively.
For the concentrate samples, the majority of the pyr-
rhotite/pyrite reports to the middlings the highest libera-
tion is seen in PGRF 4. The SGRF 4 shows the highest
liberation of the concentrates, and the PGRF and SGRF 2
has the highest locked pyrrhotite/pyrite.
All of the concentrate samples show higher liberation
of pentlandite compared to the primary grind rougher flo-
tation feed sample, with PGRF 2 having the highest lib-
eration of the concentrates. The SGRF 1 has the highest
locked pentlandite of the concentrate samples, with the
SGRF 2 sample showing the highest liberation, followed
closely by the SGRF 4 condition.
The PGRF 4 has the highest locked portion of the chal-
copyrite within the concentrate samples, and the PGRF
3 has the highest liberation. The SGRF 4 has the highest
chalcopyrite liberation of the concentrates and the SGRF 1
sample has the lowest liberation of the concentrates.
The PGRF 1 and PGRF 2 have the best liberation of
the concentrates for pyrite, however, the PGRF 3 has the
lowest amount of locked pyrite. The SGRF 2 has the high-
est liberation with no locked pyrite seen within the sample
and the SGRF 3 also shows no locked grains detected but
has a higher middlings portion than liberated.
Significance to Flotation
The mineralogical data on the 4 primary and 4 second-
ary grind rougher flotation concentrates collected from 15
by two kilogram batch flotation tests has highlighted the
following relationships as depicted in Figures 11A, B and
C ternary diagrams for the cumulative PGM, Cu and Ni
minerals surface exposure, grade and recovery data, respec-
tively (Graham and Midgeley, 2000). The ternary axes are
arranged with the X axis at the bottom of the graph, Y axis
to the left of the graph and Z axis to the right of the graph.
Each corner of the ternary diagram is 100% of that compo-
nent depicted. Reading the ternary plot Locate the 100%
point on the axis. The axis values increases from the base
opposite this point to the 100% point. Draw a line parallel
to the base that is opposite the 100% point through the
point you wish to read. Follow the parallel line to the axis.
This is the component value for that axis. Repeat these same
steps for the remaining axes. The colours of the conditions
are the same as those depicted in the grade-recovery curves,
however, the circle and square depicts the primary and sec-
ondary grind rougher flotation concentrates, respectively.
primary grind rougher flotation concentrates preferentially
upgrades chalcopyrite for all the AECI collectors evalu-
ated compared with the standard, which gives the lowest
chalcopyrite upgrade ratio (Figure 9B). This is followed by
pentlandite which gives the highest upgrade ratio for all the
AECI collectors compared with the standard, which gives
the lowest pentlandite upgrade ratio. For the ‘other’ BMS,
the PGRF 2 gives the highest upgrade ratio, followed by
the standard (PGRF 1). Pyrrhotite/pyrite gives the lowest
upgrade ratio for all conditions evaluated.
The data for the secondary grind rougher flotation
concentrates preferentially upgrades chalcopyrite, followed
by pentlandite, ‘other’ BMS and pyrrhotite/pyrite for all
conditions evaluated (Figure 9C). The AECI collectors for
the SGRF 2, SGRF 3 and SGRF 4 show a higher BMS
minerals upgrade ratio compared to the standard (SGRF 1)
with SGRF 4 giving the highest upgrade ratio compared to
all the other collectors evaluated (Figure 9C). It is interest-
ing to note that the AECI collectors, particularly PGRF 4
and SGRF 4 preferentially upgrade the ‘other’ BMS which
comprise mostly of other copper sulphide minerals (chal-
cocite and bornite) which indicates that this combination
of collector type and ratios of DTP and DTC in combina-
tion with SIBX would be beneficial for BMS ore types.
Overall, the AECI collectors evaluated show a higher
BMS (total) minerals upgrade ratio for both the primary
and secondary grind rougher flotation concentrates com-
pared to the standard (Figures 9B and C).
Figure 10A shows the BMS minerals GSD for the total
BMS minerals for the primary and secondary grind rougher
flotation. Figures 10B, C and D show the individual data
for the three main BMS minerals species (pentlandite, chal-
copyrite and pyrrhotite/pyrite) for the primary and second-
ary grind rougher flotation. The BMS minerals GSD are
coarser than the PGE minerals GSD for the minerals of
interest in each sub-group (Figures 8A, B, C and D Figures
10A, B, C and D). In most cases for the primary grind
rougher flotation conditions, a higher amount of BMS
minerals are collected for all size classes, but particularly
for the coarser size classes when compared to the secondary
grind rougher flotation. The AECI collectors evaluated, in
general, show a higher BMS minerals GSD deportment to
the concentrates compared to the standard condition for all
size classes (Figures 10B, C and D).
The BMS liberation data for the primary grind rougher
flotation feed shows that pentlandite and pyrite have the
highest number of fully liberated grains (~31 and ~33 mass
%,respectively). Pyrite also has the highest number of
locked grains (~51 mass %).Chalcopyrite has the least
number of fully liberated grains (~6 mass %)and locked
grains (~15 mass %).Overall, pentlandite and chalcopyrite
show the best liberation, with ~65 mass %and ~58 mass
%of its grains reporting to the high middlings (50%–
80%), liberated (80%) and fully liberated (100%)
classes, respectively.
For the concentrate samples, the majority of the pyr-
rhotite/pyrite reports to the middlings the highest libera-
tion is seen in PGRF 4. The SGRF 4 shows the highest
liberation of the concentrates, and the PGRF and SGRF 2
has the highest locked pyrrhotite/pyrite.
All of the concentrate samples show higher liberation
of pentlandite compared to the primary grind rougher flo-
tation feed sample, with PGRF 2 having the highest lib-
eration of the concentrates. The SGRF 1 has the highest
locked pentlandite of the concentrate samples, with the
SGRF 2 sample showing the highest liberation, followed
closely by the SGRF 4 condition.
The PGRF 4 has the highest locked portion of the chal-
copyrite within the concentrate samples, and the PGRF
3 has the highest liberation. The SGRF 4 has the highest
chalcopyrite liberation of the concentrates and the SGRF 1
sample has the lowest liberation of the concentrates.
The PGRF 1 and PGRF 2 have the best liberation of
the concentrates for pyrite, however, the PGRF 3 has the
lowest amount of locked pyrite. The SGRF 2 has the high-
est liberation with no locked pyrite seen within the sample
and the SGRF 3 also shows no locked grains detected but
has a higher middlings portion than liberated.
Significance to Flotation
The mineralogical data on the 4 primary and 4 second-
ary grind rougher flotation concentrates collected from 15
by two kilogram batch flotation tests has highlighted the
following relationships as depicted in Figures 11A, B and
C ternary diagrams for the cumulative PGM, Cu and Ni
minerals surface exposure, grade and recovery data, respec-
tively (Graham and Midgeley, 2000). The ternary axes are
arranged with the X axis at the bottom of the graph, Y axis
to the left of the graph and Z axis to the right of the graph.
Each corner of the ternary diagram is 100% of that compo-
nent depicted. Reading the ternary plot Locate the 100%
point on the axis. The axis values increases from the base
opposite this point to the 100% point. Draw a line parallel
to the base that is opposite the 100% point through the
point you wish to read. Follow the parallel line to the axis.
This is the component value for that axis. Repeat these same
steps for the remaining axes. The colours of the conditions
are the same as those depicted in the grade-recovery curves,
however, the circle and square depicts the primary and sec-
ondary grind rougher flotation concentrates, respectively.