254 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
grind size also effectively reduces the metal-specific commi-
nution energy. Liberation enhancement may be exploited
in flotation (e.g., base metal sulphides) or gravity concen-
tration (e.g., gold) circuits.
However, previous studies by Batchelor et al. (2016a
2017) on porphyry copper ores have demonstrated that
a 40–70 µm increase in grind size may be achievable for
equivalent liberation, shown in Figure 7a and Figure 7b.
Alternately, the improved liberation profile may allow for a
higher degree of liberation at an equivalent grind size.
Batchelor et al. (2016a) further showed, in Figure 8,
that such an improvement in liberation may translate to an
increase in copper recovery of 0.8% or increase of 30 µm in
grind size for equivalent copper recovery.
The ability to increase the grind size for recovery also
suggests that microwave treatment may have synergies
with coarse particle flotation technologies that can exploit
induced fractures closer to native grain sizes, rather than
relying on fine grinding to achieve the required degree of
liberation. To the authors’ knowledge, there have been
no investigations of microwave treatment coupled with
coarse particle flotation. Furthermore, preferential libera-
tion may assist selectivity in recovery with multiple product
[a] [b]
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
100 200 300 400 500
Grind Size P80 (μm)
Ore 2
UT2
T4
T6
Source: [a] Batchelor et al. 2016a [b] Batchelor et al. 2017
[a] copper sulphide liberation for untreated (UT) and microwave treated (T) porphyry copper ore samples at two grind sizes [b]
copper sulphide liberation for untreated (UT) and two microwave treatment (T) energies for another porphyry copper ore sample.
Figure 7. Liberation and recovery improvement for porphyry copper ores after microwave treatment
Source: Batchelor et al. 2016a
Figure 8. Recovery improvement for a porphyry copper ore
after microwave treatment
Distributionof
Mineral
60%
Liberated
(wt%)
grind size also effectively reduces the metal-specific commi-
nution energy. Liberation enhancement may be exploited
in flotation (e.g., base metal sulphides) or gravity concen-
tration (e.g., gold) circuits.
However, previous studies by Batchelor et al. (2016a
2017) on porphyry copper ores have demonstrated that
a 40–70 µm increase in grind size may be achievable for
equivalent liberation, shown in Figure 7a and Figure 7b.
Alternately, the improved liberation profile may allow for a
higher degree of liberation at an equivalent grind size.
Batchelor et al. (2016a) further showed, in Figure 8,
that such an improvement in liberation may translate to an
increase in copper recovery of 0.8% or increase of 30 µm in
grind size for equivalent copper recovery.
The ability to increase the grind size for recovery also
suggests that microwave treatment may have synergies
with coarse particle flotation technologies that can exploit
induced fractures closer to native grain sizes, rather than
relying on fine grinding to achieve the required degree of
liberation. To the authors’ knowledge, there have been
no investigations of microwave treatment coupled with
coarse particle flotation. Furthermore, preferential libera-
tion may assist selectivity in recovery with multiple product
[a] [b]
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
100 200 300 400 500
Grind Size P80 (μm)
Ore 2
UT2
T4
T6
Source: [a] Batchelor et al. 2016a [b] Batchelor et al. 2017
[a] copper sulphide liberation for untreated (UT) and microwave treated (T) porphyry copper ore samples at two grind sizes [b]
copper sulphide liberation for untreated (UT) and two microwave treatment (T) energies for another porphyry copper ore sample.
Figure 7. Liberation and recovery improvement for porphyry copper ores after microwave treatment
Source: Batchelor et al. 2016a
Figure 8. Recovery improvement for a porphyry copper ore
after microwave treatment
Distributionof
Mineral
60%
Liberated
(wt%)