XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 2879
High-Grade Tailings—HGT) and one low grade (named
hereafter Low-Grade Tailings—LGT). Copper feed grades
are 6,4 and 4,7% for HGT and LGT respectively, and SiO2
grades are 55,8 and 57,9% respectively. Particle size dis-
tribution analyses with Malvern Panalytical’s Mastersizer
3000 show HGT has a P80 of 21,7 and P90 of 45,4 µm
while LGT has a P80 of 46,2 µm and a P90 of 86 µm.
Optical microscopy reveals that the predominant cop-
per sulfides are chalcocite (chc, light blue) and bornite
(bn, brownish). In addition, there is a minimal presence of
covellite (cv, dark blue) and chalcopyrite (cp, yellow), with
faint traces of metallic copper (bright orange) detected. The
main silicates are quartz, potassium feldspar, muscovite,
biotite and chlorite. They represent the main contaminants
in the flotation of this copper ore.
Concorde Cell Laboratory Unit
Flotation tests on the process stream are conducted with
the Concorde Cell Lab Unit depicted in Figure 1. The cell
tank is 147 mm in diameter for a volume of 20L and the
Blast Tube 3 m in length. In the Concorde laboratory unit,
100% of the tailings are recycled back into the feed of the
cell. One cycle corresponds to the time necessary for the
entire feed sample to have gone through the Concorde Cell
once. In a pilot or industrial Concorde Cell, the tailings are
split and only part is recycled back into the feed.
The operating and design parameters of the HGT and
LGT tests are presented in Table 1 and Table 2 respectively.
Adding a crowder to the Concorde Cell reduces the froth
surface area. All tests were conducted at 15% pulp solids.
Figure 1. Optical microscopy pictures of the feed samples of the HGT feed of the Concorde Cell
Table 1. Operating and design parameters of the HGT tests
Test Code APR
Wash
Water Crowder
Flotation
Time, min SIBX, g/t
Aero 3477,
g/t
Senfroth,
g/t
1 0,6 No No 26,4 120 120 30,6
2 0,6 No Yes 20 120 120 30,6
3 0,8 No Yes 26,5 120 120 30,6
4 0,6 Yes Yes 31 120 120 30,6
High-Grade Tailings—HGT) and one low grade (named
hereafter Low-Grade Tailings—LGT). Copper feed grades
are 6,4 and 4,7% for HGT and LGT respectively, and SiO2
grades are 55,8 and 57,9% respectively. Particle size dis-
tribution analyses with Malvern Panalytical’s Mastersizer
3000 show HGT has a P80 of 21,7 and P90 of 45,4 µm
while LGT has a P80 of 46,2 µm and a P90 of 86 µm.
Optical microscopy reveals that the predominant cop-
per sulfides are chalcocite (chc, light blue) and bornite
(bn, brownish). In addition, there is a minimal presence of
covellite (cv, dark blue) and chalcopyrite (cp, yellow), with
faint traces of metallic copper (bright orange) detected. The
main silicates are quartz, potassium feldspar, muscovite,
biotite and chlorite. They represent the main contaminants
in the flotation of this copper ore.
Concorde Cell Laboratory Unit
Flotation tests on the process stream are conducted with
the Concorde Cell Lab Unit depicted in Figure 1. The cell
tank is 147 mm in diameter for a volume of 20L and the
Blast Tube 3 m in length. In the Concorde laboratory unit,
100% of the tailings are recycled back into the feed of the
cell. One cycle corresponds to the time necessary for the
entire feed sample to have gone through the Concorde Cell
once. In a pilot or industrial Concorde Cell, the tailings are
split and only part is recycled back into the feed.
The operating and design parameters of the HGT and
LGT tests are presented in Table 1 and Table 2 respectively.
Adding a crowder to the Concorde Cell reduces the froth
surface area. All tests were conducted at 15% pulp solids.
Figure 1. Optical microscopy pictures of the feed samples of the HGT feed of the Concorde Cell
Table 1. Operating and design parameters of the HGT tests
Test Code APR
Wash
Water Crowder
Flotation
Time, min SIBX, g/t
Aero 3477,
g/t
Senfroth,
g/t
1 0,6 No No 26,4 120 120 30,6
2 0,6 No Yes 20 120 120 30,6
3 0,8 No Yes 26,5 120 120 30,6
4 0,6 Yes Yes 31 120 120 30,6