2884 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
work, the maximum grade achieved was 57.1%. The high-
est-grade concentrate (first concentrate from HGT – test 4)
was studied in a scanning-electron microscope.
The SEM images (Figure 12) reveal that within the
concentrate, silicates such as quartz (qtz), potassium feld-
spar (kfs), muscovite (ms), and chlorite (chl) are present,
featuring the presence of minute disseminated Cu-sulphide
grains, mainly chalcocite (chc) and bornite (bn) within the
silicate particles themselves. Consequently, it is apparent
that these, rather coarse, silicates contribute to the dilution
of the copper grade within the concentrate. The presence of
particles of azurite and chrysocolla also indicates a complex
copper mineralogy.
Overall, this would show that the Concorde Cell is able
to float even very fine copper sulphide grains despite their
association with silicates. In return, the grade is limited
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Si recovery, %
HGT
2 3
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
0 1 2 3 4 5
Si recovery, %
LGT
1 2
Figure 8. Copper – silica recovery for HGT and LGT tests for APR 0,6 (HGT-2 and LGT-2) and 0,8
(HGT-3 and LGT-1)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Cu Recovery, %
HGT
2 4
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Cu Recovery, %
LGT
3 4
Figure 9. Copper grade-recovery curves for HGT and LGT tests with (HGT-4 and LGT-4) and without
froth washing (HGT-2 and LGT-3)
Cu
r
overy,
%
Cu
r
overy,
%
Cu
Grade,
%
Cu
Grade,
%
work, the maximum grade achieved was 57.1%. The high-
est-grade concentrate (first concentrate from HGT – test 4)
was studied in a scanning-electron microscope.
The SEM images (Figure 12) reveal that within the
concentrate, silicates such as quartz (qtz), potassium feld-
spar (kfs), muscovite (ms), and chlorite (chl) are present,
featuring the presence of minute disseminated Cu-sulphide
grains, mainly chalcocite (chc) and bornite (bn) within the
silicate particles themselves. Consequently, it is apparent
that these, rather coarse, silicates contribute to the dilution
of the copper grade within the concentrate. The presence of
particles of azurite and chrysocolla also indicates a complex
copper mineralogy.
Overall, this would show that the Concorde Cell is able
to float even very fine copper sulphide grains despite their
association with silicates. In return, the grade is limited
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Si recovery, %
HGT
2 3
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
0 1 2 3 4 5
Si recovery, %
LGT
1 2
Figure 8. Copper – silica recovery for HGT and LGT tests for APR 0,6 (HGT-2 and LGT-2) and 0,8
(HGT-3 and LGT-1)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Cu Recovery, %
HGT
2 4
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Cu Recovery, %
LGT
3 4
Figure 9. Copper grade-recovery curves for HGT and LGT tests with (HGT-4 and LGT-4) and without
froth washing (HGT-2 and LGT-3)
Cu
r
overy,
%
Cu
r
overy,
%
Cu
Grade,
%
Cu
Grade,
%