XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 2887
For the high-grade tailings stream, the addition of
froth washing has had a strong impact on the metallurgi-
cal performance, the grade is highly increased (+10%) by
sacrificing 12% of the recovery. For the low-grade tailings
stream, the addition of froth washing only has a superficial
impact on the metallurgical performance. The kinetics are
greatly slowed, but the copper grades and recoveries and
the selectivity against silica follow the same curve, indicat-
ing that the essence of the flotation itself was not modified.
The first recleaner cell produces a concentrate of 55,9%
Cu and the second recleaner cell produces a concentrate
of 37,8%. It was expected that the test work with the
Concorde Cell produces equivalent or approaching grades
on the tailings of these recleaner cells. This was achievable
in HGT, where the highest produced grade was 57,1% but
more difficult on LGT, where the highest produced grade
was 27,6% Cu. However, the Concorde Cell largely out-
performs the mechanical cell on the same streams when
benchmarked to it, with grades higher by 5 to 20% and
higher recoveries on LGT.
A simple mineralogical study shows 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 by that same association. To increase grade and
recovery within HGT and LGT, it would be necessary to
investigate even finer grinding than currently applied.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors would like to thank Berivan Tunç for man-
aging the test work, Tero Kratsov for the mineralogical
analysis and the Metso Research Center for conducting the
test work and chemical analyses. We also thank the plant
for allowing us to use these data for publication.
LITERATURE
Ball, M., Kupka, N., Bermudez, G., &Yañez, A. (2023).
ConcordeCellTM technology retrofit effect on an exist-
ing self-aspirated flotation cell MetPlant Conference,
Adelaide, Australia.
Barbian, N., Hadler, K., Ventura-Medina, E., &Cilliers, J.
J. (2005). The froth stability column: linking froth sta-
bility and flotation performance. Minerals Engineering,
18(3), 317–324. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2004.06.010.
Coleman, R. (2009). Flotation cells: Selecting the correct
concentrate launder design. Filtration &Separation,
46(6), 36–37. doi: 10.1016/S0015-1882(09)70230-7.
Contreras, F., Yianatos, J., &Vinnett, L. (2013). On the
froth transport modelling in industrial flotation cells.
Minerals Engineering, 41, 17–24. doi: 10.1016/j.
mineng.2012.10.016.
Dahlke, R., Finch, J., Gomez, C., Cooper, M., &Scott, D.
(2004, January 20–22, 2004). Impact of Air Distribution
Profile on Banks in a Zn Cleaning Circuit 36th Annual
Meeting of the Canadian Mineral Processors, Ottawa,
Canada.
Farrokhpay, S. (2011). The significance of froth stability in
mineral flotation—A review. Advances in Colloid and
Interface Science, 166(1), 1–7. doi: 10.1016/j.cis.2011
.03.001.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Copper recovery, %
HGT
1 2
3 4
Mech_1 Mech_2
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Copper recovery, %
LGT
1 2
3 4
Mech_1 Mech_2
Figure 13. Copper grade against recovery for HGT and LGT depending on the hardware
Copper
grade,
%
Copper
grade,
%
For the high-grade tailings stream, the addition of
froth washing has had a strong impact on the metallurgi-
cal performance, the grade is highly increased (+10%) by
sacrificing 12% of the recovery. For the low-grade tailings
stream, the addition of froth washing only has a superficial
impact on the metallurgical performance. The kinetics are
greatly slowed, but the copper grades and recoveries and
the selectivity against silica follow the same curve, indicat-
ing that the essence of the flotation itself was not modified.
The first recleaner cell produces a concentrate of 55,9%
Cu and the second recleaner cell produces a concentrate
of 37,8%. It was expected that the test work with the
Concorde Cell produces equivalent or approaching grades
on the tailings of these recleaner cells. This was achievable
in HGT, where the highest produced grade was 57,1% but
more difficult on LGT, where the highest produced grade
was 27,6% Cu. However, the Concorde Cell largely out-
performs the mechanical cell on the same streams when
benchmarked to it, with grades higher by 5 to 20% and
higher recoveries on LGT.
A simple mineralogical study shows 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 by that same association. To increase grade and
recovery within HGT and LGT, it would be necessary to
investigate even finer grinding than currently applied.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors would like to thank Berivan Tunç for man-
aging the test work, Tero Kratsov for the mineralogical
analysis and the Metso Research Center for conducting the
test work and chemical analyses. We also thank the plant
for allowing us to use these data for publication.
LITERATURE
Ball, M., Kupka, N., Bermudez, G., &Yañez, A. (2023).
ConcordeCellTM technology retrofit effect on an exist-
ing self-aspirated flotation cell MetPlant Conference,
Adelaide, Australia.
Barbian, N., Hadler, K., Ventura-Medina, E., &Cilliers, J.
J. (2005). The froth stability column: linking froth sta-
bility and flotation performance. Minerals Engineering,
18(3), 317–324. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2004.06.010.
Coleman, R. (2009). Flotation cells: Selecting the correct
concentrate launder design. Filtration &Separation,
46(6), 36–37. doi: 10.1016/S0015-1882(09)70230-7.
Contreras, F., Yianatos, J., &Vinnett, L. (2013). On the
froth transport modelling in industrial flotation cells.
Minerals Engineering, 41, 17–24. doi: 10.1016/j.
mineng.2012.10.016.
Dahlke, R., Finch, J., Gomez, C., Cooper, M., &Scott, D.
(2004, January 20–22, 2004). Impact of Air Distribution
Profile on Banks in a Zn Cleaning Circuit 36th Annual
Meeting of the Canadian Mineral Processors, Ottawa,
Canada.
Farrokhpay, S. (2011). The significance of froth stability in
mineral flotation—A review. Advances in Colloid and
Interface Science, 166(1), 1–7. doi: 10.1016/j.cis.2011
.03.001.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Copper recovery, %
HGT
1 2
3 4
Mech_1 Mech_2
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Copper recovery, %
LGT
1 2
3 4
Mech_1 Mech_2
Figure 13. Copper grade against recovery for HGT and LGT depending on the hardware
Copper
grade,
%
Copper
grade,
%