XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 3025
CONCLUSIONS
Flotation of enriched copper ores is problematic due to
presence of secondary copper minerals and surface oxida-
tion. The presence of secondary copper minerals makes
the flotation chemistry very complex due to dissolution
of copper ions and interaction with the surface of other
minerals and flotation reagents. The use of complex reagent
scheme with specific depressants may not improve the cop-
per recovery and Cu/Zn selectivity in flotation.
A hybrid process flowsheet with combined hydro-
metallurgy-flotation processes was tested to improve the
Zn Recovery (%)
Figure 5. Copper vs zinc selectivity in the copper rougher flotation stage
Mass Pull (%)
Figure 6. Zn stage recovery top the zinc rougher concentrate as a function of mass pull
Table 8. Mass pull, grade and recoveries of the final concentrates produced from the Test C6 leach residue
Grade (%)Recovery (%)
Wt., %%Cu %Pb %Zn Cu Pb Zn
Cu Con 3.24 18.91 0.87 12.24 60.7 9.99 16.28
Zn Con 3.39 1.02 0.49 52.14 4.2 5.83 77.51
CuRecovery(%)
Zn
Stage
Recovery
(%)
CONCLUSIONS
Flotation of enriched copper ores is problematic due to
presence of secondary copper minerals and surface oxida-
tion. The presence of secondary copper minerals makes
the flotation chemistry very complex due to dissolution
of copper ions and interaction with the surface of other
minerals and flotation reagents. The use of complex reagent
scheme with specific depressants may not improve the cop-
per recovery and Cu/Zn selectivity in flotation.
A hybrid process flowsheet with combined hydro-
metallurgy-flotation processes was tested to improve the
Zn Recovery (%)
Figure 5. Copper vs zinc selectivity in the copper rougher flotation stage
Mass Pull (%)
Figure 6. Zn stage recovery top the zinc rougher concentrate as a function of mass pull
Table 8. Mass pull, grade and recoveries of the final concentrates produced from the Test C6 leach residue
Grade (%)Recovery (%)
Wt., %%Cu %Pb %Zn Cu Pb Zn
Cu Con 3.24 18.91 0.87 12.24 60.7 9.99 16.28
Zn Con 3.39 1.02 0.49 52.14 4.2 5.83 77.51
CuRecovery(%)
Zn
Stage
Recovery
(%)