3035
Influence of Grinding Parameters on the Flotation Separation of
Talc-Containing Molybdenum Ore
Wenhao Jia, Jiajia Wu, Qian Wei, Wenqing Qin
School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
ABSTRACT: Flotation beneficiation is an effective method for molybdenum sulfide ore separation from gangue
minerals due to its surface hydrophobicity. Talc, a common gangue mineral associate with molybdenite, behaves
similar in flotation and thus reduce the efficacy of flotation separation. In this paper, a process mineralogy study
was carried out for a molybdenum ore containing talc in Luanchuan, Henan. The effects of different grinding
conditions on the flotation separation of molybdenite and talc were compared. The results shown that the most
suitable grinding method was planetary ball grinding and using steel balls as grinding medium, which was
more conducive to flotation separation of the molybdenite and talc. The grade of Mo of the final concentrate
was 38.17%, and the flotation recovery was 79.33%. The results shown that proper grinding conditions could
promote the separation of molybdenite and talc.
Keywords: molybdenite talc flotation recovery
INTRODUCTION
Molybdenum has the characteristics of high thermal con-
ductivity, high conductivity, low coefficient of thermal
expansion, thermal shock resistance and high stiffness,
which are widely used in alloy materials and chemical
product. Sandaozhuang molybdenum mine of Luoyang
Molybdenum Group is the largest molybdenum deposit
with proven molybdenum reserves in China(G. Wang et
al., 2015 X. Wang et al., 2022), and the reserves of talc
type molybdenum ore reach 520 million tons. Talc and
molybdenite are layered minerals, which are bound by
van der Waals force between layers, and the atoms in the
layers are bound by chemical bonds. When subjected to
external forces, the two minerals are prone to interlayer
cleavage, exposing hydrophobic surfaces(Castro, Lopez-
Valdivieso, &Laskowski, 2016 C. Wang et al., 2023).
Therefore, molybdenite and molybdenite have good natural
floatability, which makes it difficult to separate them by
efficient flotation.
The mineral needs grinding pretreatment before flo-
tation, which reduces the particle size of the ore and dis-
sociates the target mineral monomer, and the surface
properties of the mineral is changed. The surface wettability
of molybdenite and talc is affected by grinding conditions.
Hoover(Malhotra, Hoover, &Bender, 1980) prepared
molybdenite particles by using two methods of double roll
crusher and jet mill. The grinding products were observed
by scanning electron microscope and the single mineral flo-
tation test was carried out. It was found that the molybde-
nite prepared by double roll crusher had smooth surface,
higher proportion of the face surface and good floatabil-
ity The surface of Molybdenite prepared by jet mill was
rough, with a higher proportion of edge surfaces and poor
floatability. M. Yekeler U. Ulusoy and I. Kursun(Kursun

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Extracted Text (may have errors)

3035
Influence of Grinding Parameters on the Flotation Separation of
Talc-Containing Molybdenum Ore
Wenhao Jia, Jiajia Wu, Qian Wei, Wenqing Qin
School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
ABSTRACT: Flotation beneficiation is an effective method for molybdenum sulfide ore separation from gangue
minerals due to its surface hydrophobicity. Talc, a common gangue mineral associate with molybdenite, behaves
similar in flotation and thus reduce the efficacy of flotation separation. In this paper, a process mineralogy study
was carried out for a molybdenum ore containing talc in Luanchuan, Henan. The effects of different grinding
conditions on the flotation separation of molybdenite and talc were compared. The results shown that the most
suitable grinding method was planetary ball grinding and using steel balls as grinding medium, which was
more conducive to flotation separation of the molybdenite and talc. The grade of Mo of the final concentrate
was 38.17%, and the flotation recovery was 79.33%. The results shown that proper grinding conditions could
promote the separation of molybdenite and talc.
Keywords: molybdenite talc flotation recovery
INTRODUCTION
Molybdenum has the characteristics of high thermal con-
ductivity, high conductivity, low coefficient of thermal
expansion, thermal shock resistance and high stiffness,
which are widely used in alloy materials and chemical
product. Sandaozhuang molybdenum mine of Luoyang
Molybdenum Group is the largest molybdenum deposit
with proven molybdenum reserves in China(G. Wang et
al., 2015 X. Wang et al., 2022), and the reserves of talc
type molybdenum ore reach 520 million tons. Talc and
molybdenite are layered minerals, which are bound by
van der Waals force between layers, and the atoms in the
layers are bound by chemical bonds. When subjected to
external forces, the two minerals are prone to interlayer
cleavage, exposing hydrophobic surfaces(Castro, Lopez-
Valdivieso, &Laskowski, 2016 C. Wang et al., 2023).
Therefore, molybdenite and molybdenite have good natural
floatability, which makes it difficult to separate them by
efficient flotation.
The mineral needs grinding pretreatment before flo-
tation, which reduces the particle size of the ore and dis-
sociates the target mineral monomer, and the surface
properties of the mineral is changed. The surface wettability
of molybdenite and talc is affected by grinding conditions.
Hoover(Malhotra, Hoover, &Bender, 1980) prepared
molybdenite particles by using two methods of double roll
crusher and jet mill. The grinding products were observed
by scanning electron microscope and the single mineral flo-
tation test was carried out. It was found that the molybde-
nite prepared by double roll crusher had smooth surface,
higher proportion of the face surface and good floatabil-
ity The surface of Molybdenite prepared by jet mill was
rough, with a higher proportion of edge surfaces and poor
floatability. M. Yekeler U. Ulusoy and I. Kursun(Kursun

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3034 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
Scholarships (MRS) and Research Training Programme
Scholarships (RTPS) provided by the University of
Melbourne. The authors are grateful to CSIRO Mineral
Resources, Clayton, Victoria, Australia, for accessing their
laboratories and facilities.
REFERENCES
Bhambhani, T., Farinato, R., Nagaraj, D. R., &
Somasundaran, P. (2023). Effect of platy gangue min-
erals in sulfide flotation: Part I-transport rates. Minerals
Engineering,201.doi:10.1016/j.mineng.2023.108185.
Farrokhpay, S., Ndlovu, B., &Bradshaw, D. (2018).
Behavior of talc and mica in copper ore flotation. Applied
Clay Science, 160. doi: 10.1016/j.clay.2018.02.011.
Forssberg, E., Sundberg, S., &Hongxin, Z. (1988).
Influence of different grinding methods on floatabil-
ity. International Journal of Mineral Processing, 22(1–4).
doi: 10.1016/0301-7516(88)90063-4.
Hiçyilmaz, C., Ulusoy, U., &Yekeler, M. (2004). Effects of
the shape properties of talc and quartz particles on the
wettability based separation processes. Applied Surface
Science, 233(1–4). doi: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2004.03.209.
Holland, H. J., &Murtagh, M. J. (2000). An XRD mor-
phology index for talcs: The effext of particle size and
morphology on the specific surface area. JCPDS-
International Centre for Diffraction Data 2000, Abvances
in X-Ray Analysis, 42(C).
Little, L., Becker, M., Wiese, J., &Mainza, A. N. (2015).
Auto-SEM particle shape characterisation: Investigating
fine grinding of UG2 ore. Minerals Engineering, 82.
doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2015.03.021.
Nalaskowski, J., Abdul, B., Du, H., &Miller, J. D. (2007).
Anisotropic character of talc surfaces as revealed by
streaming potential measurements, atomic force
microscopy, molecular dynamics simulations and
contact angle measurements. Canadian Metallurgical
Quarterly, 46(3). doi: 10.1179/cmq.2007.46.3.227.
Tarasevich, Y. I., &Aksenenko, E. V. (2014).
Hydrophobicity of talc basal surface. Colloid Journal,
76(4). doi: 10.1134/S1061933X14040140.
Triffett, B., &Bradshaw, D. (2008). The role of morphol-
ogy and host rock lithology on the flotation behaviour
of molybdenite at Kennecott Utah Copper. Australasian
Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Publication Series.
Ulusoy, U. (2023). A Review of Particle Shape Effects
on Material Properties for Various Engineering
Applications: From Macro to Nanoscale. In Minerals
(Vol. 13, Issue 1). doi: 10.3390/min13010091.
Ulusoy, U., &Kursun, I. (2011). Comparison of differ-
ent 2D image analysis measurement techniques for
the shape of talc particles produced by different media
milling. Minerals Engineering, 24(2). doi: 10.1016
/j.mineng.2010.05.011.
Verrelli, D. I., Bruckard, W. J., Koh, P. T. L., Schwarz, M. P.,
&Follink, B. (2014). Particle shape effects in flotation.
Part 1: Microscale experimental observations. Minerals
Engineering, 58. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2014.01.004.
Wiese, J., Becker, M., Yorath, G., &O’Connor, C. (2015).
An investigation into the relationship between particle
shape and entrainment. Minerals Engineering, 83. doi:
10.1016/j.mineng.2015.09.012.
Xia, W. (2017). Role of particle shape in the floatability
of mineral particle: An overview of recent advances.
In Powder Technology (Vol. 317). doi: 10.1016
/j.powtec.2017.04.050

Previous Page Next Page

Extracted Text (may have errors)

3034 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
Scholarships (MRS) and Research Training Programme
Scholarships (RTPS) provided by the University of
Melbourne. The authors are grateful to CSIRO Mineral
Resources, Clayton, Victoria, Australia, for accessing their
laboratories and facilities.
REFERENCES
Bhambhani, T., Farinato, R., Nagaraj, D. R., &
Somasundaran, P. (2023). Effect of platy gangue min-
erals in sulfide flotation: Part I-transport rates. Minerals
Engineering,201.doi:10.1016/j.mineng.2023.108185.
Farrokhpay, S., Ndlovu, B., &Bradshaw, D. (2018).
Behavior of talc and mica in copper ore flotation. Applied
Clay Science, 160. doi: 10.1016/j.clay.2018.02.011.
Forssberg, E., Sundberg, S., &Hongxin, Z. (1988).
Influence of different grinding methods on floatabil-
ity. International Journal of Mineral Processing, 22(1–4).
doi: 10.1016/0301-7516(88)90063-4.
Hiçyilmaz, C., Ulusoy, U., &Yekeler, M. (2004). Effects of
the shape properties of talc and quartz particles on the
wettability based separation processes. Applied Surface
Science, 233(1–4). doi: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2004.03.209.
Holland, H. J., &Murtagh, M. J. (2000). An XRD mor-
phology index for talcs: The effext of particle size and
morphology on the specific surface area. JCPDS-
International Centre for Diffraction Data 2000, Abvances
in X-Ray Analysis, 42(C).
Little, L., Becker, M., Wiese, J., &Mainza, A. N. (2015).
Auto-SEM particle shape characterisation: Investigating
fine grinding of UG2 ore. Minerals Engineering, 82.
doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2015.03.021.
Nalaskowski, J., Abdul, B., Du, H., &Miller, J. D. (2007).
Anisotropic character of talc surfaces as revealed by
streaming potential measurements, atomic force
microscopy, molecular dynamics simulations and
contact angle measurements. Canadian Metallurgical
Quarterly, 46(3). doi: 10.1179/cmq.2007.46.3.227.
Tarasevich, Y. I., &Aksenenko, E. V. (2014).
Hydrophobicity of talc basal surface. Colloid Journal,
76(4). doi: 10.1134/S1061933X14040140.
Triffett, B., &Bradshaw, D. (2008). The role of morphol-
ogy and host rock lithology on the flotation behaviour
of molybdenite at Kennecott Utah Copper. Australasian
Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Publication Series.
Ulusoy, U. (2023). A Review of Particle Shape Effects
on Material Properties for Various Engineering
Applications: From Macro to Nanoscale. In Minerals
(Vol. 13, Issue 1). doi: 10.3390/min13010091.
Ulusoy, U., &Kursun, I. (2011). Comparison of differ-
ent 2D image analysis measurement techniques for
the shape of talc particles produced by different media
milling. Minerals Engineering, 24(2). doi: 10.1016
/j.mineng.2010.05.011.
Verrelli, D. I., Bruckard, W. J., Koh, P. T. L., Schwarz, M. P.,
&Follink, B. (2014). Particle shape effects in flotation.
Part 1: Microscale experimental observations. Minerals
Engineering, 58. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2014.01.004.
Wiese, J., Becker, M., Yorath, G., &O’Connor, C. (2015).
An investigation into the relationship between particle
shape and entrainment. Minerals Engineering, 83. doi:
10.1016/j.mineng.2015.09.012.
Xia, W. (2017). Role of particle shape in the floatability
of mineral particle: An overview of recent advances.
In Powder Technology (Vol. 317). doi: 10.1016
/j.powtec.2017.04.050

3036 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
&Ulusoy, 2006 Ulusoy &Kursun, 2011 Yekeler, Ulusoy,
&Hi?Y?Lmaz, 2004) studied the effect of grinding condi-
tions on the surface properties of talc. It was found that
the elongation, flatness, roughness and relative width of talc
obtained by ball mill, rod mill and autogenous mill were
different. Although the wetting critical surface tension of
the talc samples was different, the recovery of the samples
in pure water was more than 70%, indicating that the flo-
tability of talc obtained by several grinding methods was
similar.
In this paper, a process mineralogy study was carried
out for a molybdenum ore containing talc in Luanchuan,
Henan. The effects of different grinding conditions on the
flotation separation of molybdenite and talc were com-
pared. The particle size distribution of molybdenite and
talc single mineral grinding products was investigated, and
the reasons why the floatability of molybdenite and talc was
affected by grinding conditions were analyzed.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Materials
The ore samples used in this study were obtained from the
rougher concentrate produced by the China Molybdenum
Group Co., Ltd. (CMOC) Mineral Processing Company I
in Luanchuan, Henan Province from June 1 to June 8, 2023.
The mineral samples were filtered and vacuum-preserved.
Changsha tap water was used for the flotation experi-
ments. The reagents used in this work include collector
diesel, pH adjusting agent NaOH, inhibitor CaO, water
glass, (NaPO3)6, and foaming agent 4-Methyl-2-pentanol
(MIBC). The modulus of water glass is 2.5. The NaOH,
CaO and (NaPO3)6 were all analytical reagents (AR) grade
(Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Co., Ltd).
Experiment Methods
Flotation
Each test uses 500.0 g of rougher concentrate for grind-
ing and flotation. Grinding was performed in a ball mill
(XMQ-φ240 × 90, Wuhan Exploration Machinery Plant,
Wuhan, China). Pre-flotation was performed in 1.5 L and
0.5 L flotation cells.
The Mo Pre cleaner concentrate was ground in a plane-
tary ball mill (QM-3SP2, Shanghai Yihua Technology Co.,
Ltd, Shanghai, China). Molybdenite concentration belongs
to reverse flotation in this work and was carried out in a 0.5
L flotation cell.
Characterization Methods
Size distribution measurements of molybdenite and talc
sample were carried out using a Mastersizer 2000 laser
diffractometer through a wet sampling system (Scirocco,
2000, Malvern, UK) with a suitable standard operating
procedure.
The powder samples were analyzed by identified using
an X-ray diffractometer (XRD, X’Pert3 Powder). X-ray
tube was Cu target, the wavelength λ was 0.15406 nm, the
tube voltage was 40 kV, and the tube current is 40 mA.
Continuous scanning mode was adopted, and the scanning
range was 5–75 °.
The morphology and micro-area elemental composi-
tion of the samples were observed by scanning electron
microscopy (SEM, TESCAN/TIMA GMH FEG,) and
energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Characterization of Molybdenite Rougher Concentrate
The rougher concentrate sample was characterized by XRD
(Figure 1)and chemically analyzed for major elements
(Table 1). The sample contained 15.96% Mo, 16.78%
MgO, due to the presence of a large amount of talc and
a small amount of serpentine, and 5.93% Fe was detected
due to the presence of a certain amount of pyrite. The sam-
ple also contained small amounts of gangue minerals such
as mica, quartz, and calcite.
The backscattered electron image (BSE) of the rougher
concentrate was obtained through SEM. The particle mor-
phology of molybdenite (I), pyrite (II) and talc (III) was
shown in Figure 2. Molybdenite exhibited a sheet-like or
flaky aggregate morphology, mostly in the form of mono-
mers, with a small amount existing as intergrowths. The
intergrowths were mostly associated with minerals such as
talc and pyrite, while intergrowths of pyrite and talc were
also observed.
Pre Flotation of the Rougher Concentrate
In order to provide favorable conditions for the subsequent
flotation separation of talc and molybdenite, this study
tried to remove pyrite, calcite and other gangues with poor
floatability from the rougher concentrate by pre flotation.
As shown in Figure 2, the molybdenite, talc, and pyrite in
the rougher concentrate had not completely dissociated, so
it was necessary to regrind the rougher concentrate. After
regrinding, the flotation conditions such as reagent type,
reagent dosage and flotation time at each stage of flotation
were optimized. The flotation process is shown in Figure 3,
and the final results are shown in Table 2. The recovery of
molybdenum in pre flotation was 81.94%, and the grade of
molybdenum increased from 15.88% to 28.45%.

Previous Page Next Page

Extracted Text (may have errors)

3036 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
&Ulusoy, 2006 Ulusoy &Kursun, 2011 Yekeler, Ulusoy,
&Hi?Y?Lmaz, 2004) studied the effect of grinding condi-
tions on the surface properties of talc. It was found that
the elongation, flatness, roughness and relative width of talc
obtained by ball mill, rod mill and autogenous mill were
different. Although the wetting critical surface tension of
the talc samples was different, the recovery of the samples
in pure water was more than 70%, indicating that the flo-
tability of talc obtained by several grinding methods was
similar.
In this paper, a process mineralogy study was carried
out for a molybdenum ore containing talc in Luanchuan,
Henan. The effects of different grinding conditions on the
flotation separation of molybdenite and talc were com-
pared. The particle size distribution of molybdenite and
talc single mineral grinding products was investigated, and
the reasons why the floatability of molybdenite and talc was
affected by grinding conditions were analyzed.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Materials
The ore samples used in this study were obtained from the
rougher concentrate produced by the China Molybdenum
Group Co., Ltd. (CMOC) Mineral Processing Company I
in Luanchuan, Henan Province from June 1 to June 8, 2023.
The mineral samples were filtered and vacuum-preserved.
Changsha tap water was used for the flotation experi-
ments. The reagents used in this work include collector
diesel, pH adjusting agent NaOH, inhibitor CaO, water
glass, (NaPO3)6, and foaming agent 4-Methyl-2-pentanol
(MIBC). The modulus of water glass is 2.5. The NaOH,
CaO and (NaPO3)6 were all analytical reagents (AR) grade
(Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Co., Ltd).
Experiment Methods
Flotation
Each test uses 500.0 g of rougher concentrate for grind-
ing and flotation. Grinding was performed in a ball mill
(XMQ-φ240 × 90, Wuhan Exploration Machinery Plant,
Wuhan, China). Pre-flotation was performed in 1.5 L and
0.5 L flotation cells.
The Mo Pre cleaner concentrate was ground in a plane-
tary ball mill (QM-3SP2, Shanghai Yihua Technology Co.,
Ltd, Shanghai, China). Molybdenite concentration belongs
to reverse flotation in this work and was carried out in a 0.5
L flotation cell.
Characterization Methods
Size distribution measurements of molybdenite and talc
sample were carried out using a Mastersizer 2000 laser
diffractometer through a wet sampling system (Scirocco,
2000, Malvern, UK) with a suitable standard operating
procedure.
The powder samples were analyzed by identified using
an X-ray diffractometer (XRD, X’Pert3 Powder). X-ray
tube was Cu target, the wavelength λ was 0.15406 nm, the
tube voltage was 40 kV, and the tube current is 40 mA.
Continuous scanning mode was adopted, and the scanning
range was 5–75 °.
The morphology and micro-area elemental composi-
tion of the samples were observed by scanning electron
microscopy (SEM, TESCAN/TIMA GMH FEG,) and
energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Characterization of Molybdenite Rougher Concentrate
The rougher concentrate sample was characterized by XRD
(Figure 1)and chemically analyzed for major elements
(Table 1). The sample contained 15.96% Mo, 16.78%
MgO, due to the presence of a large amount of talc and
a small amount of serpentine, and 5.93% Fe was detected
due to the presence of a certain amount of pyrite. The sam-
ple also contained small amounts of gangue minerals such
as mica, quartz, and calcite.
The backscattered electron image (BSE) of the rougher
concentrate was obtained through SEM. The particle mor-
phology of molybdenite (I), pyrite (II) and talc (III) was
shown in Figure 2. Molybdenite exhibited a sheet-like or
flaky aggregate morphology, mostly in the form of mono-
mers, with a small amount existing as intergrowths. The
intergrowths were mostly associated with minerals such as
talc and pyrite, while intergrowths of pyrite and talc were
also observed.
Pre Flotation of the Rougher Concentrate
In order to provide favorable conditions for the subsequent
flotation separation of talc and molybdenite, this study
tried to remove pyrite, calcite and other gangues with poor
floatability from the rougher concentrate by pre flotation.
As shown in Figure 2, the molybdenite, talc, and pyrite in
the rougher concentrate had not completely dissociated, so
it was necessary to regrind the rougher concentrate. After
regrinding, the flotation conditions such as reagent type,
reagent dosage and flotation time at each stage of flotation
were optimized. The flotation process is shown in Figure 3,
and the final results are shown in Table 2. The recovery of
molybdenum in pre flotation was 81.94%, and the grade of
molybdenum increased from 15.88% to 28.45%.