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%.
&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%.