3074 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
and Hg, confirming the correlation of these elements in the
chemical analyses of the ores.
The occurrence of pure gold, exhibiting plastic defor-
mation, becomes flattened and elongated after grinding
due to its ductile and malleable properties. The images in
Figure 19 A-D are good representatives and were taken from
samples of the final concentrate. Figure 19 F aids in under-
standing the unrecovered AuAg particles during flotation,
which are related to liberation issues where tiny particles of
metals of interest are observed to be locked and isolated in
larger silicate particles. Another interesting observation in
the particles is the presence of small fissures, which will be
favorable for gold and silver extraction processes in subse-
quent stages.
Liberation
Mineral liberation analysis was conducted on samples
of final concentrate, cleaner tail return, and final tail
flotation stream for selected gold-bearing minerals.
Aerophine showed a higher potential for recovering more
liberated particles across various size fractions compared to
PAX. Samples from the cleaner tail return indicated that the
circulating load primarily consists of fine, less liberated par-
ticles. In this stream, fully liberated particles smaller than
20 microns were linked to hydrodynamic issues in the flo-
tation cells. In the final tailings, no liberated particles were
found for either collector, although some particles showed
70% liberation with PAX, suggesting lower performance.
For precise conclusions, more observations are needed for
statistically reliable analysis. The results are summarized in
Figure 20.
Table 6 delineates the presentation of locked gold in
the final concentrate, with the predominant form being
binary, such as tellurium and complex minerals. There is a
notable inclination towards gold recovery with pyrite using
PAX and gold with silicates using Aerophine. Analyses
Figure 19. Au-Tellurides Occurrences in Kankberg Åkulla, SEM-BSE images of samples from the flotation plant, A-E from
the final concentrate and F from final tailing. (A) Partially locked AuTe particles and dispersed tiny locked particles in a larger
mixed particle of quartz, topaz, and andalusite. (B) Partially locked SbTe mineral particles in a muscovite grain. (C) Different
compositions of telluride particles interlocked with quartz. (D) A pure gold particle flattened and elongated. (E) Small
telluride particles locked in quartz and topaz. (F) Minuscule AuAg particles in muscovite and rutile
and Hg, confirming the correlation of these elements in the
chemical analyses of the ores.
The occurrence of pure gold, exhibiting plastic defor-
mation, becomes flattened and elongated after grinding
due to its ductile and malleable properties. The images in
Figure 19 A-D are good representatives and were taken from
samples of the final concentrate. Figure 19 F aids in under-
standing the unrecovered AuAg particles during flotation,
which are related to liberation issues where tiny particles of
metals of interest are observed to be locked and isolated in
larger silicate particles. Another interesting observation in
the particles is the presence of small fissures, which will be
favorable for gold and silver extraction processes in subse-
quent stages.
Liberation
Mineral liberation analysis was conducted on samples
of final concentrate, cleaner tail return, and final tail
flotation stream for selected gold-bearing minerals.
Aerophine showed a higher potential for recovering more
liberated particles across various size fractions compared to
PAX. Samples from the cleaner tail return indicated that the
circulating load primarily consists of fine, less liberated par-
ticles. In this stream, fully liberated particles smaller than
20 microns were linked to hydrodynamic issues in the flo-
tation cells. In the final tailings, no liberated particles were
found for either collector, although some particles showed
70% liberation with PAX, suggesting lower performance.
For precise conclusions, more observations are needed for
statistically reliable analysis. The results are summarized in
Figure 20.
Table 6 delineates the presentation of locked gold in
the final concentrate, with the predominant form being
binary, such as tellurium and complex minerals. There is a
notable inclination towards gold recovery with pyrite using
PAX and gold with silicates using Aerophine. Analyses
Figure 19. Au-Tellurides Occurrences in Kankberg Åkulla, SEM-BSE images of samples from the flotation plant, A-E from
the final concentrate and F from final tailing. (A) Partially locked AuTe particles and dispersed tiny locked particles in a larger
mixed particle of quartz, topaz, and andalusite. (B) Partially locked SbTe mineral particles in a muscovite grain. (C) Different
compositions of telluride particles interlocked with quartz. (D) A pure gold particle flattened and elongated. (E) Small
telluride particles locked in quartz and topaz. (F) Minuscule AuAg particles in muscovite and rutile