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Flotation Technology Research on a Low-Grade
Copper‑Molybdenum Ore
Xiaoxing Hu, Shuoshi Lu,Chongjun Liu, Yangge Zhu,Zhenguo Song
State Key Laboratory of Mineral Processing, BGRIMM Technology Group
ABSTRACT: The grades of Cu and Mo in a low-grade copper-molybdenum ore in Chile are 1.01% and
0.0064%, respectively. To obtain good flotation results, this article adopts a bulk flotation process and
systematically evaluates the effects of factors such as grinding fineness, collector type, roughing pH value, and
reagent dosage on the recovery of Cu and Mo. The development experiment of collectors was also conducted.
The results show that with the grinding fineness of –0.074 mm accounting for 60% and the pulp pH value at
10, using isobutyl xanthate and BK386 as collectors and BK233 as frother can achieve good recovery results.
In locked-circuit tests, flowsheet of one roughing, three cleanings, one scavenging for cleaning and middling
sequential return is adopted. Finally, the bulk concentrate with Cu grade of 28.95%, Cu recovery rate of
90.33%, Mo grade of 0.15% and Mo recovery rate of 72.7% can be obtained, which realizes the efficient
comprehensive recovery of valuable components in the resource.
Keywords: copper-molybdenum ore bulk flotation collector
INTRODUCTION
Copper and molybdenum are significant metal mineral
resources globally. Over 80% of copper is refined from
sulfide copper ores, such as chalcopyrite, bornite, and
chalcocite. Molybdenite serves as the primary source for
molybdenum extraction, often occurring alongside other
sulfide minerals and possessing lower grades. Copper-
molybdenum ore, primarily associated with copper and
few molybdenum, represents a principal source for obtain-
ing these two metals [1,2]. Typically found in nature as
porphyry copper deposits, this type of ore, despite its low
molybdenum content (ranging from 0.01% to 0.1%),
has garnered widespread attention due to the substantial
reserves of porphyry copper ore and the economic value
of comprehensive molybdenum recovery [3–9]. For low-
grade copper-molybdenum ores, the bulk flotation process
is commonly employed [2] .Sulfide ore collectors are often
utilized to float the copper-molybdenum bulk concentrate,
which is subsequently subjected to copper-molybdenum
separation to yield copper concentrate and molybdenum
concentrate. In instances where the molybdenum content
in copper-molybdenum ore is exceedingly low, beneficia-
tion plants may opt to produce only copper-molybdenum
bulk concentrate.
Chile boasts the richest copper resources globally,
particularly abundant in porphyry-type copper-molyb-
denum ore resources in the north. This article focuses on
studying flotation technology for one of the low-grade
copper-molybdenum ores found in the region. Given the
particularly low molybdenum grade of this ore, bulk flota-
tion technology is deemed suitable. This study adopts this
technical route and systematically evaluates the effects of
Flotation Technology Research on a Low-Grade
Copper‑Molybdenum Ore
Xiaoxing Hu, Shuoshi Lu,Chongjun Liu, Yangge Zhu,Zhenguo Song
State Key Laboratory of Mineral Processing, BGRIMM Technology Group
ABSTRACT: The grades of Cu and Mo in a low-grade copper-molybdenum ore in Chile are 1.01% and
0.0064%, respectively. To obtain good flotation results, this article adopts a bulk flotation process and
systematically evaluates the effects of factors such as grinding fineness, collector type, roughing pH value, and
reagent dosage on the recovery of Cu and Mo. The development experiment of collectors was also conducted.
The results show that with the grinding fineness of –0.074 mm accounting for 60% and the pulp pH value at
10, using isobutyl xanthate and BK386 as collectors and BK233 as frother can achieve good recovery results.
In locked-circuit tests, flowsheet of one roughing, three cleanings, one scavenging for cleaning and middling
sequential return is adopted. Finally, the bulk concentrate with Cu grade of 28.95%, Cu recovery rate of
90.33%, Mo grade of 0.15% and Mo recovery rate of 72.7% can be obtained, which realizes the efficient
comprehensive recovery of valuable components in the resource.
Keywords: copper-molybdenum ore bulk flotation collector
INTRODUCTION
Copper and molybdenum are significant metal mineral
resources globally. Over 80% of copper is refined from
sulfide copper ores, such as chalcopyrite, bornite, and
chalcocite. Molybdenite serves as the primary source for
molybdenum extraction, often occurring alongside other
sulfide minerals and possessing lower grades. Copper-
molybdenum ore, primarily associated with copper and
few molybdenum, represents a principal source for obtain-
ing these two metals [1,2]. Typically found in nature as
porphyry copper deposits, this type of ore, despite its low
molybdenum content (ranging from 0.01% to 0.1%),
has garnered widespread attention due to the substantial
reserves of porphyry copper ore and the economic value
of comprehensive molybdenum recovery [3–9]. For low-
grade copper-molybdenum ores, the bulk flotation process
is commonly employed [2] .Sulfide ore collectors are often
utilized to float the copper-molybdenum bulk concentrate,
which is subsequently subjected to copper-molybdenum
separation to yield copper concentrate and molybdenum
concentrate. In instances where the molybdenum content
in copper-molybdenum ore is exceedingly low, beneficia-
tion plants may opt to produce only copper-molybdenum
bulk concentrate.
Chile boasts the richest copper resources globally,
particularly abundant in porphyry-type copper-molyb-
denum ore resources in the north. This article focuses on
studying flotation technology for one of the low-grade
copper-molybdenum ores found in the region. Given the
particularly low molybdenum grade of this ore, bulk flota-
tion technology is deemed suitable. This study adopts this
technical route and systematically evaluates the effects of