XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 3519
concentrate for Test F7. Test F7 had sodium silicate added
in the grinding mill, whereas Test F6 did not (refer to
Table 4). Surface analysis would have to be performed to
determine why more iron minerals were recovered for Test
F7.
Figure 3 illustrates the copper grade versus the cop-
per recovery (unit recovery) in the first stage cleaner stage.
The copper recovery for all flotation cleaning tests was
greater than 90%. The highest grade-recovery curve was
obtained with test conditions F7/FCL2 where sodium sili-
cate (dispersant/depressant) was used in primary grinding.
The copper grade in the concentrates was not higher than
approximately 1% for all test conditions. Given the low
upgrading observed in the first cleaning stage, achieving
a saleable copper concentrate grade of 28% appears very
unlikely, a conclusion that is explored in greater detail else-
where in this document. Based on these results, the flota-
tion of the sulphide minerals was performed to lower the
acid mine drainage of the tailings.
The copper recovery (unit recovery) versus mass recov-
ery for the first cleaner concentrate is illustrated in Figure 4.
The copper recoveries were well above the unity line for all
test conditions which indicates that the copper was recov-
ered by true flotation and not by entrainment.
Figure 5 illustrates the iron recovery (unit recovery) ver-
sus the copper recovery. The highest iron recovery occurred
0.00
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
0.90
1.00
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Copper Recovery (%)
F6 F7
Figure 1. Copper recovery versus copper grade for Tests F6 and F7
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Copper Recovery (%)
F6 F7
Figure 2. Iron recovery versus copper recovery for Tests F6 and F7
Copper
Grade
(%)
Iron
Recoevry
(%)
concentrate for Test F7. Test F7 had sodium silicate added
in the grinding mill, whereas Test F6 did not (refer to
Table 4). Surface analysis would have to be performed to
determine why more iron minerals were recovered for Test
F7.
Figure 3 illustrates the copper grade versus the cop-
per recovery (unit recovery) in the first stage cleaner stage.
The copper recovery for all flotation cleaning tests was
greater than 90%. The highest grade-recovery curve was
obtained with test conditions F7/FCL2 where sodium sili-
cate (dispersant/depressant) was used in primary grinding.
The copper grade in the concentrates was not higher than
approximately 1% for all test conditions. Given the low
upgrading observed in the first cleaning stage, achieving
a saleable copper concentrate grade of 28% appears very
unlikely, a conclusion that is explored in greater detail else-
where in this document. Based on these results, the flota-
tion of the sulphide minerals was performed to lower the
acid mine drainage of the tailings.
The copper recovery (unit recovery) versus mass recov-
ery for the first cleaner concentrate is illustrated in Figure 4.
The copper recoveries were well above the unity line for all
test conditions which indicates that the copper was recov-
ered by true flotation and not by entrainment.
Figure 5 illustrates the iron recovery (unit recovery) ver-
sus the copper recovery. The highest iron recovery occurred
0.00
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
0.90
1.00
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Copper Recovery (%)
F6 F7
Figure 1. Copper recovery versus copper grade for Tests F6 and F7
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Copper Recovery (%)
F6 F7
Figure 2. Iron recovery versus copper recovery for Tests F6 and F7
Copper
Grade
(%)
Iron
Recoevry
(%)