3
Flotation procedures used in this study can be catego-
rized into two groups based on the type of reagents used as
shown in Figure 1:
• Flotation tests conducted using PAX and
MIBC(Figure 1(I))
• Flotation tests conducted using activators and a sul-
fidizing reagent with PAX and MIBC (Figure 1(II))
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Particle Size Analysis
The particle size distribution (PSD) of the representative
sample is given in Figure 2. The results indicated that 80%
of the sample was smaller than 500 µm, with 50% being
smaller than 200 µm.
Quantitative X-Ray Diffraction Studies
Mineralogical analysis was performed using quantita-
tive X-ray diffraction (XRD) on nine distinct size frac-
tions of the tailing sample, specifically: –4750+2360 µm,
–2360+500 µm, –500+212 µm, –212+125 µm,
–125+106 µm, –106+75 µm, –75+45 µm, –45+38 µm, and
–38 µm. The XRD results showed that sphalerite (ZnS) and
hemimorphite (Zn4(Si2O7)(OH)2·H2O) were detected as
zinc minerals in the bulk sample as well as quartz, calcite
and dolomite as gangue minerals (Table 2). Hemimorphite
(4.10%) was present exclusively in particles finer than
38 µm, while sphalerite was detected in the size ranges
of –4750+500 µm and –75 µm. The quantitative XRD
analysis revealed that the gangue minerals identified in all
size fractions included quartz, calcite, and dolomite. The
quantitative XRD analysis revealed that the gangue miner-
als identified across nearly all size fractions were primarily
quartz (81.4%–97.8%), followed by calcite (1.2%–6.3%)
and dolomite (2.3%–11.6%).
Elemental Characterization
The zinc concentration and its distribution across the
various size fractions of the tailing sample are presented
in Figure 3. The zinc concentration in the bulk sample
was measured at 15,400 ppm, with values ranging from
10,400 ppm to 38,800 ppm across the various size frac-
tions. The highest concentrations of zinc were observed in
the –4750+2360 µm and –38 µm size fractions, with val-
ues of 24,500 ppm and 38,800 ppm, respectively. It can
be observed that 29% of the total zinc metal was concen-
trated in the –212+125 µm size fraction, with a zinc grade
of 15,300 ppm. Although the –38 µm fraction exhibited
I.
400 g sample
PAX, 4 min.
MIBC, 3 min.
Agitating, 2 min.
Concentrat Tailing
400 g sample
PAX, 4 min.
MIBC, 3 min.
Agitating, 2 min.
Concentrate Tailing
Na2S, 4 min.
Pb(NO3)2, 4 min.
II.
Figure 1. A schematic showing the flotation procedures used
in this study
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
10 100 1000 10000
Particle Size (microns)
Figure 2. Particle size distribution (PSD) of the tailing
sample used in this study
Table 2. Mineral phases detected using XRD with Rietveld
analysis (quartz(Q), calcite(C), dolomite(D), sphalerite(S)
and hemimorphite(H))
Par. Size Interval
(µm)
Identified Minerals (%)
Q C D S H
–4750+2360 92.8 1.2 3.8 2.1 —
–2360+500 94.8 2.2 2.3 0.7 —
–500+212 97.8 2.2 — — —
–212+125 95.7 1.9 2.4 — —
–125+106 92.2 4.5 3.3 — —
–106+75 86.5 3.6 10 — —
–75+45 83.8 7.3 8.6 0.3 —
–45+38 83.1 4.9 11.6 0.4 —
–38 81.4 6.3 7.5 0.7 4.1
Head Sample 85.1 6.2 6.9 1 0.8
Cumulati
(%)
Passing
Flotation procedures used in this study can be catego-
rized into two groups based on the type of reagents used as
shown in Figure 1:
• Flotation tests conducted using PAX and
MIBC(Figure 1(I))
• Flotation tests conducted using activators and a sul-
fidizing reagent with PAX and MIBC (Figure 1(II))
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Particle Size Analysis
The particle size distribution (PSD) of the representative
sample is given in Figure 2. The results indicated that 80%
of the sample was smaller than 500 µm, with 50% being
smaller than 200 µm.
Quantitative X-Ray Diffraction Studies
Mineralogical analysis was performed using quantita-
tive X-ray diffraction (XRD) on nine distinct size frac-
tions of the tailing sample, specifically: –4750+2360 µm,
–2360+500 µm, –500+212 µm, –212+125 µm,
–125+106 µm, –106+75 µm, –75+45 µm, –45+38 µm, and
–38 µm. The XRD results showed that sphalerite (ZnS) and
hemimorphite (Zn4(Si2O7)(OH)2·H2O) were detected as
zinc minerals in the bulk sample as well as quartz, calcite
and dolomite as gangue minerals (Table 2). Hemimorphite
(4.10%) was present exclusively in particles finer than
38 µm, while sphalerite was detected in the size ranges
of –4750+500 µm and –75 µm. The quantitative XRD
analysis revealed that the gangue minerals identified in all
size fractions included quartz, calcite, and dolomite. The
quantitative XRD analysis revealed that the gangue miner-
als identified across nearly all size fractions were primarily
quartz (81.4%–97.8%), followed by calcite (1.2%–6.3%)
and dolomite (2.3%–11.6%).
Elemental Characterization
The zinc concentration and its distribution across the
various size fractions of the tailing sample are presented
in Figure 3. The zinc concentration in the bulk sample
was measured at 15,400 ppm, with values ranging from
10,400 ppm to 38,800 ppm across the various size frac-
tions. The highest concentrations of zinc were observed in
the –4750+2360 µm and –38 µm size fractions, with val-
ues of 24,500 ppm and 38,800 ppm, respectively. It can
be observed that 29% of the total zinc metal was concen-
trated in the –212+125 µm size fraction, with a zinc grade
of 15,300 ppm. Although the –38 µm fraction exhibited
I.
400 g sample
PAX, 4 min.
MIBC, 3 min.
Agitating, 2 min.
Concentrat Tailing
400 g sample
PAX, 4 min.
MIBC, 3 min.
Agitating, 2 min.
Concentrate Tailing
Na2S, 4 min.
Pb(NO3)2, 4 min.
II.
Figure 1. A schematic showing the flotation procedures used
in this study
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
10 100 1000 10000
Particle Size (microns)
Figure 2. Particle size distribution (PSD) of the tailing
sample used in this study
Table 2. Mineral phases detected using XRD with Rietveld
analysis (quartz(Q), calcite(C), dolomite(D), sphalerite(S)
and hemimorphite(H))
Par. Size Interval
(µm)
Identified Minerals (%)
Q C D S H
–4750+2360 92.8 1.2 3.8 2.1 —
–2360+500 94.8 2.2 2.3 0.7 —
–500+212 97.8 2.2 — — —
–212+125 95.7 1.9 2.4 — —
–125+106 92.2 4.5 3.3 — —
–106+75 86.5 3.6 10 — —
–75+45 83.8 7.3 8.6 0.3 —
–45+38 83.1 4.9 11.6 0.4 —
–38 81.4 6.3 7.5 0.7 4.1
Head Sample 85.1 6.2 6.9 1 0.8
Cumulati
(%)
Passing