5
According to mineral locking results by TIMA, it
was observed that hemimorphite was primarily locked in
quartz (86.1%) with liberation of approximately 48% in
the bulk sample, as shown in Tables 3 and 4. Smithsonite
was mainly locked in quartz (66.4%), followed by hemi-
morphite (23.9%) with 60% liberation in the bulk sample.
On the other hand, the sphalerite particles were well liber-
ated. The liberation of hemimorphite in the bulk sample
was approximately 90%, with 72.3% of the mineral being.
In conclusion, the zinc minerals, including sphaler-
ite, hemimorphite, and smithsonite, were predominantly
associated with quartz, the most abundant gangue mineral,
and exhibited minor associations with calcite and dolo-
mite. According to TIMA analyses, quartz was found to
be associated with 50% hemimorphite, 32% smithsonite
and 14% sphalerite. Backscattered electron images (BSE)
of zinc minerals were given in Figure 5. Quartz inclusion in
smithsonite particle was shown in Figure 5(a). Additionally,
a hemimorphite particle in a minor association with
calcite and a fully liberated sphalerite particle were seen in
Figure 5(b) and Figure 5(c), respectively.
Preliminary Flotation Studies
Flotation experiments were conducted at different size frac-
tions of the bulk tailing. The objective of these experiments
was to evaluate the impact of particle size on the flotation
feasibility of zinc minerals containing Ga and Ge.
Both PAX and MIBC were used in the flotation of
–180+125 µm and –125+75 µm fractions of the tailing
sample, as illustrated in Figure 1(I). The recoveries and
concentrations of Zn, Ga, and Ge in different size fractions
are given in Figures 6 and 7. For the –180+125 µm frac-
tion, the recoveries were 4.10% for Zn, 4.99% for Ga, and
6.04% for Ge, with enrichment ratios of 2.21, 2.69, and
3.25, respectively. The grades of Zn, Ga and Ge in the flota-
tion concentrate were 40,200 ppm, 25 ppm and 10 ppm,
respectively. For the –125+75 µm size fraction, Zn, Ga and
Table 4. The zinc minerals locking (%)obtained by TIMA
Mineral Hemimorphite Smithsonite Sphalerite
Quartz 86.1 66.4 72.3
Hemimorphite — 23.9 7.5
Smithsonite 4.0 — 2.3
Sphalerite 0.4 0.6 —
Dolomite 2.9 3.1 5.9
Calcite 4.2 2.9 7.5
Figure 5. Backscattered electron (BSE) images of smithsonite
particle with a quartz (Qtz) inclusion (a), hemimorphite
with attached calcite (Cal) (b) and liberated sphalerite
particle (c)
4.10% 3.5%
4.99% 4.8%
6.04% 5.4%
0
5
10
15
-180+125 μm -125+75 μm
Zn Ga Ge
Figure 6. Flotation recoveries of Zn, Ga and Ge at particle
sizes of –180+125 µm and –125+75 µm using PAX and
MIBC
40200 ppm 41100 ppm
25 ppm 24 ppm
10 ppm 10 ppm
0
20
-180+125 μm -125+75 μm
Zn Ga Ge
20000
40000
60000
Figure 7. The grades of Zn, Ga and Ge in flotation
concentrates at particle sizes of –180+125 µm and
–125+75 µm using PAX and MIBC
Recovery
(%)
Grade
(ppm)
According to mineral locking results by TIMA, it
was observed that hemimorphite was primarily locked in
quartz (86.1%) with liberation of approximately 48% in
the bulk sample, as shown in Tables 3 and 4. Smithsonite
was mainly locked in quartz (66.4%), followed by hemi-
morphite (23.9%) with 60% liberation in the bulk sample.
On the other hand, the sphalerite particles were well liber-
ated. The liberation of hemimorphite in the bulk sample
was approximately 90%, with 72.3% of the mineral being.
In conclusion, the zinc minerals, including sphaler-
ite, hemimorphite, and smithsonite, were predominantly
associated with quartz, the most abundant gangue mineral,
and exhibited minor associations with calcite and dolo-
mite. According to TIMA analyses, quartz was found to
be associated with 50% hemimorphite, 32% smithsonite
and 14% sphalerite. Backscattered electron images (BSE)
of zinc minerals were given in Figure 5. Quartz inclusion in
smithsonite particle was shown in Figure 5(a). Additionally,
a hemimorphite particle in a minor association with
calcite and a fully liberated sphalerite particle were seen in
Figure 5(b) and Figure 5(c), respectively.
Preliminary Flotation Studies
Flotation experiments were conducted at different size frac-
tions of the bulk tailing. The objective of these experiments
was to evaluate the impact of particle size on the flotation
feasibility of zinc minerals containing Ga and Ge.
Both PAX and MIBC were used in the flotation of
–180+125 µm and –125+75 µm fractions of the tailing
sample, as illustrated in Figure 1(I). The recoveries and
concentrations of Zn, Ga, and Ge in different size fractions
are given in Figures 6 and 7. For the –180+125 µm frac-
tion, the recoveries were 4.10% for Zn, 4.99% for Ga, and
6.04% for Ge, with enrichment ratios of 2.21, 2.69, and
3.25, respectively. The grades of Zn, Ga and Ge in the flota-
tion concentrate were 40,200 ppm, 25 ppm and 10 ppm,
respectively. For the –125+75 µm size fraction, Zn, Ga and
Table 4. The zinc minerals locking (%)obtained by TIMA
Mineral Hemimorphite Smithsonite Sphalerite
Quartz 86.1 66.4 72.3
Hemimorphite — 23.9 7.5
Smithsonite 4.0 — 2.3
Sphalerite 0.4 0.6 —
Dolomite 2.9 3.1 5.9
Calcite 4.2 2.9 7.5
Figure 5. Backscattered electron (BSE) images of smithsonite
particle with a quartz (Qtz) inclusion (a), hemimorphite
with attached calcite (Cal) (b) and liberated sphalerite
particle (c)
4.10% 3.5%
4.99% 4.8%
6.04% 5.4%
0
5
10
15
-180+125 μm -125+75 μm
Zn Ga Ge
Figure 6. Flotation recoveries of Zn, Ga and Ge at particle
sizes of –180+125 µm and –125+75 µm using PAX and
MIBC
40200 ppm 41100 ppm
25 ppm 24 ppm
10 ppm 10 ppm
0
20
-180+125 μm -125+75 μm
Zn Ga Ge
20000
40000
60000
Figure 7. The grades of Zn, Ga and Ge in flotation
concentrates at particle sizes of –180+125 µm and
–125+75 µm using PAX and MIBC
Recovery
(%)
Grade
(ppm)