6
Ge recoveries were 3.5%, 4.8%, and 5.4%, and enrichment
ratios were 2.11, 2.90 and 3.27, respectively. The concen-
trations of Zn (41,100 ppm), Ga (24 ppm), and Ge (10
ppm) in the –125+75 µm size fraction were found to be
nearly similar to the –180+125 µm fraction.
A comparison of results obtained from the flotation of
the –180+125 µm and –125+75 µm particle size fractions
revealed that there was not a significant difference in the
recovery and grade values of Zn, Ga and Ge. This suggests
that particle size reduction within a given size range does
not impact the Zn, Ga and Ge recoveries when using PAX
and MIBC as flotation reagents.
Furthermore, quantitative XRD analysis of results
obtained from flotation of the –180+125 µm and
–125+75 µm fractions revealed that pyrite, sphalerite and
hemimorphite minerals not detected in feed were floated
by flotation using PAX and MIBC, as shown Table 5.
In the preliminary flotation experiments for the size
fractions of –212+38 µm and –75+38 µm, the reagents
PAX, Na₂S, Pb(NO₃)₂, and MIBC were utilized. The flo-
tation procedure is outlined in Figure 1(II). The flotation
of the –212+38 µm size fraction resulted in recoveries of
35.10% for Zn, 31.99% for Ga, and 39.25% for Ge, with
corresponding enrichment ratios of 3.90, 3.55, and 4.36
(Figure 8). Additionally, the measured concentrations were
50,900 ppm for Zn, 19 ppm for Ga, and 12 ppm for Ge
(Figure 9).
Flotation recoveries for the –75+38 µm size fraction
were 12.5% for Zn, 16.5% for Ga, and 13.3% for Ge
(Figure 8). Additionally, the ICP-MS results revealed con-
centrations of 10,000 ppm for Zn, 63 ppm for Ga, and 21
ppm for Ge for this size fraction (Figure 9).
By using a sulfidation agent (Na2S) and an activator
(Pb(NO3)2) in addition to PAX and MIBC, it was aimed
to enhance the floatability of hemimorphite and increase
the recoveries and grades of Zn, Ga and Ge. Regarding the
flotation results for the –212+38 µm and –75+38 µm, it
is observed that as the particle size interval narrowed, the
recovery decreased by approximately 20%, while the grade
increased by nearly twofold. The observed decrease in recov-
ery can be explained by TIMA analysis, which revealed that
86% of hemimorphite and 72% of sphalerite particles were
locked with quartz particles for the particle size of –75 µm.
Since the floatability of interlocked particles is challenging
compared to that of fully liberated particles which generally
results in low recoveries of desired minerals. On the other
hand, the ICP-MS results indicated high zinc concentra-
tions in particles smaller than 75 µm, which corroborates
the high concentrations of Zn, Ga, and Ge in the flotation
concentrate.
Table 5. The mineral phases identified using quantitative
XRD analysis for the flotation feed and concentrate at
particle sizes of 180+125 µm and –125+75 µm
–180+125 µm –125+75 µm
Feed Concentrate Feed Concentrate
Quartz
(95.7%)
Quartz
(85.7%)
Quartz
(92.2%)
Quartz
(83.5%)
Calcite
(1.9%)
Calcite
(1%)
Calcite
(4.5%)
Calcite
(1.3%)
Dolomite
(2.4%)
Dolomite
(4.3%)
Dolomite
(3.3%)
Dolomite
(3.7%)
— Pyrite
(2.8%)
— Pyrite
(4.9%)
— Sphalerite
(1%)
— Sphalerite
(1.5%)
— Hemimorphite
(5.1%)
— Hemimorphite
(5.1%)
35.10%
12.5%
31.99%
16.5%
39.25%
13.3%
0
20
40
60
80
100
-212+38 μm -75+38 μm
Zn Ga Ge
Figure 8. Flotation recoveries of Zn, Ga and Ge at particle
sizes of –212+38 µm and –75+38 µm using Na
2 S and
Pb(NO
3 )
2 with PAX and MIBC
50900 ppm
100000 ppm
19 ppm
63 ppm
12 ppm 21 ppm
0
20
40
-212+38 μm -75+38 μm
Zn Ga Ge
70000
90000
110000
Figure 9. The grades of Zn, Ga and Ge in concentrates at
particle sizes of –212+38 µm and –75+38 µm using Na
2 S and
Pb(NO
3 )
2 with PAX and MIBC
Recovery
(%)
Grade
(
m)
Ge recoveries were 3.5%, 4.8%, and 5.4%, and enrichment
ratios were 2.11, 2.90 and 3.27, respectively. The concen-
trations of Zn (41,100 ppm), Ga (24 ppm), and Ge (10
ppm) in the –125+75 µm size fraction were found to be
nearly similar to the –180+125 µm fraction.
A comparison of results obtained from the flotation of
the –180+125 µm and –125+75 µm particle size fractions
revealed that there was not a significant difference in the
recovery and grade values of Zn, Ga and Ge. This suggests
that particle size reduction within a given size range does
not impact the Zn, Ga and Ge recoveries when using PAX
and MIBC as flotation reagents.
Furthermore, quantitative XRD analysis of results
obtained from flotation of the –180+125 µm and
–125+75 µm fractions revealed that pyrite, sphalerite and
hemimorphite minerals not detected in feed were floated
by flotation using PAX and MIBC, as shown Table 5.
In the preliminary flotation experiments for the size
fractions of –212+38 µm and –75+38 µm, the reagents
PAX, Na₂S, Pb(NO₃)₂, and MIBC were utilized. The flo-
tation procedure is outlined in Figure 1(II). The flotation
of the –212+38 µm size fraction resulted in recoveries of
35.10% for Zn, 31.99% for Ga, and 39.25% for Ge, with
corresponding enrichment ratios of 3.90, 3.55, and 4.36
(Figure 8). Additionally, the measured concentrations were
50,900 ppm for Zn, 19 ppm for Ga, and 12 ppm for Ge
(Figure 9).
Flotation recoveries for the –75+38 µm size fraction
were 12.5% for Zn, 16.5% for Ga, and 13.3% for Ge
(Figure 8). Additionally, the ICP-MS results revealed con-
centrations of 10,000 ppm for Zn, 63 ppm for Ga, and 21
ppm for Ge for this size fraction (Figure 9).
By using a sulfidation agent (Na2S) and an activator
(Pb(NO3)2) in addition to PAX and MIBC, it was aimed
to enhance the floatability of hemimorphite and increase
the recoveries and grades of Zn, Ga and Ge. Regarding the
flotation results for the –212+38 µm and –75+38 µm, it
is observed that as the particle size interval narrowed, the
recovery decreased by approximately 20%, while the grade
increased by nearly twofold. The observed decrease in recov-
ery can be explained by TIMA analysis, which revealed that
86% of hemimorphite and 72% of sphalerite particles were
locked with quartz particles for the particle size of –75 µm.
Since the floatability of interlocked particles is challenging
compared to that of fully liberated particles which generally
results in low recoveries of desired minerals. On the other
hand, the ICP-MS results indicated high zinc concentra-
tions in particles smaller than 75 µm, which corroborates
the high concentrations of Zn, Ga, and Ge in the flotation
concentrate.
Table 5. The mineral phases identified using quantitative
XRD analysis for the flotation feed and concentrate at
particle sizes of 180+125 µm and –125+75 µm
–180+125 µm –125+75 µm
Feed Concentrate Feed Concentrate
Quartz
(95.7%)
Quartz
(85.7%)
Quartz
(92.2%)
Quartz
(83.5%)
Calcite
(1.9%)
Calcite
(1%)
Calcite
(4.5%)
Calcite
(1.3%)
Dolomite
(2.4%)
Dolomite
(4.3%)
Dolomite
(3.3%)
Dolomite
(3.7%)
— Pyrite
(2.8%)
— Pyrite
(4.9%)
— Sphalerite
(1%)
— Sphalerite
(1.5%)
— Hemimorphite
(5.1%)
— Hemimorphite
(5.1%)
35.10%
12.5%
31.99%
16.5%
39.25%
13.3%
0
20
40
60
80
100
-212+38 μm -75+38 μm
Zn Ga Ge
Figure 8. Flotation recoveries of Zn, Ga and Ge at particle
sizes of –212+38 µm and –75+38 µm using Na
2 S and
Pb(NO
3 )
2 with PAX and MIBC
50900 ppm
100000 ppm
19 ppm
63 ppm
12 ppm 21 ppm
0
20
40
-212+38 μm -75+38 μm
Zn Ga Ge
70000
90000
110000
Figure 9. The grades of Zn, Ga and Ge in concentrates at
particle sizes of –212+38 µm and –75+38 µm using Na
2 S and
Pb(NO
3 )
2 with PAX and MIBC
Recovery
(%)
Grade
(
m)