2
the 2 main differences on the samples are: 8% increase in
secondary Cu sulphides and 4% of clay, both on the anom-
alous sample.
Flotation Test Procedure
Flotation test procedure it is based on the concentra-
tor standard which uses a Denver Lab flotation machine
at 1100 rpm at 30% solids, with primary and secondary
copper collectors, moly collector (diesel) and frother as
represented on the scheme of Figure 2. Primary collector
consist of sodium dithiocarbamate and secondary collector
a sodium dithiophosphate.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
In Figure 3 it is possible to observe the differences between
both samples performance with drops of 34% in copper
recovery, 29% in silver recovery all these with similar mass
recovery. There is also a noticeable decrease on iron recov-
ery, but it can be explained by chalcopyrite not floating
with standard reagents.
After those results focus was on changing collector for
the anomalous ore sample. An exploratory collector testing
was done using several different chemistries to change the
primary collector, the secondary collector or both. Results
shown on Figure 4 indicate best case scenario by chang-
ing the secondary collector for Hostaflot 883 and keeping
standard primary collector it can increase copper recovery
by 6% without noticeable mass recovery change. Similar
performance (5% increase) can be achieved by Hostaflot
931 as secondary collector but this time there is a change
on the mass recovered to the concentrate (12.1% standard
vs 13.5% instead). Another result with 6.1% higher cop-
per recovery is obtained by changing all 2 copper collectors
with Hostaflot 931 and Hostaflot 1040 but the increase on
Figure 2. Lab flotation test sequence and conditions
Figure 3. Metallurgical results under standard conditions
the 2 main differences on the samples are: 8% increase in
secondary Cu sulphides and 4% of clay, both on the anom-
alous sample.
Flotation Test Procedure
Flotation test procedure it is based on the concentra-
tor standard which uses a Denver Lab flotation machine
at 1100 rpm at 30% solids, with primary and secondary
copper collectors, moly collector (diesel) and frother as
represented on the scheme of Figure 2. Primary collector
consist of sodium dithiocarbamate and secondary collector
a sodium dithiophosphate.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
In Figure 3 it is possible to observe the differences between
both samples performance with drops of 34% in copper
recovery, 29% in silver recovery all these with similar mass
recovery. There is also a noticeable decrease on iron recov-
ery, but it can be explained by chalcopyrite not floating
with standard reagents.
After those results focus was on changing collector for
the anomalous ore sample. An exploratory collector testing
was done using several different chemistries to change the
primary collector, the secondary collector or both. Results
shown on Figure 4 indicate best case scenario by chang-
ing the secondary collector for Hostaflot 883 and keeping
standard primary collector it can increase copper recovery
by 6% without noticeable mass recovery change. Similar
performance (5% increase) can be achieved by Hostaflot
931 as secondary collector but this time there is a change
on the mass recovered to the concentrate (12.1% standard
vs 13.5% instead). Another result with 6.1% higher cop-
per recovery is obtained by changing all 2 copper collectors
with Hostaflot 931 and Hostaflot 1040 but the increase on
Figure 2. Lab flotation test sequence and conditions
Figure 3. Metallurgical results under standard conditions