4
low to run or for maintenance, offering simple and flexible
operation.
The Cu rougher scavenger is inserted into the Cu cir-
cuit flowsheet (see Figure 3), operating in series by taking
the copper rougher tail as feed and pumping froth back
to the rougher feed box. The flowsheet includes concep-
tual and pre-engineered rougher froth regrind ball mill and
Jameson flotation cell which serves as an alternative to the
4th Cu cleaner. The rougher regrind ball mill can operate
in open circuit for one-pass processing or in closed circuit
with either gMax or Weir cyclones. It is universal for Cu
circuits to utilize rougher regrind circuit combined with
recleaning with flotation column or Jameson cell to effec-
tively improve Cu recovery and concentrate grade.
BUICK CU ROUGHER PROCESS
FUNDAMENTALS
Buick Cu circuit is critical in that it produces not only Cu
but Pb final concentrates, and operates continuously with
adequate Cu in mill feed, unlike other mills. XRF Cu% in
Pb concentrate, a critical process parameter, was modeled
to introduce modeling methodologies of linear response
surface, neural network and decision tree (Mang et al.,
2024d). Graphic contours of these models can best charac-
terize Cu rougher process and Cu and Pb recoveries related
to ore minerology. These contours as shown in Figures 4
to 6 graphically revealed Buick Cu rougher process funda-
mentals albeit the dynamic and complex nature of indus-
trial flotation.
These findings point to the direction of using selective
Cu collector and selective Pb depressant in Cu rougher and
its scavenger simultaneously. This will minimize Cu and Pb
in Pb and Cu concentrates respectively, boosting Cu and
Pb recoveries. It explains why selective Cu collector and Pb
depressant are needed to load up bubbles with more copper
minerals such as chalcopyrite instead of galena and rock
minerals.
Figure 3. Buick Cu flotation circuit with Cu rougher scavenger
low to run or for maintenance, offering simple and flexible
operation.
The Cu rougher scavenger is inserted into the Cu cir-
cuit flowsheet (see Figure 3), operating in series by taking
the copper rougher tail as feed and pumping froth back
to the rougher feed box. The flowsheet includes concep-
tual and pre-engineered rougher froth regrind ball mill and
Jameson flotation cell which serves as an alternative to the
4th Cu cleaner. The rougher regrind ball mill can operate
in open circuit for one-pass processing or in closed circuit
with either gMax or Weir cyclones. It is universal for Cu
circuits to utilize rougher regrind circuit combined with
recleaning with flotation column or Jameson cell to effec-
tively improve Cu recovery and concentrate grade.
BUICK CU ROUGHER PROCESS
FUNDAMENTALS
Buick Cu circuit is critical in that it produces not only Cu
but Pb final concentrates, and operates continuously with
adequate Cu in mill feed, unlike other mills. XRF Cu% in
Pb concentrate, a critical process parameter, was modeled
to introduce modeling methodologies of linear response
surface, neural network and decision tree (Mang et al.,
2024d). Graphic contours of these models can best charac-
terize Cu rougher process and Cu and Pb recoveries related
to ore minerology. These contours as shown in Figures 4
to 6 graphically revealed Buick Cu rougher process funda-
mentals albeit the dynamic and complex nature of indus-
trial flotation.
These findings point to the direction of using selective
Cu collector and selective Pb depressant in Cu rougher and
its scavenger simultaneously. This will minimize Cu and Pb
in Pb and Cu concentrates respectively, boosting Cu and
Pb recoveries. It explains why selective Cu collector and Pb
depressant are needed to load up bubbles with more copper
minerals such as chalcopyrite instead of galena and rock
minerals.
Figure 3. Buick Cu flotation circuit with Cu rougher scavenger