Reagents and Chemicals

Arsenic and Antimony Sulphide Minerals in Cyanidation

The successful cyanidation of gold ores containing appreciable amounts of arsenic or antimony sulphide minerals such as orpiment, realgar, and stibnite is usually difficult or even impossible. Extractions are low and the solutions soon become ‘foul.’ The gold in such ores could be free and uncoated, and no trouble in dissolving it in clean cyanide … Read more

How Copper Affects Cyanidation & Leaching

Many precious metal ores contain copper minerals in various amounts. These copper minerals dissolve in cyanide solutions to a greater or lesser degree depending on the particular copper mineral or minerals present, their fineness, and the dissolving effect of the cyanide solutions. In the process of dissolution the copper combines with, or as it is … Read more

Collectors Strength – Xanthate Family – Recovery Power

Types of Xanthates

A little about collector strength and Xanthates: Some call it selectivity, I call it “how much do you put on”.  Even the most selective collector can be rendered un-selective it you add enough. In reverse order of strength (strongest to weakest): PAX SIBX SIPX SEX Methyl Xanthate (uncommon) More about the collecting power of xanthate and … Read more

Process of Cyanide Gold Extraction

Here I present an Process EXAMPLE of Gold Extraction Cyanide in which the cyanidation feed consists of a pyrite concentrate floated after the selective flotation of a copper-gold concentrate. The pyrite concentrate is reground to 90% minus 325 mesh and aerated in a high-lime solution prior to cyanidation. It contains 99% sulphides of which 10 to … Read more

Flotation Reagent Metering Pumps

Flotation Reagent Metering Pumps

I recently did a reagent plant trial and worked with a pretty nice flotation reagent metering pumps.  The pump is supplied by http://www.pmps.co.za This portable reagent supply unit is a mechanical diaphragm metering pump.  As see on http://www.pmps.co.za/obl-mechanical-diaphragm-dosing-pump They even had “Water Driven Pumps” Other pumps I never worked with include http://www.awe-ltd.co.uk/products/dosing_pumps_electronic.html and http://www.lutzjescoamerica.com/index.php?id=1645   Also https://www.911metallurgist.com/blog/mibc-frother-pump

Sodium Metabisulfite MBS for pH Control and Pyrite Depression in Flotation

sodium metabisulfite ph

Sodium Metabisulfite aka MBS is used for pH control in froth flotation to control Pyrite depression.  Below is a graph showing pH VS pyrite recovery at various collector addition rates. It is also used to prevent flotation of sphalerite by copper activation in the presence of Tennantite/Covellite in the ore. For pyrite flotation, you see maximum iron/pyrite … Read more

Compare Hydroxamate AM2 Rinkalore CTC3 Oxide Collectors

In this series of tests aimed  to Compare Hydroxamate Collectors namely: AM2 Rinkalore and CTC3 we now conclude.  All data indicate the CTC3 is a more selective reagent.  In all tests, metallurgy was improved.  Nowhere were the results produced by CTC3 inferior to AM2. Although AM2’s Lab Recoveries can look “attractive”, the AM2 reagent shows problematic … Read more

Oxide Flotation Collector | Collector for Copper Oxide Ore

Oxide Flotation

In this flotation tests and evaluation for the best collector for copper oxide “ore” 911Metallurgy continues with material that’s 60% Oxide copper. Sample C: 1.7% Copper about 60% Oxide Cu  Rougher Tests: Both reagents appear to behave similarly as the “blue dots” are seemingly a continuation of the trend started by “red dots”. Oxflo and Axis … Read more