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How to Effectively Float a Polymetallic Ore (Pb-Ag, Cu, Zn) with Secondary Copper ? (5 replies and 2 comments)
A very complex mineral like this, you could try to float the bulk Pb- Cu. (Adding first single flocculant and then add Xanthate collector in very low doses. Add these reagents directly to the flotation cells ) and depress Zn salts + add ZnSO4 cyanide complex. or float Zn. This interesting mineral seems similar to that we processed in the Minera Casapalca Gubbins Group .
I am currently working in a SW plant and are using flocculants. We use a foaming agent (frother) and very selective xanthate along that ZnSO4 cyanide complex directly to cells. Such 'salty' mineral appears easily activate the Zn in bulk and we will have Zinc in this bulk concentrate.
Is this an operating concentrator or are you scoping a flowsheet for a project? You need to know the associations between minerals. For example if copper is locked with lead you may have more success with a CuPb bulk concentrate which you can separate afterwards. So make sure you understand what your sample represents and get detailed mineralogy.
It is a operating concentrator, Thanks for your comments. About associations thats not the problem, the problem is with the soluble salts of Cu, Fe, Pb, Zn. By example. When we use NaCN it solubilized the Cu salt and activate the Zn.
Maybe if I use a complex of NaCN+ZnS with 2/8 or
I was thinking, if I do a flotation, but first the Zn, before the CuPb.
Mr. Matias is correct + at 25%, that is a load of Iron. You need to determine your liberation size 1st and get there. Once you know you are liberate remember http://www.911metallurgist.com/blog/sequential-cu-pb-zn-flotation in your Cu float away from Pb. TOCs?
Thanks for your comments, I am going to review your suggestions in the blog, but the problem is the salts of Cu, Pb, Fe, Zn. and we need to change the chemistry of flotation in our operations.
My head grade Pb = 2.55%; Ag = 10.61 g/t; Cu = 0.47%; Zn = 5.84%: Fe = 25.11% and not my concentration grade, as you as are thinking.
and. My mineralogy have chalcopyrite, bornite, chalcocite tennantite, malachite, sphalerite I and II, pyrite, galena, chalcocite, covellite, gray copper, magnetite. It also have soluble salts of Cu, Fe, Pb, Zn.
Zinc can be activated by many different ions. Just assume any 2+ ions. You need to get rid of them to get in control of your separations. The mineralogy you described is quite complex. Many of those copper minerals and salts will be soluble enough to dump ions into the pulp.
You need to control this at the mill starting as soon as the ore gets wet.
So what do you do? Well you are not going to solve this in the plant. You need to mess about with reagents in the lab. The problem is too complex to make changes in the plant. For far less money lab tests will tell you a lot more.
You can clarify the effect of cyanide, lime, and zinc sulphate. However I think you may need to move away from cyanide. Sodium metabisulphite is an obvious option but I don't think it will provide the finesse required. Due to the salts you may need to be using something like EDTA or sodium hexametaphosphate. Sounds exotic buts it is also called Calgon or AKA Graham's salt Think of the difference between hard and soft water or seawater and freshwater. If you use Calgon you can work your way to fresh water from seawater by chelating all the ions with Calgon.
Then you have a clean slate for collectors. Get it to work first then simplify.
Our mineralogy are very complex with: chalcopyrite, bornite, chalcocite tennantite, malachite, sphalerite I and II, pyrite, galena, chalcocite, covellite, gray copper, magnetite. It also have soluble salts of Cu, Fe, Pb, Zn.
We have flotation bulk, concentrate of Pb-Ag,Cu and we get depressed Zn.
Our head have Pb = 2.55%; Ag = 10.61 g/t; Cu = 0.47%; Zn = 5.84%: Fe = 25.11%