Copper ores
Research work performed by the specialists of Flotec LLC for the development and improvement of technologies for the beneficiation of copper, copper-zinc, copper-molybdenum, copper-nickel ores
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Flotec experts develop mineral beneficiation technologies for the leading Russian and CIS mining holdings
Flotec reference list of successfully implemeted projects includes development and optimization of beneficiation technologies for a wide range of ore types, development of a process flowsheets and project documentation, technical and technological audit and pilot testing.
Flotec technology solutions
More than 20 years in development of mineral beneficiation technologies, top industry experts, collaboration with the world leading mining holdings guarantees meeting the client`s needs and achieving high technological results for any project
Dala Mining
(Koktenkol, Kazakhstan)
When developing the technology for beneficiation of molybdenum ore from the Koktenkolskoye deposit, several innovative solutions were applied that made it possible to efficiently use the processed ore and significantly increase the beneficiation performance.
Key technological solutions:
- Complex beneficiation of ore to obtain 4 concentrates - molybdenum, copper, bismuth and pyrite.
- Obtaining a collective sulfide concentrate in an alkaline environment without the use of lime.
- The use of high-speed flotation to obtain a collective sulfide concentrate using a sulfidizer.
- In the molybdenum concentrate production cycle, the optimal flow rate of the sulfide depressor (Na2S) was controlled using an argentite electrode.
- The use of sulfoxide compounds in the copper flotation cycle.
Kazakhmys
(Akbastau, Kazakhstan)
During the research, new technological solutions were found, as a result of which the beneficiation of copper-zinc ore was significantly improved compared to technologies previously developed by other companies for this type of ore.
The main problem was the significant losses of metals to tailings during the separation of the collective copper-zinc concentrate.
Key technological solutions:
- Application of the scheme of direct selective flotation.
- Application of intercycle copper flotation.
- Exclusion of lime from the process of flotation beneficiation.
- The use of special depressors of zinc minerals in the grinding cycle.
- Use of a polymeric depressor to suppress iron sulfides in copper and zinc flotation cycles.
- Use of a selective collector for flotation of copper and zinc minerals.
- The mode of activation of zinc minerals in the main zinc flotation operation has been selected.
Traditionally for the depression of iron sulphides, lime is used. The use of lime adversely affects the quality of the concentrate and the recovery of metals.
Here are some negative factors of using lime for this type of ore:
- High pH of the slurry activates hydrophobic silicate minerals, and therefore the quality of the concentrate falls and the recovery of valuable minerals also decreases.
- Use of lime reduces the recovery of precious metals contained in the ore.
- High pH of the slurry activates zinc minerals in copper flotation, which leads to losses of zinc with copper concentrate.
Kola MMC
(PJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel Group)
In the course of research, a flotation technology has been developed that makes it possible to reduce the MgO content in the finished copper-nickel concentrate to 5%.
The high content of MgO in the final copper-nickel concentrate significantly increases the costs of its further processing in the metallurgical stage.
To obtain a concentrate with a low MgO content, a reagent regime was developed using modern flotation reagents.
During the development of the technology, minimal adjustments were made to the configuration of the existing beneficiation scheme of the plant.
Key technological solutions:
- A mode of talc flotation with complete depression of sulfides by a polymeric depressant has been developed.
- A mode of activation of sulfide minerals before the copper-nickel flotation cycle has been developed.
- Use of isobutylthionocarbamate and modified dithiophosphate as collectors.
- Use of a selective frother in the copper-nickel flotation cycle.
- To improve the quality of copper-nickel concentrate and reduce the content of MgO, a cycle of regrinding of rough copper-nickel concentrate is justified.
- A mode of depression of minerals in the cleaning cycle containing MgO with a pulp pH < 7 has been developed.
- Minor adjustments to the existing beneficiation scheme of the plant.
The main factors causing high content of MgO in copper-nickel flotation concentrate are:
- Low efficiency of depression of the naturally hydrophobic mineral talc containing MgO.
- Insufficient efficiency of pyroxene depression in the cleaning cycle of flotation.
- Fine intergrowth of nickel minerals with gangue minerals, primarily with pyroxenes. Associated with this, insufficient disclosure of intergrowths and, as a result, an increased content of MgO in the flotation concentrate.
Alel FIC
(Nord Gold S.E.)
In order to increase the extraction of gold into finished products, as part of the preparation for the reconstruction of the concentrator plant, research was carried out in the technological laboratory of the concentrator plant.
After the introduction of a new configuration of the technological scheme of the plant, an increase in gold recovery in the flotation cycle is predicted up to 5%.
Key technological solutions:
- In the course of research, solutions were developed to change the flotation beneficiation scheme.
- As a result of the work carried out, the use of high-speed gold flotation in the "head" of the technological scheme was justified without changing the range of flotation regents.
- The recovery of gold in the flash flotation concentrate was 60% (flotation time - 2 min.), with a gold content in the concentrate of 50 g/t.
- A new configuration of the beneficiation scheme with the inclusion of a high-speed flotation stage is proposed.
- To implement this technological scheme, it is required to install a high-speed flotation machine and change the scheme of slurry pipelines, without changing the layout of the flotation machines.
CJSC Sagamar
(Armenia)
To improve the beneficiation performance of the concentrator plant, research was carried out in the technological laboratory of the enterprise in several areas:
1. Determination of the effectiveness of the use of high-speed flotation in the beneficiation of polymetallic ore of the Armanis deposit to increase the total extraction of valuable metals in the technological process of the concentrator plant.
2. Determination of the possibility of obtaining a lead "head".
3. Verification of the possibility of using the technology for obtaining a bulk copper-lead-zinc concentrate using high-speed flotation.
Key technological solutions:
- The results of the research showed the promise of using high-speed flotation for the beneficiation of ore from the Armanis deposit.
- The use of high-speed flotation made it possible to obtain a copper-lead concentrate with the extraction of copper - 65% and lead - 65% (flotation time - 2 min).
- It is recommended to use the discharge of a spiral classifier as a power supply for a high-speed flotation machine.
- Due to the low content of lead in the ore and the fine dissemination of lead minerals, it is not possible to obtain a lead "head" using high-speed flotation.
- High-speed flotation makes it possible to obtain a collective copper-lead-zinc concentrate with the extraction of copper - 75%, lead - 80%, zinc - 70% (flotation time - 2 minutes).
- The technology for obtaining a bulk copper-lead-zinc concentrate can become an alternative to the beneficiation technology used at the plant and provide a number of advantages, such as an increase in the total recovery of valuable metals, an improvement in the quality of the resulting concentrates, and savings in flotation reagents.
Flash flotation technology plays an important role in maximizing overall plant recovery in the processing of precious and non-ferrous sulphides. The use of high-speed flotation makes it possible to extract a significant amount of valuable minerals even at the grinding stage, preventing their overgrinding and increasing the overall recovery of the plant.