Copper minerals flotation in flotation plant of the "Rudnik" mine
Abstract
A unique technology of direct selective flotation is in use in flotation plant of the "Rudnik" mine in order to obtain selective lead, copper and zinc concentrates. Technological process is very sensitive to so-called "selectivity" because loss of individual metals through selective concentrates is present. Copper minerals flotation cycle is especially sensitive to selectivity and sometimes there is a higher content of lead and zinc minerals present in copper concentrate which is penalized. In this paper laboratory research results of lowering galena and zinc content in copper concentrate possibility due to extended time of cleaning are shown. All experiments were carried out on copper concentrate samples taken from the "Rudnik" flotation plant. Copper concentrate mineralogical analysis were carried out before flotation experiments.
References
ATA, S. and JAMESON G. (2013) Recovery of coarse particles in the froth phase – A case study, Minerals Engineering, Vol. 69, pp 121-127
BOURNIVAL, G., ATA S. and JAMESON G. (2014) The influence of submicron particles and salt on the recovery of coarse particles, Minerals Engineering, Vol. 69, pp 146-153
BULATOVIĆ, S. (2007) Handbook of flotation reagents, Elsevier Science & Technology Books, pp 367-400
CHEN, W. et al. (2019) The selective flotation of chalcopyrite against galena using alginate as a depressant, Minerals Engineering, vol. 141, Article 105848
CVETIĆANIN, L., (2017), Effect of galena grain size on flotation kinetics, Thesis (PhD), University of Belgrade
FRIEDBERG, H. S. and ROBINSON T. (2015) Tackling impurities in copper concentrates, Teck Resources Limited, [Online] Available from: https://www.teck.com/media/Tackling-Impurities-in-Copper-Concentrates.pdf [Accessed 19.09.2019.]
GEORGE P., NGUYEN A. and JAMESON G. (2004) Assessment of true flotation and entrainment in the flotation of submicron particles by fine bubbles, Minerals Engineering, 17, pp 847-853
GONTIJO, C., FORNASIERO, D. and RALSTON, J. (2007) The Limits of Fine and Coarse Particle Flotation, The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Vol. 85, pp 739-747
JAMESON, G. and EMER, C. (2019) Coarse chalcopyrite recovery in a universal froth flotation machine, Minerals Engineering ,Vol. 134, pp 118-133
KOHMUENCH, J. et al. (2018) Improving coarse particle flotation using the HydroFloat™ (raising the trunk of the elephant curve), Minerals Engineering, Vol. 121, pp 137-145
KOSTOVIĆ, M. et al. (2015) Factorial design of selective flotation of chalcopyrite from copper sulfides, Journal of Mining Science, Vol. 51, No. 2, pp. 380–388,
LAZIĆ, P. (2014) Processing of lead and zinc ore, In: Serbian mining and geology in the second half of the XX century, VUJIĆ S. (editor), Academy of Engineering Sciences of Serbia, Matica srpska, Mining Institute Belgrade, pp 479-495
LAZIĆ, P. et al. (2004) Optimization of the flotation process of Pb-Cu-Zn ore from „Rudnik“ mine, Belgrade, Faculty of Mining and Geology, (Project ETR.6.01.0034B-Serbian language)
LAZIĆ, P. et al. (2004) Possibilities of improving the quality of lead, copper and zinc concentrates with special reference to the possibility of reducing penalizing elements in copper concentrate, Belgrade, Faculty of Mining and Geology, (Study-Serbian language)
LAZIĆ, P. et al. (2007), Energy efficiency rising of flotation plant of "Rudnik" mine, Belgrade, Faculty of Mining and Geology, (Project EE232026-Serbian language)
LAZIĆ, P. et al. (2010), Direct selective lead, copper and zinc minerals flotation from polymetallic ore “Podvirovi”, Journal of Mining Science, Vol. 46, No. 6, pp 690-694
LEPPINEN, J., HINTIKKA V. and KALAPUDAS R. (1998) Effect of electrochemical control on selective flotation of copper and zinc from complex ores, Minerals Engineering, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp 39-51
LONG, G., PENG, Y. and BRADSHAW D. (2014) Flotation separation of copper sulphides from arsenic minerals at Rosebery copper concentrator, Minerals Engineering, Vol. 66-68, pp 207-214
MANKOSA, M. et al. (2018), Improving fine particle flotation using the StackCell™ (raising the tail of the elephant curve), Minerals Engineering, Vol. 121, pp 83-89
RAN, J. et al. (2019), Effects of particle size on flotation performance in the separation of copper, gold and lead, Powder Technology 344, pp 654-664
TOMANEC, R. and LAZIĆ, P. (2012) Mineral composition of sulphide-oxide Pb - Zn ore from Rudnik mine, Podzemni radovi, vol. 21, pp. 151-159
TOMANEC, R. (2000) Examinations methods of mineral resources in mineral processing, Belgrade, Faculty of Mining and Geology
TOMANEC, R., (2011), Ore microscopic examination of raw material samples from exploration wells at the "Rudnik" mine, Rudnik, FSD of "Rudnik" mine
TOMANEC, R. et al. (2012) Characteristics and the possibility of concentration of lowgrade oxide Pb - Zn ore from Rudnik mine. In: Proceedings of XVI International Conference on Waste Recycling, VŠB, Technicka Univerzita Ostrava, Ostrava. Czech Republic. pp. 179-185
TOMANEC, R. et al. (2013), Ore Microscopy Analysis Methods In Mineral Concentration Processis. In: Proceedings of 5Th Jubilee Balkanmine Congress and Comercial Exhibition, Ohrid, Macedonia. pp. 779-785
WEIDENBACH M., DUNN G. and TEO, Y., (2016), Removal of impurities from copper sulfide mineral concentrates. In: ALTA , Perth, 21-28 May, [Online] Available from: https://orway.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/ALTA-2016-NCC-Oz-Minerals-Orway-Mineral-Consultants.pdf [Accessed 19.09.2019.]
ZANIN M., LAMBERT, H. and PLESSIS, C., (2019), Lime use and functionality in sulphide mineral flotation: A review, Minerals Engineering, Vol. 143, Article 105922