Mineralogical Research in Support of Flotation Concentration of Complex Polymetallic Ore

Abstract

High Sb and As contents in zink and lead concentrations, have always been obtained by conducting experiments with flotation concentration of complex poly-mineral Pb-Zn-Sb-As-(Ag, Au) ore ground to varied grinding finenesses. Chemical analyses were not sufficient to explain this phenomenon. With the help of detailed mineralogical analyses of the run-of-mine ore, and, the obtained concentrates that followed, the problem has been solved. All ore minerals were identified, the degree of liberation of galena and marmatite measured, and the frequency of occurrences of certain types of binary, ternary and higher locked grains determined. The measurements of the liberation degree of galena and marmatite (at the fineness of grinding of 83% -0.074 mm), in the obtained concentrates have shown that the increase in a grinding fineness can only partially result in the increase in recovery and provide better concentration results. In addition, the use of new selective low-cost flotation reagents is required to separate hard-to-beneficiate pairs of sulphide minerals with very similar flotation properties.