RECOVERY EFFICIENCY STUDY ON ILESHA PLACER GOLD ORE BY FLOTATION USING LOCALLYSOURCED FROTHERS AND COLLECTORS

摘要

The research conducted by the defunct Nigerian Mining Corporation revealed that minable quantities of gold deposit are present over an expanse of Ilesha-Ife area. This optimism prompted several researchers to study the response of Ilesha gold ore to amalgamation and cyanidation. Unfortunately, these methods (amalgamation and cyanidation) are environmentally hazardous and the reagents are rather expensive when available. This is the thrust for this research which is aimed at studying the amenability of Ilesha placer gold ore to froth flotation which is environmentally friendly using locally-sourced reagents. The mineralogical study of the deposit was carried out and the result showed that the Ilesha placer deposit is non-refractory with fine-grained gold particles. Potassium salts of groundnut and palm kernel oils (as collectors) and their fatty acids (as frothers) were prepared and used to float gold concentrate from Ilesha placer gold ore. The following flotation parameters: pulp density, impeller speed, pulp pH, collector concentration and particle size analysis were optimised. The results obtained shows that optimum recovery of 91.8 per cent and 89.56 per cent of gold concentrates were obtained at pulp pH of 9, pulp density of 100 g/cm3, impeller velocity of 1350 rpm and mineral particle size range of -75 μm when potassium salts of groundnut and palmkernel oils were used respectively as collectors. Thus Ilesha placer gold ore is amenable to froth flotation using locally-sourced frothers and collectors.