(Session 1)Development of a Laboratory Test to Characterise the Behaviour of Free Gold for Use in a Combined Flash Flotation and Gravity Concentrator Model

摘要

Currently no adequate ore characterisation procedure exists to provide inputs for a process modelwhich simulates the behaviour of gravity recoverable gold (GRG) in flash flotation unit operation.Ultimately, this flash float model will be incorporated into an existing model for gravityconcentration. Together, the integrated gravity recovery-flash float model will provide a tool forpredicting the recovery of GRG in a closed milling circuit using both batch centrifugal concentrationand flash flotation. In order to design a flash flotation model, a laboratory method to characterizethe response of GRG when subjected to flash flotation conditions has been developed. This paperdetails the evaluation of the effects of various chemical (reagent concentrations, sulfide presence,etc.) and operational (airflow, agitation, etc.) parameters on the overall GRG recovery by lab scaleflash flotation. Of the factors evaluated, free gold flotation was found to be most impacted by PAXand copper sulfate reagent levels, as well as agitation speed and sulfide mineral additions.