Free gold and gold wrapped in sulfides are considered as the object of gold floatation. However,floatation of free gold exhibits more variables in practice.In this study, improving gold recovery of a Pb–Zn sulfide ore from Yunnan Province, China, was investigated. The results show that free gold and auriferous sulfides account for 94.99 % of total gold. Without adding organic acid in floatation, only 82 % recovery of gold could be obtained.Gold recovery in Au/Pb concentrates increases by 9.29 %with oxalate added and by 7.35 % with citric acid added,respectively, while performances of lead and arsenic nearly keep a constant. A possible reason is that free gold is of wonderful selectivity against pyrite with organic activators.A new method to enhance gold recovery is proposed.
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