PILOT PLANT TESTING OF COLLECTIVE-SELECTIVE FLOTATION OF MASSIVE SULFIDE COPPER-NICKEL ORES

摘要

Rich copper-nickel pyrrhotite-containing ores are characterized by the following mineral composition, in percent: 7.5-10 pentlandite, 10-15 chalcopyrite, 40-50 pyrrhotite, 4-5 magnetite, and 20-30 rock-forming minerals. The existing flowsheet includes heavy-medium beneficiation - the separation of ores into a heavy and light fraction - each of which is processed independently; the light fraction yield is 15 percent. In the copper cycle, the current flowsheet for the flotaton of heavy fractions - including basic, control, and two recleaning operations - yields a copper concentrate. Copper flotation tailings - after thickening - are directed to nickel flotation, including basic, control, and recleaning operations. A finished nickel concentrate was obtanined as well as tailings which serve as feed for the pyrrhotite cycle in flotation. The pyrrhotite cycle includes basic and recleaning operations, yielding pyrrhotite concentrate and discard tailings are produced.