A certain molybdenum-containing high-sulfur fine-grained silicate copper ore with a copper content of 0.42%, molybdenum content of 0.007%, and sulfur content of 11.87%. The main target metals are copper and molybdenum, with copper mainly present in chalcopyrite, bornite, and azurite, and the distribution rate of copper in secondary copper sulfide is 37.65%.
Compared with chalcopyrite, bornite and azurite are extremely fine-grained, with about 40%-50% of secondary copper minerals having grain sizes below 20μm. The overall distribution of copper minerals is uneven, with molybdenum mainly present in molybdenite. Other metal minerals mainly include pyrite, hematite, etc., and gangue minerals mainly include hornblende, serpentine, chlorite, biotite, feldspar, mica, etc., with relatively low talc content.
For high-sulfur copper ore, a combination of mixed flotation and preferential flotation processes is commonly used. After comparing the results of ore dressing tests, it is determined that a partial preferential flotation process should be adopted for this silicate copper ore, namely stage grinding-preferential flotation of copper and molybdenum-enhanced recovery of fine-grained copper in flotation tailings. After coarse grinding, the original ore is subjected to selective collecting agents to recover molybdenum minerals and coarse-grained copper minerals. The flotation tailings of coarse grinding are subjected to copper-sulfur mixed flotation, and the mixed copper-sulfur concentrate is finely ground to separate and recover fine-grained copper.
1.Grinding
After grinding test studies and considering the copper-molybdenum sulfur recovery rate, the particle size for rough grinding is selected as -74μm, accounting for 65%.
2.Roughing and Recovery of Copper-Molybdenum Ore
In the process of roughing and recovering copper-molybdenum ore, experiments were conducted on the types and dosages of collecting agents. Four kinds of reagents, namely KMY-2, Z-200, ethyl xanthate, and butyl xanthate, were selected for the experiment. The test results show that KMY-2 exhibits good selectivity for copper-molybdenum minerals, with high recovery rates of copper and molybdenum and low sulfur recovery rates. Therefore, KMY-2 is selected as the roughing collecting agent for the partial preferential process, with a dosage of roughing + scavenging = (20+10) g/t.
3.Regrinding and Selection of Copper-Molybdenum Mixed Ore
Lime is added during the regrinding process of copper-molybdenum mixed ore. According to the ore dressing test, the dosage of lime is determined to be 1200g/, and the particle size after regrinding is -74μm, accounting for 80%.
After three stages of selection, using KMY-2, HCCL, and lime as flotation agents, copper concentrate is finally obtained.
4.Copper-Sulfur Mixed Ore Flotation Process
The tailings after roughing are copper-sulfur mixed ore, and the collecting agent is determined to be butyl xanthate after ore dressing test. After one scavenging and one roughing, the obtained concentrate undergoes regrinding, with a lime dosage of 2000g/t and a particle size after regrinding of -20μm, accounting for 80%. After three stages of selection, copper concentrate is obtained, and the obtained tailings undergo two stages of scavenging to obtain sulfur concentrate.
The ore dressing process can obtain copper concentrate 1 with a grade of 26.32% and a recovery rate of 53.87%, molybdenum content of 0.58%, and a recovery rate of 72.88%; and copper concentrate 2 with a grade of 16.61% and a recovery rate of 21.41%, molybdenum content of 0.019%, and a recovery rate of 1.5%. The comprehensive copper concentrate has a grade of 22.57% and a recovery rate of 75.28%, molybdenum content of 0.36%, and a recovery rate of 75.28%. Compared with the mixed flotation process, the recovery of secondary and primary copper sulfides has been significantly enhanced.
Xin Hai Mine Equipment can provide a full industry chain service for ore dressing experiments, ore dressing process design, ore dressing equipment manufacturing, etc. (EPC+M+O). As the global economy gradually recovers after the epidemic, the demand for copper will increase linearly. If there is any demand for copper ore dressing, please contact us!
