A geometallurgical approach for predicting separation performance

Abstract

This paper describes a geometallurgical approach for predicting separation performance of a mineral deposit that is applicable to existing operations and projects in the early stage of mine development. The method includes a class-based analysis to understand the variability in geological and mineralogical characteristics, class-based modelling to understand the influence of these characteristics on separation performance, and process performance domaining to develop domains related to separation performance and to understand the variability in separation response. The application of the approach in a copper–gold porphyry deposit has improved the prediction of copper recovery by flotation compared to the feasibility study models. The method showed that copper assay is not the only factor affecting copper recovery but has identified geological and mineralogical factors that influence flotation response. Overall, the geometallurgical approach is shown to be beneficial in assessing geological, mineralogical and processing variability within the deposit. This understanding of the variability is helpful in the design of an efficient metallurgical testwork program, and also provides valuable information for process optimisation.