Chalcopyrite Floatability in Flotation Plant of the Rudnik Mine

Abstract

Part of large-scale industrial test results of milling fineness influence on lead, copper and zinc minerals flotation results in the Rudnik flotation plant are shown in this paper. Based on industrial research it has been concluded that one-stage milling and two-stage classification of complex Pb-Zn-Cu ore leads to so-called “differential milling”. Namely, galena has much faster comminution than other minerals present in ore due to galena softness. This occurrence leads to galena converting into small particles size fractions which have low flotation rate and, at the same time, copper and zinc minerals stay “unliberated” in coarse particle size fractions (minerals are not free of mutual bonds). In this paper, recorded copper minerals flotation products results are shown, including lead underflow (copper flotation input), copper concentrate and copper underflow, in function of particle size; particle size distribution, minerals and metals distribution in function of particle size were determined; obtained research results confirmed “differential milling” assumption, as well as severe floatability difference between chalcopyrite of a different particle size.