Abstract
The copper ore in Chilean copper porphyry deposits is often associated with molybdenum minerals. This copper–molybdenum (Cu–Mo) sulfide ore is generally mined from various locations in the mining site; thus, the mineral composition, oxidation degree, mineral particle size, and grade vary. Therefore, in the mining operation, it is common to blend the ores mined from various spots and then process them using flotation. In this study, the floatability of five types of Cu–Mo ores and the blending of these ores in seawater was investigated. The oxidation degree of these Cu–Mo ores was evaluated, and the correlation between flotation recovery and oxidation degree is presented. Furthermore, the flotation kinetics of each Cu–Mo ore were calculated based on a mineralogical analysis using mineral liberation analysis (MLA). A mineralogical prediction model was proposed to estimate the flotation behavior of blended Cu–Mo ore as a function of the flotation behavior of each Cu–Mo ore. The flotation results show that the recovery of copper and molybdenum decreased with the increasing copper oxidization degree. In addition, the recovery of blended ore can be predicted via the flotation rate equation, using the maximum recovery (Rmax) and flotation rate coefficient (k) determined from the flotation rate analysis of each ore before blending. It was found that Rmax and k of the respective minerals slightly decreased with increasing the degree of copper oxidation. Moreover, Rmax varied greatly depending on the mineral species. The total copper and molybdenum recovery were strongly affected by the degree of copper oxidation as the mineral fraction in the ore varied greatly depending upon the degree of oxidation.
Highlights
Copper porphyry deposits are the most important and typical copper source for copper mines
Five types of Cu–Mo ore with different degrees of oxidation were collected this study, five types of Cu–Mo oreThe withfloatability different degrees of oxidation colfrom In operated copper–molybdenum mines
Itanalysis was shown the recovery of tify theand copper and molybdenum minerals in each
Summary
Copper porphyry deposits are the most important and typical copper source for copper mines. Typical copper porphyry deposits comprise oxidized ore zones, secondary sulfide ore zones, and primary sulfide ore zones from the surface to the deep. Bornite (Cu5 FeS4 ) in the primary sulfide ore zone, chalcocite (Cu2 S) and covellite (CuS) in the secondary sulfide ore zone, and atacamite (Cu2 (OH) Cl) and natural copper (Cu) in the oxide ore zone [1]. These copper minerals are often associated with molybdenite (MoS2 ), which is the main molybdenum source, and both copper and molybdenum minerals are recovered [2,3,4]. The copper oxide minerals can be recovered as froth with sulfurization
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