Process Mineralogy Study on a Sandstone Copper Ore

Abstract

In this thesis the object of study is a low grade sandstone copper with complex composition. Through the process mineralogy research on a sandstone copper ore,the result showed that the primary sulfide copper minerals are tetrahedrite and chalcopyrite; secondary sulfide copper minerals are bornite, chalcocite and azurite; the main oxide copper mineral is malachite; the main gangue mineral is quartz. The grade of copper is 0.77% and the oxidation rate is 45.45% in the run of mine, it is an oxide copper ore with not thoroughly oxidation. There is a part of disseminated particle size of copper minerals is relatively fine. Mainly sulfide copper minerals are paragenesis with dolomite and pyrite; oxide copper minerals are often blended with limonite. So the key of obtaining the good flotation index is selecting reasonably grinding fineness and making the part of fine-grained disseminated copper full liberation.