Some Problems on the Flotation of the Complex Sulphide Ores

Abstract

Generally, the complex sulphide ores contain many kinds of useful minerals and their flotation characteristics are different even between the minerals of same metal. It is important to know the flotation characteristics of each minerals.The complex sulphide ores tend to be oxidized easily. The oxidized minerals remarkably change their flotation characteristics, comparing with unoxidized ores. Plante and Sutherland propose the Na2S treatment. for the surface oxidized mineral.The effect of soluble ions, especially Cu ion, is one of the important factors that make complex sulphide ores flotation difficult. As is generally known, the activation of sulphide minerals, especially sphalerite, by Cu ion makes separation into component minerals from complex sulphide ores difficult. Moreover, Cu ion reacts to almost chemical collectors, depressants, and consumes them. So, the removal of soluble ions in the pulp, the prevention of activation and the deactivation are the important subjects for flotation of the complex sulphide ore. Author, also proposes the Na2S treatment to overcome this difficulty. In the case of addition of equivalent of sodium sulphide, it was confirmed that the adsorption of copper ion on the sulphide minerals is prevented completely.Glembotsky's thermal treatment is one of the separation methods for mixed concentrate in the flotation process of complex sulphide ores which is difficult to separate.