Technological requirements of the new copper smelter of RTB Bor: A great challenge for the mining profession and science

Abstract

The research results show the possibility of improvement the basic technological parameters of copper flotation in the copper mine Majdanpek. With increasing the fineness of definite grinding product from 55 % to 65 % of grain size class -74 μm, as well as optimizing the pH value of the pulp, the type and dose of collectors and frothers, there was an increase of copper recovery for 9.35% and the quality of primary concentrate for 0.54 % or about 40 %. The compared technological parameters of the industrial process of flotation, in the laboratory experiment with optimal parameters is achieved an increase of the copper recovery for 7.56 % and concentrate quality for 0.61%, or about 50%. The analysis of the achieved technological parameters on narrow grain size classes of grinding products in industrial and laboratory tests, show unfavorable granulometric composition, both in terms of low participation of optimal floating class (-74+37) μm 15.75 % and a relatively large share of classes, + 147 μm and - 37 μm, which achieve much worse technological indicators in the process of basic flotation. The great similarity of granulometric composition of the industrial grinding product, which works in a closed circuit of grinding and sizing, and discontinuous, laboratory grinding, indicates the lack of efficiency of industrial process. The consequences of ineffective grinding, improper values of circulative charge and decreased sharpness of classification in a closed cycle of grinding and classification, are overgrinding of material, i.e. the increased participation of the finest and coarsest class of definite grinding product, or worse technological parameters, copper recovery and concentrate quality in the basic flotation process.