Investigation on Copper Flotation from a Complex Copper Ore, Yunnan Province

The mineral processing flow sheet and reagent system of flotation copper minerals from alarge copper sulfide deposit in Yunnan were fully investigated. The results indicated that the optimum conditions for flotation of copper minerals from the material were identified as follows: grinding fineness of 80%(-0.074mm), dosage of CaO 800g/t, butyl xanthate 100g/t.Under such condition, a copper recovery of 90.57% with a concentrate grade of 19.52% was achieved from the material using a closed circuit flow sheet of one-stage roughing flotation, two-stage cleaning flotation and two-stage scavenging flotation.