On the Flotation of Complex Sulfide Ores Accompanied with Various Copper Minerals

Generally, the complex sulfide ores are mainly composed of chalcopyrite, galena, sphalerite, pyrite accompanied with many kinds of copper minerals such as chalcocite, covellite, bornite, tetrahedrites and enargite etc.In the separation process their flotation characteristics are different even among the copper minerals. It is very important to catch the flotation behaviours in order to recover the minerals effectively.Floatabilities of chalcopyrite, chalcocite and covellite are comparatively high under the condition of sulfite or sulfur dioxide flotation, however, tetrahedrites and bornite distinctly show low floatabilities. The latter are difficult to recover into copper concentrate for the floatabilities are similar to pyrite or sphalerite.Many flotation tests were conducted for a long time in our laboratory and then separation procedure of the copper minerals has successfully developed and consequently the copper recovery was remarkably increased.It was found that cyanides show an excellent effect in the separation system, some flotation performances and their conditions were described.